United States · United States Congress · 10 May 1982
Urges the Soviet Union to facilitate the emigration of certain named Soviet citizens who are married to citizens of Western countries and who have begun a hunger strike to protest the Soviet refusal to allow them to emigrate. Expresses U.S. support and sympathy for the families of the hunger strikers and for the families of others who have attempted to obtain and been denied exit visas.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 1982
Extends the congratulations of the Senate to the people and leaders of Greater Miami and Dade County, Florida, for their efforts in the production of the New World Festival of the Arts. Acclaims the Festival as a major cultural and artistic event.
United States · United States Congress · 5 May 1982
Food Stamp Reform Act of 1982 - Title I: Definitions - Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to require that related persons (currently parents and children) who live together be treated as a food stamp household, unless one of the individuals is 60 years of age or over or receiving supplemental security income benefits or disability payments under the Social Security Act. Revises the method of adjusting the thrifty food plan for FY 1982 through 1984. Title II: Eligible Households - Revises the income standards of eligibility to require households without an elderly or disabled member to meet a 100 percent poverty net income test and a 130 percent poverty gross income test. Changes the date for adjustments of standard deductions in computing household income for 1983 from July 1 to October 1. Allows State agencies to use a standard utility allowance in computing the excess shelter expense deduction. Includes any savings and retirement accounts and the cash value of pensions as financial resources in determining household eligibility. Establishes categorical eligibility for households in which all members are Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) recipients. Title III: Eligibility Disqualifications - Declares that during a period of a person's ineligibility the financial resources of that person shall be included as income for that person's household. Authorizes the Secretary to permit State agencies to establish periodic reporting requirements similar to such requirements under the AFDC program of the Social Security Act. Grants State agencies the option of requiring job search information at the time of an individual's application for food stamps. Increases from 60 days to 90 days the period of ineligibility for the head of a household who voluntarily quits employment. Requires that a second parent in a household register for work when the youngest child reaches the age of twelve. Title IV: Value of Allotment - Prohibits State agencies from issuing an allotment for the initial month or period if such allotment is less than a specified amount. Prohibits a household from receiving increased allotments as a result of being penalized for noncompliance with other public assistance programs. Title V: Administration - Directs State agencies to provide expedited coupon issuance to destitute migrant or seasonal farmworker households and to other households based on gross income and financial resources. Authorizes a State agency to immediately reduce or terminate benefits in any household for which the agency has received written information from such household which requires a reduction or termination. Authorizes the Secretary to require State agencies to conduct verification measures to assure that individuals are not receiving duplicative benefits under the food stamp program. Authorizes the Secretary to require State agencies to implement new or modified procedures to improve program integrity and be cost-effective. Title VI: Collection and Disposition of Claims - Grants households determined ineligible because of fraud and misrepresentation 30 days in which to select a repayment plan before such household is subject to an allotment reduction. Sets forth procedures for a State agency to intercept unemployment benefits of food stamp recipients who have received overpayments and such overpayments are uncollected. Title VII: Administrative Cost-Sharing and Quality Controls - Permits States to retain 50 percent of overissuances which are recovered. Directs the Secretary to institute an error rate reduction program under which a State agency's federally funded share of administrative costs may be lowered if such agency's payment errors exceed certain percentages. Title VIII: Authorization for Appropriations - Extends authorization for the food stamp program through FY 1985. Authorizes appropriations for the Puerto Rico block grant for FY 1983 through 1985. Title IX: Miscellaneous - Requires the rounding down to the nearest whole dollar in calculations for the thrifty food plan, household allotments, and household income deductions. Title X: Effective Dates - Makes this Act effective upon enactment.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1982
Resources for Handicapped Individuals Act - Title I: Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youth and Adults - Establishes a Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults to: (1) provide specialized intensive services for deaf-blind persons; (2) train personnel to provide such services; and (3) conduct applied research, development, and demonstrations relating to communication techniques, teaching methods, aids, and devices, and delivery of services. Requires an annual audit of the Center. Directs the Secretary of Education to ensure that: (1) Center service and training programs are monitored regularly; and (2) Center operation is evaluated annually, with written reports to the President and the Congress submitted by specified deadlines. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1983 for Center operation and maintenance in accordance with guidelines or regulations prescribed by the Secretary. Defines "Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults" to mean that facility and its affiliated network established pursuant to an agreement approved in 1969 by the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, and continued pursuant to specified provisions of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. (Repeals such provisions of such Act in title IV of this Act.) Provides that nothing in this Act shall in any way cause to affect or modify any existing or future agreement between any Federal department, agency, or instrumentality and the Industrial Home for the Blind, Inc., or its successors or assignees, with respect to the Helen Keller National Center for the Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults. Title II: Instructional Media for the Handicapped - Directs the Librarian of Congress to establish a loan service of capitioned films and educational media for handicapped individuals, their parents, and others directly involved in activities for the advancement of the handicapped. Authorizes the Librarian to: (1) acquire such films, educational media, and equipment; (2) provide, by grant or contract, for film captioning, for distribution of media and equipment to State schools and other appropriate local or regional agencies, for production and distribution of such media, and for research and training in their use; (3) utilize other governmental agencies' facilities and services; and (4) accept gifts, contributions, and voluntary and uncompensated services of individuals and organizations. Authorizes the Librarian to enter into specified types of agreements with institutions of higher education, State and local educational agencies, or other appropriate nonprofit agencies for the establishment and operation of centers on educational media and materials for the handicapped. Directs the Librarian to give preference to the proposals of institutions and agencies which: (1) have demonstrated the capabilities necessary for development and evaluation of such media; and (2) can serve the educational technology needs of the Model High School for the Deaf. Directs the Librarian to report annually to the Congress on the activities of the centers on educational media and materials for the handicapped. Authorizes appropriations in each fiscal year as necessary to carry out this title. Title III: Regional Postsecondary Educational Programs - Authorizes the Secretary to make grants or contracts with institutions of higher education, including junior and community colleges, vocational and technical institutions, and other appropriate nonprofit educational agencies, for the development and operation of specially designed or modified programs of vocational, technical, postsecondary, or adult education for deaf or other handicapped indviduals. Directs the Secretary to give priority to programs: (1) serving multistate regions or large population centers; (2) adapting existing programs of vocational, technical, postsecondary,or adult education to the special needs of handicapped individuals; and (3) designed to serve areas where a need for such services is clearly demonstrated. Directs the Secretary to conduct, directly or by contract, a continuing evaluation of the effectiveness of each program assisted under this title. Authorizes appropriations in each fiscal year as may be necessary to carry out this title. Directs the Secretary, in each fiscal year after September 30, 1982, to assure that each recipient of funds in FY 1982 under regional educational program provisions of the Education of the Handicapped Act which the Secretary determines will provide effective services for that fiscal year will continue to receive financial assistance for that fiscal year. Title IV: Miscellaneous Provisions - Repeals provisions of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 which relate to the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults. Repeals provisions of the Education of the Handicapped Act which relate to instructional media for the handicpped and to regional education programs.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 1982
Commends Israel for completing the Israeli withdrawal from the Sinai Peninsula in accordance with the Camp David Accords. Expresses confidence that Israel and Egypt will continue normalizing relations.
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 1982
Amends the Agricultural Act of 1970 to prohibit the President from restricting the export of an agricultural commodity sought to be exported under an export sales contract: (1) entered into before the President announces an export restriction on the commodity; and (2) reported pursuant to a specified section of the Agricultural Act of 1970. Permits the President to restrict exports of such a commodity during a declared war or national emergency.
United States · United States Congress · 15 April 1982
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the President should notify the Common Market's Council of Ministers that: (1) renegotiation of the Common Market's tariff on corn gluten feed is not in the best interests of the United States; and (2) the imposition of any trade restriction on corn gluten feed would seriously impede U.S. relations with the Common Market. Urges the President to take all other appropriate steps to protect U.S. exports of corn gluten feed.
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 1982
Prohibits the Government from imposing export restrictions on agricultural commodities which interfere with valid export contracts if: (1) the contracts were entered into before the imposition of such restrictions; and (2) the contracts provide for the delivery of such commodities for export within 180 days of the date the restrictions are imposed.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 1982
Voting Rights for the Handicapped and the Elderly Act - Directs the Attorney General to promulgate guidelines to assure that registration and polling place facilities used for Federal elections are readily accessible to handicapped and elderly individuals. Sets forth minimum requirements for these guidelines. Requires States to make available registration and voting aids for handicapped and elderly individuals in Federal elections. Authorizes the Attorney General and aggrieved persons to bring actions in Federal court to enforce this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 1982
Establishes U.S. policy concerning commercial food exports. Declares that there should be no interruptions in exports unless there is a general embargo in circumstances that justify the united support of the free world.
United States · United States Congress · 31 March 1982
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the aggregate amount of appropriations for conservation and renewable energy for FY 1983 should not be less than the amount appropriated for FY 1982.
