United States · United States Congress · 5 October 1983
Requires the Attorney General to establish within the Department of Justice a central file known as the "Child Care Protection and Employee Responsibility File," which shall contain a record of all the Federal and State arrests and convictions involving sexual abuse of children. Makes information from the file regarding a prospective employee available to any business or organization that deals primarily with the care and education of children.
United States · United States Congress · 5 October 1983
Constitutional Amendment - Permits the President to reduce or veto any item of appropriation in any Act or joint resolution, except an item of appropriation for the legislative branch or the judicial branch. Requires the President to return with his objections any item of appropriation reduced or vetoed to the House in which the bill originated. Subjects such bills to the same proceeding as other bills disapproved by the President.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 1983
Prohibits furnishing foreign assistance to any country which is a member of the United Nations and fails to vote in favor of a U.N. resolution deploring the Soviet attack on Korean Air Lines flight 7.
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 1983
Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) to declare that contributions, gifts, or payments by union members to a separate fund which is used by the union for political purposes must be voluntary and unrelated to moneys required as a condition of employment. Declares it to be unlawful to use moneys paid to an organization as a condition of employment for any type of election or campaign activities by such organization.
United States · United States Congress · 22 September 1983
Recruitment and Retention Readiness Act of 1983 - Directs the President, upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Defense, to report to the Congress by the earlier of July 1, 1987, or at such time as the President determines the armed forces are experiencing recruiting difficulties sufficient to require a new program of educational assistance, on the recruitment and retention experiences of the armed forces. Requires such report to include an assessment of the effectiveness of a new program of educational assistance in attracting and retaining qualified personnel. Requires such report to break down required information by branch of service, occupational specialty, and category of educational qualifications applicable. Requires the Secretary to confer with the Administrator of Veterans Affairs and the Secretaries of the military departments prior to making any recommendations. Sets forth procedures for the introduction of legislation designed to address these recruitment and retention needs.
United States · United States Congress · 21 September 1983
Credit and Debit Card Counterfeiting and Fraud Act of 1983 - Amends the Federal criminal code to make it an offense to knowingly and with intent to defraud produce, buy, sell, or transfer a credit card or account which is counterfeit, forged, lost, or stolen. Makes it a Federal offense to possess with the intent to defraud five or more credit cards or fraudulent payment devices. Makes it unlawful to produce, buy, sell, transfer, or possess equipment used in the production of such fraudulent payment devices. Includes within the prohibition of the Act any individual who attempts or conspires to commit any of these offenses. Authorizes the United States Secret Service to investigate offenses under this section.
United States · United States Congress · 21 September 1983
Constitutional Amendment - Proclaims the English language to be the official language of the United States. Grants Congress the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 1983
Calls for special recognition during 1987, the bicentennial year of the United States Constitution, of the constitutional foundation for patent and copyright laws.
United States · United States Congress · 15 September 1983
Extends from FY 1983 to 1984 the authority of the Administrator of Veterans Affairs to contract for hospital care or medical services in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands without reference to patient loads or incidence of provision of medical services for veterans treated by the Veterans Administration in the contiguous 48 States.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 1983
Title I: Short Title - Declares that this Act may be cited as the National Productivity and Innovation Act of 1983. Title II: Joint Research and Development Ventures - Provides that no joint research and development program shall be deemed illegal per se in any action under the antitrust laws. Limits to actual damages, interest thereon, and the cost of suit the amount that any person or State may recover in an antitrust action based on conduct that is part of such a program and that has been disclosed to the Attorney General and the Federal Trade Commission. Authorizes any individual participating in such a program to file with the Attorney General and the Commission a notification describing the program and specifying conduct to be performed under the program. Directs the Commission to publish in the Federal Register a notice of each such notification, including a description of the participants, the program, and its objectives. Declares that material submitted as part of such notification shall be available to the public upon request, unless the Attorney General or the Commission determines that the individual who submitted the notification shows good cause for not disclosing certain material. Allows an individual to withdraw a filed notification before it is published and accompanying material is made publicly available. Exempts actions and determinations of the Attorney General or the Commission concerning such notifications or antitrust actions or investigations from