United States · United States Congress · 20 June 1984
Designates August 1, 1984, as Helsinki Human Rights Day. Authorizes and requests the President to issue a proclamation reasserting the American commitment to full implementation of the human rights and humanitarian provisions of the Helsinki Accords. Requests the President to raise the issue of noncompliance with such provisions with the Soviet Union and Eastern European countries at every available opportunity.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 1984
Congratulates and commends the USA Philharmonic Society for its work on behalf of the Nation's young musicians and its commitment to furthering better understanding among peoples of all nations through the language of music.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 1984
United States Scholarship Program for Developing Countries Act - Directs the President, acting through the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Information Agency, to provide an undergraduate scholarship program for citizens and nationals of developing countries to study at American institutions of higher education. Requires that half of each payment to a student shall be in the form of a loan with repayment to be forgiven upon the student's prompt return to his or her country of origin for a period of no less than the years spent studying in the United States plus one. Sets forth guidelines for implementing the program. Directs the President, before allocating any funds, to consult with U.S. educational institutions, educational exchange organizations, U.S. missions, and the governments of participating countries on how to implement the guidelines. Authorizes the President to enter into agreements with foreign governments to further the scholarship program. Urges the Administrator of the agency primarily responsible for administering development assistance programs, in implementing such programs, to increase assistance for undergraduate scholarships for students of limited financial means from developing countries to study in the United States. Urges the President to take steps to expand the opportunities for Americans from all economic classes to study in developing countries. Authorizes the President to establish counseling and orientation services: (1) abroad to prepare foreign students for study in the United States; and (2) at U.S. schools to help them while they are in the United States. Directs the Board of Foreign Scholarships to advise and assist the President in the discharge of programs authorized by this Act. Requires the public and private sectors in the United States to be encouraged to contribute to the costs of the programs financed under this Act. Directs the President to engage the public and private sectors of developing countries in programs to maximize the use of program participants upon their return to their own countries. Authorizes the President to publicize the scholarship program abroad. Authorizes the President to provide English instruction abroad when necessary. Provides for funding to carry out this Act. Requires the President to report annually to Congress on the activities taken pursuant to this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 1984
Amends the Federal criminal code to define "armor piercing ammunition." Excludes from the definition: (1) shot gun shot required by Federal or State regulations for hunting; (2) frangible projectiles for target shooting; and (3) projectiles that the Secretary of Treasury determines are primarily intended for sporting purposes. Makes it unlawful for any person to manufacture or import armor piercing ammunition. Allows for: (1) the manufacture or importation of armor piercing ammunition for the use of the United States or any State or local government; and (2) manufacture for the sole purpose of exportation. Establishes a licensing fee of $1,000 per year for manufacturers and importers of armor piercing ammunition. Imposes an additional mandatory sentence of not less than five years for any person who uses or carries a firearm and is in possession of armor piercing ammunition during the commission of a violent felony. Provides that such sentence shall not be suspended nor probation nor parole granted.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1984
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should express to the Soviet Union the U.S. disapproval of the Soviet Union's: (1) systematic nondelivery of U.S. mail addressed to persons in the Soviet Union; and (2) violation of specified treaties governing international mail. States that at the meeting of the Congress of the Universal Postal Union in Hamburg, Germany, U.S. representatives should: (1) bring such violations to the attention of the Union; (2) request that an investigation of such violations be conducted by the Union; and (3) consider possible sanctions against the Soviet Union for such violations.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 1984
Removes restrictions on State transfers of certain apportioned highway funds. Requires States to utilize a specified percentage of such funds on the projects for which they were apportioned, except where the State certifies to the Secretary of Transportation that such percentage is in excess of existing highway needs. Amends the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982 to conform to provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 1984
Calls attention to August 1, 1984, as the 90th birthday of Benjamin Elijah Mays, if he had lived, and urges the observation of the date with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 1984
Designates June 30, 1984, as Screen Actors Guild Day and extends the gratitude of the Senate to the Screen Actors Guild. Calls on all Americans to recognize and celebrate the contribution to American culture of the Guild and its members.
