United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1984
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should instruct the U.S. delegation to the United Nations to request the Secretary General to seek the cooperation of Vietnam with the United States and specified other countries in ascertaining the whereabouts of the crewmen of the sunken U.S. vessel Glomar Java Sea.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1984
Increases the adapted housing benefit ceiling for veterans with specified permanent and total service-connected disabilities. Amends the veterans' housing loan program to increase the maximum amounts the Veterans Administration may guarantee for an eligible veteran.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1984
Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to authorize appropriations for: (1) FY 1985 through 1987 to be used by the Secretary of Commerce to assist in the planning and construction of public telecommunications facilities; and (2) FY 1987 through 1989 for the Public Broadcasting Fund used by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1984
Family Violence Prevention and Services Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to States to assist in supporting the establishment, maintenance, and expansion of programs and projects to: (1) prevent incidents of family violence; and (2) provide shelter and related assistance for victims and dependents of victims of family violence. Sets forth requirements for grant applications. Limits to five percent of such grant funds the amount which may be used for State administrative costs. Requires that at least 70 percent of such funds be distributed to nonprofit private organizations (including religious and charitable organizations and voluntary associations). Requires that the remainder be distributed to local public agencies. Requires the State, in distributing such funds, to give special emphasis to the support of community-based projects of demonstrated effectiveness, particularly those with the primary purpose of operating shelters for victims and dependents and those which provide counseling, alcohol and drug abuse treatment, and self-help services to abusers and victims. Prohibits projects receiving grant funds from: (1) requiring a minimum length of stay for shelter residents; or (2) censoring mail or telephone calls of shelter residents, or interfering in any way with reconciliation efforts, unless requested to do so by the resident. Requires States receiving grants to certify, within one year after receipt of such funds, to the Secretary that the State has a procedure for the eviction of an abusing spouse from a shared residence. Permits grant funds to be used to provide shelter and related assistance to victims of violence by individuals with whom they reside, provided that victims of family violence are first served. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to Indian tribes and intertribal organizations for such projects for the prevention of family violence and for shelters and related assistance for victims and dependents. Sets forth limits on the amount of such grants to single entities other than States. Prohibits direct payments to victims or dependents. Prohibits imposition of income eligibility standards. Requires local grant recipients to provide local shares of grant funds. Requires that at least 75 percent of grant funds be distributed to entities to provide immediate shelter and related assistance to victims and dependents. Sets forth formulas for allotment of such grant funds to States and to specified U.S. territories and possessions. Sets forth provisions for administration of programs under this title. Directs the Secretary to: (1) maintain records on programs under this title and coordinate all Federal programs relating to family violence; (2) support research on the provision of shelter and related assistance to victims and dependents; and (3) establish a national information and resource clearinghouse on family violence to be coordinated with the information clearinghouse maintained by the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to, or contracts with, public or nonprofit private entities to provide technical assistance, training, and outreach services. Directs the Secretary to review, evaluate, and report to the Congress on the effectiveness of the program (particularly in relation to repeated incidents of family violence) under this title, within two years after funds are first obligated for program grants. Sets forth prohibitions against discrimination in programs funded under this title. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1984 through 1986 to carry out this title. Requires that: (1) 90 percent of such appropriations be used for grants to States, with between one-half and one percent of those appropriations to be available for grants to Indian tribes and intertribal organizations; and (2) ten percent of such appropriations be used by the Secretary to carry out this title. Directs the Secretary to establish an office to be known as the National Center on Elder Abuse. Directs the Secretary, through the Center, to do the following with respect to elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation: (1) compile, publish, and disseminate a summary annually of recently conducted research; (2) develop and maintain an information clearinghouse on all programs showing promise of success in prevention, identification, and treatment; (3) compile, publish, and disseminate personnel training materials; (4) provide technical assistance to public and nonprofit private agencies and organizations in planning, improving, developing, and carrying out related programs and activities; (5) conduct research into causes, prevention, treatment, and identification; and (6) make a complete study and investigation (in consultation with the National Institute on Aging) of the national incidence, including a determination of the extent to which incidents