judicial review. Title III: Intellectual Property Licensing Under the Antitrust Laws - Amends the Clayton Act to provide that agreements to convey rights to use, practice, or sublicense patented inventions, copyrights, trade secrets, trademarks, know-how, or other intellectual property shall not be deemed illegal per se in actions under the antitrust laws. Limits to actual damages, interest thereon, and the cost of suit the amount that any person or State may recover in an antitrust action based on such an agreement. Title IV: Patent and Copyright Misuse - Prohibits a patent or copyright owner who is entitled to relief for patent or copyright infringement from being denied relief or being deemed guilty of misuse or illegal extension of the patent right or copyright by reason of doing any of the following, unless such conduct violates the antitrust laws: (1) licensing the patent or copyright under terms that affect commerce outside the scope of its claims; (2) restricting a licensee in the sale of a patented or copyrighted product; (3) obligating a licensee to pay excessive royalties, royalties that differ from those paid by other licensees, or royalties not related to a licensee's sale of the patented or copyrighted product; (4) refusing to license a patent or copyright to any person; or (5) otherwise using the patent or copyright allegedly to suppress competition. Title V: Process Patents - Requires a process patent to grant the patentee the right to exclude others from using or selling products produced by that process. Includes as patent infringement the unauthorized use or sale of a product of a patented process. Places the burden of proving that a product was not produced by the patented process on the defendant in a patent infringement action if the court finds that: (1) a substantial likelihood exists that the product was produced by that process; and (2) the claimant has exhausted all reasonable means of determining the process used and was unable to make such determination.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 1983
Legal Services Corporation Amendments of 1983 - Amends the Legal Services Corporation Act of 1974 to add as a criterion for membership to the Board of Directors (the Board) that prospective members: (1) be knowledgeable of the legal needs of the poor; and (2) support the principle that it is in the national interest that eligible clients have equal access under the law to effective legal services under this Act. Requires that at least two Board members shall be eligible clients at the time of their nomination. Restricts to 60 days the time in wich an outgoing Board member must remain in office: (1) while Congress is in session and a successor is sought; or (2) after the indefinite adjournment of the Senate session in which the successor's nomination was submitted. Computes the term of each member from the termination date of the preceding term. Directs the Board biannually to elect a chairperson from its membership. Provides that in the case of disruptive conduct by the public at a Board meeting, a majority of the members may vote to close the meeting. Prohibits the employment of Corporation personnel by any grantee or contractee for a maximum of two years after the end of such person's employment with the Corporation. Authorizes the Corporation to provide financial assistance and enter into grants and contracts with: (1) qualified nonprofit organizations chartered under State or local laws; (2) private attorneys; (3) bar associations; and (4) educational institutions with a demonstrated capability of implementing programs which involve the private bar in furnishing legal assistance to eligible clients. Applies criminal sanctions under certain Federal law to Corporation personnel who lobby with appropriated moneys. Prohibits class action suits against any government entity unless: (1) the recipient's project director has expressly given approval; (2) the class relief is for the primary benefit of eligible clients; and (3) the project director has concluded that the government practice or policy will continue to affect clients adversely and that out-of-court settlement would be adverse to the clients' interests. Requires notice to the government entity of the impending class action. Authorizes a court to award reasonable expenses and legal fees incurred by a defendant against the Corporation (or a recipient) if the court finds the action commenced by the Corporation had no reasonable basis. Requires the Corporation (or the recipient) to pay such fees directly. Prohibits a recipient from requesting attorneys' fees from a governmental unit in any litigation or administrative matter. Direct the Corporation to distribute attorney's fees among its grantees for the direct delivery of legal assistance with due consideration to the State from which the fees were derived. Requires the Corporation to establish an Office of Inspector General which conforms to the provisions of the Inspector General Act of 1978. Requires the Corporation to: (1) make funds available for legal assistance by the private bar to eligible clients; (2) develop criteria for reasonable reduced attorneys fees; and (3) issue regulations which limit compensation to private attorneys to reasonable reduced attorneys' fees. Requires the Corporation to insure that its funds will not be used to pay for the costs of: (1) influencing legislation pending before any legislative body; or (2) the maintenance of an office or ongoing activity intended to influence legislation. Prohibits commingling Corporation funds with funds of another organization if the purpose or effect of such commingling is to circumvent provisions of this Act. Directs the Corporation to: (1) require recipients to attempt negotiation of controversies before filing suit; and (2) insure that Corporation funds will not be used to pay dues or membership fees to private organizations. Prohibits the use of Corporation