United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1983
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the United States: (1) should not sell advanced weapons to Jordan; (2) should ensure that Israel retains its qualitative military edge in the Middle East; and (3) should focus its efforts on bringing Jordan into direct peace negotiations with Israel.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1983
United States Academy of Peace Act - Establishes the United States Academy of Peace as an independent nonprofit corporation. Permits the Academy to use "United States" or "U.S." or any other reference to the United States Government or Nation in its title, corporate seal, emblem, or other mark of recognition in any fiscal year only if there is an authorization of appropriations for the Academy for such fiscal year provided by law. Sets forth the powers and the duties of the Academy, including establishment of an Endowment of the United States Academy of Peace. Authorizes the Academy to establish: (1) a Center for International Peace; and (2) a United States Medal of Peace and other medals or honors. Authorizes the Academy to refuse research requests of Federal agencies for reason of cost or of inappropriateness to the Agency's purpose or independence. Prohibits the Academy from undertaking to influence the passage or defeat of any Federal, State, local, or United Nations legislation, but permits Academy personnel to testify or make other appropriate communication when formally requested to do so by a legislative body, committee, or member thereof. Provides for appointment of members of the Academy's Board of Directors. Sets forth grounds for removal of Board members. Permits Board meetings to be closed only in exceptional circumstances. Sets forth provisions for Academy officers, employees, procedures, and records. Provides that, with certain exceptions, the Academy shall not be considered a department, agency, or instrumentality of the Government. Prohibits the use of any political test or political qualification with respect to personnel actions of the Academy or financial assistance by the Academy. Authorizes appropriations in a specified amount for an Academy principal office capitalization fund. Authorizes appropriations in specified amounts for FY 1984 and 1985 for Academy programs and administration. Requires that Academy expenses in connection with the United States Medal of Peace or the accompanying cash award be paid out of the private funds of the Endowment. Restricts contract-making authority under this Act to the extent and amounts provided in appropriation Acts. Directs the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Academy to report to the Congress and the President, beginning two years after the enactment of this Act and at two-year intervals thereafter. Directs the President to transmit to the Congress the recommendations of the appropriate Federal agencies with respect to such report and to any legislation concerning the Academy. Requires the appropriate congressional committees to hold hearings to review such report and recommendations.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1983
Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act - Title I: Duty-Free Treatment - Authorizes the President to proclaim duty-free treatment for all eligible articles from Caribbean countries that the President designates as beneficiary countries. Requires the President to notify Congress before making such a designation. Prohibits the President from terminating such a designation unless both Houses of Congress are notified 60 days before the termination. Requires the President to consider only specified countries and territories as beneficiary countries. Prohibits the President from designating a country as a beneficiary country: (1) if it is a Communist country; (2) if it has nationalized or seized control, or effectively nationalized or seized control, of U.S. property, unless the President determines that a good faith effort is being made to compensate for such seizure; (3) if it fails to act in good faith in recognizing as binding or in enforcing arbitral awards in favor of U.S. citizens or corporations; (4) if it grants preferential treatment to the products of a developed country other than the United States which may have a significant adverse effect on U.S. commerce, unless the President reports to Congress that certain assurances have been made; (5) if it has a government-owned entity engaged in broadcasting copyrighted material belonging to U.S. copyrighted owners without their express consent; or (6) unless an extradition treaty exists between the United States and such country. Permits the President to designate as a beneficiary country a Communist country, an expropriating country, or a country that fails to act in good faith with respect to an arbitral award if the President determines and reports to Congress that such designation will be in the national interest. Lists factors the President should consider in determining whether to grant beneficiary designation. Amends the Tariff Schedules of the United States to grant to imports from U.S. insular possessions, subject to specified provisions of this Act, duty treatment no less favorable than the treatment afforded such imports from a beneficiary country. Directs the President to withdraw or suspend a country's beneficiary designation, if the President determines that changed circumstances in such country would prohibit such designation under the guidelines in this title. Requires duty-free treatment to apply to any article imported from a beneficiary country, unless otherwise excluded from eligibility, if: (1) the article is imported directly from such country into U.S. customs territory; and (2) the sum of specified costs of the article is not less than 35 percent of its appraised value at the time of its entry. