United States · United States Congress · 5 December 1985
Amends the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 to provide that certain filing exemptions for foreign agents shall not apply to agents which represent foreign principals of specified communist countries unless the Attorney General reports to the congressional intelligence committees that national security and foreign policy circumstances require that this prohibition be waived. Suspends such filing exemptions for any agent of any other foreign principal for five years if any such agent is convicted of espionage.
United States · United States Congress · 5 December 1985
Amends the Foreign Missions Act to direct the Secretary of State to apply to each foreign mission of specified communist countries located in the United States the same conditions which are applied to the Soviet foreign mission in the United States unless waiver of this requirement is necessary for national security and foreign policy circumstances. Directs the Secretary to report to the congressional intelligence committees on the implementation of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 2 December 1985
Public Lands Cleanup Act of 1985 - Designates the first Saturday after Labor Day as Public Lands Cleanup Day. Requires each Federal land management agency to organize and participate in intergovernmental and private efforts to clean and maintain Federal public lands under their jurisdiction in observance of such day.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 1985
Trade Enhancement Act - Title I: National Trade Policy - Declares that it is U.S. policy to: (1) eliminate or offset foreign unfair trade practices and other trade-distorting measures through enforcement of U.S. laws and rights under the international trading system; (2) strengthen international trading rules and U.S. laws relating to such rules through trade agreements that promote open and fair world trade; (3) aid potentially competitive U.S. industries faced with injury from imports; (4) examine the underlying reasons for exchange rate misalignment and currency market instability and investigate alternative methods of structuring currency values; (5) increase the participation of developing countries in the world trading system; (6) revise U.S. laws related to unfair trade practices to eliminate trade-distorting practices of nonmarket economy countries; (7) protect intellectual property rights of U.S. persons to ensure the competitiveness, technological innovation, and growth of U.S. industry and agriculture; (8) facilitate U.S. exports; and (9) respond immediately to import problems in which national security may be involved. Title II: Trade Barriers and Distortions of Trade - Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to direct the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to prepare for the annual report on national trade estimates an estimate of the increase in U.S. exports that would result from the elimination of each act, policy, or practice identified as a significant barrier to, or distortion of, U.S. exports and foreign investment by U.S. persons. Directs the USTR, in preparing the national trade estimate, to consider the international competitiveness of the appropriate goods or services. Directs the USTR to begin investigations on an annual basis with respect to those acts, policies, and practices identified in each report on national trade estimates which: (1) are likely to be acts, policies, or practices that constitute unfair foreign trade practices; and (2) constitute a barrier to, or distortion of, a significant portion of all the U.S. goods and services that the USTR estimates would have been exported if such acts, policies, and practices did not exist. Sets forth factors to be considered in determining whether acts, policies, or practices should be investigated. Transfers from the President to the USTR the authority to: (1) determine whether U.S. action is appropriate to enforce U.S. rights under a trade agreement or to respond to certain foreign trade practices; (2) determine the appropriate additional import relief in such cases; and (3) determine any additional restrictions on service sector access authorizations. Transfers from the President to the USTR the authority to take action on the USTR's own motion. Includes among the foreign trade practices that may trigger a U.S. response any act, policy, or practice that threatens to burden or restrict U.S. commerce. Sets forth a list of foreign acts, policies, and practices which burden U.S. commerce. Authorizes the USTR, in response to certain foreign trade practices, to: (1) enter into binding agreements that fully offset the burden on U.S. commerce of such practices; or (2) withdraw, or refrain from proclaiming, eligibility of a foreign country for preferential treatment under the Generalized System of Preferences. Includes within the meaning of unreasonable foreign trade acts, policies, or practices any combination of unfair foreign trade acts, policies, or practices and any such acts, practices, or procedures that deny: (1) market opportunities (including protection of an industry in its formative stages); (2) opportunities for the establishment of an enterprise; (3) protection of intellectual property rights; or (4) protection against anti-competitive practices. Includes within the definition of "service sector access authorization" any authorization that gives access to the U.S. market to a foreign supplier of goods related to a service. Directs the USTR to determine, within 90 days of the start of such an investigation, whether: (1) the United States is being denied its rights under any trade agreement; or (2) there is any unfair trade act, policy, or practice. Sets forth the actions to be taken by the USTR based on such determination. Requires an import relief action to terminate after seven years if it has existed continuously for seven years and no request to extend the action is made during the last 60 days of such seven year period. Requires the USTR to review the effectiveness of such an import action if a request to extend the import relief is made. Authorizes the President, if such import relief involves raising tariffs or imposing import restrictions, to negotiate a trade agreement providing compensation, or to proclaim tariff changes to provide compensation for certain countries in order to meet U.S. international obligations. Title III: Relief from Injury Caused by Import Competition - Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to allow one of the purposes of an import relief petition to be the desire to enhance competitiveness. Includes among the economic factors to be considered in determining whether increased imports constitute a serious injury to a domestic industry the inability of a significant number of firms to operate domestic production facilities at a reasonable profit. Adds to the factors to be considered in import relief investigations relating to whether increased imports are a threat of serious injury to a domestic industry: (1) any combination of coordinated government actions that are bestowed on a specified enterprise the effect of which is to increase the competitiveness of that enterprise and that cause or threaten to cause serious injury to the domestic industry concerned; (2) the existence of an affirmative antidumping or countervailing duty determination; (3) the extent to which firms in the domestic industry concerned are unable to maintain existing levels of research and development expenses; and (4) the extent to which the U.S. market is the focal point for diversion of exports because of a foreign country's market restraints. Requires the International Trade Commission (ITC) in determining what domestic industry is affected by imports to treat as part of the domestic industry only the domestic production of a domestic producer who also imports. Prohibits considering imports of like or directly competitive articles by domestic producers as a factor indicating the absence of serious injury or threat of serious injury to a domestic industry. Requires the ITC, in an import relief investigation, to consider factors other than imports which may cause injury or threaten injury to a domestic industry and to report on such factors to the President. Permits the ITC to recommend both increases in import restrictions and adjustment assistance if the ITC finds that increased imports are causing a serious injury or threat of serious injury to a domestic industry. Requires the ITC to prepare for the President an estimate of the short-term and long-term effects of such increases in import duties or import restrictions on private and industrial consumers. Directs the President to impose provisional import relief if critical circumstances exist (circumstances caused by a significant increase in imports over a short period of time in which a delay in the imposition of relief would cause damage to the domestic industry that would be difficult to remedy under the usual import relief measures). Authorizes filing a petition with the Secretary of Agriculture for emergency import relief in addition to any petition filed with the ITC if the petition relates to imports of perishable products. Requires the Secretary to make a recommendation to the President within 14 days of receiving such petition on whether or not to take emergency action. Requires the Secretary to recommend emergency relief if the Secretary finds that emergency action is warranted and that increased imports of a perishable product are a substantial cause of serious injury or threat of serious injury to the competing domestic industry. Requires the President to decide, within seven days of receiving such recommendation, what, if any, import restrictions to impose on such imports. Provides for the termination of such emergency relief. Requires the ITC to evaluate the effectiveness of import relief actions and to report on such evaluation to the President and the Congress. Requires the USTR to establish a plan development group for an industry after the ITC begins an import relief investigation based upon a petition filed by firms, a union, or a group of workers that represent a significant portion of the domestic industry if the petitioners request the establishment of such a plan development group. Requires each such group (made up of government and private sector representatives) to prepare an assessment of current problems in the industry and a strategy to enhance its competitiveness. Sets forth information to be included in such assessment and strategy. Requires the assessment and strategy to be submitted, along with the opinions of the members of the plan development group on the viability of such strategy, to the petitioner within 120 days of the start of an ITC import relief investigation. Authorizes the petitioner, if the ITC finds that imports have caused serious injury to the domestic industry, to submit the assessment and strategy to the ITC on the day after the ITC makes such finding. Requires the USTR to present to the ITC some of the opinions of Federal agencies on the viability of such strategy. Requires the ITC, upon submission of such assessment and strategy to the petitioner and before the ITC evaluates what effect such a strategy will have on the domestic industry to try to obtain confidential commitments from the individual members of the domestic industry on their future actions. Requires the ITC to transmit such commitments to certain members of the Government to enable them to evaluate the assessment and strategy. Requires the President under certain circumstances to consider such confidential commitments, assessment and strategy, and recommendations of the interagency trade organization. Sets forth the actions the ITC must take if the ITC finds that increased imports are a substantial cause of or constitute a threat of serious injury to a domestic industry and if an adjustment assessment and strategy have been submitted. Directs the President, in determining whether to provide import relief, to take into account the probable effectiveness of import relief as a means of promoting adjustment or modernization in order to improve competitive abilities. Directs the President, if the President has received an assessment and strategy in connection with an injured or threatened industry, to: (1) provide the import relief found necessary by the