are increasing in number or severity. Directs the Secretary, within 18 months after enactment of this Act, to report to the President and Congress on the results of such research, with appropriate recommendations. Authorizes appropriations to carry out the activities of the Center. Directs the Attorney General to make grants for regionally-based training and technical assistance for local and State law enforcement agency personnel to respond to incidents of family violence. Provides for awarding of such grants on a competitive basis. Directs the Attorney General to: (1) select recipients who have demonstrated their effectiveness in preparing such personnel to handle such incidents; and (2) give priority to application proposals to develop, demonstrate, or disseminate information about improved techniques for law enforcement officers' response to such incidents. Authorizes appropriations for such grants for each of the fiscal years for which this title is in effect. Directs the Secretary to study: (1) the necessity and impact of mandatory reporting requirements relating to incidents of family violence, particularly elder abuse; and (2) the effect of immunity on the mandatory reporting process. Directs the Secretary, within 18 months after enactment of this Act, to report to Congress on the results of such study, with appropriate recommendations. Authorizes appropriations to carry out such study.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 1984
Directs the Librarian of Congress, subject to the supervision and construction authority of a Federal, civilian, or military agency, to construct the Library of Congress Mass Book Deacidification Facility. Directs the Librarian to operate and maintain such facility. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 1984
Secondary School Basic Skills Act - Establishes a program of grants to local educational agencies (LEAs) having especially high concentrations of children from low-income families to enable such agencies to provide more effective instruction in basic skills for economically disadvantaged secondary school students. Defines "basic skills" to include reading, writing, and mathematics computational proficiency as well as comprehension and reasoning. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1985 through 1990. Makes certain amounts of such appropriations available for specified activities and types of grants under this Act. Makes a secondary school eligible to receive assistance under this Act for planning grants, demonstration grants, and formula grants only if 20 percent or more of children aged 14 to 17, inclusive, who are enrolled in such school are counted under LEA basic grant provisions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as modified by the Education Consolidation and Improvement Act of 1981 (ECIA). Requires that funds made available under this Act for planning grants, demonstration grants, and formula grants be used to plan for, develop new approaches to, and carry out educational services and activities designed specifically to raise the basic skills of low achieving disadvantaged children. Authorizes the Secretary of Education, through the National Institute of Education (NIE) and from specified funds appropriated for FY 1985, to make planning grants to LEAs, institutions of higher education, and other public agencies and nonprofit private organizations. Provides that such planning grants shall be made to such entities on behalf of and for the purpose of assisting eligible secondary schools to prepare proposals for demonstration grants. Sets forth application requirements. Limits any such planning grant to $2,000. Requires planning grant recipients to submit a demonstration proposal within 60 days after the end of FY 1986, or else refund the amount received. Authorizes the Secretary, through NIE and from specified funds appropriated for FY 1985 and 1986, to make demonstration grants to enable eligible secondary schools to develop new approaches to achieving improved basic skills instruction of low-achieving economically disadvantaged secondary school students. Sets forth application requirements. Requires that the application be made on behalf of the eligible school by: (1) the LEA; or (2) an institution of higher education, public agency, or private nonprofit organization if such entity will provide educational services or conduct educational activities subject to the proposal. Requires applicants to assure their participation in a national assessment. Requires that administrators and teachers in the eligible school participate in the preparation of the proposal. Requires that the appropriate State educational agency (SEA) review and comment on the application before submission to the Secretary. Directs the Secretary to assure that: (1) at least one demonstration grant is made in each State in each fiscal year; and (2) no demonstration grant exceeds $500,000 in any fiscal year. Authorizes the Secretary, from specified funds for FY 1987 through 1990, to make formula grants to States to enable LEAs to carry out educational programs and activities to improve the basic skills of low-achieving economically disadvantaged secondary school students in eligible secondary schools. Reserves specified portions of formula grant funds for payments to certain U.S. territories and possessions and payments for children enrolled in Indian schools. Allots the remainder to States on the basis of the number of children aged 14 through 17, inclusive, who are counted for specified purposes under ESEA, as modified by ECIA, for the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year for which the determination is made. Requires each SEA to make allocations from the State allotment to LEAs, institutions of higher education, public agencies, and private nonprofit organizations having specified local applications approved on behalf of eligible secondary schools based on the relative number of children aged 14 through 17, inclusive, in such