United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1983
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to provide that disability insurance benefits for an individual having a terminal illness shall begin with the first month during which such individual has such illness.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1983
Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 1983 - Amends the Federal-State Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970 ("the Act"), and repeals the Federal Supplemental Compensation Act of 1982, to provide for a consolidated program of extended unemployment compensation to replace the current extended compensation and Federal supplemental compensation programs. Revises the Act to limit the amount of extended compensation payable to an individual to the amount established in an individual's extended compensation account. Increases the limit on the amount established in an individual's extended compensation account. Sets forth the formula for determining the new limit. Limits an individual's eligibility period for extended compensation to the number of weeks equal to the applicable limit for an individual's compensation account. Requires the amount and duration of extended compensation payable under the interstate benefit payment plan to be the same as if the individual were filing the claim in the State which establishes the individual's extended compensation account. Requires that each unemployment benefit duration period shall be a three-month period beginning on the first Sunday of January of each year and the first Sunday of every third month thereafter. Sets forth formulas based upon each State's insured unemployment rate, for determining whether a benefit duration period shall be a seven-percent, six-percent, five-percent, or four-percent period. Requires that a benefit duration period shall be a "low-unemployment period" if the State's adjusted insured unemployment rate for the first week of such benefit duration period and the immediately preceding 12 weeks was less than four percent. Requires a benefit duration period to be a "national high-unemployment period" if the national seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the first week of such benefit duration period and the immediately preceding 12 weeks equalled or exceeded ten percent. Sets forth an alternate method of determing a benefit duration period based upon the total rate of unemployment. Requires that each State be paid an amount equal to the applicable percentage of the sum of the sharable extended compensation and the sharable regular compensation paid to individuals under State law. Sets forth the applicable percentage for "seven- percent", "six-percent", "five-percent", "four-percent", and "national high- unemployment" periods. Defines sharable regular compensation. Amends title IX (Employment Security) of the Social Security Act to authorize appropriations for the extended unemployment compensation account. Revises the Act to permit the State to modify the requirement that an individual must actively engage in seeking work during each week of unemployment in order to qualify for extended compensation. Permits States to take into account any State determination that labor market conditions in the labor market area in which such individual last worked and in the labor market area in which such individual resides are so depressed that actively seeking work likely will not result in employment. Prohibits payment of extended unemployment compensation to an individual unless the individual participates in an intensive one-week job search program administered by the Employment Service if requested to so participate. Repeals the Federal Supplemental Compensation Act of 1982. Permits States to choose to delay the applicability of the amendments and repeal made by this Act. Sets forth transition provisions for such States. Directs the Secretary of Labor to study and report to Congress by June 1, 1984, on alternatives to the insured unemployment rate which would be available with respect to all States and which might provide a more accurate measurement of the employment and labor market situation in each State. Directs the Bureau of Labor Statistics to increase by threefold the sample sizes used in determining the total unemployment rate and to give special consideration to increasing the statistical reliability of each State's calculation of its total unemployment rate. Authorizes appropriations for such increased sampling out of the employment security administration account in the Unemployment Trust Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1983
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide Medicare coverage for anesthesia services and related care provided by a registered nurse anesthetist.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1983
Declares that the Commissioner of Social Security and the Secretary of Health and Human Services should develop and present to Congress a plan to correct the benefit disparity caused by the 1977 changes in the social security retirement benefit formula.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1983
Accounting Cost Recovery Simplification Act of 1983 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish a recovery account system for calculating the depreciation deduction under the accelerated cost recovery system for three and five year personal property. Determines the recovery deduction each year by computing a percentage of the amount in the recovery account. Sets forth rules and guidelines for the maintenance and operation of the recovery accounts.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1983
Peace-Time Veterans' Educational Assistance Act - Establishes a new educational assistance program for the peace-time force. Excludes graduates of service academies from eligibility for such assistance. Entitles veterans who are graduates of a secondary school and who have served in the armed forces on continuous active duty for at least three years to basic educational assistance. Entitles veterans of the Selected Reserve who are graduates of secondary schools and who have served at least two years of continuous active duty in the Selected Reserve to basic educational assistance. Sets forth the formula for determining the length of such assistance based on the length of time served. Entitles such veterans to a monthly assistance allowance of $300 for a full-time approved program of education. Permits enrollment, if eligible, in a program of education while an individual continues to perform his duties. Entitles veterans who have served three or more consecutive years of active duty in addition to those required for basic educational assistance to supplemental educational assistance. Entitles such veterans to a monthly supplemental assistance allowance of $300 a month. Permits the provision of basic or supplemental assistance at a higher rate to any individual entitled to supplemental educational assistance who has a skill or specialty in which there is a critical shortage of personnel. Establishes a ten year delimiting period for educational assistance. Excludes time spent as a prisoner of war subsequent to discharges and time spent physically or mentally disabled. Excludes time an individual was in an alcohol or drug dependence or drug abuse condition if recognized treatment has been sought and the condition is under control. Directs the Administrator to suspend payment of an educational assistance allowance for any reservist failing to fullfill Reserve obligations. Prohibits participation in more than one program of educational assistance. Allocates the administration and costs of such programs to the Veterans Administration, the Department of Transportation, and the Department of Defense. Requires the Secretary of Defense and the Administrator to submit to Congress an annual report on the operations of such programs. Establishes a Career