United States · United States Congress · 30 March 1982
Enterprise Zone Tax Act of 1982 - Title I: Designation of Enterprise Zones - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the designation of enterprise zones by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for purposes of extending the tax incentives and regulatory flexibility measures provided by this Act. Specifies that State and local governments shall nominate areas for such designation. Limits the designation of enterprise zones to 25 nominated areas per year. Limits the period during which such designations shall remain in effect. Specifies that the Secretary may designate such zones only if: (1) the area is within the jurisdiction of the local government; (2) the boundary of the area is continuous; (3) the area has a population of at least 4,000 if any portion thereof is located within a standard metropolitan statistical area (with a population of at least 50,000) or 2,500 otherwise, or is within an Indian reservation; and (4) the area meets specified unemployment and poverty requirements. Requires nominating local governments, as a condition of the Secretary's designation, to agree in writing to follow a course of action which may include reducing tax rates, improving local services, simplifying or streamlining regulation of business, or receiving commitments of private entities to assist employees and residents of the area. Terminates the authority of the Secretary to designate enterprise zones on December 31, 1985 or three years after publication of regulations pertaining to such zones, whichever is later. Describes areas to which preference shall be given in deciding to designate enterprise zones. Requires that any property tax reduction effected by a local government under the terms of this Act be disregarded for purposes of determining the eligibility of a State or local government for Federal assistance or benefits. States that designation of an enterprise zone shall not give displaced persons from such an area any rights or benefits under the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisitions Policies Act of 1970. Title II: Federal Income Tax Incentives Subtitle A - Credits for Employers and Employees - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow employers a nonrefundable income tax credit for ten percent of the increase in payroll for all employees, taking into account a maximum of $15,000 in wages per employee. Allows such credit only for wages paid to employees who perform 90 percent of their services in work directly related to the conduct of the taxpayers' business located in the enterprise zone and who perform 50 percent of their services within such zone. Phases out such credit in the last three years of the enterprise zone designation. Allows a nonrefundable income tax credit for employers equal to 50 percent of the wages paid to certain disadvantaged workers for the first three years of the enterprise zone designation. Phases out such credit by ten percent a year beginning in the forth year after such designation. Requires a recapture of such credit for the early termination of such employees. Disallows a deduction for the portion of wages or salaries subject to such credit. Requires employers to furnish to each employee a written statement showing the amount of wages paid to such employee. Provides an income tax credit for enterprise zone employees equal to five percent of the first $9,000 of wages received each year. Phases out such credit in the last four years of the enterprise zone designation. Subtitle B: Credits for Investment in Tangible Property in Enterprise Zones - Allows businesses an additional investment tax credit for certain tangible property located in enterprise zones. Limits such credit to five percent for zone personal property and ten percent for new zone construction property, including rental property. Requires that the property subject to such credit be predominantly used in the zone, be purchased after zone designation, and not be acquired from relatives or related corporations. Requires the recapture of such credit upon early disposition of the property. Subtitle C: Reduction in Capital Grain Tax Rates - Eliminates the capital gains tax on property of corporations acquired after the enterprise zone designation and used in a zone business. Qualifies certain low-income rental housing located in an enterprise zone for such treatment. Permits property to remain qualified for purposes of the revised capital gains treatment after a designation of an enterprise zone has terminated. Exempts gain from the sale or expenses of property used in a business in an enterprise zone from the computation of the minimum tax. Expresses the sense of Congress that if the minimum tax is modified, enterprise zone capital gain will be excluded in computing minimum taxable income. Subtitle D: Extension of Carryover Periods - Extends the net operating loss and investment tax credit carryover period to the longer of 15 years or the duration of the enterprise zone designation for businesses operating in such zones. Subtitle E: Rules Relating to Industrial Development Bonds - Provides that rules relating to small issue tax-exempt industrial development bonds now in effect shall apply to bonds used to finance land or other depreciable property located in an enterprise zone, even if such rules are subsequently changed. Subtitle F: Sense of the Congress With Respect to Tax Simplification - Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Internal Revenue Service should simplify the administration and enforcement of any provision of the Internal Revenue Code affected by this Act. Title III: Regulatory Flexibility - Revises the definition of "small entity" for purposes of the analysis of regulatory functions, to include qualified businesses (as defined in Title II of this Act), designating governments, and nonprofit enterprises operating within enterprise zones. Authorizes Federal agencies, upon request by a designating government, to waive or modify rules and regulations which pertain to the carrying out of projects or activities within an enterprise zone. Requires agencies to approve such request if the resulting benefits of job creation, community development or economic revitalization outweigh the public interest in continuation of the rule unchanged. Disallows waiver or modification of a rule that would directly violate a statutory requirement (including the Davis-Bacon Act and Fair Labor Standards Act) or which would present a danger to the public health and safety. Provides that such waivers or modifications of rule shall remain in effect as long as the zone designations. Amends the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act to direct the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to promote the coordination of all enterprise zone programs and consolidate all periodic reports required under such programs into one summary report. Title IV: Establishment of Foreign Trade Zones in Enterprise Zones - Requires the Foreign-Trade Zone Board to consider on a priority basis and expedite the processing of applications for the establishment of foreign-trade zones within enterprise zones. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to give priority to and expedite applications for the establishment of parts of entry necessary to establish such zones. States that to the maximum extent practicable foreign-trade zones should be established within enterprise zones.