schools who were counted for specified purposes under ESEA, as modified by ECIA. Sets forth requirements for State assurances relating to formula grants. Limits to one percent of the State allotment State expenditures for administration, technical assistance, coordination, and planning. Limits to ten percent of the State allotment payments to institutions of higher education, public agencies, and nonprofit private organizations submitting applications on behalf of eligible secondary schools. Sets forth requirements for local applications to be filed with the SEA. Requires consultation with parents and teachers of low-achieving economically disadvantaged secondary school students in program design and implementation. Establishes a national secondary school basic skills panel in NIE to identify successful model programs and review planning and demonstration grant proposals. Directs the Secretary, through NIE, to conduct a national assessment of the effectiveness and the implementation of demonstration grants. Directs the Secretary to disseminate assessment results to LEAs having eligible secondary schools. Directs the Secretary, through NIE, to monitor grants and coordinate activities under this Act with other research activities conducted by NIE and through the Office of Educational Research and Improvement. Directs the Secretary to make payments under planning and demonstration grants as expeditiously as possible after approval of applications. Prohibits any formula grant to be made with respect to any eligible secondary school for more than two fiscal years unless there is: (1) an improved performance of the economically disadvantaged secondary school students at the school on a State approved basic skills test; or (2) a decrease in the dropout rate at the school. Directs the Secretary to prescribe regulations relating to such prohibition.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 1984
Medicare Solvency and Health Care Financing Reform Act of 1984 - Adds a new title XXI to the Public Health Service Act entitled "Programs For Reforming the Health Care Financing System." Sets forth part A of such title entitled "State Health Care Programs." Provides that if a State transmits to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, within one year of the enactment of this Act, a statement that the State intends to submit a health care plan (described below), for purposes of making payments to the State under title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act the Federal medical assistance percentage shall be 102 percent of such percentage as otherwise determined under Medicaid for such State for up to one year. Directs the Secretary to exempt hospitals in a State from the prospective payment limits established under this Act for certain time periods occurring during the first year of the transition period (defined in part C of title XXI as the 24-month period beginning January 1985) if: (1) the State requests such treatment; (2) the State indicates an intention to have implemented a State plan under title XXI which will provide for a recoupment of any revenues received in excess of the amounts permitted under part A; and (3) the State has agreed, with respect to such hospitals, that if a State plan under this Act is not implemented by the end of the first year of the transition period, then the Secretary shall provide for such adjustment in the prospective payment limits under part I of part B as will provide for recoupment in the subsequent year of any revenues received in excess of amounts permitted. Authorizes a State to apply to the Secretary for the approval of a health care plan for the State for an initial period of up to three years, subject to disapproval. Authorizes extensions of such initial period for up to two additional years. Provides that, for any one year period, in the case of any State with an approved plan: (1) the transitional period provisions of subpart I of part B of title XXI shall not apply; (2) requirements for reimbursement (other than those relating to beneficiary cost sharing) under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act shall be waived; and (3) for purposes of making payments to a State under Medicaid the Federal medical assistance percentage shall, for the year the plan is in effect, be 103 percent (or 104 percent in the case of an unrestricted Medicaid plan) of the amount of the Federal medical assistance percentage otherwise determined under Medicaid and 102 percent (or 103 percent in the case of an unrestricted Medicaid plan) for any subsequent year (except for any extension period) of the amount of the Federal medical assistance percentage otherwise determined. Defines "unrestricted Medicaid plan" as a State Medicaid plan which does not impose any limitation on the scope or duration of inpatient hospital services other than requiring that such services be medically necessary. Directs the Secretary to annually review each approved plan. Requires the continued approval, for a certain time, of a plan not in compliance, if the State certifies that it will comply within a stated time period. Permits a further extension of approval if there is a trend towards compliance. Provides for the establishment of a Federal program with respect to hospitals for a State which cannot comply. Requires a State plan, in order to be approved, to meet the general requirements set forth below and, if applicable, certain requirements relating to ratesetting plans. Permits a plan, in meeting the general requirements, to be designed in a manner that meets such requirements through a ratesetting system, a voluntary system, or through the use of competitive mechanisms. Requires a plan to be designed in a manner so as to provide, to the satisfaction of the Secretary, that: (1) the amount of the total revenues per discharge for all hospitals in the State for each year beginning before 1987 in which the plan is in effect may not exceed the base general hospital revenues per