Members' Contributory Educational Assistance Program for members of the armed forces serving on active duty who have completed ten years of service. Allows such members to enroll in such educational benefits program by contributing a monthly deduction to the Career Member Education Account. Limits such contributions to not less than $25 but not more than $100. Authorizes the Secretary to match such contributions at a two for one rate after 24 months of participation by any member and to contribute additional amounts he deems necessary to encourage persons to remain in the armed forces. Provides procedures for refunds of contributions due to: (1) disenrollment from such program; (2) death of a participant; and (3) discharge of release under conditions which would bar the use of educational benefits. Sets forth the formula for determining the amount of entitlement and the methods of payments of benefits to eligible members who pursue a program of education. Authorizes eligible veterans to transfer their educational benefits to their spouses or children in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary. Limits educational assistance under such program to the date ten years beyond an eligible veteran's discharge or release date. Directs the Secretary of Defense to submit a report to the Administrator each month on deductions made from the military pay of program participants. Requires the Secretaries of Defense and Transportation to transfer funds for administrative costs to the Administrator. Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to prescribe regulations to grant leaves of absence (not to exceed 24 months) to eligible members of the armed forces to pursue a program of education. Requires members granted such leave to agree in writing to extend their active duty service for a period of two months for each month of leave of absence. Allows payment to such members of basic allowance for quarters and subsistence while on such leave. Sets forth the circumstances under which the Secretary may cancel such leaves of absence. Requires the Secretary concerned to provide individual predischarge counseling which includes a discussion of educational benefit entitlements. Makes persons who enter the military service after December 31, 1980, ineligible for participation in the Post-Vietnam Era Veterans' Educational Assistance Program. Eliminates the delimiting period for the Veterans' educational assistance program for veterans who enlisted or served before January 1, 1977. Requires the Secretaries of Defense, Health and Human Services, and Transportation to transfer payment and administrative funds to the Administrator for such program. Sets forth effective dates.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1983
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to grant tax-exempt status to a physicians' and surgeons' mutual protection association established to provide malpractice insurance to its members. Characterizes payment for malpractice insurance made to such an association by its physician or surgeon members as a deductible business expenses.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1983
Amends the Social Security Disability Amendments of 1980 to make permanent the provisions of title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) of the Social Security Act concerning benefits for individuals who perform substantial gainful activity despite a severe medical impairment.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1983
Small Business Competition in Contracting Act of 1983 - Amends the Small Business Act to prohibit Government procurement officers from using qualified bidders or similar lists to preclude small businesses from being awarded contracts without referring the matter for final disposition to the Small Business Administration (SBA). Requires the SBA to certify small businesses as eligible to perform specific Government subcontracts if the contract involved exceeds $100,000 or the approved limits of a contractor's procurement system, whichever is greater. Provides that a Government procurement officer may not refuse to include a product of a small business concern or group of small business concerns on a qualified products list without referring the matter for final disposition to the SBA. Prohibits the SBA from: (1) establishing an exemption from the requirements that Government procurement officers refer questions as to a small business' eligibility as a Government contractor to the SBA for disposition; or (2) refusing to accept such a referral. Requires prime contractors on Government procurement contracts (in excess of $500,000 or $1,000,000 for construction) to develop and submit a plan to Government agencies for placing subcontracts in designated areas of high unemployment. Declares it to be the policy of the United States that small business concerns and small business concerns owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals shall have the maximum practicable opportunity to participate in the award of Government prime contracts and subcontracts for appropriate portions of component systems, spare parts, and services for major weapon systems. Provides that during the planning for contracts for the procurement and performance of services or for the production or assembly of goods for major weapon systems, the head of each Federal agency shall maximize competition for such components or services so as to insure to the maximum extent practicable that small and small disadvantaged businesses are not precluded from performing as prime contractors and subcontractors on such contracts. Requires Federal agencies to publicly post and make available to small businesses information concerning the agencies' solicitations, unless such disclosure of information would be a breach of security or would disclose the Government's cost estimate for the procurement. Directs the Department of Defense to use funds appropriated for the development or production of any major weapon system to acquire manufacturing data relating to such system. Requires contracts entered into by any military department for the development or production of any major weapons system to contain provisions insuring the Government's acquisition of such manufacturing data, including conditions under which the contractor waives proprietary rights with respect to data necessary for the performance of such contracts. Provides waiver authority upon notification to specified congressional committees in instances where the military department determines that manufacturing technical data is not necessary. Directs each military department, within a specified time, to complete an inventory of the manufacturing technical data which the Government has in its possession or to which it has access. Directs the Comptroller General of the United States to transmit to Congress, within three years after enactment of this Act, a report evaluating each military department's efforts to compile an inventory of the manufacturing data in its possession or to which it has access. Provides that the exclusive remedy for the violation of protected information by the Government is a suit in the United States Claims Court for damages. States that Federal procurement rulemaking is to be covered under the Administrative Procedure Act.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1983
National Task Force on Organ Procurement and Transplant Reimbursement Act - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish within 60 days a National Task Force on Organ Procurement and Transplant Reimbursement to develop a plan for a comprehensive organ donor network and organ procurement system. Sets forth membership and operating provisions. Authorizes the Task Force to submit interim reports to the President and each House of Congress, and a final report within six months after its establishment. Terminates such Task Force three months after submitting such final report.
