United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1985
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to provide that a beneficiary shall be entitled to a prorated benefit for the month in which he or she dies.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1985
Constitutional Amendment - Allows the President an item veto of appropriations bills. Requires the President, in signing such a bill, to designate the provisions disapproved and return the bill to the House in which it originated. Subjects such bills to the same proceedings as other bills disapproved by the President.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1985
Constitutional Amendment - Requires the Congress, prior to each fiscal year, to adopt a statement of receipts and outlays for that year in which total outlays are not greater than total receipts. Permits the Congress in such statement to provide for a specific excess of outlays over receipts by a three-fifths vote directed solely to that subject. Requires the President and the Congress to ensure that actual outlays do not exceed the outlays set forth in such statement. Prohibits total receipts for any fiscal year set forth in such statement from increasing by a rate greater than the rate of increase in national income in the last calendar year ending before such fiscal year, unless the Congress passes by a three-fifths vote a bill directed solely to approving specific additional receipts and such bill has become law. Requires the President, prior to each fiscal year, to transmit to the Congress a proposed statement of receipts and outlays for that year consistent with the provisions of this article. Permits the Congress to waive the provisions of this Act with respect to any fiscal year in which a declaration of war is in effect. Declares that total receipts shall include all receipts of the United States, except those derived from borrowing and total outlays shall include all outlays of the United States except those for repayment of debt principal.
United States · United States Congress · 10 August 1984
Fair and Simple Tax Act of 1984 - Title I: Reduction of Individual and Corporate Tax Rates - Subtitle A: Reduction of Rates - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise individual tax rates. Imposes a tax rate of 25 percent on the taxable income of every individual. Imposes a tax rate of 15 percent on corporate income which does not exceed $50,000 and a tax rate of 30 percent on corporate income exceeding $50,000. Subtitle B: Increase in Amount of Personal Exemption and Zero Bracket Amount - Increases the amount of the personal exemption to $2,000. Increases the zero bracket amount to $2,700 for single taxpayers and $3,500 for a joint return or surviving spouse. Provides for an annual adjustment in the personal exemption and the zero bracket amount by a cost-of-living adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index. Repeals the exemption for dependents who are students over the age of 18. Subtitle C: Employment Income Exclusion Established - Allows an individual taxpayer to exclude 20 percent of the amount received during the taxable year by such individual as employment income. Provides that the exclusion shall be phased out when the individual's wages and salaries exceed the Federal Insurance Compensation Act's maximum wage base for the calendar year. Excludes all of an individual's employment income where the employment income for the taxable year is $10,000 or less ($15,000 or less in the case of a joint return). Provides for an annual adjustment in the employment income exclusion by a cost-of-living adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index. Subtitle D: Repeals Related to Reduction in Rates - Repeals provisions relating to: (1) tax tables for individuals; (2) special averaging rules for lump-sum distributions; (3) accumulated corporate surplus; (4) personal holding companies; (5) income averaging; and (6) graduated corporate tax rates. Applies the trust throwback rules only to amounts distributed from a foreign trust. Title II: Base Broadening - Subtitle A: Credits - Repeals the following income tax credits: (1) the credit for household and dependent care services; (2) the credit for the elderly and the permanently and totally disabled; (3) the residential energy credit; (4) the credit for contributions to candidates for public office; (5) the credit for clinical testing expenses for certain drugs; (6) the credit for producing fuel from nonconventional sources; (7) the credit for increasing research activities; (8) the credit for work incentive expenses; (9) the credit for alcohol used as fuel; (10) the employee stock ownership credit; (11) the general tax credit; (12) the investment credit for depreciable property; and (13) the credit for employment of certain new employees. Subtitle B: Exclusions - Repeals the tax exclusion for: (1) compensation for injuries or sickness; (2) dividends received by individuals; (3) amounts received under qualified group legal service plans; (4) qualified transportation furnished by employer; (5) dividend reinvestment in public utilities; and (6) payments to encourage exploration, development, and mining for defense purposes. Reduces the maximum amount of the earned income credit from $5,000 to $4,000. Provides for an annual adjustment in the earned income credit by a cost-of-living adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index. Treats as taxable income: (1) unemployment compensation; (2) the annual increase in the cash surrender value of life insurance policies; and (3) interest on industrial development bonds and mortgage subsidy bonds. Provides that the transfer of a corporation's stock in satisfaction of indebtedness will be treated as having satisfied the indebtedness with money equal to the fair market value of the stock. Provides a limited exclusion from income for scholarships and fellowships. Amends the Merchant Marine Act to repeal the tax exemption for deposits into, and withdrawals from, a capital construction fund. Excludes the first $7,000 ($10,500 for a joint return) of Social Security benefits from gross income. Provides that no more than one-half of Social Security benefits may be includible in taxable income. Subtitle