United States · United States Congress · 25 February 1986
Parkinson's Disease Amelioration Act - Establishes the Commission for the Amelioration of Parkinsonism Disease which shall: (1) conduct a study of the medical and social management of Parkinsonism; (2) determine whether there is an appropriate balance between basic brain research and clinical research on Parkinsonism and other ailments; (3) investigate and make recommendations concerning the proper roles of Federal, State, and local governments and public and private agencies in the research, prevention, and identification of Parkinson's disease and the treatment and rehabilitation of persons with Parkinson's disease; and (4) develop a national plan for the control of Parkinsonism. Sets forth operating and related provisions. Requires the Commission to make a final report to the President and each House of the Congress within six months. Terminates the Commission 30 days after submission of the final report.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1986
Provides that the Internal Revenue Service, during the moratorium period beginning January 1, 1986, and ending June 30, 1987, may not enforce its regulations relating to the substantiation requirements with respect to deductions for the business use of vehicles. Directs that the determination of any amount includible in gross income with respect to the personal use of an employer-provided vehicle during the moratorium period shall be made without regard to temporary regulations issued by the Secretary of the Treasury. Prohibits the Secretary, during the moratorium period, from issuing any regulations relating to the substantiation requirements with respect to deductions for the business use of vehicles or with respect to amounts included in income for the personal use of employer-provided vehicles.
United States · United States Congress · 18 February 1986
States that the Congress disapproves the proposed deferral of budget authority 86-49 for the urban development action grant program set forth in the special message transmitted by the President to the Congress on February 5, 1986.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1986
Amends the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 to authorize the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to accept gifts or donations to build a manned space shuttle which may be named Challenger II.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1986
States that the Congress disapproves the proposed deferral of budget authority 86-49 for the urban development action grant program set forth in the special message transmitted by the President to the Congress on February 5, 1986.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 1986
Establishes a veterans' home loan guaranty limitation amount of $17,600,000,000 reduced by 4.3 percent for purposes of implementing any sequestration order issued by the President for FY 1986 calling for a reduction of such loan commitments.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 1986
Rejects a certain proposed rescission of available funds, including a specified amount for FY 1986 funds for the urban development action grant program.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 1986
Expresses the sense of the Congress that certain amounts appropriated for the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention of the Department of Justice which have been proposed for rescission by the President shall be made available for obligation and expended as originally intended.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 1986
Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to establish 1986 and 1987 minimum farm payment yields at 1985 levels for wheat, feed grains, upland cotton, and rice.
United States · United States Congress · 3 February 1986
Establishes in the Senate the Special Committee on Families, Youth, and Children to study the impact of government policies on, and ways to assist in, matters pertaining to families, children, and adolescents. Requires an annual report from such committee and declares that it does not have legislative jurisdiction.
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 1986
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the present three-year basis recovery rule on the taxation of retirement annuities for public employees should be maintained and provisions requiring the repeal of such treatment contained in certain tax reform legislation (H.R. 3838) should be deleted.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 1986
Federal Employees Benefits Improvement Act of 1986 - Title I: Federal Employees Health Benefits - Amends current law relating to the Federal Employee Health Benefit Plan to establish contracting authority for nurses, certified nurse-midwives, and clinical social workers. Authorizes Federal health plans to require a referral by a psychiatrist as a condition for reimbursement of clinical social workers. Prohibits such plans from requiring that services be performed under the supervision of a psychiatrist or other health practitioner. Eliminates the requirement of three medical specialties for group-practice prepayment plans. Authorizes the Office of Personnel Mangement (OPM) to waive certain health benefits plan election coverage requirements for individuals who fail to satisfy such requirements due to exceptional circumstances. Directs OPM to provide a three week period during which enrollees in health benefits plans may change or cancel their enrollments before any contract term in which the rates or benefits of a plan will change, a new plan will be offered, or an existing plan will be terminated. Authorizes an enrollee to transfer such enrollment at other times and under other conditions as prescribed by OPM. Changes from "employees" to "enrollees" those persons eligible for rebates from amounts held in contingency reserves under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Fund. Reinstates contracting authority under the plan for health services for medically underserved populations. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) Federal health plan participants should receive adequate insurance coverage for treatment of mental illness, alcoholism, and drug addiction; and (2) OPM should encourage participating plans to provide adequate benefits relating to such illnesses. Directs OPM to report, by March 1, 1986, to the House Committee on Post Office and Civil Service and the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs on the adequacy of current sources in assisting individuals in making an informed choice for a health plan. Requires the Director of OPM, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to conduct at least one demonstration project to determine the most effective (including cost-effective) means of: (1) furnishing health protection, health promotion, disease prevention, and secondary prevention services to Federal employees; (2) encouraging employees to adopt good health habits; (3) reducing health risks and medical expenses; (4) enhancing employee productivity and reducing Federal health-related liability through an occupational health program; and (5) training employees to provide certain health services and utilizing such employees through interagency agreements. Requires such project to determine the cost effectiveness of organizational structures and of social and educational programs which may be useful to achieve the objectives of such project. Sets forth administrative requirements for such project and requires a report to the Congress 60 days after its termination. Authorizes OPM to approve mixed model prepayment plans, which are combinations of group-practice and individual-practice health plans. Requires that amounts refunded during FY 1986 or 1987 to the Employees Health Benefits Fund be used solely to pay the Government contribution for annuitants enrolled in health benefits plans. Title II: Civil Service Spouse and Former Spouse Equity Improvements - Amends the Civil Service Retirement Spouse Equity Act of 1984 to make technical and clarifying changes with respect to the applicability of survivor benefits. Directs OPM to prescribe regulations under which an employee or Member of Congress may designate a portion of such employee's annuity to be used as the base for the survivor annuity for a former spouse. Title III: Miscellaneous Civil Service Amendments - Authorizes OPM to incur reception and representation expenses subject to limitations prescribed by law. Exempts actions of the Director of OPM regarding routine pay matters from certain notice requirements. Includes in pre-departure allowances for employees in a foreign area the costs incurred in U.S. territories or possessions, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or areas available to the United States in the Republic of Panama. Authorizes routine dental care at Naval hospitals and dispensaries to Federal employees and their dependents, and Federal contractors and their dependents, outside the continental limits of the United States under specified circumstances. Repeals provisions relating to a minimum annuity under the Civil Service Retirement System. Declares that certain retirees who have received erroneous overpayments before enactment of this Act shall be deemed entitled to such overpayments. Provides for lump-sum payments to certain retirees as an adjustment for certain reductions. Extends Government benefits regarding rates of pay on changes of position, annual leave, and reductions-in-force to former employees of county committees established under the soil conservation program. (Currently, such benefits are extended only to the former committee employees who are also employees of the Department of Agriculture.) Grants Federal retirees an 18-month period after their retirement date to elect a survivor annuity for their spouses or to increase such annuity. Declares such election ineffective unless the necessary amount to cover such election is deposited in the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund prior to the expiration of the 18-month period. Declares that a survivor annuity election made under the provisions of this Act voids any such previous election. Directs OPM to annually inform each employee and Member of his or her right of election, including applicable procedures and deadlines.
United States · United States Congress · 19 December 1985
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the effective date of any fundamental tax reform legislation should generally be January 1, 1987, while recognizing that appropriate transition rules may be necessary to avoid unintended adverse effects and recognizing further that retroactive effective dates may be necessary to extend certain provisions which expire before January 1, 1987.
United States · United States Congress · 18 December 1985
Air Passenger Safety and Equity Act of 1985 - Prohibits the receipts and disbursements of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund from being included in: (1) the Federal budget totals submitted by the President; or (2) the congressional budget. Exempts such receipts and disbursements from any general budget limitation imposed upon Federal expenditures or budget outlays.
United States · United States Congress · 16 December 1985
Young Astronaut Program Medal Act - Commemorates the Young Astronaut Program by directing the Secretary of the Treasury to strike and deliver to the Young Astronaut Council no more than 750,000 medals with emblems, devices, and inscriptions determined by the Secretary. Authorizes the Council to dispose of the medals at a premium and to have them delivered as required in quantities of no less than 2,000. Directs that no medals be struck after December 31, 1987. Directs the Secretary to set the price of the medals at no less than the manufacturing cost plus a surcharge of ten percent of such cost. Requires the furnishing of security sufficient to fully indemnify the United States for such costs. Directs that the medals be struck in gold, silver, and bronze and in such size or sizes as determined by the Secretary. Gives the U.S. Comptroller General the right to examine the records of the Council which are related to the medals.
United States · United States Congress · 13 December 1985
Proclaims October 23, 1986, as A Time of Remembrance for all victims of terrorism. Urges Americans to wear a purple ribbon in honor of the sacrifices made in pursuit of peace and freedom. Authorizes and requests the President to call upon U.S. departments, agencies, and other interested parties to fly U.S. flags at half staff.