discharge increased by the sum of the compounded sum of the percentage limits for a year and the previous years for which the State plan was in effect, and the population-discharge factor; and (2) the amount of the total revenues per discharge for all services furnished to hospitals inpatients for all hospitals in the State for each year beginning after 1986 in which the plan is in effect may not exceed the sum of the base general hospital revenues per discharge increased by the sum of the compounded sum of the percentage limits for a year and the previous years for which the State plan was in effect, and the population-discharge factor, plus the base physician-related hospital revenues per discharge increased by the sum of the compounded sum of the percentage limits for a year and the previous years for which the plan is in effect and provided for a limitation under this clause (2), and the population-discharge factor. Authorizes a State, at its option, to apply the test specified in clause (2) instead of the test specified in clause (1) with respect to years prior to 1986. Permits a plan, instead of meeting the above requirements, to meet such other alternative test of constraint of health care costs as the Secretary determines will not result in a greater expenditure of funds under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act and by private payers than would have been made if the plan met the above requirements. Requires a plan to be designed so as to provide that the amount of revenues for inpatient hospital services and physicians' services to hospital inpatients and individuals entitled to benefits under parts A (Hospital Insurance) and B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of title XVIII of the Social Security Act may not exceed the amount which would otherwise be payable (including copayments and deductibles) for such services under title XVIII. Permits a plan (other than a plan providing for the establishment of rates of hospital reimbursement for hospital inpatient services) to provide that payment under title XVIII for inpatient hospital services and for other services furnished to hospital inpatients shall continue to be made in the amounts and in the manner otherwise provided under Medicare. Requires that the unreimbursed costs incurred by hospitals in providing services to low-income, uninsured, or underinsured patients (other than Medicare or Medicaid patients) be paid pursuant to a plan in an amount which must, in the aggregate, be the same proportion of total revenues as such unreimbursed costs are of total costs of patients who are neither Medicare nor Medicaid patients. Provides that such unreimbursed costs shall be paid through distribution of funds pooled at the statewide level, through a higher payment rate, or through another method approved by the Secretary. Requires a plan to have a mechanism for providing fair hearings for hospitals and any other entities aggrieved by determinations made under the plan. Requires a State to provide for the appointment of a panel, consisting of members with expertise in health care economics and service delivery, to advise in the development and implementation of its plan, periodically review and propose modifications to the plan, and establish the methodology for establishing the percentage limit used to compute hospital revenues. Requires such methodology to include the use of appropriate external price indicators, the use of data from major collective-bargaining agreements for nonsupervisory hospital employees, and other appropriate indicators of wage costs. Requires the methodology to be approved by the Secretary. Requires a plan, to the extent that it provides for meeting plan requirements through a system which provides for the establishment of rates for hospital reimbursement for hospital inpatient services by an entity other than the hospital, to meet the following additional requirements: (1) except as provided in clause (2), the plan must provide equitable treatment of all entities that pay for health services covered under the plan, of hospital employees, and of patients; (2) if the plan is established under State law, the plan must take into account the proportion of costs associated with, and services covered by, the different payors, including Medicare and Medicaid, and may not permit undue shifting of proportions of costs among the different payors; (3) the plan may not make available any discount in price to any purchaser unless the discount accurately reflects economic benefits to a hospital resulting from a service arrangement with a purchaser and the discount is made available to all other purchasers who can satisfy such service; and (4) the plan must provide a procedure whereby, upon the request of a hospital, an adjustment can be considered to the rate limitation applicable under the plan to that hospital to reflect a significant change in the inpatient hospital services, increased costs for the compensation of employees, funds necessary to provide for the efficient operation of a hospital which the State has determined should remain in operation, and higher expenses associated with a regional tertiary care institution, teaching hospital, or children's hospital. Directs the Secretary, in reviewing a plan which provides for control of hospital inpatient costs through a competitive mechanism, to take into account the degree to which the plan provides for the following or other measures to improve price competition among providers: (1) the plan provides for open enrollment periods; (2) the plan provides for the dissemination of information concerning different health benefits plans; (3) the plan encourages innovation and public incentives to new forms of health care delivery and financing; (4) there are negotiated prices and risk-sharing between insurers and health care providers; and (5) the laws of the State do not impose legal barriers to competition in negotiated and other arrangements among insurers and health