C: Deductions - Repeals the tax deductions for: (1) casualty and theft losses; (2) unused business credits; and (3) two-earner married couples. Repeals the deduction for State and local income taxes. Raises the floor on the deduction for medical and dental expenses from five to ten percent. Repeals the deduction for consumer interest. Subtitle D: Adjustment to Basis; Changes in Certain Special Capital Gains Treatment Provisions - Allows an inflation adjustment, based on the gross national product deflator, to the adjusted basis of capital assets which have been held for more than one year at the time of sale or exchange solely for the purpose of determining gain or loss on such assets. Excludes from such treatment: (1) creditor's interest; (2) options; (3) net lease property in the case of the lessor; (4) preferred stock with fixed dividends; and (5) stock in small business corporations and certain foreign corporations. Allows the Secretary of the Treasury to disallow all or part of an adjustment where there was a transfer to increase the inflation adjustment or depreciation allowance. Reduces the alternative tax rate for corporations from 28 to 20 percent. Repeals the deduction for individuals for capital gains. Phases out the limitation on the deduction of capital losses by individuals over a ten-year period, with full deductibility of such losses after 1994. Provides that capital loss deductions shall be treated as tax preference items subject to the minimum tax. Permits the carryover of the excess of capital losses over gross income by individuals. Makes applicable only to corporations the rules for capital gains and losses relating to: (1) the sale of land with unharvested crop; (2) the disposal of coal or domestic iron ore; (3) gain or loss in the case of timber, coal, or domestic iron ore; (4) distribution of property; (5) collapsible partnerships; (6) property used in the trade or business and involuntary conversions; (7) the sale or exchange of patents; (8) amortization in excess of depreciation; (9) gain from the sale of depreciable property between certain related taxpayers; (10) gain from dispositions of certain depreciable property; (11) gain on foreign investment company stock; (12) the election by foreign investment companies to distribute income currently; (13) gain from certain sales or exchanges of stock in certain foreign corporations; (14) gain from certain sales or exchanges of patents, etc., to foreign corporations; (15) gain from disposition of certain depreciable realty; (16) gain from disposition of farm land; (17) gain from disposition of interest in oil, gas, or geothermal property; and (18) gain from disposition of property acquired with certain cost-sharing payments. Provides a transition period of ten-years, beginning on January 1, 1985, in which a taxpayer may elect to not apply the inflation adjustment to the basis of capital assets for purposes of determining capital gain or loss. Provides that when such election is made, 25 percent of any gain from the sale or disposition of such asset shall be excludible from gross income and 25 percent of any loss shall not be deductible. Title III: Capital Cost Recovery - Subtitle A: Simplified Cost Recovery System for Depletable Property - Allows individuals and corporations a depletion deduction for qualified depletable property equal to an applicable percentage determined by the cost recovery tables for cost recovery property. Requires that qualified depletable property be assigned to one class of recovery property. Uses the anticipated productive life of such depletable property (rather than the present class life as provided under current law) for making the assignment. Assigns oil, gas wells or wells drilled for any geothermal deposit to the class of three year property. Provides that these rules shall not deny any deduction allowable for loss sustained by reason of the abandonment of a nonproductive well or mine. Subtitle B: Other Changes - Repeals the income tax deductions for: (1) research and experimental expenditures; (2) soil and water conservation expenditures; (3) depreciation or amortization of improvements made by a lessee on a lessor's property; (4) expenditures by farmers for clearing land; (5) amortization of reforestation expenditures; (6) start-up expenditures; (7) intangible drilling and development costs in the case of oil and gas wells and geothermal wells; (8) percentage depletion; (9) development expenditures; and (10) deduction and recapture of certain mining exploration expenditures. Allows a ten-year period for the amortization of construction period interest and taxes. Allows a deduction for circulation expenses for a newspaper, magazine, or other periodical ratably over a five-year period. Excludes amounts chargeable to a capital account from such treatment. Title IV: Miscellaneous Provisions - Subtitle A: Foreign Income - Repeals the domestic international sales corporations (DISC) provisions for taxable years beginning after December 31, 1984. Subtitle B: Other Miscellaneous Provisions - Requires farmers to compute their taxable income using the accrual method of accounting with the capitalization of preproduction expenses. Exempts taxpayers who do not have gross receipts of $1,000,000. Requires farming syndicates to use the accrual method of accounting without regard to gross receipts. Requires the recognition of the gain or loss on distributions of property by corporations. Eliminates the special bad debt reserves of financial institutions. Reduces the percentage by which Social Security benefits must be reduced for income earned above certain amounts. Repeals the earnings reduction test for taxable years beginning after December 31, 1989. Title V: Effective Dates - Sets forth the effective dates of the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 1984
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal rules relating to the determination of the issue price of certain debt instruments issued for property. Amends the Tax Reform Act of 1984 to repeal the revisions made to rules for the imputation of interest on certain deferred payments. Provides that the Internal Revenue Code shall be applied and administered as if such revisions had not been enacted.