United States · United States Congress · 28 July 1983
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide Medicare coverage of hepatitis B vaccination and its administration for end stage renal disease patients.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 1983
Voting Rights for the Handicapped and the Elderly Act - Directs the Attorney General to promulgate guidelines to assure that registration and polling place facilities used for Federal elections are readily accessible to handicapped and elderly individuals. Sets forth minimum requirements for these guidelines. Requires States to make available registration and voting aids for handicapped and elderly individuals in Federal elections. Authorizes the Attorney General and aggrieved persons to bring actions in Federal court to enforce this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 1983
Unfair Trade Remedies Simplification Act - Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to allow petitioners to elect a "fast track" procedure when filing a petition with the Department of Commerce (the Department) in antidumping and countervailing duties cases. Eliminates preliminary determinations by the International Trade Commission (ITC) and the Department in such cases and provides a timetable within which determinations under the fast track procedure must be made. Establishes within the Department the Small Business International Trade Advocate Office (Advocate) which shall assist small businesses in the preparation for, and participation in, any proceedings related to the administration of the U.S. trade laws (including arguing on behalf of petitioners who are financially unable to prosecute antidumping and countervailing duties investigations). Provides that the Advocate may request the ITC to conduct on behalf of small businesses no more than three fact-finding investigations in a given fiscal year. Requires the Advocate each fiscal year to report its activities to the specified congressional committees. Authorizes appropriations. Eliminates the judicial review of antidumping and countervailing duties cases by the U.S. Court of International Trade. Provides such review by the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 1983
Expresses the sense of the Senate that it should not be U.S. foreign policy to overthrow governments with which the United States disagrees politically. Urges the President to indicate U.S. support for the Contadora Group initiative by endorsing specified proposals of the Group. States that the United States should: (1) announce its willingness to pursue negotiations with all Central American nations and to stop U.S. arms shipments; (2) offer technical assistance to the Group to assist in the verification of such a freeze on arms traffic in the region; (3) stop funding guerrilla forces seeking to overthrow Nicaragua; and (4) exert diplomatic efforts to persuade other involved governments to cease activities aimed at destabilizing the existing Central American governments.