ITC; (2) provide substantially equivalent import relief; or (3) submit to the Congress a draft of a bill making certain waivers and containing provisions implementing the import relief, if any, that the President has decided to take. Provides for expedited congressional consideration of such a bill. Requires the President to implement the import relief found necessary by the ITC if after 90 days such bill is not enacted. Provides for publication of the assessment and strategy if import relief is provided. Requires a review committee to: (1) monitor actions taken by petitioners to improve the competitive position of the industry; (2) make recommendations for administrative actions to achieve the objectives of the assessment and strategy; and (3) submit to the Congress legislative recommendations. Provides for expedited consideration of legislative recommendations. Requires the review committee to consult with members of the plan development group and with members of the domestic industry if the objectives and actions specified in the assessment and strategy are not being implemented or if the confidential commitments are not being kept. Authorizes the President to terminate or modify the import relief if, after the consultations, the review committee determines that such failure to implement the strategy or commitments is not justified by changed circumstances and has adversely affected overall implementation of the objectives set forth in the assessment and strategy. Directs the President, before deciding whether to grant import relief, to consult with the interagency trade organization established pursuant to the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 and consider the recommendations of such organization. Includes among the import relief actions available to the President the right to: (1) initiate on an accelerated basis an antidumping or countervailing duty investigation; (2) direct the Attorney General to review applications from the injured industry for antitrust law exemptions; or (3) enter into multilateral negotiations to address problems not susceptible to unilateral solution. Permits an import relief investigation into imports of an article that received import relief less than two years before the start of the new investigation if good cause is shown. Sets forth the procedure for an antidumping or countervailing duty investigation which the President orders as a form of import relief. Sets forth the factors to be used to determine whether to grant an antitrust law exemption if the President as a form of import relief orders the Attorney General to consider applications for such exemptions. Requires the Attorney General to report to specified congressional committees if any such exemption is granted. Directs the President to impose import restrictions or increase import duties if multilateral negotiations ordered by the President as a form of import relief fail to provide relief from serious injury or the threat of serious injury within one year. Provides for expedited consideration of legislation implementing such import restrictions or import duty increases. Requires the ITC to review an injury determination and its recommendations relating to the determination if: (1) the ITC has made a unanimous affirmative injury determination; (2) the President declined between January 1, 1984, and October 1, 1985, to prevent or remedy the injury or threat of injury found by the ITC; and (3) a petition for review is filed within one year of enactment of this Act. Requires the ITC, within 60 days of receiving such petition, to: (1) determine whether the injury should be reaffirmed or revoked; and (2) if the injury determination is reaffirmed, report such determination to the President and set forth the increase in import duty or the import restriction necessary to prevent the injury or threat of injury. Requires the ITC to publish such report. Requires the President to decide whether to impose such import relief within 30 days of receiving such report. Title IV: Negotiating Authority for Trade Agreements - Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to urge the President to take all appropriate and feasible steps to reduce or eliminate tariff and nontariff barriers to international trade and other distortions of international trade through: (1) the full exercise of U.S. rights under international agreements; and (2) the negotiation of trade agreements. Authorizes the President to enter into trade agreements during the five years following January 3, 1988, to reduce or eliminate trade barriers and distortions if the President finds that: (1) such barriers or distortions unduly restrict U.S. foreign trade or adversely affect the U.S. economy or are likely to result in such a restriction or effect; (2) the purposes of the Trade Act of 1974 will be promoted by the reduction or elimination of such barriers or distortions. Authorizes entering into a trade agreement only if the President, at least 150 days before such agreement is entered into: (1) notifies specified congressional committees of the negotiations of such agreement; (2) consults with each such committee regarding the negotiation; and (3) submits to each such committee a written statement of the specific negotiating objectives that the President anticipates will be achieved by such agreement and its implementing bill, a description of how such objectives will be achieved, and the specific negotiating objectives the President anticipates will not be achieved and the reasons for such failure. Provides that an implementing bill will not receive expedited congressional consideration if such conditions are not met or if a specified congressional committee disapproved the negotiation within 60 days of receiving notice of it. Requires the USTR to consult with interested congressional committees at least once a year on such negotiations, their progress, and obstacles to the achievement of their objectives. Requires the President to consult with specified congressional committees before entering into any trade agreement. Requires the President, whenever entering into a trade agreement, to submit such agreement, together with a draft implementing bill and statement of proposed implementing administrative action to the Congress. Provides that a trade agreement submitted to the Congress shall enter into force with respect to the United States if and only if: (1) the President, at least 90 days before entering into such trade agreement, notified the Congress of intent to enter into it and published notice of such intent; and (2) after entering into the agreement, the President sends the final legal text of the agreement to the Congress along with certain other information. Sets forth certain recommendations the President may make to the Congress to insure that foreign countries which benefit under a trade agreement are subject to obligations under the agreement. Directs the President, upon starting negotiations on a trade agreement to limit trade barriers, to try to obtain an interim agreement under which any country participating in such negotiations shall: (1) decline to impose new trade barriers or trade-distorting devices; and (2) reduce market intervention to allow market forces to govern growth of industries characterized by overcapacity or overproduction. Requires that the U.S. objectives in negotiating trade agreements under the basic authority to negotiate shall be to obtain: (1) more open, fair, and equitable market access; (2) the reduction or elimination of barriers and other trade-distorting practices; and (3) an appropriate overall balance between benefits and concessions within the agricultural, manufacturing, mining, and services sectors. Requires that the principle objectives in negotiating agreements to reduce trade barriers shall be: (1) to obtain with respect to manufacturing, mining, agriculture, and services and with respect to related investments, equivalent competitive opportunities for U.S. exports; and (2) to bring previously made agreements into conformity with principles promoting an open nondiscriminatory, and fair world economic system. Authorizes the President for the five years following January 3, 1988, to: (1) proclaim an increase in an import duty or an imposition of an additional import duty in lieu of any limit on imports of an article; or (2) use import licenses in administering any of such limitations and sell such licenses at public auctions. Title V: Exchange Rates and Developing Country Debt - Subtitle A: Measures Relating to Exchange Rates - Declares that it is U.S. policy that the United States and the Western industrialized allies should coordinate: (1) monetary and fiscal policies in order to eliminate imbalances in trade and capital flows and to stabilize exchange rates; and (2) the participation by central banks in international currency markets in order to reduce severe currency fluctuations, deter currency speculation, aid in the stabilization of the dollar in international currency markets, and promote orderly exchange rate adjustments. Directs the President, within six months of enactment of this Act, to enter into negotiations with: (1) other G-5 countries (West Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and France) to improve the international monetary system; (2) the other G-5 countries to enhance their role in coordinating fiscal and monetary policy to ensure that their policies converge on money growth, inflation, fiscal policy, interest rates, and other economic factors; and (3) other countries to achieve reciprocal opportunities for investment. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve Board to accumulate foreign currencies in amounts sufficient to make participation in foreign exchange markets effective and credible. Requires the President to report to the Congress every six months on implementation of this subtitle. Subtitle B: Measures Relating to Developing Country Debtors - Requires the negotiating objectives of the United States with developing country debtors to be to: (1) reduce barriers to U.S. exports; (2) reduce barriers to foreign investment; (3) lessen the burden on U.S. exports and international trade caused by destabilizing debt service and trade and investment barriers maintained by developing countries; (4) lessen the destablizing impact of difficulties in international debt service; (5) encourage developing countries to eliminate structural barriers that limit their efficiency and productivity; and (6) permit the resumption of economic growth of developing countries. Amends the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 to authorize the Export-Import Bank to establish for FY 1986 through 1989 the Trade Expansion Loan Guarantee and Insurance program. Requires the program to be available to the Export-Import Bank for the establishment of general facilities consisting of guarantees and insurance in support of U.S. exports to specific developing countries if certain conditions are met. Authorizes the President to enter into negotiations with members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development to eliminate official financing or support for new mining or production facilities for commodities in developing countries and to encourage the reduction of commodities from such facilities if the commodity is in oversupply internationally. Authorizes the President to enter into negotiations with members of each multilateral development bank to prohibit aid by each such bank for any new mining or production facility for a commodity that is in oversupply internationally. Authorizes the President to enter into negotiations with the members of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to terminate the Compensatory Financing Facility and transfer the resources and assets of the Facility to the general resources of the IMF. Authorizes the President to enter into negotiations with members of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development for: (1) an agreement to permit increases in loans and guarantees by the Bank up to 200 percent of the Bank's unimpaired subscribed capital, reserves, and surplus; (2) an agreement that new lending by the Bank would be at interest rates based upon an index reflecting economic conditions in the country getting the loan; and (3) an agreement that new loans made by the Bank should be conditioned on the removal of existing trade and