funds for legal assistance to illegal aliens including aid in determining the legality of such an alien's presence in the United States. Prohibits the use of Corporation funds for the purchase of real estate by recipients unless Board members approve it by two-thirds vote. Requires the Corporation to insure that: (1) a majority of a recipient's governing body is appointed by a bar association whose membership represents a majority of the attorneys practicing law in the area in which the recipient provides legal assistance; (2) the membership of a recipient's governing body is not in excess of 50 percent plus one from the same political party; and (3) membership on a governing body is limited to five years. Directs the Corporation to issue regulations which require each recipient to maintain specified documentation. Requires the Corporation to include in its annual report a summary of each recipient's authorized activities, as well as the degree of compliance with specified law by such recipients. Requires the Corporation to insure that legal representation under its aegis is limited to the financial eligibility criteria. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1984-1986. Prohibits any entity receiving financial assistance under this Act from carrying over unobligated amounts exceeding 15 percent from one fiscal year to the next without Corporation approval. Authorizes the Board to adopt specified enforcement procedures. Amends the Act's enforcement provisions to authorize the Board immediately to suspend financial assistance to grantees or recipients for specified violations. Requires the Corporation to insure that clients of such grantees are not adversely affected by the termination of financial assistance. Repeals the requirement that the Corporation insure the interim funding of entities which file a timely refunding application. Authorizes the Corporation to bring an action in Federal district court to compel: (1) specific performance of agreements with recipients for the provision of legal services; or (2) compliance by a recipient with the rules promulgated under the Act. Directs the court to attempt to make equitable arrangements for the provision of legal services to eligible clients adversely affected by a judgment which interrupts such services. Imposes a maximum fine and prison term for specified violations, including the impairment of Corporation documents. Requires the Board to prepare and submit to the President and each member of Congress a study on whether copayment should be required of legal services clients based upon such a client's ability to contribute to his or her legal representation. Directs the Corporation to establish procedures by which State advisory councils can experiment with alternative systems for providing legal services to eligible clients. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to include as a "charitable contribution" a contribution of legal services to an eligible client as defined by the Legal Services Corporation Act. Limits the amount of a legal services charitable contribution to a maximum of $250.00 within the taxable year.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 1983
States that the United States: (1) condemns the Soviet destruction of Korean Air Lines Flight 7 and calls for an explanation from the Soviets; (2) extends its sympathies to the families who lost loved ones and supports their rights to obtain compensation from the Soviets; (3) calls on the Soviets to assist in the recovery of the remains of the victims; (4) reaffirms the actions against Aeroflot and calls for an international investigation by the International Civil Aviation Organization; (5) urges the international community to demand that the Soviets modify its air defense procedures to assure the safety of commercial airliners; (6) urges other nations to join the United States in applying sanctions against Soviet civil aviation; (7) notes that Soviet refusal of responsibility raises doubts among the world community over the Soviet's willingness to behave as a responsible member of the international community; and (8) urges our allies to cooperate with the United States in implementing additional sanctions against the Soviet's until certain conditions are met.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1983
Textile Fiber and Wool Product Identification Improvement Act - Amends the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act and the Wool Products Labeling Act of 1939 to require a textile fiber or wool product to be so labeled if it has been processed or manufactured in the United States. Requires the product, as well as the package in which it is contained, to be labeled as to country of origin. Requires catalog sales descriptions and other advertisements for textile and wool products to contain country of origin information. Requires that the identification label on imported textile fiber or wool products be affixed to the most conspicuous place on the inner side of the product.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1983
