United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1983
Urges the Secretary of Education to postpone further action on the reorganization of certain programs in the Department of Education until a study by the General Accounting Office determines that such reorganization would not reduce the ability of the Department to achieve the goals intended by Congress when it authorized the affected programs.
United States · United States Congress · 28 July 1983
Authorizes necessary amounts out of the contingent fund of the Senate to enable the Secretary of the Senate to furnish educational services for Senate pages. Requires the Senate page program to be administered by the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate and the Secretaries for the majority and minority of the Senate. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into a contract, agreement, or other arrangement with the Board of Education of the District of Columbia to provide such services. States that the page program shall consist of an academic year comprising two terms, and that a page shall be in the eleventh grade.
United States · United States Congress · 28 July 1983
Authorizes the Librarian of Congress, under the auspices of the Center for the Book of the Library of Congress, to: (1) study the changing role of the book in the future; and (2) transmit the results of such study to the Congress by December 1, 1984.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 1983
Malt Beverage Interbrand Competition Act - Declares that no antitrust law shall prohibit the importer, brewer, or trademark licensee of a trademarked malt beverage, when such beverage has substantial competition from other malt beverages in an area, from: (1) entering into an agreement granting a wholesale distributor the exclusive right to sell such beverage within any defined geographic area within a State; or (2) limiting such distributor to the sale of such beverage for ultimate resale to consumers in such area. Declares that this Act shall not affect any provision of State law.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 1983
(Measure indefinitely postpone in Senate, H. R. 1961 passed in lieu) Authorizes and directs the Secretary of the Treasury to pay a specified sum to the estate of a named individual for payment of funeral and burial expenses for such individual.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 1983
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the President should: (1) proclaim his intention to establish a Productivity and Quality Award to be made to businesses, workers, other individuals, and public sector organizations that make major contributions toward sustained improvement in productivity and quality performance; and (2) establish a President's interagency Productivity and Quality Award Committee to recommend criteria for such awards and to design certificates and medals of commendation for presentation to award recipients.
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 1983
Amends the District of Columbia Retirement Reform Act to revise provisions concerning the reduction in the Federal contribution for excess costs of police officers' and fire fighters' disability retirement. Directs an enrolled actuary, with respect to the District of Columbia Police Officers and Fire Fighters' Retirement Fund, to annually: (1) determine the disability retirement rate for the preceding year; and (2) determine if such disability retirement rate for the preceding year is greater than eight-tenths of a percentage point. Provides that in determining such rate the numerator shall be the number of police and fire fighters retiring on disability in a year who were hired on or before February 14, 1980, and the denominator shall be the total number of police and fire fighters active during such year. Directs the actuary to report the determination to the District of Columbia Retirement Board and the Comptroller General of the United States, and directs the Board and the Comptroller to transmit copies to the House, the Senate, and the Mayor and the Council of the District of Columbia. Directs the Comptroller General to make a determination as to the amount, if any, by which Federal funding of the Fund should be reduced. Requires funding to be reduced for any year in which the Comptroller General finds that the disability retirement rate for the preceding calendar year is greater than eight-tenths of a percentage point. Provides that the reduction shall be one and one-half percent for each whole tenth of a percentage point by which the disability retirement rate is greater than eight-tenths of a percentage point. Provides that there shall be no reduction if there were less than eight disability retirements in a year among police and fire fighters who were employed as such on or before February 14, 1980. Provides for the reporting of certain events which significantly increased the number of disability retirements and the authorization of appropriations of any amount necessary to cover any reduction to the Fund caused by the increased retirements due to such events.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 1983
Urges the President to seek an agreement with the Soviet Union to: (1) declare a verifiable and limited moratorium on the testing in space of antisatellite weapons; (2) resume negotiations on a verifiable ban on the testing, production, deployment, and use of any antisatellite weapon; and (3) seek a verifiable treaty prohibiting any space-directed or space-based weapons system which is designed to cause damage on earth, in the atmosphere, or on objects placed in space. Declares that such agreements should not restrict non-weapons operations in space, such as the U.S. space shuttle program.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 1983