United States · United States Congress · 3 May 1984
Real Property Disposal Policy Act of 1984 - Amends the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 to require the Administrator of General Services to notify State and local governments and certain institutions that surplus Federal property is being considered for disposal. Requires the Administrator to submit to appropriate congressional committees, executive agencies, and local zoning agencies a description of the real property intended for disposal and of the method of disposal.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 1984
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Federal Government take immediate steps to support funding for a national storm-scale operational and research meteorological (STORM) program under the leadership of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the Department of Commerce, with the cooperation of other interested and appropriate departments and agencies. Sets forth certain times the President should submit to Congress proposed activities of the program, including budgetary requirements, progress reports, and a statement of activities.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 1984
National Aeronautics and Space Administration Act, 1985 - Title I: Authorizations of Appropriations - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1985 to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for research and development, space flight, control, and data communications, construction of facilities, and research and program management. Permits appropriations for research and development and space flight, control and data communications to be used for any items of a capital nature (other than acquisition of land) which may be required at locations other than NASA installations for the performance of research and development contracts, and for grants to nonprofit institutions of higher education, or to nonprofit organizations whose primary purpose is the conduct of scientific research for purchase or construction of additional research facilities. Requires the Administrator to notify the President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the appropriate committees of Congress whenever the cost of a facility exceeds a specified amount. Permits funds appropriated for research and development, space flight, control and data communications, or for construction of facilities to remain available without fiscal year limitation. Permits appropriations for research and program management to be used for scientific contributions or extraordinary expenses upon the approval of the Administrator. Permits the funds for construction of any of specified facilities: (1) in the discretion of the NASA Administrator, to be varied upward ten percent; or (2) following a report by the Administrator to the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate on the circumstances of such action, to be varied upward 25 percent to meet unusual cost variations. Limits the total cost of all construction work to the total of the amounts specified. Permits one-half of one percent of the funds appropriated for research and development to be transferred to the "Construction of facilities" appropriations. Authorizes the expenditure of such funds, together with $10,000,000 of the funds appropriated for construction of facilities, to construct, expand, or modify laboratories and other installations. Requires the Administrator to notify the President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the appropriate committees of Congress of the specific nature, cost, and reasons for such construction 30 days before expending funds. Prohibits for a period of 30 days after notice to Congress the expenditure of appropriations for deleted programs, for programs in excess of the amount authorized, and for programs which have not been presented to the appropriate committees of Congress. Declares that it is the sense of the Congress that it is in the national interest that consideration be given to geographical distribution of Federal research funds whenever feasible and that NASA should explore ways of doing so. Limits the use of civil space stations constructed under this Act for peaceful purposes only. Requires NASA to enter into a contract for the development of an advanced communications technology satellite. Declares that the general welfare of the United States requires that NASA seek and encourage, to the maximum extent possible, the fullest commercial use of space. Permits the Administrator of NASA to transfer to an academic institution or nonprofit organization title to all Federal scientific research or development equipment which has been loaned to it for at least two years, provided that NASA does not need such property and it is being used by the organization holding it for a purpose consistent with the use intended when the property was loaned. Title II: National Commission on Space - National Commission on Space Act - Directs the President to establish a National Commission on Space, composed of ex officio and advisory members, plus 15 qualified individuals appointed by the President. Requires the Commission to make an investigation of existing and proposed space activities in the United States in order to assess their adequacy in meeting the present and future needs of the nation. Specifies items to be included in such study. Requires, within 12 months after the Commission is established, submission to the President and to specified congressional committees the results of such study, together with recommendations for legislation as the Commission determines to be appropriate. Terminates the Commission 60 days after it has submitted such report.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1984