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to prescribe regulations governing articles eligible for such duty-free treatment, including the requirement that such articles must be wholly the product of a beneficiary country or must be a new or different article of commerce which has been produced in the beneficiary country. Prohibits this duty-free treatment from applying to: (1) textile and apparel articles which are subject to tariff agreements; (2) certain footwear, handbags, luggage, flat goods, work gloves, and leather wearing apparel; (3) tuna prepared or preserved in airtight containers; or (4) petroleum or certain petroleum products. Directs the President to suspend duty-free treatment of sugar and beef products that are the products of a beneficiary country if: (1) the beneficiary country, within 90 days of its designation as a beneficiary country, does not submit a Stable Food Production Plan to the President for evaluation; (2) the President determines that the Plan of a beneficiary country does not meet specified criteria; or (3) as a result of the monitoring of the operation of the Plan, the President determines that a beneficiary country is not making a good faith effort to implement its Plan, or that the Plan, although being implemented, is not achieving its purposes. Requires the President, before suspending such duty-free treatment, to offer to consult with the country to formulate appropriate remedial action. Requires the President, biennially, to monitor the operation of the Plans implemented by beneficiary countries and to report to Congress. Sets forth the manner of governing the importation and duty-free treatment of certain sugars, sirups, and molasses. Authorizes the President to suspend the duty-free treatment provided by this title and to proclaim a duty for an eligible article if such action is taken pursuant to certain import relief or national security provisions. Requires the International Trade Commission (ITC), in any report on a petition for import relief under the Trade Act of 1974, to state how its findings and recommendations apply to any duty-free article imported from beneficiary countries. Authorizes the President to reduce or end the application of import relief measures which apply to articles imported from beneficiary countries earlier than otherwise scheduled. Requires the suspension of duty-free treatment provided by this title to be treated as an increase in duty for purposes of the import relief section of the Trade Act of 1974. Prohibits such a suspension of duty-free treatment unless the ITC finds that the harm caused by the imports results from its duty-free treatment by this title. Authorizes the filing of petitions for import relief with the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary), as well as with the ITC, for injury from imports of perishable products from beneficiary countries. Directs the Secretary to recommend the granting or denying of such petition within 14 days of its filing. Requires the President to take emergency action or to publish a notice of determination not to take emergency action within seven days of receiving the Secretary's recommendation. Sets forth the limits on the duration of the emergency action. Defines perishable products to include certain live plants, certain fresh or chilled vegetables, fresh mushrooms, fresh fruit, and fresh cut flowers. Exempts from proclamations under this title certain fees imposed pursuant to the Agricultural Adjustment Act. Provides for duty-free treatment of articles imported directly from Puerto Rico and the U.S. insular possessions, so long as foreign materials do not account for more than 70 percent of the total value of the articles (or more than 50 percent of the total value with respect to articles excluded from duty-free treatment under the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act). Amends the Tariff Schedules of the United States to increase to five liters (currently, four liters) the amount of duty-free liquor that may be brought into the United States. Requires that not more than four liters, of such five liter limit, may have been produced outside American Samoa, Guam, or the U.S. Virgin Islands. Authorizes the President to withdraw duty-free treatment on rum if the amount of excise taxes on rum that is paid into the treasuries of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands falls below the amount that would have been paid if the rum had been produced in Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands. Amends the Trade Agreements Act of 1979 to repeal the provision for protecting U.S. possessions against revenue losses caused by concessions granted by the United States in the Tokyo Round of the Multilateral Trade Negotiations. Prohibits any action under this title from affecting a tariff imposed by Puerto Rico on coffee imported into Puerto Rico. Exempts from specified sections of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act certain discharges from sources in the U.S. Virgin Islands which are attributable to the manufacture of rum. Requires the ITC to report to Congress and the President on the economic impact of this Act on U.S. industries and consumers during: (1) the two year period beginning with the enactment of this Act; and (2) each year afterwards, until duty-free treatment under this title is terminated. Sets forth assessments that the ITC shall make and factors to be considered in making those assessments. Terminates duty-free treatment to beneficiary countries under this title after FY 1995. Title II: Tax Provisions - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require excise taxes on rum imported into the United States to be paid to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to negotiate and conclude an agreement for the exchange of information with any beneficiary country. Requires such exchange to consist of such information as may be necessary to carry out and enforce the tax laws of both the United States and the beneficiary country. Provides that such agreements shall be treated as income conventions for purposes of disclosures of tax return information. Allows a tax deduction for attending a convention held in a beneficiary country, if such beneficiary country has a tax information agreement in effect with the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 17 February 1983
Amends the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 to exempt entities which have received financial assistance under the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 from paying annual fees for rights-of-way with respect to public lands.
United States · United States Congress · 17 February 1983
Requires that general revenue sharing payments be made to each unit of general local government not later than the fifth day after the beginning of each quarter.
United States · United States Congress · 17 February 1983
Payment In Kind Tax Clarification Act of 1983 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that for taxpayers who receive agricultural commodities under a Federal payment-in-kind program: (1) no income shall be treated as realized by receipt of such commodities; but; (2) any gain realized from the sale or exchange of such commodities shall be included in gross income and shall be treated as ordinary income. Sets forth rules for the tax treatment of commodities received under such a program involving repayment of Commodity Credit Corporation loans. Specifies that farmers participating in a payment- in-kind program do not forfeit eligibility for the special use valuation provisions for farm property. Specifies that tax-exempt farmers' cooperatives shall not forfeit tax-exempt status if such a cooperative markets any commodity received by, or on behalf of, a member participating in a payment-in-kind program.