care providers. Sets forth part B of title XXI entitled "Residual Federal Program" subpart I of part B entitled "Transition Period." Provides that, subject to the provisions of subpart I, for any accounting period of a hospital subject to subpart I the total revenues for inpatient hospital services may not exceed the total of such revenues that are permitted on the basis of prospective payment limits established under subpart I for the hospital's discharges as classified by diagnosis-related groups. Requires each hospital subject to a limitation on revenues under subpart I to provide for the publication of a price list which establishes the price per discharge which any payor may pay for inpatient hospital services. Requires a hospital to submit its price list to the Secretary. Directs the Secretary to determine (for each accounting period) a prospective payment limit for inpatient hospital services for discharges classified by diagnosis-related groups. Sets forth the method for determining and adjusting the limit for each hospital for discharges. Authorizes the Secretary, at the request of a hospital, to increase the allowable revenues for an accounting period or provide for an increase in the base number of discharges otherwise permitted under subpart I to allow for higher revenues than would otherwise be permitted if: (1) a major renovation or replacement of physical plant or significant change in the capacity of the hospital has occurred; (2) the hospital is a sole community provider or provides a disproportionate percentage of its services to low-income or Medicare patients, the hospital would otherwise be insolvent, and the State has determined that the hospital should remain open; (3) a larger revenue increase is needed because the hospital is a regional tertiary care institution, teaching hospital or children's hospital; and (4) there has been a significant change in the characteristics of the hospital's mix of patients. Subjects a hospital which has total inpatient revenues for an accounting period in excess of its applicable limit to a civil penalty, unless the excess is deposited in an escrow account. Permits withdrawals from the account upon the Secretary's certification that the total inpatient revenues of a hospital for an accounting period fall below the applicable limit for that period. Imposes a civil penalty upon a physician or other person or entity (other than a hospital) who has charged any person or entity for inpatient hospital services which are required by law to be billed to a hospital. Sets forth provisions relating to notice, opportunity for a hearing, and appeal of such penalties. Prohibits a hospital from engaging in an admission practice that results in: (1) a refusal to admit a patient who is unable to pay for inpatient hospital services; (2) the refusal to admit a patient who would be expected to require unusually costly or prolonged treatment; or (3) the refusal to provide emergency services to any person in need of such services. Sets forth penalties, including exclusion from Medicare or Medicaid participation, for hospitals committing such admissions violations. Sets forth subpart II of Part B entitled "Post-Transition Period." Provides that in the case of a State not having a plan approved under part A and in effect for any period beginning after the transition period, the Secretary shall establish and implement a health care plan for such State for such period which meets the requirements of part A, with specified differences. Sets forth definitions under part C of title XXI. Establishes an Advisory Committee on Health Care Technologies and Procedures. Directs the Advisory Committee to examine the appropriateness of the various interventions and the conditions under which they are needed, the safety and efficacy of alternative therapeutic and preventive regimens, and the standards for availability and utilization of various technologies, and to publicly report on whether or not payments should be made for such services and, if so, under what conditions and frequency of service. Exempts individuals enrolled in health maintenance organizations and competitive medical plans from the limits established under title XXI on revenues and discharge of a hospital if: (1) the organization elects such treatment; or (2) the organization annually pays for more than 20 percent of the number of bed-days of care with respect to that hospital. Amends provisions of the Public Health Service Act relating to employees' health benefits plans to provide that if an employer makes a contribution with respect to the costs of a health benefits plan of an employee and the employer offers the option of membership in a health maintenance organization or a competitive medical plan, which membership provides benefits at least actuarially equivalent to those provided under the other health benefits plan, the employer shall: (1) contribute at least as much towards the membership as the maximum amount of the employer's contribution to the other plan; (2) provide for a cash rebate if the contribution with respect to any other health benefits plan exceeds the cost of membership with the organization; and (3) provide information to employees that reasonably compares the benefits and costs of different plans. Exempts from the provisions of the previous sentence employees of an employer represented by a collective bargaining representative or other employee representative selected under any law. Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, with respect to health maintenance organizations and competitive medical plans, to provide that the annual per capita rate of payment for each class of members shall be 100 percent in the care of individuals enrolled with an eligible organization in an area where at least 30 percent of the individuals eligible to enroll with an organization are enrolled. Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to exempt a health maintenance organization which is a public entity from the requirement that at least 75 percent of its membership be Medicaid eligible or insured under part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of title XVIII or under both parts A (Hospital Insurance) and B of title XVIII. Directs the Secretary, under the prospective payment provisions of title XVIII of the Social Security Act, to provide that in the case of a State health care plan approved under Part A of title XXI of the Public Health Service Act payments with respect to services covered under title XXI: (1) may, at the State's option, be made in accordance with title XXI rather than Medicare; or (2) shall be made in accordance with title XXI rather than Medicare in the case of a plan which provides for the control of hospital costs through a title XXI ratesetting mechanism. Provides for increased Medicare payments to a hospital for its operating costs if the number of admissions for an accounting period exceeds the hospital's admissions during a specified base period. Directs the Secretary to determine a regionally adjusted capital-related prospective payment rate for each inpatient hospital discharge in accordance with a specified formula. Directs the Secretary, for each diagnosis-related group, to estimate the average per discharge amount of charges recognized under part B of title XVIII attributable to items and services furnished to inpatients within such group during 1983. Provides that, subject to the part B deductible and subject to other provisions of the Medicare prospective payment rate provisions, with respect to each individual entitled to benefits under part A and enrolled under part B of title XVIII who is a hospital inpatient and whose discharge is classified within a diagnosis-related group, the Secretary shall provide for payment to the hospital of an amount equal to 80 percent of a specified rate in lieu of payments otherwise made under part B for inpatient services. Requires that: (1) payments for health care services furnished to inpatients be made to or through a hospital as a condition of the hospital's participation in the Medicare payment; and (2) the Secretary provide for notice to the public and to individuals enrolled under part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act of such requirement. Permits the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund to borrow at any time from other social security trust funds if it can repay the loan within ten years. Provides for the periodic transfer to the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund from the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund of amounts which the Secretary determines to be equal to a specified fraction of the total revenues of the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund for each fiscal year. Directs the Secretary to conduct and report to Congress on seven studies relating to: (1) health care costs, quality, delivery, and services; and (2) the effects of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1984
Amends the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to prohibit discrimination against handicapped persons in any program or activity conducted by any recipient of Federal financial assistance.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1984
Adoption Identification Act of 1984 - Amends the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment and Adoption Reform Act of 1978 to provide for the establishment of a voluntary reunion registry demonstration program for biological parents and adoptees, biological siblings or other relatives of adoptees, and estranged family members, including runaways or those estranged as the result of social upheaval. Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a voluntary identification system by grant or contract with public or private nonprofit agencies or organizations. Directs the Secretary to report annually to Congress on all activities carried out under this Act. Requires that the voluntary reunion registry operate so as to provide a centralized nationwide capacity, utilizing computer and data processing methods. Requires that participation be voluntary by all parties involved. Provides for initiation of the locating process, by submission of an application to the agency or organization operating the system, by a biological parent, an estranged family member, or an adoptee over age 21. Provides that such process may also be initiated by a sibling or other biological relative of an adoptee or an estranged family member, whenever: (1) the biological parent of an adoptee or estranged family member is dead or missing; (2) such parent has consented in writing to the initiation of such process; or (3) the Secretary determines the circumstances to be appropriate after consideration of the privacy rights and interest of all parties who may be affected. Sets forth other requirements relating to the locating process. Provides for protection of confidentiality and privacy rights, followup activities, and reasonable fees. Provides that the registry may include the operation of a similar statewide identification computer system in any State which chooses to participate in the registry and agrees to provide coordination, consistent standards and procedures, and financial participation. Authorizes appropriations to carry out this Act for FY 1984 through 1986.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1984
Increases from one-half of one percent to one percent of the total loan amount the fee a veteran must pay when obtaining a veterans' housing loan, loan guarantee, or loan insurance. Requires that such fees be deposited in the Veterans Administration Loan Guaranty Revolving Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1984
Sets forth criminal penalties for the shipment in interstate or foreign commerce or the knowing acquisition of steel-jaw leghold traps so shipped. Imposes a $1,000 fine for a first offense, and a $5,000 fine and two years in prison for a second offense.