Prohibits the Secretary of Labor from issuing a special certificate for the employment of a handicapped individual at wages lower than the minimum wage if such individual's sole handicap is blindness or visual impairment.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 1983
Amends the patent laws to make it an infringement of patent to import into or sell in the United States without authority a product made in another country by a process patented in the United States. Makes it an infringement of patent to supply in the United States the material components of a patented invention for combination outside the United States, knowing that their combination in this country would constitute an infringement. Modifies the procedure for filing a patent application in a foreign country to eliminate the need for a license for modifications of explanatory information transmitted to or filed in a foreign country for patents on which no secrecy order has been issued. Eliminates criminal penalties for the failure to obtain a license for a patent application that is not subject to a secrecy order. States that prior art in the field of invention does not include unpublished information known to an inventor and therefore does not interfere with the patentability of that invention. States that priority of invention will be determined on the basis of affidavits and documents submitted to the Patent and Trademark Office rather than by discovery and deposition. Permits the use of arbitration in settling any disputes concerning patent interference. Insures the right of the licensor to receive royalty payments during the time such licensor's patent is under challenge, or to terminate the license at will.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 1983
Patent Law Amendments of 1983 - Authorizes the Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks to issue a patent on an invention without the required examination if the applicant waives all legal remedies and pays a stated fee. States that no maintenance fees shall be required for such patents. Permits the Commissioner to require that the total issue fee for all patents be payable within three months of issuance or sooner. Permits the basic fee portion of an international fee to be paid within one month of filing rather than upon filing. States that the designation of the United States as the country in which patent is sought in an international patent filed under the patent cooperation treaty shall continue to have effect until the international application is withdrawn, if a claim for the benefit of a prior filing date is made before such application is ultimately withdrawn. Renders permissible rather than mandatory the receipt from the International Bureau of all international applications and search reports for international applications designating the United States. Permits the Commissioner to fix a later time for the completion of certain requirements than the commencement of the national state of an international application. States that failure to submit a copy of the application by commencement and lack of compliance with other specified requirements shall be regarded as abandonment of the application. (Under current law such receipt is mandatory.) Commissioner to receive a verification of the translation of an international application. Permits a surcharge to be levied as a condition for accepting the national fee or the oath or declaration if these requirements are not met by the commencement of the national stage. Eliminates the special fee and restoration of patent provisions for claims not searched in the international stage and later found not to comply with the requirement for unity of invention under the treaty Prohibits the collection of fees for maintaining a plant patent in force.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 1983
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow the voting interest of disqualified persons to be taken into account in determining a private foundation's voting interest in a business enterprise for purposes of the penalty tax on excess business holdings.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 1983
Authorizes appropriations for FY 1984 through 1988 to the General Services Administration for: (1) the National Historical Publications and Records Commission; and (2) funds to Federal, State, and local agencies and to nonprofit organizations for the collection, preservation, and publication of historically significant documents.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 1983
Provides that the United States relinquishes to the respective States all right, title, and interest of the United States with respect to historical shipwrecks and structures on the seabed or in the subsoil of lands beneath the navigable waters within the boundaries of such States. Provides that the U.S. maritime law of salvage shall not apply to such shipwrecks or structures.
United States · United States Congress · 16 June 1983
Abraham Lincoln One Hundred and Seventy-fifth Anniversary Act - Establishes a Commission on the One Hundred and Seventy-fifth Anniversary for Abraham Lincoln to plan and conduct activities to commemorate the birth of Abraham Lincoln. Authorizes appropriations. Designates the week of February 12-18, 1984, as National Recognition of Abraham Lincoln Week.
United States · United States Congress · 16 June 1983
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the United States should: (1) announce its intention to pause in the testing of new ICBMs with more than one warhead while arms negotiations proceed if the Soviet Union agrees to such a pause; and (2) propose to the Soviet Union in the START talks an arms control agreement that reduces on both sides the number of ICBMs with more than one warhead, and encourages the development of small, single warhead ICBMs, with limitations and reductions on strategic nuclear forces formulated in terms of warheads rather than launchers. Directs the President to report to the appropriate congressional committees on the text and presentation of such proposal.