United States · United States Congress · 16 February 1983
Title I: Armed Forces, Soldiers' Home, Coast Guard, Lighthouse Service, and Merchant Marine - Amends Federal laws dealing with the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, and the Coast Guard to eliminate gender-based distinctions. Title II: Elimination of Gender-Based Distinctions Under the Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Program, Railroad Retirement and the Work Incentive Program - Eliminates gender-based distinctions in the social security and railroad retirement programs. Title III: Amendments to United States Code - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act, the Walsh-Healey Act, the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, the Federal Criminal Code and other Acts dealing with Indian affairs, transportation, public lands and provisions relating to Saint Elizabeth Hospital and contract law to eliminate gender-based distinctions. Title IV: Effective Date - Sets forth the effective date for the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 16 February 1983
Imitation Controlled Substances Act of 1983 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to make it unlawful to manufacture, advertise, distribute, or possess a drug which is an imitation of a controlled substance. Excludes professional or research uses from such prohibition. Establishes criminal penalties for violation of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 16 February 1983
Prohibits the delivery by mail of: (1) drug abuse oriented advertisements; or (2) imitation controlled substances shipped in response to such advertisements. Provides an exemption from such prohibition with respect to such a substance: (1) used under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act for research or as a placebo in the professional practice of a registered practitioner; or (2) mailed in connection with an application for approval under such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 15 February 1983
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a $300 excise tax on the sale by the manufacturer of each 1984 or later model passenger automobile in which an automatic safety air bag has not been installed. Allows a manufacturer a refundable $300 income tax credit for each 1984 or later model passenger automobile in which such an air bag has been installed.
United States · United States Congress · 3 February 1983
Upper Mississippi River System Management Act - Grants congressional approval of the Comprehensive Master Plan for the Management of the Upper Mississippi River System as a guide for future water policy on such system. Defines the Upper Mississippi River System as those river reaches having commercial navigation channels on certain rivers in Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Grants congressional consent to Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin (or any two or more of such States) to: (1) enter into agreements for cooperative effort and mutual assistance in the planning for the use, protection, growth, and development of the System; and (2) form agencies for effecting such agreements. Authorizes officers or employees of the United States, who are responsible for management of any part of the System, to assist such agencies. Authorizes the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, to provide for the engineering, design, and construction of a second lock at locks and dam 26, Mississippi River, Alton, Illinois and Missouri. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary to monitor traffic movements on the System to verify the need for future capacity expansion of the System and the future need for river rehabilitation and environmental enhancement. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior, in concert with any appropriate State agency, to undertake with respect to the System: (1) a habitat rehabilitation and enhancement program; (2) the implementation of a long-term resource monitoring program; and (3) the implementation of a computerized inventory and analysis system. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to implement a program of recreational projects for the System and to assess the economic benefits generated by recreational activities in the System. Authorizes appropriations. Declares that the Master Plan for the System has reasonably complied with the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.
United States · United States Congress · 3 February 1983
Permits any person who suffered crop or building damage on or after January 1, 1981, due to the activities of the Army Corps of Engineers at the Clarence Cannon Dam project on the Salt River, Missouri, to file a claim against the United States in accordance with this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 3 February 1983
National Heritage Resource Act of 1983 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow creators of artistic properties an income tax deduction for the current fair market value of literary, musical, or artistic compositions which they contribute to charitable organizations. Requires: (1) that the artistic property be created by the taxpayer at least one year prior to the time of such contribution; (2) that the fair market value of such property be appraised within one year of the date of contribution; and (3) that the donee of such property show that the use of the property will be related to the charitable purpose or function of his organization. Denies a fair market value deduction for contributions of any letter, memorandum or similar property produced by a Federal or State employee which arose out of the performance of such employee's official duties. Exempts such fair market value deduction from the application of the minimum tax.
United States · United States Congress · 3 February 1983
Respect Human Life Act of 1983 - Prohibits Federal involvement in the performance of abortions, except when the life of the mother would be endangered if the child were carried to term. Includes the following activities within the scope of this prohibition: (1) performance of an abortion by a Federal agency; (2) use of appropriated funds to perform or reimburse or refer for abortions; (3) promotion or assistance in the performance of abortions abroad; (4) contracting for insurance which pays or reimburses for abortions; (5) discrimination against an individual on the basis of that person's opposition to abortions; and (6) the withholding from a handicapped infant of nutritional sustenance, medical or surgical treatment by an institution receiving Federal assistance. Provides for expedited Supreme Court review of State laws restricting abortions or infanticide whenever such laws have been invalidated by a lower court.
United States · United States Congress · 3 February 1983
States that the President should, at the earliest possible date: (1) request Senate consent to ratification of the Threshold Test Ban and Peaceful Nuclear Explosion Treaties; and (2) resume trilateral test ban treaty negotiations.
United States · United States Congress · 3 February 1983
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the President should propose to the Soviet Union immediate adherence by both countries to the principle of a guaranteed strategic build-down of nuclear forces, subject to agreed upon procedures of verification and compliance.
United States · United States Congress · 3 February 1983
Disapproves the proposed deferral of budget authority (D83-43) relating to economic development assistance programs, transmitted by the President to Congress on February 1, 1983.