Anti-Hunger Act of 1984 - Title I: School Lunch and Child Nutrition Amendments - Amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 and the National School Lunch Act to authorize FY 1985 through 1988 appropriations for: (1) the special supplemental food program for women, infants, and children (WIC); (2) State administrative expenses; (3) the childrens' summer food service program; and (4) the commodity distribution program. Provides a permanent authorization for the nutrition education and training program. Reduces the student cost of a reduced price lunch from 40 cents to 25 cents, and of a reduced price breakfast from 30 cents to 15 cents. Provides an additional six cents per breakfast to increase the nutritional quality of such program. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to promulgate related nutritional improvement regulations. Provides States with a three percent reimbursent for commodity for commodity transportation and storage costs. Eliminates the $1500 tuition limit for private school program particiaption. Increases the nubmer of reimbursable meals and snacks under the child care food program. Excludes certain medical expenses from household income for program eligibility purposes. Eliminates the requirement that free meal eligibility be the same as that required for food stamp eligibility. Prohibits the Secretary from requiring school lunch program income verification unless the direct cost of such verification is appropriated. Makes kindergartens in specified schools eligible for the special milk program. Obligates specified food service equipment appropriations for low-income area schools. States that school food facilities and personnel may be used for nonprofit nutrition programs for the elderly. Makes specified nonprofit private sponsors eligible for the summer feeding program. Prohibits States from using more than two and on-half percent of a current fiscal year's WIC appropriations for a preceding year's expenditures. Permits administrative funds to be used for technical assistance to improve State administrative systems. Includes Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) among the programs to be coordinated with the child nutrition programs. Provides for a reduction in program paperwork. Requires the secretary of Agriculture to fill vacancies on the National Advisory Council on Maternal, Infant, and Fetal Nutrition within 90 days, and to hold Council meetings at least annually. Title II: Amendments to the Food Stamp Act of 1977 - Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to permit elderly or disabled persons to purchase low-priced prepared meals from restaurants or similar establishments. Permits an elderly person who is unable to purchase and prepare food to be considered a separate household independently of the income level of the others with whom he or she lives. Provides for thrifty food plan increases in States that tax retail food sales. Increases the covered cost of such plan to 100 percent. Revises the definition of "disabled" to mean a person receiving Federal or State blindness or disability assistance based on the same as or substantially the same criteria as used under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security. Act. Makes households each of whose members receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or AFDC assistance categorically eligible for program participation. States that denial of eligibility or termination of benefits from such programs cannot be a basis for denial of food stamp eligibility or termination of benefits. Increases the earned income deduction from 18 to 20 percent. Separates dependent care and excess shelter expense deductions. Changes the elderly or disabled medical expense threshold from $35 to five percent of the household's monthly inocme. Grnats States the option of calculating income either prospectively or retrospectively. Authorizes emergency allotment increases if the household experiences a sudden income loss of more than $100 in a month. Increases the resources limitation from $1500 to $2250, and from $3000 to $3500 for the elderly and disabled. Increases the threshold for accounting a vehicle's value against resources from $4500 to $5500. Permits States to stagger coupon issuance. Authorizes outreach activities. Provides for the participation of homeless persons in the food stam program. Authorizes the Secretary to set food stamp office hours. Extends existing seven percent State error sanctions through FY 1985. Postpones the decreased five percent rate until FY 1986. Requires States imposing a tax on food stamp purchases to transfer such funds to the Secretary of the Treasury.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 1984
Older Americans Act Amendments of 1984 - Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to declare as an objective of the Act that community services provided under the Act should place emphasis on maintaining a continuum of care for the vulnerable elderly. Directs the Commissioner on Aging to develop linkages with utilization and quality control peer review organizations under the Social Security Act in order to insure the development of community alternatives. Increases the number of programs related to the purposes of the Act, for purposes of Federal agency cooperation. Revises provisions relating to the appointment of members to the Federal Council on Aging. Authorizes appropriations for the Council for FY 1985, 1986, and 1987. Provides for the annual authorization of appropriations to conduct program and project evaluations in an amount not exceeding one-tenth of one percent of annual funding or $300,000, whichever is lower. Defines the term: (1) "multipurpose senior center" to mean a community facility for the organization and provision of a broad spectrum of services, which shall include, but not be limited to, provision of health, social, nutritional and educational services and the provision of facilities for recreational activities for older individuals; and (2) "focal point" to mean a facility established to encourage the maximum collocation and coordination of services for older individuals. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1985, 1986, and 1987 for grants for: (1) supportive services and senior centers; (2) congregate nutrition services; and (3) home delivered nutrition services. Permits a State to use up to one percent of its allotment for conducting effective demonstration projects in health and nutrition education. Requires a State agency designating an area agency on aging to give the right of first refusal to a unit of general purpose local government when the boundaries of such a unit and the boundaries of the area are reasonably contiguous. Requires area plans: (1) to provide supportive services for families of elderly victims of Alzheimers' disease and other neurological diseases and organic brain disorders; (2) to provide services for the prevention of elder abuse; and (3) in providing services, to give preference to older individuals, especially minorities, with the greatest economic or social needs. Requires an area agency before requesting a waiver of any requirements for furnishing services to conduct a public hearing. Repeals the authority of grant recipients to charge for meals. Permits grant recipients to request voluntary contributions for