Amends the Federal criminal code to establish criteria for the imposition of the death penalty for Federal crimes. Requires the Government, for any offense punishable by death, to serve notice upon the defendant a reasonable time before trial or acceptance of a plea that it intends to seek the death penalty and the aggravating factors upon which it will rely. Requires a separate sentencing hearing before a jury, or the court upon motion by the defendant, when the defendant is found guilty or pleads guilty to an offense punishable by death. Allows the defendant and the Government to present any information relevant to sentencing, without regard to the rules of evidence, but permits information to be excluded where its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading the jury. Specifies mitigating factors which the defendant must establish by a preponderance of the information and aggravating factors which the Government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt. Includes as threshold, aggravating factors for homicide that the defendant: (1) intentionally killed the victim; (2) intentionally inflicted serious bodily injury which resulted in death of the victim; (3) intentionally participated in an act which he reasonably should have known would create grave risk of death to a person and the victim did die as a direct result of the act; or (4) attempted to kill the President of the United States. Sets forth special aggravating factors with respect to the crimes of treason, espionage, homicide, and attempted murder of the President. Includes among the mitigating factors that the defendant was less than 18 years old at the time of the crime. Directs the court, or the jury by unanimous vote, to impose the death penalty upon a finding that such sentence is justified based on consideration of both the aggravating and mitigating factors. Requires the court to instruct the jury not to consider the race, color, national origin, creed, or sex of the defendant in its consideration of the sentence. Limits the circumstances under which the offense of delivering defense information to aid foreign governments is punishable by death. Allows the death penalty to be imposed for the murder of foreign officials and for an offense of kidnapping resulting in the death of any person. Eliminates the death penalty for the crime of rape. Authorizes the death penalty for the crime of attempting to kill the President of the United States if the attempt results in bodily injury to the President or otherwise comes dangerously close to causing his death. Establishes procedures for appeal from a death sentence. Requires the Court of Appeals, upon considering the record and the information and procedures of the sentencing hearing, to affirm the decision if: (1) the sentence was not imposed under influence of passion, prejudice, or arbitrariness; and (2) the information supports the finding of aggravating factors or the absence of mitigating factors. Requires the court to provide a written explanation of its determination. Provides for the death penalty for murders committed by prisoners in Federal correctional institutions.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1983
Reform of Federal Intervention in State Proceedings Act of 1983 - Amends the Federal judicial code to condition consideration of a habeas corpus claim by a prisoner on a showing of actual prejudice resulting from the Federal right violated and that: (1) State or Federal Government action precluded assertion of that right; (2) the Federal right did not previously exist; or (3) the factual basis of the claim could not have been discovered by reasonable diligence. Establishes a one-year statute of limitations for habeas corpus actions brought by State prisoners, and a two-year statute of limitations for similar motions made by Federal prisoners. Vests authority to issue certificates for probable cause for appeal of habeas corpus orders exclusively in the courts of appeals. Permits denial on the merits of habeas corpus writs notwithstanding the failure to exhaust State remedies. Prohibits the granting of a habeas corpus writ with respect to any claim which has been fully and fairly adjudicated in State proceedings.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1983
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the United States should seek to: (1) urge other governments to conduct their own investigations of suspected chemical warfare; (2) help the United Nations gain access for U.N. investigators to areas where chemical and toxin weapons use is suspected; and (3) negotiate with the Soviet Union on strengthening existing agreements on chemical, biological, and toxin weapons.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1983
Commends the past and present Commissioner's and employees on the centennial of the establishment of the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1983
Interstate Compact - Grants congressional approval to the Southeast Interstate Compact on Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management, which provides for cooperation among the States of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia in the management of low-level radioactive waste on a continuing basis.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1983
Federal Computer Systems Protection Act of 1983 - Amends the Federal criminal code to establish penalties for using or attempting to use certain computers with intent to defraud, obtain property by false pretenses, embezzle, steal, or knowingly convert the property of another. Limits the kinds of computers covered by this Act to those operating in interstate commerce or operating on behalf of the Federal Government or a financial institution (where the prohibited conduct directly affects the computer operation). Specifies factors which Federal law enforcement officers must consider in determining whether to exercise jurisdiction over such offense, where concurrent jurisdiction exists with a State or local government. Directs the Attorney General to report annually to Congress on the extent of the exercise of such Federal jurisdiction.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1983
Amends the National Labor Relations Act to provide that membership in a labor organization is not required as a condition of employment in Federal areas located within a State or territory (thus allowing the application of State right-to-work laws).
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 1983
Amends the Federal criminal code to make it a Federal offense to forge endorsements on or fraudulently negotiate U.S. Treasury checks, bonds, or securities. Provides for a fine of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment for not more than ten years when the face value of such instrument exceeds $500.