United States · United States Congress · 1 February 1983
Competition in Contracting Act of 1983 - Title I: Amendments to Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 - Amends the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 to revise the procedures for soliciting and awarding bids for Government contracts. Requires executive agencies (excluding military departments, the Coast Guard, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration) to use competitive procedures in making contracts for property and services. Directs agencies to: (1) use advance planning and market research, prepare specifications, and solicit bids in a manner designed to achieve effective competition for a contract; and (2) use the competitive procedure or combination of procedures best suited for a procurement action. Authorizes an agency to award a procurement contract in order to establish or maintain any alternative source of supply if doing so would: (1) increase competition and reduce procurement costs; or (2) be in the interest of industrial mobilization in a national emergency. Requires procurement regulations to include simplified procedures and forms for making small purchases. Defines a "small purchase" as any purchase or contract which does not exceed $25,000. Prohibits dividing a procurement for the purpose of using small purchase procedures. Requires an agency, when using competitive procedures for other than small purchases, to solicit sealed bids when: (1) time permits the solicitation, submission, and evaluation of sealed bids; (2) the award will be made on the basis of price or other factors; (3) discussions with responding sources are not necessary; and (4) there is a reasonable expectation of receiving more than one bid. Directs an agency to request competitive proposals when sealed bids are not required. Permits agencies to use noncompetitive procurement procedures only when: (1) there is only one source and no substitute for the property or services needed; (2) the delay involved in using competitive procedures would seriously injure the Government; (3) it is necessary to award the contract to a particular source to achieve an essential industrial capacity in the United States or to maintain national industrial mobilization; (4) an agreement with a foreign government requires such procedures; (5) a statute requires that the procurement be made through another agency or a specific source; or (6) disclosure of an agency's needs to more than one source would compromise the national security. Prohibits an agency from awarding a contract, for other than a small purchase, using noncompetitive procedures unless a notice of such procurement has been published by the Secretary of Commerce. Requires agency solicitations for bids or proposals to include specifications which: (1) permit effective competition; and (2) contain only such restrictive provisions as are necessary to meet agency needs or as are required by law. Requires all solicitations for bids or proposals for other than small purchases to state: (1) the relative importance of all significant factors which the agency will consider in evaluating such bids or proposals; (2) in the case of sealed bids, that their will be no discussions with bidders; and (3) in the case of competitive proposals, that proposals are intended to be evaluated with discussions with the offerors, but might be evaluated without discussions. Requires each agency to: (1) evaluate bids and proposals on the basis of factors specified in the solicitation; and (2) award contracts to the bidder or offeror whose bid or proposal is most advantageous to the Government considering the price and other factors. Permits an agency to reject all bids or proposals if such action is in the public interest. Requires an agency, when evaluating competitive proposals, to award a contract: (1) after conducting written or oral discussions with all offerors submitting proposals within a specified range; or (2) on the basis of the proposals as received or as clarified after discussions conducted for the purpose of minor clarification. Directs an agency head to refer to the Attorney General any sealed bid evidencing an antitrust violation. Requires each agency to furnish for publication by the Secretary of Commerce a notice announcing: (1) its intention to enter a contract at a price greater than the maximum amount established for small purchases or a lesser amount as specified by the Administrator; and (2) the awarding of such a contract. Requires such notice of an agency's intention to enter a contract to be published at least 30 days before the date set for the receipt of bids or proposals. Requires that such notice include: (1) a description of the property or service to be procured; (2) the identity of the agency representative to contact to obtain a copy of the solicitation; (3) a statement that any person may submit a bid or proposal; and (4) a justification of any use of noncompetitive procedures. Exempts certain classified and noncompetitive procurements from such notice requirements. Requires agencies to: (1) maintain records, by fiscal year, of noncompetitive procurements and competitive procurements for which only one bid was received, excluding small purchases; and (2) transmit such information to the Federal Procurement Data Center. Requires a prime Government contractor or subcontractor, with specified exceptions, to submit and certify the accuracy of cost of pricing data prior to: (1) the award of contracts using other than sealed bid procedures and certain subcontracts where the price is expected to exceed $500,000; or (2) the pricing of any modification to such a contract or subcontract expected to result in a price adjustment exceeding $500,000. Requires the price to the Government of such a contract, subcontract, or modification to be adjusted to exclude any significant amount by which the price was increased because of inaccurate data. Authorizes an agency representative, for three years after final payment under such a contract or subcontract, to examine the contractor's records and other information to evaluate the accuracy of the cost and pricing data. Title II: Amendments to Title 10, United States Code - Revises procurement procedures for military departments, the Coast Guard, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to correspond with procurement procedures for executive agencies under title I of this Act. Permits contracts to require the carriage of Government property in cargo containers of specific dimensions if the Secretary of Defense determines that military requirements necessitate the specification of container sizes. Title III: Advocate for Competition; Annual Report on Competition - Directs the head of each executive agency to designate an officer or employee as an advocate for competition who shall promote competition in the procurement of property and services. Requires the advocate to report to the head of the agency on: (1) opportunities to achieve competition; (2) solicitations which contain unnecessarily detailed or restrictive specifications and other conditions that may reduce competition; and (3) his or her activities, annually. Requires the head of each agency, through 1986, to transmit to specified congressional committees an annual report which: (1) describes all actions the agency head intends to take during the next fiscal year to increase competition for agency contracts, and to reduce the number and value of agency contracts awarded after soliciting or evaluating bids or proposals from only one source; and (2) summarizes the activities of the agency's advocate for competition. Title IV: Notice Requirements Under the Small Business Act - Amends the Small Business Act to repeal certain provisions requiring the Secretary of Commerce to obtain and publish notice of all defense and civilian procurement actions exceeding specified dollar amounts. Title V: Applicability - Declares that this Act shall apply with respect to solicitations for bids or proposals issued on or after the date 180 days after enactment.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1983