United States · United States Congress · 29 June 1984
Gold Standard Act of 1984 - Requires the Secretary of the Treasury, by one year after enactment of this Act, to establish a permanent definition of the dollar, expressed as a fixed weight of gold, nine-tenths fine. Declares that the dollar so defined shall be the standard and unit of value of the United States. Permits any person, after such time, to redeem for gold at any Federal Reserve bank any currency or coin of the United States or any demand note or demand liability of a Federal Reserve bank. Requires the Secretary to mint gold coins in such weights, denominations, and forms as will best serve the maintenance of gold payments and the needs of commerce. Makes such gold coins legal tender for all debts, public charges, taxes, and dues. Permits the exchange of gold bullion for gold coins which contain an equal weight of fine gold minus a charge which shall not exceed mint costs and related expenses. Requires the Secretary and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to prescribe rules and regulations to carry out this Act. Repeals restrictions on gold payments and gold ownership.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 1984
Expresses the sense of the Congress that in light of the Helsinki Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe and other specified human rights agreements, the Soviet Union should: (1) provide the signatories of the Helsinki Final Act with information on the whereabouts, health, and legal status of Andrei Sakharov and Yelena Bonner; (2) void all charges against Yelena Bonner and issue her an exit visa in order to obtain medical care outside of the Soviet Union; and (3) allow them to live in the country of their choice. Urges the President to: (1) protest the Soviet Government's continued refusal to provide such information and to issue Yelena Bonner an exits visa; and (2) call upon all other signatory nations of the Helsinki Final Act to join in such protests.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1984
Designates the week beginning February 17, 1985, as a time to recognize the contributions of volunteers who give their time to become Big Brothers and Big Sisters to youths in need of adult companionship.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 1984
Law Enforcement Officers Protection Act of 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 · 6 June 1984
Deauthorizes the Cross-Florida Barge Canal project. Authorizes the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, to operate and maintain existing facilities and appurtenant lands of such project. Extends the boundaries of the Ocala National Forest, Florida. Provides for the transfer of certain lands, administered by the Corp of Engineers, to the Secretary of Agriculture to be administered and made part of the Ocala National Forest. Provides for the acquisition of certain lands within the Ocala National Forest which are held by the State of Florida. Establishes the Lake Ocklawaha Federal Recreation District as part of the Ocala National Forest. Directs the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, to operate the Rodman Dam located within such District. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to receive and administer easements to further the purposes of such District. States that this Act shall not take effect until the State of Florida takes certain specified action in conformity with the purposes of this Act. Authorizes appropriations beginning with FY 1985 to carry out the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 6 June 1984
Sunshine Resolution of 1984 - Amends Rule XXVIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives to provide that, after the approval of any matter, House conferees shall be entitled to three days in which to file supplemental, minority, or additional views. Establishes Rule LI which requires the Speaker of the House to provide for printing of the floor schedule in the Congressional Record at least two legislative days in advance. Amends Rule XXVII to require the printing in the Record of the names of Members who have signed, or withdrawn a signature to, a motion to discharge a committee from consideration of a bill or resolution, whenever 100 Members have signed such a motion. Amends Rule I to require the broadcasting system to include frequent, wide-angle visual coverage of the chamber when the House is in session. Amends Rule X to provide for the compilation of an oversight agenda resolution. Requires the House to complete action on such resolution within 100 days after the Congress convenes. Amends Rule XI to prohibit proxy voting in committees. Establishes Rule LII which requires the body of the Congressional Record for the House to contain an accurate and verbatim account of remarks actually delivered on the floor. Limits extension and revision of remarks delivered on the floor to the correction of grammatical and typographical errors. Authorizes Members, by unanimous consent, to make insertions of remarks not actually delivered on the floor and requires such insertions to be clearly distinguished from verbatim remarks. Amends Rule X to require committee ratios to reflect the majority to minority party ratio in the House.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 1984
Youth Employment Opportunity Wage Act of 1984 - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to authorize employers to pay employees under 20 years of age 75 percent of the minimum wage rate between May and September of each year. Exempts such employees from special certificate requirements. Restricts such authorization to: (1) hours worked by eligible employees in compliance with applicable child labor laws; and (2) youth employed after May 1 of each year. Prohibits the removal of employees ineligible for the subminimum wage rate in order to replace them with employees who are eligible. Makes technical and conforming amendments to the Job Training Partnership Act. Terminates the minimum wage rate exception after September 30, 1987. Directs the Secretary of Labor to monitor the implementation of this Act and to report to the Congress concerning the employment effects of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 1984
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should support the efforts of the Catholic Bishops of Nicaragua to bring about a national reconciliation between the struggling factions in that country in order to establish democratic harmony.