investment barriers and on the promotion of development of the private sector. Requires the President to report annually to the Congress on implementation of this subtitle. Title VI: Withdrawal of Benefits under Generalized System of Preferences - Directs the President to submit to the Congress, within 90 days of enactment of this Act, a draft of a bill to withdraw, within two years of enactment of this Act, trade preferences under title V of the Trade Act of 1974 from a foreign country if, on the basis of such country's per capita income and other indications of economic development and international competitiveness, the continued provision of such preferences can no longer be justified as promoting economic growth and development in the developing world. Provides for special congressional procedures with respect to such bill. Prohibits such bill from applying to any country which has entered into an agreement with the United States establishing a free trade zone between the United States and such country. Title VII: Nonmarket Economy Countries - Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to change the method of dealing with dumping from nonmarket economy countries. Requires the foreign market value of merchandise to be the trade-weighted average price at which the merchandise or similar merchandise produced by eligible market economy producers is sold in the United States if: (1) the merchandise under investigation is exported from a nonmarket economy country; and (2) the administering authority finds that the foreign market value of the merchandise cannot be accurately determined under the usual method because information provided by the country is not verifiable or is insufficient. Requires the foreign market value, if a trade-weighted average price is not available, to be the price at which the merchandise or similar merchandise produced by an eligible market economy producers is sold in the United States. Requires the foreign market value, if there are no eligible market economy producers, to be the constructed value of the merchandise or similar merchandise produced in any country other than a nonmarket economy country. Defines nonmarket economy country generally to be a country which appears on a list prepared annually by the administering authority that designates countries whose economies do not operate on market principles of cost or pricing structures. Defines an eligible market economy producer to be a foreign producer who: (1) produces merchandise that is the subject of dumping investigation or any similar merchandise in a country that is not a nonmarket economy country; (2) exports the merchandise or similar merchandise to the United States; and (3) is not subject to an antidumping or countervailing duty order against the merchandise or similar merchandise. Title VIII: Intellectual Property Rights - Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to declare that the unauthorized importation (or sale) of articles into the United States that infringe a valid U.S. patent, copyright, trademark, U.S. maskwork, or trade secret is unfair and has the effect of destroying or substantially injuring a U.S. industry or impairing the establishment of such industry. Permits any person to petition the ITC for the issuance of an order to exclude such articles, during its investigation, from entry into the United States. Sets forth: (1) civil penalties for violations under this Act; and (2) procedures for the modification or recission of an ITC order under this Act. Repeals a specified section of the Tariff Act of 1930 relating to the importation of products produced under a process covered by claims of unexpired patent. Process Patent Amendment of 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. Directs the Department of Commerce to report to the Congress annually for five years on the effect such restriction has on the importation of ingredients for U.S. manufacturing. Agricultural Patent Reform Act of 1985 - Amends the patent laws to extend the terms of patents which encompass specified products or methods for using a product, including methods of manufacturing which primarily use recombinant DNA technology, any of which are subject to certain nonpatent regulatory review periods. Sets forth the terms and conditions of such extension, including a five-year limitation on the extension and a 25-year maximum patent term for the earliest filing. Directs the Commissioner of Patents to notify the appropriate Federal agency upon receipt from the product sponsor of a notice of extension to determine the applicable regulatory review period and whether, within that period, the sponsor acted with due diligence. Provides for notice and informal hearings for persons interested in such determinations. Permits the setting of fees to cover the costs of review. Directs the Commissioner, upon a final determination of the applicable regulatory review period, to issue to the owner of record of a patent a certificate of extension stating the fact and length of the extension and identifying the product and the use and the claim to which such extension is applicable. Makes such certificate a part of the original patent. Limits the application of such patent term extension to patents for: (1) any new animal drug or antibiotic subject to regulation under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; (2) any veterinary biological product subject to regulation under the Virus-Serum-Toxin Act; (3) any pesticide subject to regulation under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act; and (4) any chemical substance or mixture subject to regulation under the Toxic Substances Control Act. Title IX: Export Related Measures - Subtitle A: Fair Export Financing - Fair Export Financing Act of 1985 - Amends the Trade and Development Enhancement Act of 1983 to declare that one of the purposes of such Act is to establish a temporary tied aid credit program to combat the predatory concessional credit programs of foreign governments. Directs the President to negotiate limits on partially untied aid credit. Changes the U.S. negotiating objectives to include references to partially untied aid credits. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to establish within the Department of the Treasury a program of tied aid credits for U.S. exports. Requires the program to be carried out in cooperation with the Export-Import Bank or with private financial institutions or entities. (Currently the program is established within the Export-Import Bank and carried out in cooperation with the Agency for International Development (AID)). Sets forth financing methods that may be included in such program. Authorizes appropriations. Repeals the provision that established a tied aid credit program in AID. Requires the Secretary to seek the advice of the National Advisory Council on International Monetary and Financial Policies before approving financing under the tied aid credit program. Terminates the tied aid credit program on September 30, 1987. Limits judicial review of actions by the Chairman of the Export-Import Bank and by the Secretary. Changes the definition of "tied aid credit." Defines "partially untied aid credit." Deletes references to government-mixed credits and public-private cofinancing. Subtitle B: Amendments to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 - Practices and Records Act - Changes the name of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (FCPA) to the Business Practices and Records Act. Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to require securities issuers to maintain an internal accounting system that provides reasonable assurance that specified accountability and accuracy goals are met. Prohibits imposing criminal liability for failing to maintain such an accounting system. Prohibits imposing civil injunctive relief with respect to: (1) an issuer who fails to maintain the required accounting system if the issuer tried in good faith to meet the requirements; or (2) any person other than an issuer in connection with an issuer's failure to comply with such requirements, unless such person knowingly caused the issuer to fail to comply. Prohibits anyone from knowingly circumventing such an accounting system for a purpose inconsistent with the accountability and accuracy goals of such system. Requires only good faith efforts at ensuring compliance by issuers who hold 50 percent or less of the equity of domestic or foreign firms. Transfers from the Securities and Exchange Commission to the Department of Justice jurisdiction to enforce the bribery prohibitions of the FCPA with respect to issuers. Revises the prohibition against domestic concerns using any means of interstate commerce to further payments to obtain business with a foreign official. States that such a payment made "directly or indirectly" to a foreign official is illegal. Prohibits such payments that are made to: (1) influence a foreign official's act or induce such an official to violate a legal duty; or (2) induce a foreign official to affect a foreign government's act. Prohibits domestic concerns from using interstate commerce to direct or authorize an agent to further such a payment to a foreign official. Exempts from such prohibitions: (1) payments to foreign officials to expedite or to secure the performance of routine governmental action; (2) payments to such officials that are lawful under the foreign country's laws; (3) payments which constitute tokens of regard or esteem; (4) expenditures associated with selling, purchasing, or demonstrating goods; or (5) ordinary expenditures associated with performing a contract with a foreign government. Revises the fines and criminal penalties for violations of such Act. Empowers the Attorney General to undertake all civil investigations necessary to enforce the Act. Prohibits prosecution of a domestic concern or specified agents of such concern for violating the Federal mail or wire fraud provisions by making a payment to a foreign official if the prosecution is based on the theory that the official, by receiving the payment, violated a duty to or defrauded the foreign government or the citizens of a foreign country. Authorizes the Attorney General to issue guidelines specifying: (1) permissible conduct associated with common types of export sales arrangements; and (2) precautionary procedures which would create a rebuttable presumption of compliance. Provides for the establishment of a Business Practices and Records Act Review Procedure to answer specific inquiries concerning enforcement of such Act. Requires the Attorney General to issue opinions regarding compliance. Makes such opinions final and binding on all parties if the opinion states that the conduct does not involve a violation. Directs the Attorney General to protect the confidentiality of materials submitted in the review procedure. Requires annual reports to the Congress by: (1) the Attorney General concerning actions taken pursuant to such Act; and (2) the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission concerning the reporting requirements. Subtitle C: Miscellaneous Provisions - Directs the Secretaries of State and Commerce to review periodically the number of personnel assigned to U.S. missions abroad to determine whether an adequate number of such personnel are engaged in economic or commercial duties to aid U.S. exporters and businesses doing business outside the United States. Declares that the Secretaries should extend the length of assignment of such personnel in order to ensure greater continuity in promoting U.S. exports. Requires each chief of a U.S. mission to a country that is an important trading partner and which has significant potential for U.S. export sales to report annually to the President and the Congress on: (1) the strategy used by such mission to expand U.S. exports; and (2) the efforts of such mission to assist U.S. industries in expanding export sales and in improving their market position. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) each U.S. Executive Director to a multilateral development bank should take specified actions to promote procurement opportunities for U.S. firms; and (2) a Foreign Commercial Officer should be assigned to each such Director to help promote such opportunities. Requires each Federal agency, before taking any major action that may affect international trade, to prepare and publish a report on the potential impact of such action on U.S. international trade and on the ability of U.S. firms to compete in foreign markets. Directs the Secretary of Commerce, through the International Trade Administration, to develop and maintain an effective system to collect and disseminate information on international trade to U.S. exporters. Sets forth information to be included in such system. Title X: National Security - Amends the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to require the President to implement the recommendations contained in a certain report by the Secretary of Commerce with respect to imports that threaten national security if the President has made no determination and taken no action on such report within 90 days of receiving it. Requires the President and the Secretary to consider, in determining whether imports threaten national security, the impact on national security of: (1) not only short-term supply disruptions of articles needed for national security but also long-term U.S. dependence on imports of such articles; and (2) the loss of a viable domestic industry producing articles needed for national security. Requires the President to issue a proclamation on the date of enactment of this Act that implements the recommendation of the Secretary in such report if the President did not by November 20, 1985, make a specified determination with respect to such report that was received before the date that is 90 days before the enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 1985
Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to direct the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to prepare for the annual report on national trade estimates an estimate of the increase in U.S. exports that would result from the elimination of each act, policy, or practice identified as a significant barrier to, or distortion of, U.S. exports and foreign investment by U.S. persons. Directs the USTR, in preparting the national trade estimate, to consider the international competitiveness of the appropriate goods or services. Directs the USTR to begin investigations on an annual basis with respect to those acts, policies and practices identified in each report on national trade estimates which: (1) are likely to be acts, policies, or practices that constitute unfair foreign trade practices; and (2) constitute a barrier to, or distortion of, a significant portion of all the U.S. goods and services that the USTR estimates would have been exported if such acts, policies, and practices did not exist. Sets forth factors to be considered in determining whether acts, policies, or practices should be investigated. Transfers from the President to the USTR the authority to: (1) determine whether U.S. action is appropriate to enforce U.S. rights under a trade agreement or to respond to certain foreign trade practices; (2) determine the appropriate additional import relief in such cases; and (3) determine any additional restrictions on service sector access authorizations. Transfers from the President to the USTR the authority to take action on the USTR's own motion. Includes among the foreign trade practices that may trigger a U.S. response any act, policy, or practice that threatens to burden or restrict U.S. commerce. Sets forth a list of foreign acts, policies, and practices which burden U.S. commerce. Authorizes the USTR, in response to certain foreign trade practices, to: (1) enter into binding agreements that fully offset the burden on U.S. commerce of such practices; or (2) withdraw, or refrain from proclaiming, eligibility of a foreign country for preferential treatment under the Generalized System of Preferences. Includes within the meaning of unreasonable foreign trade acts, policies, or practices any combination of unfair foreign trade acts, policies, or practices and any such acts, practices, or procedures that deny: (1) market opportunities (including protection of an industry in its formative stages); (2) opportunities for the establishment of an enterprise; (3) protection of intellectual property rights; or (4) protection against anti-competitive practices. Includes within the definition of "service sector access authorization" any authorization that gives access to the U.S. market to a foreign supplier of goods related to a service. Directs the USTR to determine, within 90 days of the start of such an investigation, whether: (1) the United States is being denied its rights under any trade agreement; or (2) there is any unfair trade act, policy, or practice. Sets forth the actions to be taken by the USTR based on such determination. Requires an import relief action to terminate after seven years if it has existed continuously for seven years and no request to extend the action is made during the last 60 days of such seven year period. Requires the USTR to review the effectiveness of such an import action if an request to extend the import relief is made. Authorizes the President, if such import relief involves raising tariffs or imposing import restrictions, to negotiate a trade agreement providing compensation, or to proclaim tariff changes to provide compensation for certain countries in order to meet U.S. international obligations.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 1985
Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to allow one of the purposes of an import relief petition to be the desire to enhance competitiveness. Includes among the economic factors to be considered in determining whether increased imports constitute a serious injury to a domestic industry the inability of a significant number of firms to operate domestic production facilities at a reasonable profit. Adds to the factors to be considered in import relief investigations relating to whether increased imports are a threat of serious injury to a domestic industry: (1) any combination of coordinated government actions that are bestowed on a specified enterprise the effect of which is to increase the competitiveness of that enterprise and that cause or threaten to cause serious injury to the domestic industry concerned; (2) the existence of an affirmative antidumping or countervailing duty determination; (3) the extent to which firms in the domestic industry concerned are unable to maintain existing levels of research and development expenses; and (4) the extent to which the U.S. market is the focal point for diversion of exports because of a foreign country's market restraints. Requires the International Trade Commission (ITC) in determining what domestic industry is affected by imports to treat as part of the domestic industry only the domestic production of a domestic producer who also imports. Prohibits considering imports of like or directly competitive articles by domestic producers as a factor indicating the absences of serious injury or threat of serious injury to a domestic industry. Requires the ITC, in an import relief investigation, to consider factors other than imports which may cause injury or threaten injury to a domestic industry and to report on such factors to the President. Permits the ITC to recommend both increases in import restrictions and adjustment assistance if the ITC finds that increased imports are causing a serious injury or threat of serious injury to a domestic industry. Requires the ITC to prepare for the President an estimate of the short-term and long-term effects of such increase in import duties or import restrictions on private and industrial consumers. Directs the President to impose provisional import relief if critical circumstances exist (circumstances caused by a significant increase in imports over a short period of time in which a delay in the imposition of relief would cause damage to the domestic industry that would be difficult to remedy under the usual import relief measures). Authorizes filing a petition with the Secretary of Agriculture for emergency import relief in addition to any petition filed with the ITC if the petition relates to imports of perishable products. Requires the Secretary to make a recommendation to the President within 14 days of receiving such petition on whether or not to take emergency action. Requires the Secretary to recommend emergency relief if the Secretary finds that emergency action is warranted and that increased imports of a perishable product are a substantial cause of serious injury or threat of serious injury to the competing domestic industry. Requires the President to decide, within seven days of receiving such recommendation, what, if any, import restrictions to impose on such imports. Provides for the termination of such emergency relief. Requires the ITC to evaluate the effectiveness of import relief actions and to report on such evaluation to the President and the Congress. Requires the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to establish a plan development group for an industry after the ITC begins an import relief investigation based upon a petition filed by firms, a union, or a group of workers that represent a significant portion of the domestic industry if the petitioners request the establishment of such a plan development group. Requires each such group (made up of government and private sector representatives) to prepare an assessment of current problems in the industry and a strategy to enhance its competitiveness. Sets forth information to be included in such assessment and strategy. Requires the assessment and strategy to be submitted, along with the opinions of the members of the plan development group on the viability of such strategy, to the petitioner within 120 days of the start of an ITC import relief investigation. Authorizes the petitioner, if the ITC finds that imports have caused serious injury to the domestic industry, to submit the assessment and strategy to the ITC on the day after the ITC makes such finding. Requires the USTR to present to the ITC some of the opinions of Federal agencies on the viability of such strategy. Requires the ITC, upon submission of such assessment and strategy to the petitioner and before the ITC evaluates what effect such a strategy will have on the domestic industry to try to obtain confidential commitments from the individual members of the domestic industry on their future actions. Requires the ITC to transmit such commitments to certain members of the Government to enable them to evaluate the assessment and strategy. Requires the President under certain circumstances to consider such confidential commitments, assessment and strategy, and recommendations of the interagency trade organization. Sets forth the actions the ITC must take if the ITC finds that increased imports are a substantial cause of or constitute a threat of serious injury to a domestic industry and if an adjustment assessment and strategy have been submitted. Directs the President, in determining whether to provide import relief, to take into account the probable effectiveness of import relief as a means of promoting adjustment or modernization in order to improve competitive abilities. Directs the President, if the President has received an assessment and strategy in connection with an injured or threatened industry, to: (1) provide the import relief found necessary by the ITC; (2) provide substantially equivalent import relief; or (3) submit to the Congress a draft of a bill making certain waivers and containing provisions implementing the import relief, if any, that the President has decided to take. Provides for expedited congressional consideration of such a bill. Requires the President to implement the import relief found necessary by the ITC if after 90 days such bill is not enacted. Provides for publication of the assessment and strategy if import relief is provided. Requires a review committee to: (1) monitor actions taken by petitioners to improve the competitive position of the industry; (2) make recommendations for administrative actions to achieve the objectives of the assessment and strategy; and (3) submit to the Congress legislative recommendations. Provides for expedited consideration of legislative recommendations. Requires the review committee to consult with members of the plan development group and with members of the domestic industry if the objectives and actions specified in the assessment and strategy are not being implemented or if the confidential commitments are not being