Amends the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 to provide that the maximum lawful price applicable to the first sale of natural gas from January 31, 1983, through December 31, 1984, shall be the maximum lawful price applicable to such sale on August 31, 1982, under the Act. Provides that in the case of any first sale of natural gas from a well the surface drilling of which began prior to January 31, 1983, and for which there was no applicable maximum lawful price for such sale on August 31, 1982, solely because of the elimination of price controls under the Act, the maximum lawful price for such a sale from January 31, 1983, through December 31, 1984, shall be the contract price specified for deliveries of such natural gas on August 31, 1982. Provides that the maximum lawful price applicable to the first sale of natural gas on August 31, 1982, shall be increased for any month beginning on or after January 1, 1985, at the rate specified for such gas. Extends for two years the expiration date of: (1) price controls; and (2) standby authority.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1983
Amends the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 to prohibit take-or-pay and indefinite price escalator clauses, subject to stated exceptions. Authorizes the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to deny a pipeline's request for a cost passthrough if the Commission determines that the costs were imprudently incurred by the pipeline.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1983
Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire the former home of Harry S. Truman in Missouri in order to establish the Harry S. Truman National Historic Site. Authorizes the Secretary to make certain parts of such site available for the use of Margaret Truman Daniel. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1983
Amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 to increase for FY 1983 and 1984 the funding authorization for low-income home energy assistance grants to States.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 1983
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) Federal nutrition programs, including the food stamp, child nutrition, and elderly feeding programs, should be protected from budget cuts; (2) the WIC (supplemental food program for women, infants, and children) should continue to be fully funded; and (3) the Federal Government should maintain primary responsibility for nutrition programs.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1983
Amends the copyright law to exclude from liability for infringement of copyright any individual who records copyrighted works on a video recorder if the recording is made for a private use and is not used in a commercial nature.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1983
Housing Finance Opportunity Act of 1983 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit the continued issuance of mortgage revenue bonds after December 31, 1983.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1983
Irish Wilderness Act of 1983 - Designates the Irish Wilderness in the Mark Twain National Forest in Missouri as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1983
Reciprocal Trade and Investment Act of 1982 - Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to set forth provisions dealing with foreign trade barriers. Directs the United States Trade Representative (USTR), through the interagency trade organization established pursuant to the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, to identify, analyze, and estimate the impact of practices that constitute significant barriers to or distortions of: (1) U.S. export of goods or services; and (2) foreign direct investment by U.S. persons, especially if it has implications for trade in goods or services. Sets forth factors to be considered by the USTR in such analysis. Directs the USTR to update the analysis annually. Directs the USTR to submit the analysis to the appropriate congressional committees. Requires the report to include any action taken to eliminate such trade barriers. Directs the USTR to consult with Congress on trade policy priorities. Directs Federal agencies to furnish information and other assistance to prepare such analysis. Authorizes the President to respond to a foreign entity's unfair trade practices by taking action with respect to any goods or sector of such entity without regard to whether the goods or sector were involved in the unfair trade practice. (Current law provides that the President may take action against the products or services of the foreign entity.) Authorizes the President to propose legislation to protect U.S. trade rights or to eliminate unfair trade practices. Requires such legislative proposals to be given priority treatment. Requires a summary of a petition for a trade investigation by the USTR to be published in the Federal Register (currently, the entire petition must be published) if the USTR decides to begin an investigation with respect to the issues raised by the petition. Authorizes the USTR to initiate an investigation in order to advise the President concerning the exercise of the President's authority to take action against unfair trade practices. Directs the USTR to consult with the appropriate congressional committees before beginning such an investigation. Authorizes the USTR to delay for up to 90 days any request for consultation by a foreign entity concerning a petition for investigation into unfair trade practices. Directs the USTR to publish notice of the delay in the Federal Register and to report to Congress the reasons for the delay. Changes the definition of "commerce" for purposes of foreign trade investigations to include: (1) services associated with international trade, whether or not related to specific goods (currently products); and (2) foreign direct investment by U.S. persons with implications for trade in goods or services. Defines "unreasonable", "unjustifiable", and "discriminatory" for purposes of such investigations. Prohibits making information which the USTR has received in a trade investigation available to the public, if: (1) the person who provided the information makes a specified certification; (2) the USTR determines that such certification is well-founded; and (3) the person providing the information provides an adequate nonconfidential summary. Authorizes the USTR to use the information in trade investigations or to make it available to the public in a form which cannot identify the person providing the information. Sets forth the principal U.S. negotiating objectives with respect to trade in services, foreign direct investment, and high technology products. Directs the USTR to develop and coordinate the implementation of U.S. policies concerning trade in services. Requires Federal agencies responsible for regulating any service sector industry to advise and work with the USTR concerning: (1) the treatment afforded U.S. services sector interest in foreign markets; or (2) allegations of unfair practices by foreign governments or companies in a service sector. Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to establish a service industries development program. Sets forth the goals of the program. Expresses the policy of the Congress that the President shall: (1) consult with State governments on trade policy issues affecting the regulatory authority on non-Federal governments or their procurement of goods and services; and (2) establish one or more intergovernmental policy advisory committees on trade. Authorizes the President to establish policy advisory committees representing non-Federal governmental interests to provide policy advice on trade negotiating objectives, bargaining positions, and the implementation of trade agreements. Authorizes the President to negotiate to reduce trade barriers in foreign direct investment by U.S. persons, especially if such investment has implications for trade in goods and services. Authorizes the President to enter into agreements concerning high technology industries. Authorizes the President to proclaim the modification, elimination or continuance of any existing duty, duty-free, excise treatment, or other additional duties with respect to specified high technology products listed in the U.S. Tariff Schedules. Provides for the termination of this authority five years after the enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1983