United States · United States Congress · 3 May 1984
Crime Control Act of 1984 - Title I: Bail - Bail Reform Act of 1984 - Repeals the Bail Reform Act of 1966 and sets forth new bail procedures. Retains execution of a money bond as a condition for pretrial release. Authorizes a judicial officer to consider the safety of any person or the community when making a pretrial release determination. Establishes as a mandatory release condition that the person not commit a Federal, State, or local crime during release. Expands the discretionary release conditions to include that the defendant: (1) maintain employment or an educational program; (2) avoid contact with an alleged victim or potential witness; (3) report to a law enforcement or pretrial service agency; (4) comply with a curfew; (5) refrain from possessing a firearm or using alcohol or narcotic drugs; (6) undergo medical treatment; (7) agree to forfeit designated property, including money, upon failure to appear; and (8) return to custody at specified hours. Prohibits a judicial officer from imposing financial conditions that result in the pretrial detention of a person. Authorizes a judicial officer to order detention for up to ten days: (1) if a person who is presently on pretrial release for a felony under Federal, State, or local law or on probation or parole or release pending sentencing or appeal for any offense, upon a determination that such person may flee or pose a danger to any person or the community; or (2) if such person is not a U.S. citizen. Requires that a detention hearing be held upon motion of the attorney for the Government or upon the judge's own motion in any case involving: (1) a crime of violence; (2) any offense punishable by life imprisonment or death; (3) a narcotics offense punishable by at least ten years' imprisonment; (4) a serious risk of flight or obstruction of justice; or (5) any felony committed after the person has been convicted of two or more offenses for which a hearing is mandated. Authorizes a judicial officer after such a hearing to order the pretrial detention of a person upon finding that no condition will reasonably assure such person's appearance and the safety of any other person and the community. Enumerates additional factors to be considered by the judicial officer in making a release determination, including the defendant's past conduct, history of drug or alcohol abuse, criminal history, and the nature and seriousness of the danger to the community or any person. Requires the detention of a person who has appealed his conviction unless the judicial officer finds by clear and convincing evidence that: (1) such person is not likely to flee or pose a danger to another person or property; and (2) the appeal raises a substantial question of law or fact. Requires the detention of a person awaiting sentencing unless the officer finds by clear and convincing evidence that the person is not likely to flee or pose a danger to any other person or the community. Authorizes a U.S. attorney to appeal a release order. Allows a defendant to file a motion for amendment of a condition of release. Makes a person guilty of an offense for failing to appear after having been released. Provides increased penalties for persons charged with more serious offenses. Makes it an affirmative defense to such crime that uncontrollable circumstances prevented the person from appearing. Establishes mandatory additional penalties for commission of an offense while on pretrial release. Subjects a person who has been conditionally released and violates a condition of release to revocation of release and prosecution for contempt of court. Authorizes a surety to arrest a person charged with an offense who is released upon execution of an appearance bond with such surety. Requires such person to be delivered promptly to a judicial officer for a revocation determination. Grants new authority to law enforcement officers to arrest a person who violates pretrial release conditions. Title II: Limitation of the Exclusionary Rule - Exclusionary Rule Limitation Act of 1984 - Amends the Federal criminal code to provide that evidence obtained by a search or seizure shall not be excluded in a Federal proceeding if the seizure was undertaken in a reasonable good faith belief in its conformity with the fourth amendment to the Constitution. Provides that evidence obtained in accordance with a warrant is prima facie evidence of good faith, absent intentional and material misrepresentation. Title III: Reform of Federal Intervention in State Proceedings - Reform of Federal Intervention in State Proceedings Act of 1984 - Conditions consideration of a habeas corpus claim by a State prisoner on a showing of actual prejudice resulting from the Federal right violated and a showing that: (1) State action precluded assertion of the right; (2) the Federal right did not previously exist; or (3) the factual basis of the claim could not have been discovered by reasonable diligence. Establishes a one-year statute of limitations for habeas corpus actions brought by State prisoners. Vests authority to issue certificates for probable cause for appeal or habeas corpus orders exclusively in the courts of appeals. Permits denial on the merits of habeas corpus writs notwithstanding the failure to exhaust State remedies. Prohibits the granting of a habeas corpus writ with respect to any claim which has been fully and fairly adjudicated in State proceedings. Title IV: Reinstitution of Capital Punishment - Establishes procedures for imposition of the death penalty in certain homicide, treason and espionage cases.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 1984