United States · United States Congress · 28 July 1983
Establishes a temporary Special Committee on Family, Youth, and Children to make a study and investigation of matters pertaining to family, childhood, and adolescence. Requires a final report to the Senate by November 30, 1984, and terminates the committee 30 days after such date.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 1983
Equal Educational Opportunity Act of 1983 - Amends the Education Consolidation and Improvement Act of 1981 (ECIA) to permit payments to local educational agencies under Chapter 1 (Federal Assistance to Meet Special Educational Needs of Disadvantaged Children) of such Act to be used for educational voucher programs. Permits parents of educationally deprived children to use such vouchers to pay for: (1) full-time enrollment at private schools or at public schools outside their school district; or (2) compensatory services provided by the LEA to meet their special educational needs at public schools of their school district. Authorizes State educational agencies (SEAs) to require LEAs to use Chapter 1 funds to implement voucher programs. Requires that such State requirement be for all LEAs. Gives each LEA discretion to: (1) use such funds to implement a voucher program (if the SEA does not so require); and (2) distribute vouchers to some or all eligible parents. Sets forth requirements for: (1) authorized educational voucher programs; (2) other LEA special educational needs programs and projects under Chapter 1; and (3) LEA applications to SEAs for voucher programs. Declares that educational voucher program payments made by an LEA to a private school or to another LEA under this Act shall not constitute Federal financial assistance to the LEA or private school receiving such payments. Declares that use of Chapter 1 funds received in exchange for a voucher by a private school or a public school outside the eligible child's school district shall not constitute a program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. Makes specified Chapter 1 provisions inapplicable to educational voucher programs. Sets forth requirements for nondiscrimination by private schools in the voucher program. Prohibits racially discriminatory policies at such schools. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to disclose to appropriate Department of Justice offices or employees any tax return or tax return information relevant to investigations by the Attorney General or proceedings brought under this Act to determine whether a school is following a racially discriminatory policy. Makes conforming amendments to specified provisions of Federal law relating to the creation of the declaratory judgment remedy, to include references to provisions of this Act which authorize declaratory judgments by appropriate U.S. district courts as to whether a private elementary or secondary school follows a racially discriminatory policy.
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 1983
Capital Formation Tax Act of 1983 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the income tax deduction for net capital gains to 80 percent on the sale of stock if the following requirements are met: (1) the stock must be purchased through an initial stock offering; (2) the stock must be purchased from the initial offeror, underwriter, broker, or agent; (3) the stock must represent contributions to capital or paid-in surplus; and (4) the stock must have been held for at least five years at the time of the sale or exchange.
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 1983
Authorizes the Attorney General to make contracts retaining private counsel to furnish collection services in the case of any claim of indebtedness owed the United States. Permits the head of an executive or legislative agency to refer to a private counsel so retained any claims of indebtedness owed the United States arising out of such agency's activities. Declares that for the purposes of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, a private counsel performing collection services under this Act shall be considered a debt collector. Requires the Attorney General to transmit to Congress a quarterly report on the activities of the Department of Justice to recover such indebtedness. Requires the Attorney General to transmit to Congress a report on the actions taken under this Act within 60 days after the date of enactment.
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 1983
Universal Telephone Service Preservation Act of 1983 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to direct the Federal Communications Commission to establish a system of exchange access charges in order to: (1) achieve equal treatment among all inter-local access and transport area (LATA) carriers and other customers using the services of exchange companies through direct or indirect connection; (2) assure that payments and assignments of costs relating to exchange access are carried out in a manner which is open for public examination; (3) achieve flexibility in accommodating changes in market conditions and technology; (4) establish incentives for efficient investment decisions and technological choices; and (5) ensure that exchange carriers are compensated for their costs of providing exchange access. Directs the Universal Telephone Service Joint Board (established by this Act) to establish a universal service charge schedule to insure that basic telephone service will be available at reasonable rates throughout the United States. Requires such schedule to designate universal service costs to be allocated to a Federal jurisdiction and to provide for their collection by means of a universal service charge that is payable by any interLATA carrier or any provider of interLATA services or any private system that connects directly or indirectly to any exchange carrier or any local exchange switched network used to provide basic telephone service. Entitles each exchange company qualifying for payments to 90 percent of its reasonably incurred universal service costs which are directly related to the efficient and economic provision of such service. States that universal service costs shall consist of an exchange company's costs for basic intraLATA telephone service to any points within a LATA which exceed 110 percent of the average cost of providing comparable basic intraLATA telephone service throughout the United States. Provides that, notwithstanding the above provisions, any company which qualifies for payments and whose costs for basic intraLATA telephone service to any points exceed 250 percent of the average cost