Retirement Equity Act of 1983 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to lower the age limitation for participation in a qualified retirement plan from 25 to 21. Allows a limited amount of maternity or paternity leave to be taken by an individual without being treated as a break in service for purposes of computing creditable service towards retirement benefits. Requires spousal consent in order for a retirement plan participant to elect not to take a joint and survivor annuity. Requires that such consent must be in writing and must be witnessed by either a plan representative or a notary public. Allows the assignment of the benefits of a qualified retirement plan in the case of a judgment, decree or order relating to child support, alimony payments, or marital property rights pursuant to a State's domestic relations law. Requires the continuation of benefits to a surviving former spouse in cases where payments of joint and survivor benefits began prior to a divorce. Sets forth requirements relating to the method of distribution of divorce distributions. Sets forth rules for the tax treatment of divorce distributions. Increases the allowable mandatory distributions from a retirement plan from $1,750 to $3,500. Requires that a plan participant must be notified that benefits may be forfeitable if the participant dies before a certain date.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1983
Social Security Amendments of 1983 - Title I: Changes in Coverage - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act and the Internal Revenue Code to provide mandatory coverage under the Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance program as of January 1, 1984, for new Federal employees, members of Congress, the President, the Vice President, and employees of nonprofit organizations. Prohibits the termination of State coverage agreements (under which State and local government employees may be covered under title II) on or after the enactment of this Act. Makes such prohibition applicable to any agreements in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act, notwithstanding pending termination notices. (Currently, coverage under such an agreement may be terminated if the State gives two years' written notice of such intent, following at least five years of coverage of the State or local group involved.) Title II: Changes in Benefits - Provides that the automatic cost of living adjustment in OASDI benefits shall be provided on a calendar year basis beginning in 1984. Provides that OASDI beneficiaries who become eligible for a pension based on non-covered employment after 1983 shall have their old-age or disability (but not survivors) benefits reduced. Prohibits the reduction of an individual's primary insurance amount below the minimum primary insurance amount under current law. Permits the continued payment of OASDI benefits to: (1) surviving divorced spouses who remarry after age 60; (2) disabled widows and disabled widowers who remarry after age 50; and (3) diabled surviving divorced wives who remarry after age 50. Provides that in the case of deferred survivor benefits, the primary insurance amount of the deceased individual shall be determined, for benefit computation purposes, as if the deceased individual died in the year in which the beneficiary first became eligible for such benefits or in the year in which the deceased individual would have reached age 60, whichever is earlier. Makes wife's insurance benefits payable to divorced wives at age 62 in the case of wives who have been divorced for at least two years if the former husband is eligible for retirement benefits (regardless of whether such benefits have been applied for). Provides that the amount of the benefit for such a divorced wife shall be determined without regard to reductions which may be made because of the former husband's excess earnings. Increases the benefit amount for disabled widows and widowers to 71.5 percent of the primary insurance amount. Provides for a decrease in the cost of living adjustments to OASDI benefits, beginning in 1988, whenever the reserves in the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and in the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund fall below a certain amount, calculated as of January 1 of each year. Requires the payment of additional benefits to beneficiaries when the reserves in the trust funds have increased above a certain amount. Provides for a gradual increase in the delayed retirement credit received by workers who delay retirement beyond age 65. Makes the increase in such credit effective for workers who reach age 65 in 1990 and thereafter. Title III: Revenue Provisions - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to include one-half of an individual's OASDI benefits in adjusted gross income if the individual's other adjusted gross income exceeds: (1) $20,000 in the case of a single taxpayer or married taxpayer filing separately; (2) $25,000 in the case of a joint return; and (3) zero in the case of a married taxpayer who does not file a joint return and who does not live apart from his or her spouse at all times during the taxable year. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to file information returns indicating: (1) the aggregate amount of beneifts paid to any individual during a calendar year; and (2) such individual's name and address. Requires that such information be furnished to the individuals named in the returns. Appropriates to the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and to the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund the revenues generated under this title for each fiscal year, beginning in FY 1984. Revises the OASDI tax rates on employees and employers so as to: (1) increase the tax rate for 1984; (2) keep the current tax rate for 1985 through 1987; and (3) increase the tax rate for 1988-1989. Allows a refundable tax credit for employees for OASDI tax increases attributable to this title for calendar year 1984. Requires employers to make advance payments of such tax credit to their employees. Increases the OASDI tax rate on self-employment income for taxable years 1984 through 1990. Allows self-employed individuals an income tax deduction of 50 percent of the OASDI taxes paid on self-employment income, beginning in 1984. Includes in taxable wages for purposes of OASDI and hospital insurance taxes those salary reductions made under qualified cash or deferred arrangement plans of employers. Title IV: Miscellaneous Financing Provisions - Amends title II of the Social Security Act to revise the allocations of wages and self-employment income from the Treasury to the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund beginning in 1984. Extends until January 1988 the authority for borrowing among the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund, the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund, and the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund whenever the Managing Trustee of the trust funds determines that additional funds are needed to pay benefits from one of the funds. (Currently, interfund borrowing is authorized through December 31, 1982.) Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to credit the appropriate title II trust fund with the amount of all social security benefit checks issued under title II which have not been negotiated within 12 months after issuance. Authorizes appropriations to reimburse the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund for the total amount of unnegotiated benefit checks as of the enactment of this Act. Provides for a transfer, within 30 days after enactment of this Act, to each of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund, the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund, and the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund of amounts equal to: (1) the estimated cost of providing future benefits based on pre-1957 military wage credits; and (2) the taxes plus interest that would have been collected if credits for military service after 1956 had been taxed as they were earned (less any reimbursements already received). Amends title II and title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to establish the following accounts in the Treasury: (1) the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Depositary Account; (2) the Disability Insurance Depositary Account; and (3) the Hospital Insurance Depositary Account. Requires the Managing Trustee of the social security trust funds to deposit the portions of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund, the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund, and the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund that are not required to meet current withdrawals from such funds into the corresponding depositary accounts so established. Revises investment requirements with respect to trust fund assets deposited in such accounts. Requires the addition of two members of the public from different political parties to the Board of Trustees of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund, the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund, the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund, and the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1983
Domestic Commodity Distribution and Food Assistance Act - Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to distribute surplus Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) stocks to eligible agencies (as defined in this Act). Requires the CCC to pay for commodity processing with funds or with in-kind payments to the processor. Requires the Secretary to publish an annual announcement of such anticipated surplus stocks for the coming three-year period. Provides that up to 2,000,000 metric tons of wheat available under the Food Security and Wheat Reserve Act of 1980 may be used for domestic purposes. Requires the CCC to use any additional reserves to replenish such stocks. Provides for State distribution of commodities under this Act. States that if a State agency cannot meet the requests for a given commodity such agency shall give special consideration to organizations that serve low income and unemployed persons. Provides administrative money to the States to run such program. Prohibits States from charging recipient agencies for related program costs. Requires States to pay the distribution costs of organizations serving low income and unemployed persons. Requires the Secretary and the States to work with private companies and recipient agencies to make it easier for recipients to process such commodities into end use products. Directs the Secretary to use moneys saved on storage and spoilage to process commodities into food products for agencies serving low income and unemployed persons.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1983
Broadcast Deregulation Act of 1983 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from regulating the programming of radio broadcast station licensees. Directs the FCC to renew a broadcast station's license if the station has not seriously violated the Communications Act and, with respect to television stations, the licensee has substantially met the needs of residents of its service area. Prohibits the FCC, when acting on a license renewal application, from considering the license application of another person for the same facilities. Directs the FCC, consistent with sound spectrum management, to encourage the introduction of new and additional services. Requires the FCC, in acting upon applications for such services, to presume the services are in the public interest whenever providing them is technically feasible without causing significant technical degradation to, or interference with, radio transmissions by other licensees. Sets forth a schedule of fees to be charged by the FCC for specified administrative services. Authorizes the FCC to increase or decrease the charges annually. Authorizes the FCC to impose penalty fees and to waive fee payments. Requires the moneys collected from these fees to be placed in the Treasury for use by the FCC. Limits the amount collected from the fees to 50 percent of the amount authorized to be appropriated to the FCC.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1983
Directs the United States Postal Service to issue, during the calendar year 1983, a commemorative postage stamp to honor the dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1983
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to define "retirement age" to mean: (1) 65 years of age in the case of an individual who reaches the "early retirement age" (age 62 in the case of old-age, wife's, or husband's benefits and age 60 in the case of widow's or widower's benefits) before January 1, 2000; and (2) 65 years of age plus the number of months in the "age increase factor" for the year in which an individual reaches the "early retirement age" in the case of an individual who reaches the "early retirement age" after December 31, 1999. Provides for the determination of the number of months in the "age increase factor" for individuals who reach the "early retirement age" in the year 2000 and thereafter. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to periodically revise the reduction factors for early retirement benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1983
Capital Gains Tax Act of 1983 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to decrease the holding period for capital gains tax treatment from one year to six months.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1983
Constitutional Amendment - Establishes a Commission to fix the annual rate of pay for Members of Congress on July 1 of each even-numbered year to take effect on the 3rd of January of the next calendar year.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1983
Constitutional Amendment - Requires Congress, prior to each fiscal year, to adopt a statement of receipts and outlays for that year in which total outlays are no greater than total receipts. Permits Congress in such statement to provide for a specific excess of outlays over receipts by a three-fifths vote directed solely to that subject. Prohibits total receipts for any fiscal year set forth in such statement from increasing by a rate greater than the rate of increase in national income in the last calendar year ending before such fiscal year, unless Congress passes a bill directed solely to approving specific additional receipts and such bill has become law. Permits Congress to waive the provisions of this Act with respect to any fiscal year in which a declaration of war is in effect. Declares that total receipts shall include all receipts of the United States, except those derived from borrowing and total outlays shall include all outlays of the United States except those for repayment of debt principal.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1983
Constitutional Amendment - Declares that equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State on account of sex.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1983
Constitutional Amendment - Grants concurrent power to Congress and the States to restrict and prohibit abortions. Directs that a provision of a State law which is more restrictive than a conflicting law of Congress shall govern. Declares that the Constitution does not secure a right to abortion.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1983
Constitutional Amendment - Provides that no person be elected to the Senate for more than two full terms and that no person be elected to the House for more than seven full terms. Prohibits Senators from serving more than 14 years and Representatives for more than 15 years.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1983
Constitutional Amendment - Defines "person" to include the unborn for the purpose of the right to life guarantee. Makes such amendment inapplicable to laws permitting medical procedures required to prevent the death of the mother.