Fair and Simple Tax Act of 1984 - Title I: Reduction of Individual and Corporate Tax Rates - Subtitle A: Reduction of Rates - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise individual tax rates. Imposes a tax rate of 25 percent on the taxable income of every individual. Imposes a tax rate of 15 percent on corporate income which does not exceed $50,000 and a tax rate of 30 percent on corporate income exceeding $50,000. Subtitle B: Increase in Amount of Personal Exemption and Zero Bracket Amount - Increases the amount of the personal exemption to $2,000. Increases the "zero bracket amount" to $2,700 for single taxpayers and $3,500 for a joint return or surviving spouse. Provides for an annual adjustment in the "zero bracket amount" by a cost-of-living adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index. Subtitle C: Employment Income Exclusion Established - Allows an individual taxpayer to exclude 20 percent of the amount received during the taxable year by such individual as employment income. Provides that the exclusion is phased out when the individual's wages and salaries exceed the Federal Insurance Contributions Act maximum wage base for the calendar year. Excludes all of an individual's employment income where the employment income for the taxable year is $10,000 or less ($20,000 or less in the case of a joint return). Subtitle D: Repeals Related to Reduction in Rates - Repeals provisions relating to: (1) tax tables for individuals; (2) personal service corporations; (3) special averaging rules for lump-sum distributions; (4) accumulated corporate surplus; (5) personal holding companies; (6) income averaging; and (7) graduated corporate tax rates. Applies the trust throwback rules only to amounts distributed from a foreign trust. Title II: Base Broadening - Subtitle A: Credits - Repeals the general tax credit, the investment tax credit, and the income tax credits relating to: (1) the elderly and the permanently and totally disabled; (2) investments in certain depreciable property; (3) work incentive expenses; (4) contributions to candidates for public office; (5) home purchases; (6) expenses for household and dependent care services necessary for gainful employment; (7) employment of certain new employees; (8) residential energy credit; (9) producing fuel from a nonconventional source; (10) alcohol used as fuel; (11) research activities; (12) employee stock ownership credit; and (13) clinical testing for certain drugs. Subtitle B: Exclusions - Repeals the tax exclusion for: (1) compensation for injuries or sickness; (2) amounts received under accident and health plans; (3) partial exclusion of dividends received by individuals; (4) amounts received under qualified group legal service plans; (5) qualified transportation furnished by an employer; (6) dividend reinvestment in public utilities; (7) partial exclusion of interest as in effect in 1985; and (8) payments to encourage exploration, development, and mining for defense purposes. Reduces the maximum amount of the earned income credit from $5,000 to $4,000. Treats as taxable income: (1) unemployment compensation; (2) the annual increase in the cash surrender value of life insurance policies; and (3) interest on industrial development bonds and mortgage subsidy bonds. Provides that the transfer of a corporation's stock in satisfaction of indebtedness will be treated as having satisfied the indebtedness with money equal to the fair market value of the stock. Provides a limited exclusion from income for scholarships and fellowships. Amends the Merchant Marine Act to repeal the tax exemption for deposits into, and withdrawals from, a capital construction fund. Subtitle C: Deductions - Repeals the tax deductions for: (1) the additional exemption for the elderly and the blind; (2) unused investment credits; (3) two-earner married couples; and (4) adoption expenses. Provides that the deduction for losses shall be limited to capital losses. Increases the floor on the deduction for medical and dental expenses from five to 10 percent. Subtitle D: Adjustment to Basis; Changes in Certain Special Capital Gains Treatment Provisions - Allows an inflation adjustment, based on the gross national product deflator, to the adjusted basis of capital assets which have been held for more than one year at the time of sale or exchange solely for the purpose of determining gain or loss on such assets. Excludes from such treatment: (1) creditor's interest; (2) options; (3) net lease property in the case of the lessor; (4) preferred stock with fixed dividends; and (5) stock in small business corporations and certain foreign corporations. Allows the Secretary of the Treasury to disallow all or part of an adjustment where there was a transfer to increase the inflation adjustment or depreciation allowance. Reduces the alternative tax rate for corporations from 28 to 20 percent. Repeals the deduction for individuals for capital gains. Repeals the limitation on the deduction of capital losses by individuals. Permits the carryover of the excess of capital losses over gross income by individuals. Applies the rules for capital gains and losses only to corporations relating to: (1) the sale of land with an unharvested crop; (2) the disposal of coal or domestic iron ore; (3) the gain or