United States · United States Congress · 9 December 1985
Amends the Deficit Reduction Act of 1984 to extend from August 1, 1985, until June 30, 1986, the special rules concerning the allocation of research and experimental expenditures to income from sources within the United States. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend from December 31, 1985, until June 30, 1986, the income tax credit for increased research and experimental expenditures. Extends from December 31, 1985, until June 30, 1986, the income tax deduction for expenditures to remove architectural and transportation barriers to the handicapped and elderly. Extends from December 31, 1985, until June 30, 1986, the moratorium on net operating loss carryover rules. Extends from January 1, 1986, until July 1, 1986, the moratorium on the issuance of regulations relating to faculty housing. Extends the targeted jobs income tax credit from December 31, 1985, until June 30, 1986. Extends the authorization for appropriations for administrative and publicity expenses through FY 1986. Extends from December 31, 1985, through June 30, 1986, provisions relating to the awarding of attorney's fees to a prevailing taxpayer in a Federal tax case. Extends from December 31, 1985, until June 30, 1986, the limited income tax exclusion for employer-provided educational assistance. Extends from December 31, 1985, until June 30, 1986, the income tax exclusion for amounts received under qualified group legal services plans. Extends from January 1, 1986, until July 1, 1986, the income tax exclusion for certain employer-provided commuting transportation. Extends from December 31, 1985, until June 30, 1986, the limited exclusion of dividends from a public utility that are reinvested in common stock of the utility. Extends from December 31, 1985, (until June 30, 1986, the investment tax credit for specified types of energy property. Extends from December 31, 1985, until June 30, 1986, the residential energy income tax credit. Extends from December 31, 1985, until June 30, 1986, social security coverage of retired Federal judges on active duty.
United States · United States Congress · 9 December 1985
Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1985 - Amends the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (the Act) to require each Federal laboratory director to ensure that efforts to transfer technology are considered positively in laboratory job descriptions, employee promotion policies, and evaluation of the job performance of scientists and engineers in the laboratory. Requires each Federal laboratory with 200 or more full-time scientific and engineering professionals to have at least one full-time equivalent technology transfer position. Abolishes the Center for the Utilization of Federal Technology and transfers its functions to the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) and to the Assistant Secretary for Productivity, Technology, and Innovation in the Department of Commerce. Establishes the Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer in the National Science Foundation. Requires the Director of the Foundation to appoint an individual to manage the Consortium and authorizes such individual to appoint Consortium employees. Sets forth Consortium duties relating to the commercial potential of new technologies generated by Federal laboratory research. Requires the Director of the Foundation to report annually to the President and to the appropriate authorization and appropriation committees of the Congress on the Consortium and other specified activities. Requires, for FY 1987 through 1991, Federal agencies to transfer a specified portion of the research and development budget of their laboratories to the Foundation for use by the Consortium in carrying out its activities. Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to: (1) make available to interested agencies the expertise of the Department of Commerce regarding the commercial potential of inventions and methods and options for commercialization which are available to the Federal laboratories, including research and development limited partnerships; (2) develop model provisions for use on a voluntary basis in cooperative research and development arrangements, and disseminate such provisions to appropriate agency and laboratory personnel; and (3) furnish advice and assistance to Federal agencies concerning their cooperative research and development efforts. Directs the Secretary, within two years after the enactment of this Act and biennially thereafter, to report to the President and the Congress on the use by the agencies and the Secretary of the authorities specified in the Act. Authorizes Federal agencies, subject to specified conditions, to permit the directors of their Government-operated Federal laboratories to: (1) enter into cooperative research and development agreements with other Federal agencies, State or local governments, industrial organizations, public and private foundations, nonprofit organizations (including universities), or other persons (including licensees of inventions owned by the Federal agency); and (2) negotiate patent licensing agreements for Government-owned inventions made at the laboratory and other inventions that may be voluntarily assigned to the Government. Authorizes Government-operated Federal laboratories, under such agreements and subject to specified conditions, to: (1) accept funds, services, and property from collaborating parties and provide services and property to such parties; (2) grant patent licenses or assignments, or options, in any subject invention made by a Federal employee, or made jointly by a Federal employee and an employee of the collaborating party, and to retain such rights as the Federal agency deems appropriate; (3) waive any right of ownership which the Federal Government may have to any inventions made by a collaborating party or such party's employee under the agreement; (4) permit employees or former employees of the laboratory to participate in efforts to commercialize inventions they made while in the service of the United States to the extent consistent with any applicable agency requirements. Directs each agency to maintain a record of all such agreements. Requires Federal agencies which expend certain amounts for research and development to establish cash awards programs to reward their scientific, engineering, and technical personnel for inventions or other exemplary activities relating to domestic technology transfer. Sets forth rules and formulas for the distribution of royalties or other income received by Federal agencies from the licensing or assignment of inventions under such agreements under this Act, and from inventions of Government-operated Federal laboratories licensed under provisions of Federal law relating to domestic and foreign protection of federally owned inventions, or under any other provision of law. Requires Federal agencies to submit annually to the appropriate authorization and appropriation committees of the Congress summaries of the amount of royalties or other income received and expenditures made (including inventor awards) under such rules and formulas. Authorizes Federal agencies to allow inventors who are current or former Government employees to retain title to inventions made during the course of such employment, unless the Federal agency itself intends to file for a patent application or otherwise promote commercialization. Subjects such title to certain reservations. Renames the Centers for Industrial Technology as Cooperative Research Centers.