United States · United States Congress · 30 March 1982
Declares that the United States should propose to the Soviet Union: (1) a long-term, mutual, and verifiable nuclear forces freeze at equal and sharply reduced levels; and (2) practical measures to reduce the danger of an accidental nuclear war and to prevent the use of nuclear weapons by third parties. States that the United States and the Soviet Union should channel their resources away from amassing nuclear armaments and towards fighting poverty, hunger, and disease. Declares that the United States should continue to work for balanced arms reductions.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 1982
Authorizes the President to designate April 4, 1982, as the National Day of Reflection. Notes that such date coincides with the 80th birthday of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, head of the Lubavitch movement.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1982
Expresses the sense of the Congress that certain export control regulations pertaining to Iraq, Syria, South Yemen, South Africa, and Namibia were issued without adequate consultation with Congress and should be modified. Declares that in accordance with prior policy or regulations: (1) the State Department should list Iraq as a country that has repeatedly provided support for international terrorism; (2) Congress should be notified before a decision to grant an export license application to export civil aircraft to Syria and South Yemen; (3) export license applications to export helicopters, airplanes, or items controlled for national security purposes for use by South African military and police entities should be denied; (4) export license applications to export computers for use by South African military and police entities should be denied; and (5) applications to export computers for use by South African Government entities should be granted on a case-by-case basis only if the computers would not be used in support of apartheid.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1982
Amends the Tariff Schedules of the United States to apply duty-free treatment to certain athletic footwear imported for use in the Special Olympics program.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1982
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should: (1) express to the Soviet Union the United States' deep concern about the Soviet Union's depriving the Vashchenko and Chmykhalov families of religious freedom and refusing them permission to emigrate; (2) ensure that such families may reside in the U.S. embassy in Moscow until the Soviet Union authorizes their emigration; and (3) ensure provision of assistance for such families during their residence in the embassy.
United States · United States Congress · 17 March 1982
Amends the National Housing Act to authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, through the Government National Mortgage Association, to assist middle- and lower-income families in acquiring a home or membership in a cooperative housing association by making periodic interest reduction payments on behalf of such families to mortgagees and lenders. Prohibits the Secretary from entering into contracts to provide interest reduction payments during any month unless the Federal Home Loan Bank Board's home mortgage interest rate index for the most recent two-month period exceeds 12.5 percent per year. Conditions eligibility for interest reduction payments on the insurability of the first mortgage or loan secured by such property. Sets forth the qualifications for insurance, which include requirements that: (1) the loan be executed by a borrower who has an annual income of less than $30,000; (2) the loan involve a one- to four-family dwelling the construction of which was completed on or after March 6, 1982; (3) the loan be amortized over 30 years; and (4) beginning with the second year, the loan payments be increased by a specified amount which shall be applied to the principal obligation until it is paid off. Limits the duration of the interest reduction payments to five years. Declares that the amount of all such payments shall constitute a second lien on the property. Requires repayment of such amount, not to exceed 60 percent of the homeowner's net equity: (1) upon the sale or disposition of the property; (2) upon the refinancing of the loan; or (3) when the owner ceases to occupy the property as a principal residence for a period exceeding nine months. Limits the amount of interest reduction payments to the difference between the amount of the monthly principal and interest payment under the terms of the loan and the amount such payment would be if the interest rate on the loan were: (1) 11 percent per year; or (2) four percentage points less than the rate specified in the loan, whichever rate is higher. Requires the Secretary to: (1) allocate the amount available to carry out this Act on the basis of the population, number of housing starts, and unemployment in each State relative to all States; and (2) assure that the allocated amounts are made available in a manner which maximizes participation by eligible lenders and borrowers. Declares that any mortgage insured or assisted under this Act shall be eligible for purchase by the Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Association Corporation. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 17 March 1982
Expresses the sense of the Senate that Congress supports the President's decision to prohibit imports of Libyan oil and to deny licenses for the export of certain oil and gas equipment to Libya.
