United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1982
Competition in Contracting Act of 1982 - Title I: Amendments to Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 - Amends the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 to revise the procedures for soliciting and awarding bids for Government contracts. Requires executive agencies (excluding military departments, the Coast Guard, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration) to use competitive procedures in making purchases and contracts for property and services. Directs agencies to solicit a sufficient number of bids, without bias, to achieve effective and efficient competition. Permits agencies to use noncompetitive procurement procedures only when: (1) there is only one source of the property or services needed; (2) the delay involved in using competitive procedures would seriously injure the Government; (3) it is necessary to award the contract to a particular source to maintain an essential industrial capacity in the United States or to achieve national industrial mobilization; (4) an agreement with a foreign government requires such procedures; (5) a statute requires that the procurement be made through another agency or a specific source; or (6) disclosure of an agency's needs to more than one source would compromise the national security. Requires that each solicitation for bids disclose: (1) the factors the agency will use in evaluating bids; (2) the agency's objectives in procuring the property or services; (3) whether the bids will be evaluated with or without discussion; and (4) the time and location for the opening of bids. Requires each agency to evaluate bids on the basis of price and other appropriate factors. Permits an agency to discuss bids with bidders when necessary before awarding a contract. Prohibits discussion if the Government's needs and the terms of the contract are sufficiently described to permit: (1) sources to prepare and submit bids on an informed and timely basis; and (2) the agency to evaluate all bids on a common and timely basis. Directs an agency to notify all bidders when procurement is awarded. Requires an agency to direct the Secretary of Commerce to publish a notice of: (1) the agency's intention to use competitive procedures to purchase property or services costing over $25,000; (2) the agency's intention to use noncompetitive procedures to procure property or services costing over $75,000; or (3) an actual purchase or contract award exceeding an amount specified by the Administrator of Federal Procurement Policy. Requires such a notice for noncompetitive procurement to be published at least 30 days before the contract is awarded and to include: (1) the names of sources to be solicited; (2) the property or services to be procured; (3) the estimated value of the procurement; and (4) a statement that any person may submit bids within 30 days. Exempts certain procurement activities from such notice requirements. Requires agencies to maintain records of noncompetitive procurements during each fiscal year. Declares that such records shall include a justification of each use of competitive procedures and shall be available to any Member of Congress. Title II: Amendments to Title 10, United States Code - Revises procurement procedures for military departments, the Coast Guard, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to correspond with procurement procedures for executive agencies under title I of this Act. Title III: Applicability - Declares that this Act shall become applicable 60 days after enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 10 February 1982
Reciprocal Trade and Investment Act of 1982 - Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to direct the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to submit to the President an annual study of the practices of each designated major trading country that: (1) deny benefits to the United States under a trade agreement; or (2) deny to the United States substantially equivalent commercial opportunities with respect to U.S. products that are internationally competitive. Directs the President to submit such study to the appropriate congressional committees and to propose actions to redress any imbalance caused by such practices. Directs Federal agencies to furnish information and other assistance to carry out such study. Adds to the findings upon which the President can base U.S. responses to foreign trade practices. Directs the President to act upon finding that a foreign practice denies to the United States commercial opportunities substantially equivalent to those offered by the United States. Authorizes the President to take action against the foreign entity's investments. (Current law limits the President to taking action against the foreign entity's products or services.) Requires the President to take into account U.S. trade agreement obligations in determining whether to take any action to enforce U.S. trade rights or respond to a foreign trade practice. Includes foreign direct investment by U.S. citizens or nationals within the definition of commerce and commercial opportunites. Authorizes the House Ways and Means Committee or the Senate Finance Committee to file a resolution with the USTR requesting the President to take action to enforce U.S. trade rights or respond to foreign trade practices. Directs the USTR to consult with the International Trade Commission (ITC) on: (1) the economic impact of the USTR's legislative recommendations; and (2) the foreign practices which caused the USTR to investigate. (Current law authorizes the USTR to consult with the ITC on the economic impact of proposed action with respect to the foreign product or service.) Directs the USTR to make preliminary recommendations to the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee on the options the President is considering if dispute settlement procedures fail. Requires such recommendations to be made within 180 days of a finding that presidential action is needed to enforce U.S. trade rights or to respond to a foreign trade practice. Directs the President to negotiate international agreements to end restrictions on foreign direct investment. Includes restrictions on foreign direct investment among the barriers to international trade that may authorize the President to enter trade agreements.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 1982
Federal Election Campaign Equal and Total Disclosure Act - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to include all persons, committees, and organizations within such Act's coverage. Provides penalties for using information disclosed under such Act to threaten or harass another person.