loss in the case of timber, coal, or domestic iron ore; (4) the distribution of property; (5) collapsible partnerships; (6) property used in the trade or business and involuntary conversions; (7) the sale or exchange of patents; (8) amortization in excess of depreciation; (9) gain from the sale of depreciable property between certain related taxpayers; (10) gain from dispositions of certain depreciable property; (11) gain on foreign investment company stock; (12) an election by foreign investment companies to distribute income currently; (13) gain from certain sales or exchanges of stock in certain foreign corporations; (14) gain from certain sales or exchanges of patents, etc., to foreign corporations; (15) gain from disposition of certain depreciable realty; (16) gain from disposition of property used in farming where farm losses offset nonfarm income; (17) gain from disposition of farm land; (18) gain from disposition of interest in oil, gas, or geothermal property; and (19) gain from disposition of property acquired with certain cost-sharing payments. Provides a transition period of ten years beginning January 1, 1985, in which a taxpayer may elect to not apply the inflation adjustment to the basis of capital assets for purposes of determining capital gain or loss. Provides that when such election is made, 25 percent of any gain from the sale or disposition of such asset shall be excludible from gross income, or 25 percent of any loss shall not be deductible. Title III: Capital Cost Recovery - Subtitle A: Simplified Cost Recovery System for Depletable Property - Allows individuals and corporations a depletion deduction for qualified depletable property equal to an applicable percentage determined by the cost recovery tables for cost recovery property. Requires qualified depletable property be assigned to one class of recovery property. Uses the anticipated productive life of such depletable property, rather than the present class life, for making the assignment. Assigns oil, gas wells, or wells drilled for any geothermal deposit to the class of three year property. Provides that these rules shall not deny any deduction allowable for loss sustained by reason of the abandonment of a nonproductive well or mine. Subtitle B: Other Changes - Repeals the income tax deductions for: (1) research and experimental expenditures; (2) soil and water conservation expenditures; (3) depreciation or amortization of improvements made by a lessee on a lessor's property; (4) expenditures by farmers for clearing land; (5) amortization of reforestation expenditures; (6) start-up expenditures; (7) intangible drilling and development costs in the case of oil and gas wells and geothermal wells; (8) percentage depletion; (9) development expenditures; and (10) deduction and recapture of certain mining exploration expenditures. Allows a ten year period for the amortization of construction period interest and taxes. Allows a deduction for circulation expenses for a newspaper, magazine, or other periodical ratably over a five-year period. Excludes amounts chargable to a capital account from such treatment. Title IV: Miscellaneous Provisions - Subtitle A: Foreign Income - Repeals the domestic international sales corporations (DISC) provisions for taxable years beginning after December 31, 1984. Subtitle B: Other Miscellaneous Provisions - Requires farmers to compute their taxable income using the accrual method of accounting with the capitalization of preproduction expenses. Exempts taxpayers who do not have gross receipts of $1,000,000. Requires farming syndicates to use the accrual method of accounting without regard to gross receipts. Requires the recognition of the gain or loss on distributions of property by corporations. Eliminates the special bad debt reserves of financial institutions. Title V: Effective Dates - Sets forth the effective dates of the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 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 · 12 April 1984
Federal Reserve Reform Act of 1984 - Amends the Federal Reserve Act to place the Secretary of the Treasury on the Federal Open Market Committee. Changes the term of office of the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System from four years to the period ending on January 31 of the first calendar year beginning after the calendar year during which the term of the President who appointed the Chairman is scheduled to expire. Provides that in the event of the absence or unavailability of the chairman, the vice chairman (or in the vice chairman's absence another member of the Board) may be designated acting chairman. Provides that the vice chairman shall perform the duties of the chairman until a successor is appointed in the event of the chairman's death or resignation. Provides that in the case of the death or resignation of the chairman and the vice chairman or a vacancy in both offices, the member of the Board with the most years of service shall perform the duties of the chairman until a successor is appointed. Changes from 14 years to seven years the term of office of members of the Federal Reserve Board. Requires each change, of any nature whatsoever, in the intermediate targets for monetary policy that is adopted by the Federal Open Market Committee to be disclosed to the public on the date of adoption. Defines "intermediate targets" as any policy objectives regarding monetary aggregates, credit aggregates, prices, interest rates, or bank reserves.