kept. Authorizes the President to terminate or modify the import relief if, after the consultations, the review committee determines that such failure to implement the strategy or commitments is not justified by changed circumstances and has adversely affected overall implementation of the objectives set forth in the assessment and strategy. Directs the President, before deciding whether to grant import relief, to consult with the interagency trade organization established pursuant to the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 and consider the recommendations of such organization. Includes among the import relief actions available to the President the right to: (1) initiate on an accelerated basis an antidumping or countervailing duty investigation; (2) direct the Attorney General to review applications from the injured industry for antitrust law exemptions; or (3) enter into multilateral negotiations to address problems not susceptible to unilateral solution. Permits an import relief investigation into imports of an article that received import relief less than two years before the start of the new investigation if good cause is shown. Sets forth the procedure for an antidumping or countervailing duty investigation which the President orders as a form of import relief. Sets forth the factors to be used to determine whether to grant an antitrust law exemption if the President as a form of import relief orders the Attorney General to consider applications for such exemptions. Requires the Attorney General to report to specified congressional committees if any such exemption is granted. Directs the President to impose import restrictions or increase import duties if multilateral negotiations ordered by the President as a form of import relief fail to provide relief from serious injury or the threat of serious injury within one year. Provides for expedited consideration of legislation implementing such import restrictions or import duty increases. Requires the ITC to review an injury determination and its recommendations relating to the determination if: (1) the ITC has made a unanimous affirmative injury determination; (2) the President declined between January 1, 1984, and October 1, 1985, to prevent or remedy the injury or threat of injury found by the ITC; and (3) a petition for review is filed within one year of enactment of this Act. Requires the ITC, within 60 days of receiving such petition, to: (1) determine whether the injury should be reaffirmed or revoked; and (2) if the injury determination is reaffirmed, report such determination to the President and set forth the increase in import duty or the import restriction necessary to prevent the injury or threat of injury. Requires the ITC to publish such report. Requires the President to decide whether to impose such import relief within 30 days of receiving such report.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 1985
Directs the Secretaries of State and Commerce to review periodically the number of personnel assigned to U.S. missions abroad to determine whether an adequate number of such personnel are engaged in economic or commercial duties to aid U.S. exporters and businesses doing business outside the United States. Delcares that the Secretaries should extend the length of assignment of such personnel in order to ensure greater continuity in promoting U.S. exports. Requires each chief of a U.S. mission to a country that is an important trading partner and which has significant potential for U.S. export sales to report annually to the President and the Congress on: (1) the strategy used by such mission to expand U.S. exports; and (2) the efforts of such mission to assist U.S. industries in expanding export sales and in improving their market position. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) each U.S. Executive Director to a multilateral development bank should take specified actions to promote procurement opportunities for U.S. firms; and (2) a Foreign Commercial Officer should be assigned to each such Director to help promote such opportunities. Requires each Federal agency, before taking any major action that may affect international trade, to prepare and publish a report on the potential impact of such action on U.S. international trade and on the ability of U.S. firms to compete in foreign markets. Directs the Secretary of Commerce, through the International Trade Administration, to develop and maintain an effective system to collect and disseminate information on international trade to U.S. exporters. Sets forth information to be included in such system.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 1985
Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to include among the foreign trade practices that may trigger a U.S. response any foreign act, policy, or practice that threatens to burden or restrict U.S. commerce. Declares that a foreign country's act, policy, or practice burdens U.S. commerce if such act, policy, or practice has an adverse effect on trade between the United States and another foreign country. Sets forth a list of foreign acts, policies, and practices which burden U.S. commerce. Includes within the meaning of unreasonable foreign trade acts, policies, or practices any combination of unfair trade acts, policies, or practices and any such acts, practices, or procedures that deny: (1) market opportunities (including incipient industry protection); (2) opportunities for the establishment of an enterprise; (3) protection of intellectual property rights; or (4) protection against anti-competitive practices. Includes within the definition of "service sector access authorization" any authorization that gives access to the U.S. market to a foreign supplier of goods related to a service. Adds to the factors to be considered in import relief investigations relating to whether increased imports are a threat of serious injury to a domestic industry: (1) any combination of coordinated government actions that are bestowed on a specific enterprise the effect of such is to increase the competitiveness of that enterprise and that causes or threatens to cause serious injury to the domestic industry concerned; (2) the existence of an affirmative antidumping or countervailing duty determination; (3) the extent to which firms in the domestic industry concerned are unable to maintain existing levels of research and development expenses; and (4) the extent to which the U.S. market is the focal point for diversion of exports because of a foreign country's market restraints.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 1985
Title I: Measures Relating to Exchange Rates - Declares that it is U.S. policy that the United States and the Western industrialized allies should coordinate: (1) monetary and fiscal policies in order to eliminate imbalances in trade and capital flows and to stabilize exchange rates; and (2) the participation by central banks in international currency markets in order to reduce severe currency fluctuations, deter currency speculation, aid in the stabilization of the dollar in international currency markets, and promote orderly exchange rate adjustments. Directs the President, within six months of enactment of this Act, to enter into negotiations with: (1) other G-5 countries (West Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and France) to improve the international monetary system; (2) the other G-5 countries to enhance their role in coordinating fiscal and monetary policy to ensure that their policies converge on money growth, inflation, fiscal policy, interest rates, and other economic factors; and (3) other countries to achieve reciprocal opportunities for investment. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve Board to accumulate foreign currencies in amounts sufficient to make participation in foreign exchange markets effective and credible. Requires the President to report to the Congress every six months on implementation of this title. Title II: Measures Relating to Developing Country Debtors - Requires the negotiating objectives of the United States with respect to developing country debtors to be to: (1) reduce barriers to U.S. exports; (2) reduce barriers to foreign investment; (3) lessen the burden on U.S. exports and international trade caused by destabilizing debt service and trade and investment barriers maintained by developing countries; (4) lessen the destablizing impact of difficulties in international debt service; (5) encourage developing countries to eliminate structural barriers that limit their efficiency and productivity; and (6) permit the resumption of economic growth of developing countries. Amends the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 to authorize the Export-Import Bank to establish for FY 1986 through 1989 the Trade Expansion Loan Guarantee and Insurance program. Requires the program to be available to the Export-Import Bank for the establishment of general facilities consisting of guarantees and insurance in support of U.S. exports to specific developing countries if certain conditions are met. Authorizes the President to enter into negotiations with members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development to eliminate official financing or support for new mining or production facilities for commodities in developing countries and to encourage the reduction of commodities from such facilities if the commodity is in oversupply internationally. Authorizes the President to enter into negotiations with members of each multilateral development bank to prohibit aid by each such bank for any new mining or production facility for a commodity that is in oversupply internationally. Authorizes the President to enter into negotiations with the members of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to terminate the Compensatory Financing Facility and transfer the resources and assets of the Facility to the general resources of the IMF. Authorizes the President to enter into negotiations with members of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development for: (1) an agreement to permit increases in loans and guarantees by the Bank up to 200 percent of the Bank's unimpaired subscribed capital, reserves, and surplus; (2) an agreement that new lending by the Bank would be at interest rates based upon an index reflecting economic conditions in the country getting the loan; and (3) an agreement that new loans made by the Bank should be conditioned on the removal of existing trade and investment barriers and on the promotion of development of the private sector. Requires the President to report annually to the Congress on implementation of this title.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 1985
Declares that it is U.S. policy to: (1) eliminate or offset foreign unfair trade practices and other trade-distorting measures through enforcement of U.S. laws and rights under the international trading system; (2) strengthen international trading rules and U.S. laws relating to such rules through trade agreements that promote open and fair world trade; (3) aid potentially competitive U.S. industries faced with injury from imports; (4) examine the underlying reasons for exchange rate misalignment and currency market instability and investigate alternative methods of structuring currency values; (5) increase the participation of developing countries in the world trading system; (6) revise U.S. laws related to unfair trade practices to eliminate trade-distorting practices of nonmarket economy countries; (7) protect intellectual property rights of U.S. persons to ensure the competitiveness, technological innovation, and growth of U.S. industry and agriculture; (8) facilitate U.S. exports; and (9) respond immediately to import problems in which national security may be involved.
United States · United States Congress · 12 November 1985
Authorizes the Director of the U.S. Information Agency to: (1) provide for educational exchanges between U.S. and Soviet youths under 21; and (2) award higher education scholarships to exceptional students under 25 who are studying in the Soviet Union in programs approved by their own higher education institutions and maintaining satisfactory proficiency. Earmarks specified funds for FY 1986 and 1987 to carry out this Act. Refers to the activities specified in this Act as the Samantha Smith Memorial Exchange Program.