meals. Requires a State plan to provide that with respect to services for the prevention of elder abuse: (1) the State will identify the public and private nonprofit entities involved in the prevention, identification, and treatment of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation; (2) the State will, based on such identification, determine the extent to which the need for services for the prevention of elder abuse are unmet; (3) the State will establish, in areas where the need for services is unmet, a program for public education to identify and prevent elder abuse, receive reports of elder abuse, and refer complaints to law enforcement agencies; (4) the State will not permit involuntary or coerced participation in the program of services by alleged victims, abusers, or their households; and (5) all information gathered shall remain confidential unless all parties to the complaint agree to the release of the information, except that the information may be released to a law enforcement agency. Requires a State plan to provide assurances that each State will: (1) provide inservice training opportunities for personnel of agencies and programs funded under the Act; and (2) assign personnel to provide State leadership in developing legal assistance programs for the elderly throughout the State. Requires each State to establish at least one demonstration project for health and nutrition education to be conducted by one or more area agencies on aging. Limits State expenditures for plan administration to an amount not exceeding five percent of its allotment or $500,000, whichever is greater, except that in the case of Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands, the amount shall be five percent or $200,000, whichever is greater. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1985, 1986, and 1987 for the surplus commodities program under the Act. Prohibits State agencies and area agencies on aging from requesting information or data of providers which is not pertinent to a payment made under the Act. Directs the Commissioner to make grants to States with approved State plans for: (1) supportive services for the prevention of elder abuse; and (2) inservice training and State leadership for legal assistance activities. Revises provisions relating to training, research, and discretionary projects and programs. Authorizes appropriations for such projects and programs for FY 1985, 1986, and 1987. States that the purpose of such projects and programs is to expand the knowledge and understanding of aging and the aging process, to design and test innovative ideas in programs and services for older individuals, and to help meet the needs for trained personnel in the field of aging. Directs the Commissioner to administer such projects and programs through the Administration on Aging. Provides for the special consideration of Alzheimers' disease with respect to such projects and programs. Provides for the dissemination of information with respect to project results. Directs the Commissioner, upon request, to provide assistance to State agencies on aging, to work in conjunction with State protective service agencies so as not to duplicate activities already undertaken by such protective service agencies, for the provision of technical assistance and development of training materials for personnel in State and area agencies who are engaged or intend to engage in the prevention, identification, and treatment of elder abuse. Limits to 12 percent of Federal funding the amount which shall be available for the costs of administration of a State's older American community service employment program. Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to coordinate such employment program with programs of the Job Training Partnership Act, the Community Services Block Grant Act, and the Vocational Education Act of 1984, if the Secretary determines that to do so would increase job opportunities available under the Older Americans Act of 1965. Requires each State receiving funds under the older American community service employment program to report to the Secretary annually concerning the equitable distribution of funds within the State. Authorizes appropriations for such employment program for FY 1985, 1986, and 1987. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1985, 1986, and 1987 for grants to Indian tribes under the Act. Amends the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 to add to the definition of the term "employee." States that such term includes any individual who is a U.S. citizen employed by an employer in a workplace in a foreign country. Provides that the provisions of such Act shall not prohibit the compulsory retirement of any employee between 65 and 70 years of age who, between the two year period immediately before retirement, is employed in a bona fide executive position, if such employee is entitled to an immediate nonforfeitable annual retirement benefit of at least $44,000. (Current law provides that the benefit must be at least $27,000.)
United States · United States Congress · 24 April 1984
Amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to authorize appropriations for FY 1985 through 1988, to the Departments of Commerce and Interior for activities under title I of the Act and to the Marine Mammal Commission for activities under title II of the Act.
United States · United States Congress · 12 April 1984
Civil Rights Act of 1984 - Amends the Education Amendments of 1972, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 and the Civil Rights Act to prohibit discrimination by any recipient of Federal financial assistance. (Currently, discrimination is prohibited only in a program or activity receiving Federal assistance.) Defines the term "recipient" to extend comprehensive coverage for purposes of the four Acts to any State or local governmental unit, any public or private agency or entity, and any subunit successor, assignee, or transferee of any such unit, agency, or entity.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 1984
States that the United States joins in recognizing the anniversaries of the Warsaw uprising and the Polish resistance to the World War II invasion of Poland.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 1984
Amends the Federal criminal code to make technical changes to the provisions dealing with the powers of the U.S. Secret Service. Authorizes the Secret Service to investigate and make arrests in cases relating to electronic fund transfer frauds, credit card frauds, and false identification devices.