United States · United States Congress · 12 April 1984
Interstate Banking Act of 1984 - Amends specified Federal banking laws to: (1) permit a bank to operate out-of-State if the foreign State's statutory law specifically grants such authority; and (2) provide that in considering bank acquisitions, mergers, or reorganizations effect shall be given to any State laws authorizing such activities by out-of-State banks.
United States · United States Congress · 12 April 1984
Balanced Monetary Policy and Price Stability Act of 1984 - Amends the Federal Reserve Act to make it the policy of the Federal Open Market Committee to maintain low interest rates and stable exchange rates, and to encourage strong economic growth, to the extent that such policy is consistent with long-term price stability. Requires the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Secretary of the Treasury to develop a price index to assist the Committee in establishing intermediate targets for the conduct of monetary policy. Requires the Chairman and the Secretary to establish a target range for such price index which will not result in a decline in the general level of prices. Requires the Committee, if the price index rises above such target range, to restrict the availability of bank reserves, or raise their cost, or both, and if the index falls below the target to increase the availability of bank reserves, or reduce their cost, or both. Permits a new target range to be set after a declaration of the existence of extraordinary circumstances by the Chairman and the Secretary. Repeals the requirements of such Act concerning the targeting of monetary aggregates. Directs the Secretary to seek the establishment of an international advisory task force, and ultimately an international monetary conference, consisting of representatives of the major industrial nations. Declares the purposes of such task force and conference to be: (1) the improvement of price stability throughout the world; (2) the improvement of the stability of currency exchange rates; and (3) the improvement of the prospects for liberal trade and strong noninflationary economic growth.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 1984
Ten Percent Flat Tax Rate Act - Title I: Ten Percent Tax Rate For All Individuals And Unincorporated Associations - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a flat rate tax of ten percent on the adjusted gross income of individuals and unincorporated associations. Defines "unincorporated association" as any taxable entity which is not incorporated pursuant to the laws of any State, the United States, or any foreign nation. Repeals the income tax credits for: (1) the elderly; (2) contributions to candidates for public office; (3) the purchase of a new principal residence; (4) dependent care expenses; (5) earned income; and (6) residential energy conservation expenses. Repeals the alternative minimum tax for taxpayers other than corporations. Provides that specified income tax credits shall not be available to individuals and unincorporated associations. Excludes from the gross income of individuals or unincorporated associations: (1) alimony and separate maintenance payments; (2) scholarship payments and fellowship grants; (3) social security payments; (4) excess social security tax payments; (5) payments received for disability; (6) payments received pursuant to the Railroad Retirement Act; (7) certain civil service retirement benefits; and (8) interest payments received on State and municipal bonds. Defines "adjusted gross income" in the case of an individual or unincorporated association as gross income minus: (1) trade or business deductions; (2) trade and business deductions of employees; and (3) expenses relating to income production. Disallows certain exclusions from the gross income of individuals and unincorporated associations, including exclusions for: (1) certain death payments; (2) gifts and inheritances; (3) injury or sickness compensation; (4) employer contributions to accident and health plans; (5) partial dividends; (6) contributions to corporation capital; and (7) dependent care assistance. Allows deductions from the adjusted gross income of individuals for personal exemptions. Sets the amounts of such exemptions at: (1) $2,000 for the taxpayer and spouse; and (2) $2,000 for each dependent of the taxpayer. Provides for cost-of-living adjustments for such amounts. Disallows all itemized deductions for individuals and unincorporated associations except those for interest, taxes, charitable contributions, and certain retirement savings. Repeals the income tax deductions for: (1) medical and dental expenses; (2) alimony payments; (3) taxes, interest, and business depreciation by cooperative housing tenant-stockholders; (4) two-earner married couples; and (5) adoption expenses. Imposes a flat rate tax of ten percent on the gross income of estates and trusts. Repeals special rules, income tax deductions, and income tax credits applicable to estates and trusts. Revises rules for determining the income tax of a partner to provide that each partner shall take into account separately his or her distributive share of the partnership's: (1) gains and losses; (2) taxes; and (3) taxable income or loss. Provides that the foreign tax credit shall not apply to unincorporated associations. Repeals the estate tax. Title II: Tax Amnesty - Provides for a one-time amnesty from criminal and civil tax penalties for taxpayers who: (1) file a written statement with specified information concerning any underpayment of tax; (2) pay the amount of such underpayment when filing the statement; and (3) within 30 days of notification of the amount of interest payable on any tax delinquent amount, pays the full amount of such interest or delinquency. Permits installment payments of tax due in certain cases. Disallows an amnesty period for taxpayers against whom a tax deficiency has already been assessed, who have committed fraud in seeking amnesty, or against whom a criminal investigation is pending. Establishes a special fund in the Treasury for taxes recovered under such amnesty program. Requires that revenues from such fund be used to offset possible revenue losses.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 1984