of providing comparable basic intraLATA telephone service throughout the United States shall be entitled to receive 100 percent of its reasonably incurred universal service costs over 250 percent of the national average. Defines: (1) "basic telephone service" as residential service; (2) "basic intraLATA telephone service" as that portion of basic telephone service provided within a local access and transport area, including access to such service; and (3) "exchange company" as a company that offers basic telephone service and other services within one or more service areas recognized by any State regulatory commission. Authorizes the Commission to assert jurisdiction over all nontraffic sensitive subscriber loop costs to a Federal jurisdiction, in order to achieve consistency and uniformity of policy in regard to interstate and intrastate access charges. Authorizes the Commission to delegate to a State commission some or all of the Commission's authority with respect to: (1) intrastate interLATA toll service; and (2) access charges for the interconnection of exchange communications service with interstate or intrastate interLATA toll service upon a finding that such delegation would promote the purposes of this Act. Directs the Universal Telephone Service Joint Board to establish guidelines binding a State commission in the exercise of any delegated authority. Directs the Commission to establish the Universal Telephone Service Joint Board which shall be composed of five commissioners of the Commission and four commissioners nominated by the national organization of State commissions. Directs the Commission to adopt as final any decisions of the Board. Establishes a fine applicable to anyone who, with the intent to deprive any exchange company of any revenue in connection with access charges, transmits telecommunications so as to avoid accessing a local exchange in order to avoid such charges. Directs the Commission and each State regulatory authority to take action to ensure access to basic telephone lifeline service.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 1983
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should convey U.S. concern for the welfare of Ethiopian Jews and seek ways to assist Ethiopian Jews to emigrate freely.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 1983
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt a farm truck from the heavy truck highway use tax where its use on the public highways is for the purpose of transporting farm commodities and such use does not exceed 10,000 miles.
United States · United States Congress · 29 June 1983
Local Government Antitrust Act of 1983 - Declares that Federal antitrust laws shall not apply to laws or actions of local governments, excluding activities involving the sale of goods or services by such a government in competition with private persons, except to the extent Federal antitrust laws would apply to a similar State law or action.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 1983
Requires the Government to pay a lump-sum of $75,000 to the survivors of certain Federal law enforcement officers who die as a direct result of injuries sustained in the performance of duty, provided such survivors file a claim for such payment within four years after the death of such officer.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 1983
Authorizes appropriations for FY 1984 through 1988 to the General Services Administration for: (1) the National Historical Publications and Records Commission; and (2) funds to Federal, State, and local agencies and to nonprofit organizations for the collection, preservation, and publication of historically significant documents.
United States · United States Congress · 15 June 1983
Highway Use Tax Equalization Act of 1983 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the highway use tax on heavy trucks. Increases the excise tax on diesel fuel from nine cents per gallon to 12 cents per gallon in 1983 and from 12 cents per gallon to 14 cents per gallon in 1984. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to prescribe regulations exempting from such increases diesel fuel used in automobiles and light trucks.
United States · United States Congress · 15 June 1983
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the President should convene a national, bipartisan commission to address the problems in Central America. Suggests certain requirements for the Commission.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 1983
Amends the Federal criminal code dealing with the sexual exploitation of children. Prohibits the distribution of material involving the sexual exploitation of minors even if the material is not found to be "obscene" and is transferred without sale. Increases the criminal fines for violation of this section by individuals from $10,000 to $75,000 (from $15,000 to $150,000 for a second or subsequent offense). Sets a fine of $250,000 for organizations. Provides for both criminal and civil forfeiture. Requires the Attorney General to report annually to Congress on the number of cases and convictions, and the dollar amount received in forfeiture, under this section.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 1983
Education for Peace, Arms Control, and Conflict Resolution Act - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to authorize the Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency to make grants to institutions of higher education to establish, strengthen, and operate graduate and undergraduate centers that will be national resources for academic and professional training and research in the disciplines of international affairs, in the study of international conflict, and in the techniques of conflict resolution, arms control, and the peaceful resolution of disputes. Sets forth the primary criteria the director shall apply in allocating awards to institutions. Authorizes the Director to pay stipends to persons undergoing training at such centers. Authorizes the Director to make grants to U.S. public and private nonprofit agencies and organizations whenever the Director determines that such grants will make an especially significant contribution toward developing knowledge, resources, and trained personnel for fields requiring understanding in international affairs. Authorizes the Director to: (1) conduct conferences for practitioners, policymakers, and other qualified persons to develop their skills in international peace, conflict resolution, and arms control; (2) conduct research into the causes of war and the elements of peace and into the experiences of