United States · United States Congress · 3 February 1982
Amends the Interstate Commerce Act to direct the Interstate Commerce Commission to authorize a motor common carrier of property to provide single-line service between points in the United States and points in Canada or Mexico under specified conditions. Prohibits the Commission from authorizing freight transportation in interstate or foreign commerce by persons domiciled in Canada or Mexico if either of their governments prohibits U.S. domiciliaries from transporting freight within Canada or Mexico on substantially the same licensing standards as apply to freight transportation by their own nationals.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 1982
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that the individual income tax rate reductions enacted by the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 shall be reflected in withholding adjustments six months sooner than scheduled.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 1982
Expresses the disapproval of Congress of the Federal Trade Commission's final rule relating to used motor vehicles submitted to Congress on January 28, 1982.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 1982
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to limit to $3,000 the amount of living expenses which Members of Congress may deduct from their incomes. Repeals the provision allowing such tax deduction without substantiation.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 1982
Repeals provisions of the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 which set forth special rules for the leasing of depreciable business property between corporations.
United States · United States Congress · 16 December 1981
Amends the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to extend from August 6, 1982, to August 6, 1984, the current preclearance requirements (under which jurisdictions covered through the triggering mechanism must submit proposed electoral changes to the Department of Justice). Establishes a new standard for jurisdictions to "bail-out" of these requirements effective August 6, 1984. Permits political subdivisions of covered States to bail-out independently of the State. Conditions a declaratory judgment for bail-out on the jurisdiction's showing that it and all its political subdivisions have met the bail-out requirements for a ten-year period prior to the filing of the suit. Includes among the requirements for bail-out that: (1) no test or device has been used to discriminate on account of race, color, or language; (2) no actions alleging voting discrimination are pending or have gone to final judgment; (3) no Federal examiner has served in the jurisdiction seeking bail-out; (4) the jurisdiction and all its subdivisions have complied with the preclearance requirements; and (5) the jurisdiction and its subdivisions have taken affirmative steps to protect voting rights. Stipulates that lawsuits filed during pendency of the bail-out litigation will not bar bail-out. Subjects the jurisdiction to the preclearance requirements if any such lawsuit alleging voting violations is successful after bail-out. Restates the prohibition against voting discrimination to include as a violation conduct which has the effect of discrimination. Stipulates that the failure of a minority to be proportionately represented does not itself constitute a violation. Extends the bilingual election requirements from August 6, 1985, to August 6, 1992. Declares that nothing in the Voting Rights Act shall be construed to permit assistance within the voting booth, unless the voter is blind or physically incapacitated.
