United States · United States Congress · 21 September 1981
Entitles a former spouse of a member or former member of the uniformed services to an annuity based upon the number of years they were married during the creditable service of the member. Terminates the right to the annuity if the spouse remarries before reaching 60, when the member or former member dies, or if the spouse elects to receive a Government annuity based upon a marriage to someone else. Reduces the retired or retainer pay of the member or former member by the amount of the former spouse's annuity. Grants precedence to a court order, spousal agreement, or State law covering the disposition of such rights. Amends the Survivor Benefit Plan to set forth the options and documentation required to participate in the Plan, consistent with the intent of this Act. Limits the total amount of annuities for a surviving or former spouse to 55 percent of the member or former member's retired or retainer pay. Recomputes a member's or former member's retired or retainer pay if the former spouse remarries before reaching 60 or predeceases the member. Sets forth the monthly annuities for a widow or widower, a widow or widower if there is also a surviving former spouse, a surviving former spouse if there is also a widow or widower, and a dependent child.
United States · United States Congress · 15 September 1981
Authorizes the President to present, on behalf of 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 · 10 September 1981
Amends the Crude Oil Windfall Profit Tax Act of 1980, as amended by the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981, to repeal the termination date for the partial tax exclusion of dividends and interest. Increases the amount of such exclusion.
United States · United States Congress · 10 September 1981
Directs the Joint Committee on the Library to procure a bust or statue of Dr. Martin Luther King, Junior, for placement in a suitable location in the Capitol.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1981
Disapproves the final rule promulgated by the Secretary of Commerce dealing with the Federal consistency provisions of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 1981
Amends the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act to declare that the United States shall assume exclusive fishery management authority over all fish within a specified fishery conservation zone (currently excludes highly migratory species).
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 1981
Amends the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to provide for designated no smoking areas aboard aircraft holding certificates of public convenience and necessity. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to adopt rules providing for the special segregation of cigar and pipe smokers. Declares that nothing in this Act shall be construed to require an air carrier to permit smoking aboard aircraft. Prohibits smoking aboard an aircraft whenever such aircraft's ventilation system is not fully functioning. Authorizes the Secretary to modify a carrier's rules concerning smoking on aircraft.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 1981
Expresses the sense of the Senate that: (1) private relief agencies embarking on a program of emergency foodstuffs for Poland are to be commended and Americans encouraged to support this effort; (2) the Senate supports the President's efforts to respond to the Polish food emergency and urges a continuation of this stance; and (3) European governments and peoples are urged to assist in relieving the Polish food emergency.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 1981
Extends the authority of Federal agencies to enter into service agreements providing salary comparability allowances for Government physicians and the period of service which may be covered by such agreements.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 1981
Legal Services Corporation Amendments of 1981 - Amends the Legal Services Corporation Act to extend the authorization of appropriations for carrying out the activities of the Legal Services Corporation in the amount of $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1982 through 1984. Directs the Corporation to make funds available for legal assistance furnished by private attorneys.
United States · United States Congress · 23 July 1981
Establishes a Senate Placement Office within the Office of the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate. Makes it the function of such Office to provide pertinent information regarding individuals seeking employment to appropriate Senate personnel.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 1981
Directs the Committee on Rules and Administration to prepare a revised edition of the Senate Rules and Manual for the use of the Ninety-seventh Congress. Authorizes the printing of such manual as a Senate document.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 1981
Authorizes the Committee on Rules and Administration to expend a specified amount for the purchase of 104,000 calendars for distribution as prescribed by such Committee.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 1981
Relieves a named individual of all liability for repayment to the United States of a specified sum representing the amount of subsistence expenses received in connection with a change of station while employed by the Federal Government.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 1981
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the President should: (1) confer on an urgent basis with other nuclear suppliers to consider tightening restrictions on dangerous nuclear trade through specified measures; (2) develop a strong and effective program for the improvement of the International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards regime through specified measures; (3) formulate and urge other countries to adopt a clear policy on enhanced international restrictions on dangerous nuclear trade and on improving the international safeguards regime; (4) call for a reevaluation of world nuclear energy policy; and (5) reaffirm U.S. policy to assist other countries in meeting their energy needs with nonnuclear energy alternatives.
