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United States · Official source
3,423 records where Sen. Matsunaga, Spark M. [D-HI] is listed as a sponsor, author, or other actor. Search with topics and years
United States · United States Congress · 22 August 1980
Declares a named individual to have been lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
United States · United States Congress · 22 August 1980
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend the nonconventional source fuel production income tax credit to any solid fuel in pellet form produced from biomass (other than wood or wood products) which has a Btu content per unit of volume or weight, determined without regard to any nonbiomass elements, which is at least 40 percent greater per unit of volume or weight than the Btu content of the biomass from which it is produced. Requires the taxpayer to elect whether to determine Btu content by volume or by weight. Limits application of such credit to pellets: (1) produced in a facility placed in service between January 1, 1980, and September 31, 1983, or for the construction of which the taxpayer was obligated under a binding contract on September 30, 1983; and (2) sold before January 1, 1990.
United States · United States Congress · 18 August 1980
Investment Tax Act of 1980 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individuals and corporations a deduction from gross income for a percentage of the cost of recovery property that is depreciable tangible property (equipment or machinery) used in a trade or business or held for the production of income, which is placed in service after December 31, 1980. Establishes four classes and recovery periods for such property: (1) Class 1, two years; (2) Class 2, four years; (3) Class 3, seven years; and (4) Class 4, ten years. Requires assignment of property to the class which has a recovery period at least 40 percent shorter than its present midpoint useful life under the Asset Depreciation Range (ADR). Permits the taxpayer to elect placement of any item of property in the class with the next longer recovery period than the class to which it would otherwise belong. Defines the recovery percentage as the percentage (100 percent, 150 percent, or 200 percent) selected by the taxpayer for a class of items, divided by the number of years in the corresponding recovery period. Requires a taxpayer to establish a recovery account for each class of recovery property. Sets forth formulae for additions to and reductions in such account. Limits the amount of a recovery deduction to the aggregate determined by applying the recovery percentage for each class of property to the balance in the recovery account for such class at the end of such year. Denies eligibility for such deduction to utility property, property subject to amortization, and property depreciable on a basis other than time. Increases from 20 percent to 30 percent the ADR variance from class life for public utility property. Revises the applicable percentage for determination of the investment tax credit to make eligible for such credit: (1) 25 percent of the basis of an asset if its useful life is between two and four years (currently, 33 1/3 percent if its useful life is between three and five years); (2) 60 percent of asset basis if its useful life is between four and seven years (currently, 66 2/3 percent if its useful life is between five and seven years); and (3) 100 percent of basis if its useful life is seven years or greater (currently, the same). Allows election of: (1) 20 year straight line depreciation, with Section 1250 recapture, for structures and structural components; and (2) 15 year straight line depreciation, with Section 1250 recapture, for low income housing. Disallows component depreciation for any taxpayer who elects either the 20 or 15 year straight line depreciation. Repeals provisions of the Code relating to: (1) amortization of real property construction period interest and taxes; and (2) additional first year depreciation allowances for small business. Allows an election to treat the first $50,000 (25,000 in the case of a married individual filing a separate return) of expenditures for depreciable equipment or machinery as currently deductible non-capital expenses. Provides for later recapture of such deductions. Limits such election to equipment or machinery placed in service after December 31, 1980. Increases from ten percent to 25 percent the rehabilitation tax credit for nonresidential structures.