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 · 1 November 1985
Technology Literacy Act of 1985 - Defines "technology education" as a comprehensive educational process designed to develop a population that is knowledgeable about technology and its evolution, systems, techniques, utilization in industry and other fields, and social and cultural significance. Directs the Secretary of Education, subject to the availability of appropriations under this Act, to establish a program of grants to local educational agencies (LEAs), State educational agencies (SEAs), and institutions of higher education for demonstration programs in technology education for secondary schools. Sets forth grant application requirements. Directs the Secretary to consider equitable geographic distribution in making such grants. Permits such grants to be used to develop a model demonstration program for technology education with specified components. Includes among such components research and development of curriculum materials, an institute to develop teacher capabilities in technology education, and multidisciplinary teacher workshops for interfacing mathematics, science, and technology education. Limits the Federal share to 75 percent of the costs of programs or projects assisted under this Act. Directs the Secretary to disseminate the results of such programs or projects so as to improve the training of educational personnel. Authorizes appropriations to carry out this Act for FY 1987 and 1991.
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 · 23 October 1985
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should begin talks with the Government of the Soviet Union aimed at creating a jointly administered U.S.-Soviet student exchange program. Sets forth certain aspects of such exchange program.
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 · 10 October 1985
Declares that the Congress calls upon the President to direct the Agency for International Development (AID) to work in a global effort to provide support toward achieving the goal of universal access to childhood immunization by the year 1990. Sets forth specified actions to be taken by AID, in conjunction with the World Health Organization and UNICEF, in reaching such goal. Urges the President to seek both private and public assistance in the United States to achieve universal access to childhood immunization.
United States · United States Congress · 3 October 1985
Hospital Insurance Trust Fund and Health Promotion Revenue Act of 1985 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the excise tax on cigarettes from: (1) $8 to $12 for small cigarettes; and (2) $16.80 to $25.20 for large cigarettes. Imposes a floor stock excise tax on small and large cigarettes. Transfers 50 percent of the revenues raised by such additional taxes to the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund (Medicare). Establishes within the Treasury the Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Trust Fund. Transfers to the trust fund 50 percent of the revenues raised by the additional excise taxes on cigarettes.
United States · United States Congress · 2 October 1985
Federal Science and Technology Revitalization Act of 1985 - Authorizes Federal agencies to establish alternative personnel management systems for scientific and technical employees in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Includes in each such system a Senior Scientific and Technical Personnel Service (comparable to the Senior Executive Service) for such employees who are specially qualified. Sets forth provisions for scientific and technical employees relating to employment authority, compensation, and retirement. Directs the OPM to review and monitor agency alternative systems to ensure compliance with this Act and applicable regulations. Sets forth transition provisions for employees designated as subject to an alternative management system. Directs the Comptroller General to review and evaluate the systems established under this Act and report to the Congress and OPM within five years of its enactment.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 1985
Establishes the Motor Carrier Administration in the Department of Transportation, to be headed by an Administrator appointed by the President who shall report directly to the Secretary of Transportation. Creates the position of Deputy Administrator, to be appointed by the Secretary. Confers upon the Administrator duties and powers related to motor carriers and motor carrier safety under specified law. States that a decision of the Administrator implementing duties involving notice and hearing requirements is administratively final. Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress regarding a review of those Interstate Commerce Commission activities affecting motor carrier transportation which could be more efficiently performed by the Motor Carrier Administration.
United States · United States Congress · 20 September 1985
Renewable Energy/Fuel Cell Systems Integration Act of 1985 - Directs the Secretary of Energy to implement a research program regarding: (1) fuel cell use of methane gas generated from biomass forms; (2) technologies using renewable energy sources (such as wind and solar energy) to produce hydrogen for fuel cell use; and (3) fuel cell technology for electric power production as backup spinning reserve components to renewable power systems in rural and isolated areas. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to, and enter into contracts with, private research laboratories. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress regarding the fuel cell research program. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1986.
United States · United States Congress · 20 September 1985
Export Promotion and Information Center Act - Establishes within the Office of the Secretary of Commerce the Export Promotion and Information Center. Requires the Director of the Center to develop and maintain an export information system and to coordinate the gathering and dissemination of international trade information conducted by various Federal, State, and local agencies. Establishes an Export Promotion and Information Policy Board to advise the Director. Sets forth administrative provisions governing the Center and the Policy Board. Provides for fees to be charged by the Center for information. Establishes in the Treasury an Export Promotion and Information Trust Fund. Authorizes appropriations for the Trust Fund for FY 1986 through 1992. Terminates the Center on September 30, 1992.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 1985
Directs the President to take immediate action to initiate negotiations to establish an International Copper Action Commission composed of government representatives from copper producing and consuming countries, international copper industry representatives, major copper consumer representatives, and members of the Congress. Outlines Commission functions to include: (1) serving as a forum for consultations between copper industry representatives and government officials; (2) developing consistent copper trade guidelines; (3) developing worldwide copper demand forecasts; and (4) promoting copper consumption, research, and market development.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 1985
Training Technology Transfer Act of 1985 - Establishes the Office of Training Technology Transfer in the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) of the Department of Commerce. Provides that the Director of the Office shall be appointed by the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretaries of Education and Labor. Sets forth provisions relating to staffing and staff compensation. Requires the Director to compile and maintain a current and comprehensive inventory of all training technology developed by or under the supervision of Federal agencies. Defines "training technology" as computer software which is developed by a Federal agency to train its employees and which may be transferred to or converted for use by a commercial user or a public interest user. Includes under such definition software for computer-based instructional systems, interactive video disc systems, microcomputer training devices, audiovisual devices, and programmed learning kits, and associated manuals and devices integrally related to the software program. Requires the Director, in compiling such inventory, to: (1) consult with and fully utilize the resources of all Federal agencies engaged in the collection and dissemination of information concerning training technology; and (2) request the participation and cooperation of entities in the legislative and judicial branches. Requires the Director to disseminate the inventory and its revisions widely and on a regular basis to give all potential users of training technology ample notice of its development by Federal agencies. Requires the Director, in doing so, to use all interagency and intergovernmental communications mechanisms and to encourage the participation of independent private sector organizations. Requires the Director to develop and distribute detailed instructions and procedures for securing copies, and rights thereto, of training technology listed in such inventory and guidelines for cooperative agreements between commercial users and public interest users under specified provisions of this Act. Defines "public interest user" as: (1) any Federal agency which uses or intends to use the training technology of another Federal agency; and (2) any nonprofit entity which uses or intends to use the training technology of a Federal agency and which provides job training, vocational education, or other education services (including public school systems, vocational schools, private preparatory schools, colleges, universities, community colleges, private industry councils, community-based organizations, and State and local government agencies). Requires the Director to advise and consult with any prospective public interest user of training technology listed in the inventory and assist such user in securing the transfer and conversion of such technology from the Federal agency which developed it. Requires the Director to encourage such user to obtain such technology by working with the Training Technology Transfer Officer of such agency. Requires the Director, if an agency has not established procedures for the transfer of training technology, to negotiate the transfer of such technology upon application by such user. Requires the Director to advise and consult with any prospective commercial user of a training technology listed in the inventory. Authorizes the Director to sell or lease such technology, including exclusive or nonexclusive rights in patents or copyrights, to a commercial user for a price or fee which reflects a reasonable return to the Government. Authorizes the Director to waive, or negotiate reductions of, such purchase prices or lease fees, or negotiate exclusive sale or lease agreements or other favorable terms for commercial users who agree to enter into cooperative agreements with public interest users or user groups. Requires such agreements to be acceptable to the Director and to provide for a conversion of the training technology, without charge, by the commercial user to meet the specific needs of the public interest user or user group. Requires the Director, in negotiating such terms for the sale or lease of training technology, to give preferential consideration to cooperative agreements which: (1) will result in enhancing