United States · United States Congress · 16 December 1981
Amends the Lanham Trademark Act to prohibit any State from requiring the alteration of or an additional trademark other than that exhibited by the registrant in the certificate of registration issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
United States · United States Congress · 16 December 1981
Bankruptcy Improvements Act of 1981 - Amends title 11 (Bankruptcy) of the United States Code to establish an eligibility test for liquidation bankruptcy relief based on the individual petitioner's inability to pay a reasonable portion of his debts out of future income. Permits the court to dismiss a bankruptcy case upon the motion of any party in interest filed prior to the conclusion of the meeting of creditors, and after notice and a hearing, if the debtor is ineligible for relief under such title because he is able to pay a reasonable portion of his debts out of future income. Requires the bankruptcy judge to preside at any meeting of creditors and to perform such additional judicial duties as may be required. Declares that the value of the creditor's interest in the estate's interest in consumer goods property shall be determined in light of the purpose of the valuation and of the proposed disposition or use of such property, and in conjunction with any hearing on such disposition or use or on a plan affecting such creditor's interest. Declares that the value of consumer goods which the debtor seeks to redeem in liquidation shall be presumed to be the established resale market price, if such market exists. Requires the debtor in bankruptcy cases to file a statement of estimated income and expenses for the year following filing of his petition. Requires the debtor, if the debtor's schedule of assets and liabilities includes consumer debts which are secured by property of the estate, to file and serve upon each creditor holding such security and the trustee, a statement expressing the debtor's intention with respect to retention or surrender of the collateral. Requires the debtor, at or before the meeting of creditors provided for by such title, to perform his intention with regard to such secured creditors. Repeals the provisions concerning exempt property and makes the States responsible for establishing exemptions to bankruptcy proceedings. Presumes nondischargeable any debt which was incurred on or within 45 days before the date of the filing of a petition under such title nondischargeable. Allows for rebuttal of such presumption. Allows creditors to enforce liens which have not been voided in bankruptcy. Permits reaffirmation of consumer debts subject to the debtor's right to rescind any such agreement within 60 days or until a discharge is received, whichever occurs later, by giving a written notice of rescission to the creditor. Declares that at the meeting of creditors the court shall inform the debtor of the nature and effect of a discharge and of any reaffirmation of debt. Limits the trustee's power to avoid liens or recover payments made within 90 days of the filing of the petition in bankruptcy (within one year in the case of an insider) unless the creditor had reasonable cause to believe the debtor was insolvent. Permits the court, upon notice and hearing, to require a creditor to accept payments in redemption of the value of a claim secured by a nonpossessory, nonpurchase money security interest in tangible personal property, over a reasonable period not to exceed five years, if such tangible personal property consists of specified objects. Allows a creditor, upon 10 days notice to the debtor and codebtor, to collect any portion of a debt from the codebtor which is not being paid by the debtor through the adjustment of debts of such debtor with a regular income. Requires payments under an adjustment of debts payment plan to commence within thirty days after the filing of the plan. Provides for the return of such funds after deducting the costs of administration if no plan is confirmed. Provides for the separate classification of co-debtor claims and non-dischargeable claims and authorizes payment of them under an adjustment of debts payment plan. Allows a debtor to choose such a repayment plan of up to five years. Bases such repayment upon the debtor's ability to repay out of future income after taking into account the basic living necessities for the debtor and dependents. Provides for an early discharge of debts where a reasonable portion of unsecured claims are paid. Permits a hardship discharge of otherwise non-dischargeable debts to the extent the debtor attempted to pay such debts under an adjustment of debts payment plan, but was prevented from so doing by unforeseen cirucmstances.
United States · United States Congress · 15 December 1981
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to permit an individual to elect hospice care, in lieu of certain other benefits, during two periods of 180 days each during the individual's lifetime. Provides for full reimbursement of reasonable costs to a hospice program, subject to a ceiling. Directs the Comptroller General to conduct a study of the hospice reimbursement method. Defines hospice care as including items and services furnished to the terminally ill in their homes, on an outpatient basis, and on a short term inpatient basis.
United States · United States Congress · 15 December 1981
International Joint Venture Act of 1981 - Declares that certain provisions of the Clayton Act and the Federal Trade Commission Act do not prohibit an individual or organization of the United States from participating in a joint venture which: (1) is composed of only such U.S. person and one or more foreign persons; (2) does not engage in any line of commerce in the United States in which such foreign person is already engaged; (3) is terminable by either party no later than ten years after it is formed; (4) provides for the exchange of technology; and (5) provides access to raw materials or to distribution marketing, or manufacturing facilities.
United States · United States Congress · 15 December 1981
Expresses the sense of the Senate that: (1) Americans want an early, peaceful, and popularly supported resolution of the issues that led to the imposition of martial law in Poland; (2) Americans deplore the imposition of martial law in Poland, the suspension of workers' rights, and the arrests of Solidarity leaders; (3) recent events call into question the suitability of further assistance for Poland: (4) the Polish people have the right to resolve their problems without outside interference; (5) the support of Americans for continued U.S. dealings with Poland's present government will relate to the degree to which that government avoids violence and demonstrates its respect for Solidarity and its commitment to continuing reforms; (6) the President and the Secretary of State should continue to stress this U.S. position; and (7) the Administration should consult with our allies to develop a concerted and sustained response to the threat to the democratization process in Poland.