United States · United States Congress · 21 December 1982
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the President should exercise his authority to issue an Executive Order disqualifying Japanese-manufactured, numerically-controlled machining centers and punching machines for the investment tax credit until Japan provides persuasive evidence to the President that certain unfair and discriminatory acts and policies restricting U.S. commerce have ceased.
United States · United States Congress · 15 December 1982
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the President should exercise his authority to issue an Executive Order disqualifying Japanese-manufactured, numerically-controlled machining centers and punching machines for the investment tax credit until Japan provides persuasive evidence to the President that certain unfair and discriminatory acts and policies restricting U.S. commerce have ceased.
United States · United States Congress · 10 December 1982
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the national security policy should reflect a national strategy of peace through strength. Sets forth the principles and goals of such a policy.
United States · United States Congress · 6 December 1982
Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire certain real property in Missouri in order to establish the Harry S. Truman National Historic Site. Authorizes the Secretary to make certain parts of such site available for the use of Margaret Truman Daniel. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 2 December 1982
Amends the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 to provide that the maximum lawful price applicable to the first sale of natural gas from December 2, 1982, through December 31, 1984, shall be the maximum lawful price applicable to such sale on August 31, 1982, under the Act. Provides that in the case of any first sale of natural gas from a well the surface drilling of which began prior to December 2, 1982, and for which there was no applicable maximum lawful price for such sale on December 2, 1982, through December 31, 1984, shall be the contract price specified for deliveries of such natural gas on August 31, 1982. Provides that the maximum lawful price applicable to the first sale of natural gas on August 31, 1982, shall be increased for any month beginning on or after January 1, 1985, at the rate specified for such gas. Directs the Comptroller General to conduct a study concerning the profitability of natural gas production under the Act. Extends for two years the expiration date of (1) price controls; and (2) standby authority.
United States · United States Congress · 2 December 1982
Amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 to increase for FY 1983 and 1984 the funding authorization for low-income home energy assistance grants to States.
United States · United States Congress · 2 December 1982
Natural Gas Competition Act of 1982 - Amends the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 to declare against public policy and unenforceable any provision of any contract for the first sale of natural gas which includes: (1) a take-or-pay clause which commits the purchaser to take delivery of a minimum volume of natural gas; or (2) an indefinite price esculator clause as defined in the Act. Excludes from the above any contract with a take-or-pay clause for the first sale of natural gas committed or dedicated to interstate commerce on November 1, 1978, and for which a just and reasonable rate under the Natural Gas Act was in effect on such date. Authorizes the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) upon application by the buyer or seller, to permit any take-or-pay clause in effect on or before December 1, 1982, to remain effective if: (1) it is necessary to prevent default by the seller; or (2) it is necessary to prevent a taking without fair compensation of the seller's property. Requires each natural gas company to file a quarterly statement of actions with FERC of actions taken to achieve the lowest possible weighted average acquisition cost of natural gas.
United States · United States Congress · 1 October 1982
Title I: Armed Forces, Soldiers' Home, Coast Guard, Lighthouse Service, and Merchant Marine - Amends Federal Military laws dealing with the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, and the Coast Guard to eliminate gender-based distinctions. Title II: Elimination of Gender-Based Distinctions Under the Old Age, Surviviors, and Disability Insurance Program, Railroad Retirement and the Work Incentive Program - Eliminates gender-based distinctions in the social security and railroad retirement programs. Title III: Amendments to United States Code - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act, the Walsh-Healey Act, the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, the Federal Criminal Code and other Acts dealing with Indian affairs, transportation, public lands and provisions relating to Saint Elizabeth Hospital and contract law to eliminate gender-based distinctions.
![Official portrait of Sen. Danforth, John C. [R-MO]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/d000030_200.jpg)