United States · United States Congress · 17 March 1982
Condemns the religious persecution by Iran of persons of the Baha'i faith. Holds Iran responsible for upholding the rights of all its citizens. Expresses the hope that the discrimination against and executions of the Baha'is will cease. Urges Iran to end the executions.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1982
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the President should: (1) continue to express U.S. opposition to the forced exile of Ida Nudel; (2) urge the Soviet Union to provide her with adequate medical care and allow her to emigrate; and (3) inform the Soviet Union that the United States will consider the extent to which countries honor their commitments under international law when evaluating U.S. relations with such countries.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 1982
Declares that if Israel or any other democratic state is denied its rights and privileges in the United Nations' General Assembly the United States will suspend its participation in the General Assembly and will withhold its contribution to the United Nations until the action is reversed.
United States · United States Congress · 9 March 1982
Requests the President to designate the week of June 20 through June 27, 1982, as National Safety in the Workplace Week to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the American Society of Safety Engineers.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1982
White House Conference on Productivity Act - Title I: Findings - States the findings of Congress concerning U.S. productivity. Title II: The White House Conference on Productivity - Directs the President to call a White House Conference on Productivity, within one year, to develop recommendations to stimulate the U.S. productivity improvement rate. Lists the policy options the Conference shall consider. Requires the Conference to submit a report to the President. Requires the report to be made public. Directs the President to transmit to the Congress recommendations for legislative action to implement recommendations in the report. Title III: Administration - Provides for the administration of the Conference. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 1982
Title I: Incentive Grants for States with Strict Driving While Intoxicated Statutes - Amends the highway safety programs uniform standards to direct the Secretary of Transportation to make incentive grants to States that have specified statutes concerning driving while intoxicated. Title II: National Driver Register - National Driver Register Act of 1982 - Eliminates the register in the Department of Commerce that lists the names of persons who have had their motor vehicle operator's licenses revoked. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to establish and maintain a National Driver Register to assist chief driver licensing officials of participating States in exchanging information regarding the motor vehicle driving records of individuals. Prohibits the Secretary from maintaining information in such Register for more than a seven-year period from the date of its entry. Allows any State to participate in such Register system. Directs the chief driver licensing official of a participating State to transmit to the Secretary specified information on certain drivers (including reversals of previously transmitted traffic offense convictions). Allows access to such information to specified individuals, including the Administrator of the Bureau of Motor Carrier Safety and the Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board. Limits the use of such information to official investigations and other specified purposes. Directs the Secretary to implement a pilot test program to demonstrate the potential effectiveness of a system for electronic referral and relay of information regarding the motor vehicle driving records of individuals. Describes State participation in such program. Requires the Secretary to report to Congress on the program. Sets forth criminal penalties for the unauthorized disclosure of information from the National Driver Register. Establishes a National Driver Register Advisory Committee to advise the Secretary concerning the efficiency and effectiveness of the Register system. Directs the Committee to report at least annually to the Secretary. Directs the Secretary, within nine years of the date of enactment of this Act, to report to Congress on the level of State participation in and the effectiveness of the Register system. Authorizes appropriations to carry out the provisions of this Act for fiscal years 1983 through 1985.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 1982
Amends the Bankruptcy Act to provide that a debtor shall not be discharged from a judgment debt resulting from a liability based upon driving while legally intoxicated.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 1982
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should instruct the U.S. delegation to the February meeting of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights to tell the Commission that the Soviet Union should stop harassing Soviet Jews and should allow its citizens to practice their religion and to emigrate. Urges the Soviet Union to comply with its human rights obligations. Urges the President to: (1) express to the Soviet Union U.S. opposition to harassment of Soviet citizens and to prohibitions of emigration; and (2) reiterate that the United States will consider the extent to which other nations honor their commitments under international law when evaluating its relations with such nations.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 1982
Expresses the sense of the Senate that Lech Walesa and others detained by Poland's government for political reasons should be released. Declares that Lech Walesa and other Solidarity members should be permitted to: (1) participate in negotiations concerning the future of Solidarity; (2) comment on the situation in Poland; and (3) travel freely.
![Official portrait of Sen. Boschwitz, Rudy [R-MN]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/b000647_200.jpg)