United States · United States Congress · 15 June 1983
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the President should convene a national, bipartisan commission to address the problems in Central America. Suggests certain requirements for the Commission.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 1983
Directs the Secretary of Commerce, upon request, to authorize the city of Baltimore, Maryland to sell the Raleigh Building without affecting the Federal assistance provided by a grant under the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965. Requires the sales agreement to provide for the operation of such building as an industrial park for its useful life. Requires such city to provide assurances to ensure that all proceeds from the sale which are not used for repayment of development and operation loans shall be used within three years after the sale, for economic development purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 1983
Medicare Fiscal Intermediary Amendments Act - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to permit each provider of services to have the right to elect to have payments made by the Secretary of Health and Human Services rather than by a fiscal intermediary.
United States · United States Congress · 26 May 1983
Expresses the sense of the Congress that it supports the reduction of child mortality and morbidity throughout the world. Urges the President to promote and undertake activities to further the objectives of the child health revolution. Directs appropriate Government agencies to support UNICEF and other specified international agencies and public and private organizations in fostering the child health revolution.
United States · United States Congress · 25 May 1983
Commission on the Extraterritorial Application of United States Laws Act - Establishes a Commission on the Extraterritorial Application of United States Law to study and make recommendations concerning the extraterritorial application of U.S. law. Sets forth the powers of the Commission. Requires the Commission to submit its final report to the President and Congress within one year of its first meeting. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 25 May 1983
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 · 24 May 1983
Authorizes the President to present, on behalf of the Congress, a specially struck gold medal to the widow of Roy Wilkins. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to coin and sell bronze duplicates of such medal. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 1983
Freedom of Information Protection Act of 1983 - Amends the classified information exemption under the Freedom of Information Act to require that matters withheld from disclosure: (1) be reasonably expected to cause "identifiable damage" to national security; and (2) satisfy a balancing test so that "the need to protect the information outweighs the public interest in disclosure." Limits Federal court review of an agency's decision to withhold classified information based on the balancing test.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 1983
Requires the Attorney General and all other appropriate Federal agencies and officials to enforce the antitrust laws, including the prohibition against vertical price restraints. Directs such officials and agencies to cease propounding arguments in court designed to weaken such prohibition, and to submit to Congress proposed legislation to make any desired changes in such prohibition.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 1983
Patent Term Restoration Act of 1983 - Amends the patent law to extend the terms of patents which encompass specified products or methods for using or producing a product, any of which are subject to certain nonpatent regulatory review periods. Sets forth the terms and conditions of such extension, including a seven year limitation. Directs the Commissioner of Patents to issue to the owner of record of a patent a certificate of extension stating the fact and length of the extension and identifying the product and the use and the claim to which such extension is applicable. Makes such certificate a part of the original patent. Limits the application of such patent term extension to patents for products subject to regulation under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the Public Health Service Act, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act, and the Act of March 4, 1913 (relating to virus, serum, toxin, and analogous products).
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 1983
Expresses the support of the Senate for Lebanon's and Israel's agreement on arrangements for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon. Calls upon other nations to work toward the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Lebanon. Emphasizes the need of all nations to recognize the sovereignty of Lebanon. Urges Syria and the Palestine Liberation Organization to agree to the arrangements for the withdrawal of their forces from Lebanon.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 1983
Authorizes the printing as a Senate document of a revised edition of "The Capitol." Authorizes additional printing of such document for the use of the House, the Senate, and the Joint Committee on Printing.
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 1983
Increases the amount authorized to be expended out of the contingent fund of the Senate for the expenses of the Commission on Art and Antiquities of the United States Senate.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 1983
Authorizes the erection of a memorial on public grounds in the District of Columbia, or its environs, in honor and commemoration of members of the armed forces who served in the Korean war. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to select, with the approval of the National Commission of Fine Arts and the National Capital Planning Commission, a suitable site on public grounds for such memorial. Subjects the design and any plans for the memorial to the approval of the Secretary, the National Commission of Fine Arts, and the National Capital Planning Commission. Declares that no moneys belonging to the United States or the District of Columbia shall be expended for the erection of such memorial. Authorizes appropriations for site acquisition and preparation in the event nonpublic land is selected for the memorial.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 1983
Expresses the sense of Congress that the age for drinking and purchasing alcoholic beverages should be raised to 21 in all States where the drinking age is lower.