United States · United States Congress · 6 December 1985
Establishes a Senate Special Panel on Asylum to conduct a study of the general problems of persons from Communist countries seeking asylum in the United States. Requires a final report to the Senate within one year. Sets forth a specified limit on the expenses that such Panel may incur.
United States · United States Congress · 23 November 1985
Farm Programs Predictability Act of 1985 - Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to provide that if the Secretary of Agriculture does not announce the terms of the 1986 price support programs for wheat, feed grains, upland cotton, or rice within 60 days of the planting date, producers may elect to participate in such programs by reducing planted acreages for each crop by specified percentages. Permits five percent increases in the percentage reduction if 1985 carryover stocks exceed a specified percent of annual usage for the 1986 marketing year. Stipulates that such election shall not apply to any commodity for which acreage allotments or marketing quotas are in effect.
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1985
Trade Policy Act of 1985 - Declares the United States should: (1) coordinate Federal activities in order to form a systematic trade policy; (2) provide for the collection and evaluation of data necessary to form such a policy; and (3) build a new system of international trade and financial agreements. Establishes the National Trade Data Committee which shall: (1) establish and maintain a National Trade Data Bank; and (2) provide for the analysis and effective dissemination of information in the National Trade Data Bank. Requires the National Trade Data Bank to consist of international economic and trade data and to serve as a clearinghouse for such data. Requires the National Trade Data Committee to report to the Congress annually on the Data Bank and the information it contains. Excludes the actions of the National Trade Data Committee from certain provisions governing coordination of activities with the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. Amends the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to establish in the Executive Office of the President a National Trade Council which will advise the President on coordinating national and international policies relating to trade. Terminates the Trade Policy Committee upon enactment of this Act. Establishes the Commission on U.S. Trade in the 1990's which shall study and make recommendations concerning U.S. international trade and export policies. Requires the Commission to report to the Congress by July 1, 1987. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1986 and 1987. Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to require the President, by December 31, 1995, to take such action as may be necessary to: (1) revise all U.S. trade and financial agreements in order to meet specified objectives; or (2) replace such agreements with new agreements that meet such objectives. Requires such agreements to: (1) provide for the reciprocal exchange of obligations that are likely to be mutually economically advantageous to the signatories; (2) provide a reasonable likelihood that the United States can enforce the obligations of such agreements; (3) complement and reinforce other agreements; and (4) be subject to certain withdrawal provisions and fulfill certain objectives. Authorizes entering into a replacement agreement only if the President, before starting formal negotiations of such agreement: (1) notified specified congressional committees of such negotiations; and (2) consulted with such committees on such negotiations. Sets forth special provisions governing congressional consideration of a bill implementing such agreement.