United States · United States Congress · 29 February 1984
Human Services Reauthorization Act - Title I: Low-Income Home Energy Assistance - Amends the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 to extend the authorization of appropriations for low-income home energy assistance to FY 1985 through 1989. Includes in the term "energy crisis intervention" household energy related emergencies. Requires that at least five percent of a State's allotment of funds for low-income home energy assistance be reserved until March 15 of each year for energy crisis intervention, which shall be administered by public or nonprofit entities having experience in and the capacity to administer such programs. Requires as part of the annual application for an allotment of funds for low-income home energy assistance that a State agree to: (1) describe the eligibility requirements for households desiring to participate in the low-income home energy assistance program and the manner in which the State determines benefit levels; and (2) indicate the amount which the State will reserve for energy crisis intervention and the administration procedures for designating an emergency and determining the assistance to be provided and for determining the use of funds reserved for energy crisis intervention but not expended for emergencies. Provides that home energy assistance payments provided to a household by a private nonprofit organization or by an entity whose revenues are derived primarily on a rate-of-return basis regulated by the State or Federal Government shall not be considered income for such household for purposes of Federal or State law if the appropriate State agency certifies that such assistance is based on need. Decreases the maximum amount of grant money allotted for a fiscal year to States for low-income home energy assistance which a State may request to be held available for the next fiscal year. Specifies additional home energy and home energy assistance data which the Secretary of Health and Human Services is required to collect on a State-by-State basis. Specifies the dates by which the Secretary's annual reports on such data must be submitted to Congress. Prohibits the Secretary from using more than $350,000 in any fiscal year for demonstration and analysis of effective ways to meet the energy needs of low-income households. Title II: Community Services Block Grant - Amends the Community Services Block Grant Act to increase the authorization of appropriations for community services grants for FY 1985 and 1986 and to authorize appropriations for such grants for FY 1987 through 1989. Permits a State to revise the poverty line for purposes of community services grants to 125 percent of the official poverty line established by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget if the State determines that such revision will serve the objectives of such grants. Revises the amount of funds which a State applying for a community services block grant must agree to make available to community action agencies and organizations serving seasonal or migrant farmworkers. Requires that the remainder of such funds be used to permit existing community action agencies to serve geographic areas not being served or to establish new community action agencies. Sets forth waiver provisions with respect to such funding requirements. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Service to provide training and ongoing activities of national and regional significance related to the purposes of the community services grant program. (Under current law, the Secretary has discretionary authority to provide such training and activities.) Permits the Secretary to make grants, loans, and loan guarantees to nonprofit private organizations applying jointly with business concerns for funding. Title III: Head Start Program - Amends the Head Start Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to administer the Head Start program through the Administration for Children, Youth, and Families within the Department of Health and Human Services. Authorizes the appropriations for the Head Start program for FY 1985 through 1989. Requires the Secretary to reserve for training and technical assistance for each fiscal year funds which are not less than the amount spent for such activities under such Act in FY 1982. Requires the Secretary to designate as Head Start agencies any local public or private nonprofit agency which was receiving funds under any Head Start program on August 31, 1981, if such agency meets program and fiscal requirements established by the Secretary. (Under current law, the Secretary is required to give priority in the designation of Head Start agencies to such local agencies.) Authorizes the Secretary to designate a Head Start agency from among qualified applicants in a community if there is no Head Start agency or program serving such community. Permits each Head Start program operated in a community to provide more than one year of Head Start services to children from age three to the age of compulsory school attendance in the State where the program is located. Requires the Secretary to provide technical assistance and training in connection with Head Start programs. (Under current law, the Secretary is authorized to provide such activities.) Specifies the types of programs which must be included in such training activities.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 1984
Synthetic Fuels Corporation Fiscal Accountability Act of 1984 - Amends the United States Synthetic Fuels Corporation Act of 1980 to prohibit the U.S. Synthetic Fuels Corporation from making new awards of financial assistance after the date of the enactment of this Act and before the date on which the Corporation's comprehensive strategy for achieving the national synthetic fuel production goal is approved by Congress. Makes limitations on Corporation construction projects effective upon the enactment of this Act rather than upon approval of the comprehensive strategy as provided under current law.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 1984