United States · United States Congress · 5 May 1983
Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1983 - Enacts into law the short titles "Civil Rights Act of 1968" and "Fair Housing Act". Amends the Fair Housing Act to expand the definition of "discriminatory housing practice" to include any violation under such Act (thus codifying case law which holds that the obligation of Federal agencies to administer programs affirmatively to further the purposes of fair housing and the prohibition against interference with rights under the Act are separately actionable). Adds new definitions of "handicap", "aggrieved person" and "familial status." Excludes from the meaning of "handicap" any impairment consisting of alcohol or drug abuse or which would be a direct threat to the property or safety of others. Defines "familial status" as one or more minors being domiciled with their parent or guardian. Retains the two current exemptions from the prohibition against the discriminatory sale or rental of housing which are given to: (1) an owner of three or less single-family houses; and (2) the owner of a dwelling consisting of four or fewer family units who also resides in such dwelling (the "Mrs. Murphy" exemption). Makes it unlawful to: (1) refuse to sell or rent to a handicapped person unless such handicap would prevent a prospective occupant from conforming to specified non-discrimination rules and practices; and (2) discriminate against a handicapped person in the conditions of sale or rental, or in the provision of related services or facilities. Includes within such discrimination a refusal to: (1) permit reasonable modifications to permit access to the premises (but only if a renter agrees to restore the premises to their original condition); and (2) make reasonable accommodations in policies, services, or facilities to afford handicapped persons equal enjoyment of the premises. States that such discrimination shall not include a refusal to: (1) make alterations at the expense of sellers, landlords, owners, or persons acting on their behalf; (2) make modifications which would unreasonably inconvenience others; and (3) allow architectural modifications which materially decrease the value of a building or alter its intended use. Prohibits discrimination against families with children. Makes it unlawful for an insurer to discriminate in the provision or terms of insurance against hazards to a dwelling because of the race, color, religion, sex, handicap, national origin or familial status of persons owning or residing in or near the dwelling. Adds handicapped persons as a protected class under other existing prohibitions on discriminatory activities. Modifies the housing financing discrimination provision to prescribe all conduct which denies or "otherwise makes unavailable" financial assistance because of race, color, religion, handicap, national origin, or familial status. Includes with such prohibition persons in the business of selling, brokering, or appraising real property. States that nothing in this Act is to be construed to defeat any reasonable local, State or Federal restrictions on the maximum number of persons permitted to occupy a dwelling unit. Provides that familial status does not apply to any State or Federal programs aimed at assisting elderly persons. Establishes the Fair Housing Review Commission, composed of three members appointed by the President for staggered six-year terms. Stipulates that no more than two members may be of the same political party. Directs the Commission to: (1) appoint administrative law judges and other employees as necessary to carry out its functions; (2) promulgate a code of ethics to assure the independence of such judges; (3) promulgate rules of discovery for its proceedings consistent insofar as practicable with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure; and (4) consider appeals from the proposed orders of the administrative law judges upon application of a party. Includes Federal agencies having regulatory authority over financial institutions within the executive departments and agencies which are currently required to administer their housing programs in an affirmative manner. Authorizes the Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide financial as well as technical assistance to public and private organizations seeking to remedy housing discrimination. Establishes a new administrative enforcement procedure within the Department of Housing and Urban Development in addition to the current enforcement provisions of title VIII (allowing civil actions by private parties and the Attorney General). Directs the Secretary to make an investigation of all alleged discriminatory housing practice on his or her own initiative or upon the filing of a charge by an aggrieved person within one year of the alleged discrimination. Requires the Secretary to attempt to correct the discriminatory practice by informal methods of conciliation. Requires the Secretary, if the aggrieved person and respondent consent to binding arbitration, to refer the charge to an arbitrator made available by the Community Relations Service of the Department of Justice. Continues the current authority of the Secretary to utilize discovery measures. Retains the current penalty for failing to produce information (up to a $1,000 fine and/or one year's imprisonment). Makes certain changes in the current requirements for referring charges to State or local agencies for investigation and enforcement. Specifies, with respect to the rights and remedies provided by such agencies, the elements of "substantial equivalency which permit certification and referrals of discrimination charges. Eliminates the Secretary's authority to recall referrals in the interest of justice or to protect the rights of the parties. Prohibits further action by the Secretary unless the agency fails to act in a timely fashion (current law gives the agency 30 days to commence proceedings). Requires the Secretary and other Federal agencies to cooperate to avoid duplication of their housing discrimination authority. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into agreements to permit other agencies to carry out such responsibilities within their jurisdictions. Directs the Secretary to enter into agreements with specified Federal agencies for such purpose with respect to depository institutions. Permits an action for temporary or preliminary relief to be brought on behalf of the Secretary in accordance with rule 65 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure when the Secretary establishes that voluntary compliance is unobtainable and prompt judicial action is necessary. Permits the Secretary to file an administrative complaint or refer the matter to the Attorney General for civil action if the investigation supports a finding of reasonable cause, except with respect to matters involving land use controls, which must be referred. Specifies the hearing procedures to be utilized if an administrative complaint is issued. Permits the administrative law judge to award appropriate relief and a civil penalty of up to $10,000. Permits the filing of a position for judicial review of a final order in an appropriate court of appeals within 60 days after entry of such order. Provides that the findings of fact shall be conclusive if supported by substantial evidence in the record considered as a whole. Authorizes the administrative law judge to assess civil penalties for noncompliance with a final administrative order. Makes certain revisions in the private right of action for aggrieved persons under the Fair Housing Act. Extends the statute of limitations from 180 days to two years. Disallows simultaneous administrative and judicial proceedings involving the same charge. Permits the Attorney General to intervene upon certification that the civil action is of general public importance. Continues the current provision permitting the appointment of counsel. Removes the existing $1,000 limit on punitive damages for willful violations. Continues the authority of the Attorney General to initiate civil actions where there is reasonable cause to believe that a pattern or practice of resistance to title VIII rights has occurred. Permits the intervention of aggrieved persons in such actions. Permits the award of costs, including reasonable attorney's fees, to prevailing parties in court and administrative proceedings (current law permits an award of attorney's fees only to prevailing parties who are financially unable to assume them). Authorizes appropriations for this Act, effective October 1, 1983.
United States · United States Congress · 5 May 1983
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to prohibit any State, or political subdivision thereof, which imposes an income tax on a corporation from taking into account income of any foreign corporation which is also a member of an affiliated group to which the domestic corporation belongs, unless such amount is subject to Federal income tax. Prohibits any State, or political subdivision thereof, from taxing or otherwise taking into account: (1) the amount of the deduction for dividends paid by a corporation which has elected the Puerto Rico and possession tax credit for the taxable year; or (2) a certain percentage (determined according to specified formulae) of any dividend received from a domestic corporation which is not treated as income from sources within the United States (or a dividend received by a corporation from a foreign corporation). Provides that nothing in this Act shall subject any dividend, other income item or portion thereof, to taxation if such taxation is otherwise prohibited by any law, or rule of law, of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 4 May 1983
Semiconductor Chip Protection Act of 1983 - Extends copyright protection to mask works. Defines a mask work as a series of related images: (1) having the predetermined, three-dimensional pattern of metallic, insulating, or semiconductor material present or removed from the layers of a semiconductor chip product; and (2) in which the relation of the images to one another is that each image has the pattern of the surface of one form of the chip product. Excludes masks and mask works from the pictorial, graphic, or sculptural works categories. Sets forth the exclusive rights the owner of copyright holds, including the right to: (1) embody the mask work in a mask, a two- dimensional partially transparent and opaque sheet; (2) distribute a mask embodying the mask work; (3) reproduce such work on material intended to be part of the semiconductor chip product; and (4) manufacture and distribute semiconductor chip products incorporating such masks. Sets forth limitations on such exclusive rights, including compulsory licensing, as specified. Sets the copyright term for masks at ten years from first authorized distribution, use, or manufacture. Excludes an innocent purchaser in good faith of a semiconductor chip product from infringement liability. Permits the impoundment and seizure of masks made or used in violation of the copyright owner's exclusive rights.
![Official portrait of Sen. Mathias, Charles McC., Jr. [R-MD]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/m000241_200.jpg)