United States · United States Congress · 6 November 1985
Alzheimer's Disease Demonstration, Research, Respite, and Assistance Act of 1985 - Establishes the National Council on Alzheimer's Disease (National Council), which shall terminate six years after the date of enactment of this Act. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the National Council to develop and encourage partnerships for research in: (1) the etiology, diagnosis, clinical course, treatment, and epidemiology of Alzheimer's disease; (2) the psychological and social functioning of patients with Alzheimer's disease; and (3) methods of raising or sustaining the quality of life for patients with Alzheimer's disease. Directs the National Council to establish a scientific and medical advisory panel on Alzheimer's disease to facilitate such partnerships. Directs the National Center for Health Statistics, in cooperation with the National Institute on Aging, to collect medical information necessary to: (1) diagnose and evaluate individuals with Alzheimer's disease; and (2) develop a national data base concerning Alzheimer's disease. Requires the Director of the National Institutes of Health to establish five additional Alzheimer's disease research centers. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1987. Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to authorize the development of programs to assist victims of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders in meeting their day-to-day needs. Authorizes the Small Business Administration to make loans to private, nonprofit corporations to finance the development of adult day care centers and respite care programs for Alzheimer patients and their families. Directs the National Council to conduct research in methods of financing systems of providing long-term care to victims of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders. Requires the National Council to make annual reports to the Congress on the results of such research. Directs the National Council to develop a data base on needs for long-term care, and on costs of alternative funding. Directs the Secretary to conduct demonstration projects under which home care and other support services are provided under Medicare for victims of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders who could otherwise not be cared for at home. Requires the Commissioner of the Administration on Aging to direct area agencies on aging to maintain registries for various medical and community services. Provides that no skilled nursing facility or intermediate care facility which receives payments under title XVIII (Medicare) or under a State plan approved under title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act may discriminate in the acceptance or refusal of patients on the grounds that such individual is eligible for Medicaid or suffers from Alzheimer's disease. Requires such facilities to include a functional assessment of the Alzheimer's patient in the initial admission evaluation. Requires the Secretary to report annually to the Congress with respect to implementation of this section. Directs the Administrator of Veterans Affairs to promulgate national policies for treatment of eligible veterans who have Alzheimer's disease and are at least 55 years of age. Directs the Administrator to conduct a demonstration project to furnish comprehensive community-based care and related services to such individuals and their families in order to delay the need for hospital or nursing home admissions. Requires the Administrator to transmit an annual report to specified congressional committees. Directs the Secretary to establish mechanisms for: (1) the dissemination of information and guidelines relating to Alzheimer's disease; and (2) training for persons involved in the Social Security Administration's disability determination process. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for expenses incurred in the care of certain family members with Alzheimer's disease or related disorders. Sets the amount of such credit at 40 percent of the expenses incurred for taxpayers with incomes of $25,000 or less. Reduces the rate of such credit for adjusted gross income in excess of $25,000. Imposes an aggregate limit of $20,000 on the amount of expenses which may be taken into account with a maximum of $10,000 per family member. Directs the National Institute on Aging and the National Institute on Mental Health to develop and disseminate curricula for the training of personnel who provide health services to Alzheimer's disease patients. Directs the National Institute on Aging to develop and implement programs to train providers of clinical care services and families of patients with Alzheimer's disease to care for such patients. Directs the Secretary to: (1) develop and implement programs to train personnel who provide long-term care services to patients with Alzheimer's disease; (2) make grants to schools of medicine to train physicians and other health care personnel who provide care to Alzheimer patients who reside in nursing homes; (3) conduct training programs on Alzheimer's disease for safety and transportation personnel; (4) conduct training programs for medical examiners, coroners, and pathologists in the proper conduct of an autopsy to determine whether Alzheimer's disease was a contributing factor to a death; and (5) promulgate regulations to encourage medical examiners, coroners, and pathologists to provide reports concerning the findings of autopsies in which Alzheimer's disease contributed to the death. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 30 October 1985
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. Executive Directors of specified development credit institutions to oppose any aid by such institutions for the production of any agricultural commodity for export if: (1) such commodity is in surplus on world markets; and (2) the export of such commodity would cause substantial injury to U.S. producers of the same or a similar competing commodity. Limits the amount of U.S. payment to any capital expansion such institution based upon the amount of assistance furnished by such institution for the production of surplus agricultural commodities that are injurious to U.S. producers or for the subsidization of the export of agricultural commodities from certain countries.
United States · United States Congress · 29 October 1985
Fair Furniture Trade Act of 1985 - Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to authorize the President to enter into a trade agreement with Canada which provides for changes in the Canadian tariff treatment for U.S. furniture products. Requires such agreement to provide for the elimination of: (1) differing tariff levels on furniture trade between the United States and Canada; and (2) any Canadian nontariff barrier to U.S. furniture products. Sets forth factors the President shall consider in negotiating such agreement. Provides for staged increases in the tariff on imports of Canadian furniture until such a trade agreement is implemented. Directs the President to consult with specified congressional and other committees in negotiating such agreement. Directs the President to proclaim the necessary changes in the Tariff Schedules of the United States in order to implement such a trade agreement.
United States · United States Congress · 25 October 1985
Expresses the sense of the Congress that no part of any tax reform legislation based on the President's tax reform proposal submitted to the Congress on May 29, 1985, shall: (1) take effect before its date of enactment, but in no case earlier than July 1, 1986; or (2) apply to transactions occurring pursuant to a binding contract in effect prior to its date of enactment.
United States · United States Congress · 24 October 1985
Declares that no letter of offer, prior to March 1, 1986, shall be valid with respect to any proposed sales to Jordan of advanced weapons systems, including advanced aircraft and advanced air defense systems, that are described in the notification pursuant to the Arms Export Control Act, unless direct peace negotiations between Israel and Jordan are underway.
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