nations in ending conflicts and resolving disputes without violence; (3) establish a method for disseminating information; and (4) develop programs to make such research and educational activities more available and useful to persons in government, private enterprise, and voluntary associations. Requires the Director to publish an annual report on all such peace, arms control, and conflict resolution programs. Prohibits using any grant awarded under this Act to: (1) support or encourage intervention in any current or pending dispute or crisis, except for Federal employees who otherwise have the authority and responsibility to do so; or (2) influence the passage or defeat of any Federal, State, or local legislation, except that recipients of such funds may testify before legislatures. Prohibits using a political test or political qualification in selecting individuals and institutions for participation in, or awarding of any grant, under this Act or for participation in any public activities conducted under authority of this Act. Requires the Director to coordinate activities under this Act: (1) with the activities conducted under the international and foreign language studies provisions of the Higher Education Act; and (2) with programs of public research, development, and other studies carried out under the Arms Control and Disarmament Act. Establishes an Advisory Board on Peace, Arms Control, and Conflict Resolution to consider the grants made under this Act and to advise the Director on specified matters. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 1983
Government Printing Office Pay Reform Act of 1983 - Requires the pay of Government Printing Office employees to be administered under the prevailing rate system and the General Schedule. Provides that employees who, upon enactment of this Act, hold positions for which the pay rates are determined by conference with the Public Printer or by appeal to the Joint Committee on Printing, shall, with specified exceptions, continue to receive basic pay at a rate not below the rate in effect immediately before enactment of this Act, plus any increase payable under the prevailing rate system or the General Schedule. Repeals the limitation on the number of apprentices that the Public Printer may employ at one time.
United States · United States Congress · 6 June 1983
Federal Neutrality Act of 1983 - Prohibits the disbursement of Government funds to any tax- exempt organization which engages in political advocacy or which is an affiliate of any organization which engages in political advocacy. Requires all U.S. agencies and departments which disburse such funds to adopt regulations requiring recipient organizations to disclose certain information. Requires all agencies and departments to perform annual audits of any recipient organizations to which they have disbursed funds. Requires recipient organizations to certify, under penalty of perjury, that they are not engaged in political advocacy.
United States · United States Congress · 6 June 1983
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt holdings in an independent local newspaper business from the tax on excess business holdings of private foundations. Defines an "independent local newspaper business" as: (1) a proprietorship which publishes an independent local newspaper; (2) a partnership which publishes such a newspaper and which has none of its outstanding partnership interests traded in an established securities market; and (3) a corporation which publishes such a newspaper and which has none of its outstanding capital stock traded in an established securities market.
United States · United States Congress · 26 May 1983
Veterans' Disability Compensation and Survivors' Benefits Amendments of 1983 - Title I: Compensation Rate Increases - Increases the rates of veterans' disability compensation. Permits the Administrator of Veterans Affairs to adjust the rates of disability compensation for other specified persons. Increases the rates of additional compensation for dependents. Increases the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans. Title II: Dependency and Indemnity Compensation Rate Increases - Increases the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses according to a specified table. Increases the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for children. Increases the rates of supplemental dependency and indemnity compensation for children. Title III: Effective Date - Sets forth the effective date for this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 1983
Federal Election Campaign Act Amendments of 1983 - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to include in the definition of "contribution" donations made to draft clearly identified individuals to become candidates for Federal office. Exempts from the definition of "contributions" any donations to political parties or committees designated to defray establishment, administration, or solicitation costs of the Committee. Requires that these donations be reported on a semiannual basis. Extends to the national committee of a political party certain exemptions that are given to State committees. Allows a political committee of a party to utilize the expedited procedure for advisory opinion requests during the 60-day period before an election. Requires the Commission to establish time limits for investigations. Revises the investigatory procedures of the Commission. Deletes the requirement that the Court of Appeals sit en banc when hearing cases involving the constitutionality of the Act. Increases the contribution limitations for certain offices. Permits political committees of political parties to engage in bona fide commercial transactions in order to defray establishment, administration, and solicitation costs. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide the opportunity for a presidential general election candidate to request a hearing before the Commission if a demand for repayment of funds is made available.
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 1983
Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) to declare that contributions, gifts, or payments by union members to a separate fund which is used by the union for political purposes must be voluntary and unrelated to moneys required as a condition of employment. Declares it to be unlawful to use moneys paid to an organization as a condition of employment for any type of election or campaign activities by such organization.
![Official portrait of Sen. Denton, Jeremiah [R-AL]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/d000259_200.jpg)