the employment potential and potential earnings of the maximum number of individuals; (2) encourage and promote multiple uses of training technology converted by users with similar training needs; and (3) provide beneficial uses of training technology for small businesses. Requires any training technology converted under such a cooperative agreement to be: (1) listed in the inventory; and (2) available for transfer to any other public interest user. Requires the Director to: (1) study the effectiveness of training technology transfers and conversions under this Act; and (2) analyze national needs for methods to convert training technology which are in addition to the method of cooperative agreements between commercial and public interest users. Requires the Director, within three years after the enactment of this Act, to report to the Congress on such study and analysis, with the Director's recommendations as to whether the public interest would be served through the establishment of a program of grants to support the conversion of training technology. Requires all Federal agencies to cooperate with the Director in implementing this Act. Requires Federal agency heads to report to the Secretary of Commerce if they find that their agency cannot cooperate with the Director for reasons of national security or any other reason. Directs the Secretary to report all such findings received during the preceding 12-month period to the Congress by July 1 of each year. Requires the Director to cooperate with the Federal Software Exchange Center of NTIS to facilitate training technology transfer between Federal agencies. Requires the Director, in carrying out this Act, to take into account the human factors involved in integrating the work force with new technological developments (including psychological, physiological, sociological, and socioeconomic factors). Sets forth administrative provisions. Establishes the Training Technology Transfer Advisory Board and sets forth provisions relating to Board appointments, compensation, and meetings. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1987 and succeeding fiscal years.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 1985
Foreign Language Assistance for National Security Act of 1985 - Directs the Secretary of Education to make grants to State educational agencies to fund model programs, designed and operated by local educational agencies, for the improvement and expansion of foreign language study for children aged five through 17 who reside within their school districts. Sets forth formulas for determining the amount of such grants based on State population. Sets forth provisions relating to the availability of such funds. Sets forth grant application requirements for State educational agencies, including provisions for periodic student proficiency evaluation. Provides for program participation by private school children. Requires ratable reduction of such grants when appropriations are insufficient. Directs the Secretary to make grants to State agencies to fund model foreign language programs designed and operated at community and junior colleges. Bases the amount of such grants on State population. Sets forth grant application requirements, including periodic student proficiency evaluation. Requires ratable reduction of such grants when appropriations are insufficient. Directs the Secretary to make grants to institutions of higher education to cover part of the costs of undergraduate foreign language instruction. Sets forth formulas to determine whether an institution is eligible for such grants, based on the percentage of its student body enrolled in qualified postsecondary language courses. Provides that to be eligible for such grants an institution must require that: (1) each entering student have successfully completed at least two years of secondary school foreign language instruction; or (2) each graduating student have earned two years postsecondary credit in a foreign language (or have demonstrated equivalent competence in a foreign language). Authorizes the Secretary to establish standards, including reporting requirements, for programs assisted by such grants. Sets forth formulas for determining the amounts of such grants, based on numbers of undergraduate students enrolled in such courses. Requires ratable reduction of such grants when appropriations are insufficient. Directs the Secretary to make grants to institutions of higher education, or consortia of such institutions, in each Federal region for summer intensive language training institutes for exceptional secondary school students. Bases the amount of each grant on the number of students (up to a limited number) enrolled in such institute. Sets forth application requirements for such grants. Directs the Secretary to encourage, to the extent possible, diversity in the languages taught in summer institutes. Bases awarding of such grants on the excellence of the proposed program, taking specified elements into consideration. Permits such grant funds to be used to cover costs associated with enrollment in an institute. Requires ratable reduction of such grants when appropriations are insufficient. Directs the Secretary to make grants to institutions of higher education, or consortia of such institutions, in each Federal region for summer language training institutes for the professional development of the proficiency of elementary and secondary school language teachers. Bases the amount of each grant on the number of students (up to a limited number) enrolled in such institute. Sets forth application requirements for such grants. Bases awarding of such grants on the excellence of the proposed program, taking specified elements into consideration. Permits such grant funds to be used to cover costs associated with enrollment in an institute. Requires ratable reduction of such grants when appropriation are insufficient. Directs the Secretary to make matching grants to institutions of higher education, or consortia of such institutions, to assist advanced foreign language students to develop their language skills and knowledge of foreign cultures and societies through study abroad. Allows such study abroad to be combined with an internship in an international business enterprise. Requires such program to provide the opportunity for language-proficient students with majors in various other fields to combine language study with studies in those fields. Sets forth a range of world regions and languages which such programs may include. Limits the amount of each grant to one-half the cost of providing such assistance. Sets forth application requirements for such grants. Permits grant funds to be used to cover costs associated with enrollment in an institute. Requires ratable reduction of such grants when appropriations are insufficient. Prohibits any grant or contract under this Act except to such extent, or in such amounts, as may be provided in appropriation Acts. Defines "foreign language" as any language other than English, except that with respect to programs and activities conducted under this Act in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico such term includes English. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1986 through 1989 to carry out grant programs under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1985
Permits members of the clergy and members of the uniformed services to deduct expenses related to tax-exempt housing allowances and subsistence allowances without regard to the operation of Revenue Ruling 83-3.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1985
Improved Public Health Through Nutrition Monitoring Act of 1985 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to prepare the Comprehensive Health Promotion and Nutrition Monitoring Plan (comprehensive plan) to specify the manner in which the National Health Promotion and Nutrition Monitoring Program (coordinated program) will be implemented. Specifies the requirements of the comprehensive plan. Requires the Secretary to submit a draft of the comprehensive plan to the Congress and publish such plan, with a request for public comment, in the Federal Register within one year of enactment of this Act. Requires the Secretary to submit a final comprehensive plan to the President and the Congress within 60 days after the end of the period for public comment. Requires the Secretary to implement the comprehensive final plan. Grants specified congressional committees oversight responsibilities. Establishes a ten-year National Health Promotion and Nutrition Monitoring Program. States that such program shall include: (1) the assessment, collection, analysis, and reporting of information on health, dietary, and nutritional trends in the U.S.; (2) the assessment, analysis, and reporting of the effects on health status of food assistance programs; (3) sponsoring and conducting research; (4) maintaining, coordinating, implementing, and completing health, nutrition, and dietary surveys; (5) developing and maintaining health, nutrition, and dietary data bases; (6) coordinating Federal, State, local, and private activities; (7) providing scientific and technical assistance; and (8) providing grants to be carried out through the National Science Foundation and the Director of the Centers for Disease Control. Directs the Secretary to: (1) update and integrate into the coordinated program the Joint Implementation Plan for a Comprehensive National Nutrition Monitoring System; (2) provide for and coordinate Federal research; (3) enter into a contract for the interpretation of available data; (4) foster cost recovery management techniques; and (5) prepare annual reports. Authorizes the Secretary to appoint a Coordinator for Health Promotion and Nutrition Monitoring. Establishes the Interagency Health Promotion and Nutrition Monitoring Board to assist the Secretary. Establishes the Advisory Council on Health Promotion and Nutrition Monitoring to: (1) provide scientific and technical advice; (2) evaluate the quality and effectiveness of the implementation of the coordinated program; and (3) evaluate the coordinated program, the comprehensive plan, and the budget. Sets forth budget request procedures. Authorizes appropriations.
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
Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to require the administering authority when making determinations as to the foreign market value of imported merchandise from a foreign state-controlled economy to identify its choice of the: (1) non-state-controlled country that will be used as a source of information on prices of certain merchandise for consumption in its home market; (2) country that will be used as a source of information on prices for sales to other countries; and (3) country that will be used as a source of information to construct foreign market value with respect to antidumping duty investigations. Allows a party filing an antidumping petition to elect whether such determinations will proceed on the basis of home market price, export price, or constructed value. Sets forth the basis for the determination by such authority as to whether a country is at a comparable stage of economic development to a nonmarket economy country. Requires such authority, if information cannot be verified by it when making determinations as to the prices or costs in a non-state-controlled economy country at a comparable stage of economic development, to use the best information available to it (during the investigation or the review of an antidumping order).