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 1983
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the Congress should enact legislation to control the rising cost of health care, without burdening the elderly and the poor, which: (1) uses the prospective payment method; (2) avoids additional cost sharing by Medicare and Medicaid (titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act) recipients; (3) does not increase out-of-pocket costs or reduce benefits for older Americans; (4) provides incentives for States to have their own health care cost containment programs; and (5) provides better coverage for preventive and chronic care, and provides alternatives to institutionalization under Medicare and Medicaid.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 1983
Veterans' Dioxin and Radiation Exposure Compensation Standards Act - Creates, upon the appropriate findings by the Administrator of Veterans Affairs, a presumption of service-connected disability for compensation purposes for any veteran who was exposed to radiation or toxic chemicals while actively serving in the armed forces under specified conditions and who is now suffering from a disability or disorder symptomatic of such exposure. Maintains such presumption even in the absence of records. Directs the Administrator of Veterans Affairs to establish guidelines and criteria for resolving claims for benefits resulting from a service-connected death or disability based on a veteran's exposure during service on active duty to: (1) herbicides containing dioxin in Vietnam during the Vietnam era; or (2) ionizing radiation from the detonation of a nuclear device, either in connection with testing or the American occupation of Hiroshima or Nagasaki, Japan, prior to July 1, 1946. Sets forth procedures for the development of such regulations, including: (1) opportunities for public hearings and comment; and (2) amendment of such regulations upon the annual reporting of the results of the epidemiological study on the effects of exposure to agent orange required by the Veterans' Health Programs Extension and Improvement Act of 1979.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 1983
Sentencing Improvement Act of 1983 - Amends the Federal criminal code to declare that imprisonment is an appropriate sanction for offenders who demonstrate by their offense or by their criminal history that they present a danger to society. States that imprisonment is inappropriate where the court finds that the offense does not involve the threat or use of force, endanger national security or threaten or cause serious physical harm to others. Requires a court, when imprisonment, fine, and probation are inappropriate, to direct the defendant to make restitution or perform community service. Entitles the ascertainable victim to receive restitution, or if no victim is known, allows the defendant to contribute to the Treasury an amount not exceeding the value of his or her gain from the commission of the crime. Authorizes the Treasurer of the United States to hold such moneys in a Victim Fund. Defines the nature of the sentence of community service. Allows the defendant to perform a specified number of hours of free service to governmental, charitable, or volunteer agencies. Allows for the modification or waiver of payment or performance of an alternative sentence upon petition by the defendant or a victim. Establishes a list of considerations the court must make in determining restitution or community service, such as: (1) the relative seriousness of the offense; (2) the defendant's employment obligations; and (3) the defendant's criminal history. Requires either the United States Sentencing Commission or the General Accounting Office to report to Congress on the effectiveness of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 1983
Amends the Tariff Schedules of the United States to provide duty-free treatment for telescopic sights for rifles valued at not over $50 and for other types of telescopic sights valued at not over $200.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 1983
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should convey U.S. concern for the welfare of Ethiopian Jews and seek ways to assist Ethiopian Jews to emigrate freely.
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 · 14 July 1983
Directs the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Commerce to continue to use diplomatic and legal means to achieve worldwide compliance with the International Whaling Commission moratorium on commercial whaling.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 1983
Amends part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide coverage for outpatient occupational therapy services.
United States · United States Congress · 29 June 1983
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to set the cap amount for hospice care at $6,500, to be increased or decreased annually according to the consumer price index.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 1983
Amends the National Stolen Property Act to provide that no archaeological or ethnological material taken from a foreign government or country claiming ownership shall be considered stolen if such claim of ownership is based only upon an act or declaration by the foreign government meant to establish national ownership of the material.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 1983
School Facilities Child Care Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to public agencies and private nonprofit organizations having the capacity to furnish school-age child care services in order to assist such agencies and organizations to establish and operate such services in public schools. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1984 through 1986. Sets forth information which must be included in applications by such agencies or organizations to the Secretary for such grants. Requires the Secretary, in approving the applications, to: (1) assure that there is an equitable distribution of approved applications; (2) give priority to applications from applicants in communities with the greatest need and a shortage of economic resources for such services; and (3) give consideration to applications who can illustrate an identifiable base of community support. Directs the Secretary to carry out a program of collecting data from recipients of assistance under this Act designed to provide a national-needs assessment for child care services of school-age children in the United States. Requires the Secretary to report annually to specified congressional committees on activities under this Act together with a needs assessment of child care services for school-age children in each State. Requires the Secretary to operate a clearinghouse on school-age child care programs. Sets forth general administrative provisions with respect to carrying out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 1983
Authorizes the President to present on behalf of Congress a gold medal to Danny Thomas in recognition of his humanitarian efforts and outstanding work as an American. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to strike a gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions to be determined by said Secretary. Provides, effective October 1, 1983, funds not to exceed $22,000 to carry out the purposes of the Act. Provides that the Secretary may cause bronze duplicates of the medal to be coined and sold under regulations prescribed by the Secretary at a price sufficient to cover the costs of producing the gold medal. Directs that the appropriation used to carry out the provisions of the Act shall be reimbursed out of the proceeds from such coin sales. Provides that the medals are to be national medals.
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 · 16 June 1983
National Summit Conference on Education Act - Authorizes appropriations to the Department of Education for conducting a National Summit Conference on Education. Sets forth provisions for appointment of participants to the Conference and for designation of an Executive Committee of the Conference. Directs the Conference to develop recommendations in response to the findings of the National Commission on Excellence in Education and relating to specified areas of educational policy. Directs the Conference to transmit its recommendations to the President, the Congress, and State Governors by January 31, 1984. Directs the Secretary of Education to reserve a specified amount from appropriations available for FY 1984 for chapter 2 of the Education Consolidation and Improvement Act of 1981 to convene the Conference.
United States · United States Congress · 15 June 1983
Entitles certain nonregular members of the armed forces who have met all the requirements for a military pension, but have not attained 60 years of age, to post-exchange and commissary privileges.
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 · 7 June 1983
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide coverage for services furnished by a clinical social worker to a member of a health maintenance organization.