Permits the President, in the light of economic conditions and all other relevant factors, to permanently reserve from obligation and expenditure any budget authority which is otherwise available for FY 1984 or 1985 to the extent necessary or appropriate to reduce the Federal deficit. Sets forth limitations on such reservations by the President. Requires that at least 25 percent of the total amount of the reservations made by the President for either of the two fiscal years involved be made from appropriations and other obligational authority available for national defense. Provides that no such reservation shall have the objective, or the effect, of eliminating any program or combination of programs which has been specifically authorized by law. Declares that the authority conferred upon the President by this Act shall be in addition to and separate from any impoundment authority granted by the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 or any other law and shall not be subject to any restrictions or limitations other than those imposed by this Act. Requires the President, whenever he reserves any budget authority under this Act, to transmit to Congress a special message specifying certain information. Sets forth the procedure for congressional veto of any or all of such reservations by passage of a joint resolution of disapproval by both Houses of Congress within 60 days after notification. Requires the Comptroller General to review each such reservation and inform the House and the Senate whether or not it was made in accordance with the requirements of this Act. Declares that in the administration of any program for which reservation has been made and the distribution of funds is to be determined by a formula, the amount available for expenditure after such reservation shall be substituted for the amount appropriated or otherwise made available in the application of the formula.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 1984
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide that a county with an average wage rate which is no less than the average wage rate for a standard metropolitan statistical area in the State shall be considered an urban area for purposes of the prospective payment system.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1984
Leaking Underground Storage Tank Liability and Standards Act of 1984 - Amends the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) ("Superfund") to include under the definition of "hazardous substance" (for purposes of CERCLA coverage for removal, remedial action, and liability) gasoline and other liquid hydrocarbons which are stored in an underground storage tank from which there is a release or threatened release. Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, within 12 months after the enactment of this Act, to promulgate regulations establishing performance standards applicable to owners and operators of underground storage tanks used for the storage of hazardous substances, including gasoline or other liquid hydrocarbons, in order to prevent releases into the environment for the operational life of the tank. Provides that such regulations shall apply only to underground storage tanks located on property used primarily for commercial or governmental purposes. Directs the Administrator to distinguish in such standards between requirements for new tanks and those for tanks already in existence. Sets forth requirements which must be included in such standards. Authorizes the Administrator to implement such standards through: (1) the promulgation of regulations made effective in accordance with specified hazardous waste management provisions of the Solid Waste Disposal Act; or (2) the establishment of a program under which any person or category of persons may be required to have a permit to store any hazardous substance in such an underground storage tank. Provides that specified provisions of the Solid Waste Disposal Act shall apply to the program and requirements established under this Act in the same manner as such provisions apply to the hazardous waste regulatory program under such Act. Provides that the failure or refusal of an owner or operator of any underground storage tank to provide to a supplier of any hazardous substance appropriate evidence of compliance with standards established under this Act shall constitute a defense to any enforcement action brought under any other authority of law to require such supplier to deliver any such substance to such tank. Sets forth criminal penalties for knowing material violations or omissions with respect to requirements established by the Administrator under this Act, if such violation or omission results in a release or threatened release of any hazardous substance from an underground storage tank. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1985 through 1987 to carry out this Act. Provides that up to 50 percent of such appropriations in any such fiscal year may be used to make grants to States for development and implementation of State programs to carry out this Act. Directs the Administrator, within one year after the enactment of this Act, to conduct a study regarding underground storage tanks which are located on residential property and used for the storage of hazardous substances, including gasoline or other liquid hydrocarbons. Requires that such study include estimates of the number and location of such tanks and an analysis of the extent to which there may be releases or threatened releases from such tanks into the environment. Directs the Administrator to report to the President and Congress on the results of such study, with recommendations on whether such tanks on residential property should be subject to requirements under this Act.
![Official portrait of Sen. Mack, Connie, III [R-FL]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/m000019_200.jpg)