United States · United States Congress · 15 December 1981
States that the Federal Government should promote energy conservation through low-income weatherization assistance, energy conservation information programs, and funding of energy conservation research and development.
United States · United States Congress · 11 December 1981
Amends title IV (National Research Institutes) of the Public Health Service Act to establish a National Institute on Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases. Sets forth the Institute's research and training functions and arthritis and musculoskeletal diseases program plan. Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Institute, to operate multipurpose arthritis and musculoskeletal disease research centers. Requires annual evaluations of such centers. Authorizes specified appropriations for such centers for fiscal years 1983-1985. Directs the Secretary to establish an arthritis and musculoskeletal disease Coordinating Committee, which shall meet at least four times a year.
United States · United States Congress · 11 December 1981
Amends the Small Business Act to require procuring agencies to wait a specified amount of time before issuing solicitations for procurement actions or foreclosing competition under procurement actions.
United States · United States Congress · 11 December 1981
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the Secretary of Agriculture should continue Department policy in deferring the repayment of, and foreclosure proceedings on, certain outstanding Farmers Home Administration loans.
United States · United States Congress · 10 December 1981
Amends the Independent Safety Board Act of 1974 to direct the President to appoint individuals to the National Transportation Safety Board on the basis of technical qualification, professional standing, and demonstrated knowledge in the fields of accident reconstruction, safety engineering, human factors, transportation safety, or transportation regulation.
United States · United States Congress · 10 December 1981
Entitles Civil Air Patrol Cadets 18 years of age or older to the same compensation for disability or death which is available to Civil Air Patrol senior members. Increases the amount of such compensation available to both.
United States · United States Congress · 10 December 1981
Expresses the sense of the Senate that Ziad Abu Eain should be remanded to the custody of Israeli officials and that the Secretary of State should take the actions necessary to ensure his extradition to Israel.
United States · United States Congress · 8 December 1981
Expresses the sense of Congress that members of the National Guard and Reserve should be granted time off from their jobs for military training, exclusive of earned vacation, and given equal consideration for job benefits and promotions as other employees.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 1981
Directs the United States Postal Service to issue a commemorative postage stamp to honor the dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Provides that such stamp shall be issued in the denomination applicable to first-class mail up to one ounce in weight. Directs that such stamp shall be issued on November 11, 1982.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 1981
Requests the President to designate February 22, 1982, as a day of national celebration in honor of the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the birth of George Washington.
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 1981
Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to limit the level of total budget outlays in any concurrent resolution on the budget to 20 percent of the gross national product by fiscal year 1987. Makes it in order to consider a concurrent resolution containing budget outlays which exceed the specified limits within a specified "margin of error." Imposes reporting requirements upon the President and the congressional budget committees with respect to this requirement.
United States · United States Congress · 12 November 1981
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the income tax deduction allowed for maintaining exchange students as members of the taxpayer's household to $100 per month up to a maximum of $1,000 per year.
United States · United States Congress · 9 November 1981
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the United States and Japan should exert maximum efforts to resist Soviet challenges to Asia; (2) Japan should make a greater contribution to its own defense; and (3) Japan's defense expenditures should be at least one percent of its gross national product.
United States · United States Congress · 4 November 1981
Establishes the position of Under Secretary of Commerce for Economic Affairs in the Department of Commerce. Declares that the Under Secretary shall be appointed by the President with the Senate's approval. Eliminates one of the positions of Assistant Secretary of Commerce.
United States · United States Congress · 27 October 1981
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code which provide incentives for energy conservation and development of renewable energy sources should not be repealed or amended to reduce such incentives.