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 · 31 July 1985
Prohibits the Federal budget for a fiscal year, as proposed by the President or as adopted by the Congress in a concurrent resolution on the budget, from: (1) providing for total budget outlays exceeding the total outlays for the preceding fiscal year, unless it provides at least equal increases in revenues and identifies the source of such revenues; or (2) providing for a reduction in revenues from the preceding fiscal year, unless it provides at least equal reductions in outlays and identifies the programs or activities for which outlays will be reduced. Authorizes the Congress, by a two-thirds vote of each House, to waive such prohibition concerning the budget adopted under a concurrent resolution.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 1985
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should propose to the Soviet Union the immediate resumption of negotiations toward conclusion of a verifiable test ban treaty.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 1985
Black Lung Benefits Amendments Act of 1985 - Amends the Black Lung Benefits Act to provide that all administrative law judges making determinations under such Act shall receive compensation at a rate not less than the GS-16 level. Makes such amendment applicable to determinations for benefits pending before the Department of Labor on the date of enactment of this Act as well as to claims brought after such date.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 1985
Fair Foreign Trade Practices Act of 1985 - Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to make the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), subject to the President's approval, responsible for determining whether import relief actions should be taken. (Currently the President is responsible for such determinations.) Provides that injurious industrial targeting by a foreign country or instrumentality may trigger import relief actions. Defines injurious industrial targeting. Requires the USTR to take the following actions if the USTR makes specified determinations: (1) suspend, withdraw, or prevent the application of benefits of trade agreement concessions; (2) direct customs officers to assess duties or impose other import restrictions on the products of, and assess fees or impose restrictions on the services of, such foreign country or instrumentality; (3) negotiate agreements with foreign countries to fully offset the burden or restriction on U.S. commerce; (4) submit to the President proposed administrative actions and legislation to restore or improve the international competitiveness of the industry that has been injured or threatened with injury; or (5) take any combination of such actions. (Current law authorizes but does not require the President to take certain actions.) Authorizes the USTR (currently the President) to take certain additional actions with respect to access of foreign entities to U.S. service sector markets. Requires the USTR, before taking any of the mandatory import relief actions, to: (1) publish its determination in the Federal Register; and (2) notify the President of any import relief determination and any action taken with respect to such determination. Provides for a 60 day waiting period during which the President may disapprove such determination thereby nullifying it. Requires the President to report to the Congress, within 15 days of disapproving such determination, the reasons for such disapproval. Requires the USTR, upon deciding to begin an import relief investigation, to publish notice of such intent in the Federal Register and request comments and information from other Federal agencies. Directs the USTR, in all investigations initiated pursuant to a petition, to present detailed questionnaries to the foreign governments or instrumentalities and the foreign enterprises concerned in order to develop information about the petition's allegations. Requires the USTR to base its determination on the best information available, which may be the allegations in the petition. Authorizes the USTR to file with the International Trade Commission (ITC) a copy of the petition or equivalent document in a case alleging injurious industrial targeting and request the ITC to make a determination on such allegation. Grants the ITC 90 days to make such determination. Sets forth the time limitations and procedures for determinations and actions by the USTR. Authorizes the USTR to take actions to compensate a foreign country or instrumentality adversely affected by any import relief action which the United States takes if the contracting parties to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) disapprove such action. Directs the USTR to: (1) issue regulations governing import relief petitions, investigations, and hearings; (2) keep petitioners informed of all determinations and developments in their cases; and (3) report semiannually to the Congress on import relief petitions and developments. Provides for an investigative staff for the USTR. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish a Foreign Industrial Targeting Information Agency (the Agency) within the Department of Commerce to collect information on and monitor foreign industrial targeting. Requires the Director of the Agency, if the Director has reason to believe that a foreign government has initiated or plans to initiate a program to promote the economic development of a particular industry and significant quantities of the products of that industry may be exported to the United States or compete with U.S. products internationally, to collect information on such policies and actions. Authorizes the Director to request information from other Federal agencies. Requires the Director to initiate a special surveillance program if the Director finds that: (1) the foreign government intervention in the industry is substantial; and (2) U.S. imports of that industry's merchandise are likely to have significant effects on the competing, domestic industry. Requires the special surveillance program to: (1) seek information on the price at which the merchandise is being sold in its home market and other relevant information; (2) monitor import levels and prices of such merchandise and the effect of such imports on the competing U.S. industry; (3) collect and evaluate information on the potential adverse effects that the government intervention might have on the competing U.S. industry; and (4) publish quarterly reports on the information obtained through the surveillance program. Requires the Director to recommend to the Secretary that the Commerce Department or another Federal agency initiate a formal investigation of the imported merchandise if a surge of U.S. imports of such merchandise occurs or if such imports appear to be significantly suppressing U.S. prices of competing merchandise. Requires the Director to publish notice of the initiation of a special surveillance program in the Federal Register.
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
Establishes a presumption of service-connection for disability purposes for former prisoners of war suffering from the following conditions, manifest to a degree of ten percent or more after active service: (1) chronic liver disease; (2) organic residuals of hypothermia; (3) gastro-intestinal disorders; (4) arthritis; (5) cardiovascular conditions; (6) peripheral neuropathy; (7) immunological dysfunctions; or (8) chronic pulmonary disease. Decreases from six months to 30 days the amount of time a former prisoner of war must have been incarcerated to be eligible for outpatient dental services.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 1985
Prohibits the Secretary of Health and Human Services from changing reimbursement levels or methodologies for home health services under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act prior to the later of: (1) October 1, 1986; or (2) any freeze period beginning after June 30, 1985, and before October 1, 1986.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 1985
Expresses the Senate's concern about Doctor Yury Orlov and calls upon the Soviet Union to release him from exile and allow him and his wife to emigrate. Urges the President to instruct the Secretary of State to raise this issue with the Soviet Union privately and at specified forums.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 1985
Non-Smokers Rights Act of 1985 - Restricts smoking to designated areas in all U.S. Government buildings. Sets forth a civil penalty for anyone who smokes in a designated non-smoking area.
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.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1985
Federal Employees Worksite Health Promotion Act of 1985 - Requires Federal agencies to establish and carry out a comprehensive occupational health program for employees. Requires each agency head to consult with the Secretary of Health and Human Services for recommendations before establishing a program. Makes any such program subject to available appropriations. Directs the Secretary to study health protection services of the private sector and health protection needs of, and resources available to, Government employees to determine the most effective program for the Government to undertake. Directs the Secretary to develop a comprehensive plan, including a schedule, to furnish health protection to Federal employees. Requires each agency to submit a comprehensive short-term and long-term plan to the Secretary specifying a schedule for furnishing health protection to employees. Requires the Secretary to submit the results of the study, and a summary of agency plans, to the Congress not later than one year after enactment of this Act. Directs the Secretary to carry out at least one demonstration project to determine the most effective means of furnishing an occupational health program to Federal employees. Requires a report to the Congress 60 days after termination of such project. Terminates such project two years after enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1985
Improved Public Health Through Nutrition Monitoring Act of 1985 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to prepare the Comprehensive Health Promotion and Nutrition Monitoring Plan (comprehensive plan) to specify the manner in which the National Health Promotion and Nutrition Monitoring Program (coordinated program) will be implemented. Specifies the requirements of the comprehensive plan. Requires the Secretary to submit a draft of the comprehensive plan to the Congress and publish such plan, with a request for public comment, in the Federal Register within one year of enactment of this Act. Requires the Secretary to submit a final comprehensive plan to the President and the Congress within 60 days after the end of the period for public comment. Requires the Secretary to implement the comprehensive final plan. Grants specified congressional committees oversight responsibilities. Establishes a ten-year National Health Promotion and Nutrition Monitoring Program. States that such program shall include: (1) the assessment, collection, analysis, and reporting of information on health, dietary, and nutritional trends in the U.S.; (2) the assessment, analysis, and reporting of the effects on health status of food assistance programs; (3) sponsoring and conducting research; (4) maintaining, coordinating, implementing, and completing health, nutrition, and dietary surveys; (5) developing and maintaining health, nutrition, and dietary data bases; (6) coordinating Federal, State, local, and private activities; (7) providing scientific and technical assistance; and (8) providing grants to be carried out through the National Science Foundation and the Director of the Centers for Disease Control. Directs the Secretary to: (1) update and integrate into the coordinated program the Joint Implementation Plan for a Comprehensive National Nutrition Monitoring System; (2) provide for and coordinate Federal research; (3) enter into a contract for the interpretation of available data; (4) foster cost recovery management techniques; and (5) prepare annual reports. Authorizes the Secretary to appoint a Coordinator for Health Promotion and Nutrition Monitoring. Establishes the Interagency Health Promotion and Nutrition Monitoring Board to assist the Secretary. Establishes the Advisory Council on Health Promotion and Nutrition Monitoring to: (1) provide scientific and technical advice; (2) evaluate the quality and effectiveness of the implementation of the coordinated program; and (3) evaluate the coordinated program, the comprehensive plan, and the budget. Sets forth budget request procedures. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1985
Declares that the Senate agrees to cooperate with the Jacob K. Javits Senate Fellowship Program. Directs the Senate to provide assistance as may be necessary for the success of this fellowship program.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 1985
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) conduct a study for the purpose of determining tolerable State error rates under the Aid to Families with Dependent Children Program (part A of title IV of the Social Security Act); and (2) contract with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a concurrent study. Sets forth reporting requirements. Sets the AFDC error rate at four percent (currently three percent). Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to waive all or any part of any sanction that would otherwise be imposed upon a State if the State is unable to reach the allowable error rate despite a good faith effort. Permits a State to request such a waiver upon a showing that: (1) it has made a good faith effort to reduce erroneous payments; or (2) its error rate was determined incorrectly and should be lower. Permits a State to appeal the Secretary's denial of a waiver. Provides for a moratorium on reducing payments for excess errors. States that it is the intent of the Congress to revise such moratorium at a time after the reports required by this Act have been submitted. Provides for incentive payments to States with error rates under four percent, but not until the moratorium is lifted. Provides that when determining a State's error rate: (1) the rate shall be fixed at the lower bound of the standard interval for errors within which the State's true error rate falls; and (2) errors which are technical in nature or have no fiscal impact shall be disregarded.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 1985
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the Department of Energy, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and other agencies should take appropriate actions to: (1) assure the maintenance of a viable domestic uranium industry; (2) assure the proper disposal and reclamation of uranium mill tailings through a program for the equitable financing of such disposal and reclamation; and (3) provide for the use of uranium and uranium hexafluoride so that the United States is assured of secure, independent supplies of uranium for commercial and military needs.
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