Amends the Education Amendments of 1972 to include educational institutions receiving Federal financial assistance within the prohibition against sex discrimination.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 1984
Directs the President to: (1) secure from the Southeast Asian nations a full accounting of Americans captured or missing as a result of the Vietnam conflict; and (2) work for the release of Americans listed as prisoners of war (POW) or missing-in-action (MIA) and the return of the remains of all American POWs and MIAs who died in Southeast Asia. Requires the President to submit two reports to Congress on the POW/MIA problem.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1984
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide that nursing care and home health aid services may be provided on a daily basis as home health services for up to 60 days with monthly physician certification of the need for such services, and after the 60 day period, on a physician certification of exceptional circumstances.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1984
Amends the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 to require each Federal agency conducting or supporting an activity (whether inside or outside the Coastal Zone) that produces an identifiable physical, biological, social or economic consequence in the zone, or initiates a chain of events likely to result in such consequences, to conduct or support that activity in a manner which is, to the maximum extent practicable, consistent with approved State management programs. Exempts from such requirement any Federal activity that is: (1) undertaken to counter the immediate effects of a declared national emergency; (2) necessary for reasons of national security; or (3) required by any provision of a Federal law which prevents consistency with any provision of an approved State coastal zone management program.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1984
Declares that Congress asks the American people to take cognizance of the commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the liberation of Rome on June 2 through June 3, 1984.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 1984
Directs the Secretary of the Interior to enter into negotiations directed toward agreements with non-Federal entities which provide for cost-sharing toward financing the construction, operation, and maintenance of the Auburn-Folsom South unit of the American River division, Central Valley irrigation project, California. Prohibits any agreement from taking effect until funds are appropriated to carry out such agreement. Authorizes participating non-Federal entities to share in the power and other project services of the Auburn-Folsom South unit. Directs the Secretary to report to the appropriate House and Senate committees concerning such agreements.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 1984
States that the President should: (1) renew the agreement between the United States and the Soviet Union on space cooperation for peaceful purposes; (2) initiate talks with the Soviet Union and other interested governments on opportunities for cooperative East-West space ventures as an alternative to an arms race in space; and (3) submit to the Congress a report detailing the steps taken in pursuance of these goals.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 1984
Authorizes the President, on behalf of Congress, to present to Elie Wiesel a gold medal in recognition of his humanitarian efforts and outstanding contributions to world literature and human rights. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to provide for the public sale of bronze duplicates of such medal.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1984
Veterans' Administration Health-Care Program Improvements Act of 1984. Expands the definition of the Vietnam era to include service by veterans in South Vietnam during the period July 8, 1959, through August 4, 1964, (Currently law starts such period on August 5, 1964). Authorizes the Administrator of Veterans Affairs to continue to provide ancillary counseling or mental health services to family members of a veteran whose care or counseling required such family counseling for up to six months after the death of such veteran. Directs the Administrator to provide readjustment counseling to members of the armed forces currently on active duty who served on active duty during the Vietnam era or since May 7, 1975, in an area during a period of hostilities. Makes permanent the Veterans Administration's (VA) pilot program for the treatment and rehabilitation of veterans suffering from alcohol or drug abuse dependencies or disabilities in halfway houses and other community-based programs. Authorizes the Administrator to increase rates of pay for protective service employees at VA health care facilities. Modifies the due date of the Comptroller General's report on the Compliances of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget with certain statutory requirements relating to funded personnel ceilings for the VA's Department of Medicine and Surgery. Directs the Administrator to develop criteria for grants for the construction or alteration of State veterans' home facilities on other than a first-come, first-served basis. Directs the Administrator and the Secretaries of Defense and Health and Human Services to report to the Congress on alternative approaches for establishing a benefits program for non-military Federal and support organization personnel who served for at least 30 days in Vietnam during the Vietnam era.