United States · United States Congress · 20 October 1981
Declares that it is the sense of the Congress that: (1) the United States must manage its assets in a manner more prudent and beneficial to the interests of the American people; (2) all executive branch agencies should inventory their assets, estimate the approximate value of each asset, and identify the uses to which each asset is put; (3) the President should then identify which assets are surplus to Federal needs and should be candidates for liquidation; (4) the President should submit recommendations to Congress on any legislative and administrative revisions that may be needed to carry out such a program of liquidation in an orderly manner; (5) the receipts of this program should be used only to restrain and ultimately reduce the national debt; and (6) the Comptroller General should investigate and recommend to Congress and each agency improved processes for managing Federal assets, estimating their value, and liquidating those which are unneeded.
United States · United States Congress · 19 October 1981
Multiemployer Pension Plan Stabilization Act of 1981 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to exempt certain "fixed contribution multiemployer pension plans" from the plan termination insurance provisions of such Act. Defines such a plan as one: (1) to which two or more unaffiliated employers are required to contribute; (2) maintained under one or more collective bargaining agreements; and (3) with a fixed rate of contributions and no pension benefits as of April 29, 1980, or later.
United States · United States Congress · 7 October 1981
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the nonrecognition of gain from the sale of farmland development rights under a qualified State farmland preservation program if the taxpayer purchases qualified farming property within 18 months of such sale. Excludes from gross income up to $100,000 of gain from the sale of farmland development rights by an individual who is age 55 or older. Allows a charitable contribution deduction for gain from the sale of farmland development rights to a State to the extent that the fair market value of such rights exceeds the amount actually received by the taxpayer.
United States · United States Congress · 6 October 1981
Acid Deposition Control Act - Amends title I of the Clean Air Act (Air Pollution Prevention and Control) to establish a new program (Interstate Transport and Acid Precursor Reduction) to: (1) regulate the long-range transport of pollutants and their transformation products; and (2) reduce acid compounds, and their precursors, in the atmosphere. Establishes a long-range transport corridor, the "acid deposition impact region," consisting of 31 States (east of or bordering the Mississippi River) and the District of Columbia. Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to: (1) conduct a study of air pollution problems associated with the long-range transport of pollutants in the portions of the continental United States not included in the acid deposition impact region; and (2) report the results to Congress within two years. Prohibits the increase of emissions of sulfur dioxide and of oxides of nitrogen from stationary sources in the acid deposition impact region over such total actual emissions there as of January 1, 1981. Prohibits any major stationary source in the region from significantly increasing such emissions, unless a not otherwise required net reduction of such regional pollution, in excess of the proposed increase, has been identified. Requires a ten-year phased reduction in annual emissions of sulfur dioxide in the region of 10,000,000 tons from the total 1980 level. Requires each State to achieve reductions in annual sulfur dioxide emissions according to a formula based on each State's share of utility emissions in the region. Permits State Governors to agree to reallot the required reductions. Requires each State in the region to adopt, within two years, enforcement measures to achieve such reduction. Directs the Administrator to approve such measures within four months if specified criteria are met. Sets forth a uniform sulfur dioxide emission limit for fossil-fuel-burning electric generating facilities (which are major stationary sources not subject to new performance standards) in any State that has not adopted, or has not had approved, such enforcement measures by such deadlines. Requires that owners or operators of such sources: (1) submit an approvable reduction plan and schedule within three years of enactment of this Act; (2) comply with such plan and schedule; and (3) achieve the required emission reduction at the earliest practicable date, but no later than ten years after enactment of this Act. Specifies methods or programs for enforceable net emission reduction that may be used by a State or the owner or operator of a source. Permits a State or owner or operator to substitute reduction in emissions of oxides of nitrogen for required sulfur dioxide emissions reductions, at a specified rate. Adds to State implementation plan requirements a prohibition of stationary source air pollutant emissions in amounts that will contribute to atmospheric loadings of pollutants or their transformation products so as to adversely affect public health or welfare or the environment in any other State or foreign country.
United States · United States Congress · 5 October 1981
Missing Children Act - Authorizes the Attorney General to collect and exchange information which would assist in the identification of unidentified deceased individuals, and the location of missing persons, including missing children.
![Official portrait of Sen. Kasten, Robert W., Jr. [R-WI]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/k000019_200.jpg)