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 1981
Radiation Exposure Compensation Act of 1981 - Makes the United States liable for damages to: (1) certain individuals who resided in the vicinity of or worked on the Nevada nuclear test site and were exposed to low-level radiation during specified periods; and (2) certain uranium miners in Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah who died from or contracted acute leukemia, lung cancer, or other cancer identified by the Advisory Panel on the Health Effects of Exposure to Radiation and Uranium. Extends such liability for damage to specified sheep herds caused by the Nancy nuclear detonation or the Harry nuclear detonation. Bars actions for damages under this Act after a specified date. Grants exclusive original jurisdiction to the appropriate district court for actions under this Act. Establishes, within the Department of Health and Human Services, an Advisory Panel on the Health Effects of Exposure to Radiation and Uranium. Directs the Advisory Panel to identify those cancers and diseases that are more likely to develop in human beings after exposure to low-level radiation or after working in uranium mines. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to appoint such personnel as may be necessary to enable the Advisory Panel to carry out its functions under this Act. Requires that the Administrator of the General Services Administration shall provide such administrative support services as the Advisory Panel may request. Directs the Advisory Panel to report its findings to Congress within one year. Exempts the Advisory Panel from the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. Authorizes appropriations to carry out the provisions of this Act. Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary to assess the adverse health effects resulting from the atomic weapons test program at the Nevada test site. Transfers to the Department of Health and Human Services all functions of the Department of Energy concerning the health effects of radiation on human beings.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 1981
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should: (1) reopen the nuclear suppliers conference to consider tightening restrictions on dangerous nuclear trade through specified measures; (2) propose the improvement of the International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards regime through specified measures; (3) formulate and urge other countries to adopt a clear policy on enhanced international restrictions on dangerous nuclear trade and on improving the international safeguards regime; (4) start planning for a world nuclear energy policy conference; and (5) reaffirm U.S. policy to assist other countries in meeting their energy needs with nonnuclear energy alternatives.
United States · United States Congress · 8 July 1981
Act for the Implementation of the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material - Amends the Federal criminal code to establish penalties for: (1) intentionally possessing or transferring any material in fact containing plutonium or uranium which causes or is likely to cause death or serious injury to any person or substantial damage to property; or (2) stealing, embezzling, or threatening to use any such material.
United States · United States Congress · 8 July 1981
Directs the Postmaster General to issue a commemorative postage stamp to honor the seventieth anniversary of the founding of the Girl Scouts of the United States of America. Provides that such stamp shall be issued in the denomination used for first-class mail up to one ounce in weight and shall be placed on sale on March 12, 1982.
United States · United States Congress · 8 July 1981
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income, for income tax and social security tax purposes, U.S. savings bonds received by an employee in recognition of achievement. Limits the exclusion to $250.
United States · United States Congress · 8 July 1981
Directs the Secretary of the Interior to construct a Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial in West Potomac Park in the District of Columbia, subject to the approval of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial Commission and in accordance with the general design selected by such Commission. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 1981
Amends the District of Columbia Alley Dwelling Act to transfer to the Mayor of the District of Columbia specified powers over local planning improvements. Transfers to the Mayor the authority to approve replatting or the method of condemnation of alley dwellings. Requires the National Capital Housing Authority to report annually to the Mayor on all operations relating to alley dwellings. Repeals the requirement that the annual report on such operations be submitted to Congress. Amends the District of Columbia Redevelopment Act of 1945 to transfer the functions of the National Capital Planning Commission (Commission) to the Mayor. Requires the District of Columbia Redevelopment Land Agency to report annually to the Mayor rather than to Congress. Amends the District of Columbia Code to delete the authority of the Commission relating to certain highways. Amends the D.C. Code provisions authorizing the sale of certain District real estate to eliminate the authority of the Commission to approve such sales and to transfer authority over such sales to either the Mayor or the Council of the District of Columbia. Amends the D.C. Code provisions relating to certain exchanges of District lands for abutting land to transfer authority over such exchanges to the Mayor. Amends the D.C. Code provisions relating to harbor regulations to limit the authority to regulate D.C. waterfronts to the District of Columbia.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 1981