United States · United States Congress · 30 March 1984
Leadership in Educational Administration Development Act of 1984 - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1985 through 1990 to carry out this Act. Directs the Secretary of Education, from such appropriations, to make available amounts, up to a specified maximum per region, necessary to establish and operate a regional technical assistance center in each Federal region. Makes up to $10,000,000 of such appropriations available for metropolitan training centers. Directs the Secretary to enter into a contract with an institution of higher education (or consortium of such institutions) in each Federal region to establish and operate a regional technical assistance center. Permits the contractor to associate with a private management agency for performance of such contract. Requires the contractor to: (1) make center services available to school administrators from any of the local educational agencies (LEAs) in the region; (2) collect information on school leadership skills; (3) assess leadership skills of individual participants; (4) conduct leadership skills training for new and practicing school administrators, especially women and minority administrators; (5) operate consulting programs for school districts; (6) maintain training curricula and materials on leadership skills drawing on expertise in business, academia, civilian and military governmental agencies, and existing effective schools; (7) conduct programs which make available business executives, scholars, and practicing school administrators and which offer internships in business, industry, and in effective school districts to school administrators; (8) disseminate information on leadership skills associated with effective schools; and (9) establish model administrator projects. Directs the Secretary in selecting such contractors to take into account whether their programs would: (1) emphasize development of leadership skills identified by graduate schools of management and of education; and (2) assure provision of assistance to school administrators from LEAs in which the number of pupils in the average daily attendance is less than 2,500. Directs the Secretary to enter into contracts with LEAs, intermediate school districts, State educational agencies (SEAs), institutions of higher education, private management organizations, or nonprofit institutions (or consortium of such entities) to establish and operate metropolitan training centers in eligible LEAs. Defines an eligible LEA as any LEA which is located, in part or in whole, within a standard metropolitan statistical area (SMSA) with a population of 250,000 or more. Requires such contractors to: (1) make center services available on an equitable basis, taking account of the contributions of various LEAs to center costs, to school administrators from each of the LEAs located, in part or in whole, within the SMSA; (2) perform specified functions which are also required of regional center contractors; and (3) coordinate metropolitan center operations with those of the regional center. Directs the Secretary, in selecting such contractors, to: (1) accept only those applications which demonstrate the existence of a prior agreement, among LEAs with more than one-half of the pupils in average daily attendance within the SMSA, to utilize the center; and (2) take into account whether their programs would emphasize provision of assistance to school administrators from LEAs in which the number of pupils in average daily attendance is more than 2,500 and would give preference to consortia of LEAs. Requires contracts under this Act to: (1) assure involvement of private sector managers and executives; (2) assure ongoing organizational commitment through obtaining matching funds, making in-kind contributions, demonstrating commitment to continue after expiration of funding under this Act, and organizing a policy advisory committee including representatives from business, private foundations, LEAs, and SEAs; (3) demonstrate the level of development of human relations skills which its programs will instill; and (4) establish a system of program evaluation. Provides that each contract under this Act shall be for a three-year term, subject to availability of funds. Makes such contracts non-renewable, but allows a single three-year extension to be granted if the contractor agrees to maintain the programs with assistance under this Act reduced by one-half. Permits the non- Federal matching contribution to be in cash or in kind, in the case of contracts for metropolitan training centers. Authorizes the Secretary to prescribe regulations to carry out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 1984
White House Conference on Small Business Authorization Act - Calls upon the President to conduct a National White House Conference on Small Business, not earlier than January 1, 1985, and not later than September 1, 1986, to: (1) increase public awareness of the contributions of small business; (2) identify small business problems; (3) examine the status of minority and women small business owners; (4) assist small business in carrying out its role as the nation's job creator; (5) develop specific recommendations for executive and legislative action; and (6) review the status of recommendations adopted at the Conference. Authorizes and directs Federal departments, agencies, and instrumentalities to provide support and assistance to the planning of such conference. Requires a final report of the Conference, within six months from the date such conference is convened, to be submitted to the President and the Congress. Requires the Small Business Administration to report annually to the Congress for the next three years following the submission of the final report of the Conference. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 1984
Commemorates on June 6, 1984, the fortieth anniversary of the allied forces invasion against the Nazi army. Authorizes and requests the President to designate June 6, 1984, as D-Day National Remembrance Day.
![Official portrait of Sen. Hollings, Ernest F. [D-SC]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/h000725_200.jpg)