International Rule of Law Act - Prohibits any United States court from declining on the ground of the Federal Act of State Doctrine to make a determination on the merits in any case in which the act of state is contrary to international law. Directs that United States courts shall apply principles and rules of international law in deciding cases involving a violation of international law by a foreign state with regard to the rights of a person not a national of that state. Declares that the Foreign Sovereign Compulsion Defense shall remain fully available in U.S. courts.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 1981
National Archives and Records Administration Act of 1981 - Establishes the National Archives and Records Administration as an independent establishment in the executive branch. Requires the Administration to be directed by the Archivist of the United States who shall be appointed by the President for a ten-year term. Directs the Archivist to appoint a Deputy Archivist. Sets forth the administrative duties and authority of the Archivist. Requires the Archivist to submit to Congress an annual report concerning the administration of functions of the Archivist and the Administration. Transfers to the Administration and the Archivist the functions, duties, and authority of the General Services Administration (GSA) and its Administrator, respectively, concerning: (1) congressional printing and binding; (2) the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations; (3) the distribution and sale of public documents; (4) archival administration; (5) presidential records; (6) the National Archives Trust Fund Board; (7) the National Historical Publications Commission; (8) records management; and (9) the disposal of records. Transfers to the Archivist all functions of the person holding the office of Archivist of the United States before enactment of this Act. Transfers the National Archives and Records Service (presently within GSA) to the Administration.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 1981
Postal Service Amendments of 1981 - Authorizes the United States Postal Service to issue written demands requiring access to books, records, documents, or other objects believed to relate to any postal offense or civil matter under investigation by the Postal Service. Provides for the enforcement of such a demand by the appropriate district court. Authorizes the Postal Service to issue an order requiring any person to cease and desist from conducting a lottery or scheme for obtaining money or property by false representations through the mail. Declares that the resumption of such an activity through the use of any instrumentality of interstate commerce shall be considered to be a failure to comply with such order. Permits the Postal Service, in investigating whether a person is conducting such an activity, to tender the price of any article or service that such person has offered for sale. Declares that failure by such person to provide such article or service, or failure to comply with a written demand of the Postal Service for access to materials, shall constitute probable cause to believe such person is engaged in such activities, warranting the detention of such person's incoming mail. Establishes a civil penalty to be assessed by the Postal Service, after an opportunity for an agency hearing, against any person who: (1) attempts to evade an order directing a postmaster to return mail addressed to such person; (2) fails to comply with a cease and desist order; or (3) assists another person in evading such an order.
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 1981
Senior Cryptologic Executive Service Act of 1981 - Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to: (1) establish within the National Security Agency a Senior Cryptologic Executive Service (SCES) comparable to the Senior Executive Service (SES) established under the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978; and (2) promulgate regulations governing the SCES which conform to the regulations governing the SES with respect to the establishment of positions, compensation, performance appraisal, removal and suspension, performance awards, sabbatical and annual leave, rank awards, entitlement to an annuity after involuntary separation from the SCES, annuity reduction for such an early retirement, and veterans' preference applicability. Authorizes the Director of the Agency to appoint individuals to SCES positions without regard to civil service laws. Permits the Director to detail or assign SCES members to non-SCES positions when it would benefit the Agency or another Government agency. Requires the Agency to submit to specified Congressional committees (with the budget submitted by the President during each odd-numbered year) a report including: (1) the percentage of SCES members employed at each pay rate at the end of the preceding fiscal year; (2) the number and amount of performance awards paid during such year; and (3) the number of SCES members removed for less than fully successful performance. Authorizes the Director to establish a merit pay system for Agency employees which is consistent with the merit pay system established under the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978.
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 1981
Amends the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 to include the District of Columbia within the definition of "coastal state" for the purposes of such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 1 June 1981
Sets forth the manner in which bills and resolutions should read when providing an appropriation for any government agency for the pay of its employees. Restricts amendments to such bills or resolutions to changes in monetary amounts. Makes this Act effective on October 1, 1981.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1981
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income $1,000 ($2,000 for joint returns) of the interest earned on an All Savers Certificate in taxable years 1981, 1982, and 1983.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 1981
Amends the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 to provide that a current connection with the railroad industry is not lost by reason of certain employment with the Department of Energy.
![Official portrait of Sen. Mathias, Charles McC., Jr. [R-MD]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/m000241_200.jpg)