United States · United States Congress · 6 August 1980
Amends title XI (General Provisions and Professional Standards Review) of the Social Security Act to establish a National Professional Mental Health Services Commission (the Commission) appointed by the President. Sets forth the membership requirements for such Commission. Requires the Commission to determine which professional mental health services are safe, effective, and appropriate in treating specified mental problems and to make recommendations to the Secretary of Health and Human Services with respect to their reimbursement under this Act. Directs the Commission to determine the patient conditions for which it would recommend a physical examination by a physician. Prohibits payment under this Act for any professional mental health services which the Commission formally recommends should not be reimbursed unless the Secretary disagrees with such recommendation and notifies the Commission thereof within 120 days of receipt of such recommendation. Precludes judicial review of both the Commission's recommendations and the Secretary's ultimate decision. Disallows payment under this Act for any mental health services which are not necessary to: (1) prevent the institutionalization of or rehabilitate a noninstitutionalized patient; or (2) diagnose or treat an institutionalized patient. Directs the Commission to provide information and data to the National Professional Standards Review Council established under this Act. Requires the Commission to make recommendations to the Secretary for the establishment of a professional review program to review regularly the validity and adequacy of professional mental health care. Directs the Commission to recommend research projects to assist it in carrying out its duties. Directs the Secretary to conduct such projects except where the Secretary specifically disapproves a requested study or requires additional information from the Commission. Establishes a physician advisory panel to assist the Commission in determining which mental health services should be performed only by a physician (as defined in this Act). Sets forth the membership of such panel. Directs the panel to report to the Secretary if it disagrees with any of the Commission's recommendations. Requires the Office of Technology Assessment to report to Congress on the Commission's effectiveness in carrying out its duties. States that the Commission shall cease to exist after December 31, 1990. Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to increase the benefits in connection with the treatment of mental, psychoneurotic, and personality disorders of an individual who is not an inpatient at a hospital to a maximum of $1,000.00. Directs the Commission to conduct a study on the need for: (1) inclusion under Medicare of any additional professional mental health services; and (2) safeguards relating to cost, safety, and quality of such services. Requires the Commission to report its findings to the Secretary at the earliest practicable time. States that the Secretary shall submit such report with an analysis of the findings and the estimated cost of implementing them to Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1980
Amends the Education Amendments of 1978 to authorize the Commission on Proposals for the National Academy of Peace and Conflict Resolution to receive donations, bequests, and devisements to be used to carry out its functions. Extends the deadline for the Commission's final report to January 31, 1981. Provides that funds appropriated for the Commission shall remain available for the fiscal year succeeding the fiscal year for which such funds were appropriated.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 1980
Authorizes the Community Services Administration to transfer funds from its Rural Development Loan Fund to its ongoing heat crisis program. Reimburses such Fund from specified unexpended funds appropriated for energy crisis activities. Exempts such heat crisis program funds from prohibitions against awards of such funds after June 30, 1980. Authorizes such funds to assist States which: (1) have experienced extreme heat conditions for a significant period of time; and (2) have significant numbers of low-income individuals whose health is threatened due to such heat.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 1980
Directs the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with other agency heads, to review and report to Congress on the transportation needs of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands in order to ascertain the potential for sail-assisted technology for inter-island transportation. Sets forth matters to be considered and included in such report.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 1980
Amends the Home Energy Assistance Act of 1980 to require that the allotment of home energy grant funds be based on the number of heating and cooling degree days (currently, the number of heating degree days squared) multiplied by the number of low-income households. Authorizes States to make grants to eligible households to meet the rising costs of cooling.
United States · United States Congress · 2 July 1980
Magnetic Fusion Energy Engineering Act, 1980 - Declares it to be the policy of the U.S. to: (1) establish a national goal of demonstrating the engineering feasibility of magnetic fusion by the early 1990's; (2) achieve, no later than the year 1990, operation of a magnetic fusion engineering device based on the best available confinement concept; and (3) establish as a national goal the operation of a magnetic fusion demonstration plant by the year 2005. Directs the Secretary of Energy to initiate activities or accelerate existing activities in research areas in which the lack of knowledge limits magnetic fusion energy systems in order to ensure the achievement of the purposes of this Act. Directs the Secretary to: (1) maintain an aggressive plasma confinement research program on the current lead concept; (2) maintain a broadly based research program on alternate confinement concepts and advanced fuels; (3) ensure that research on properties of materials likely to be required for the construction of fusion engineering devices is adequate to provide timely information for the design of such devices; (4) initiate design activities on a fusion engineering device using the best available confinement concept to ensure operation of such device, no later than 1990; and (5) develop and test the adequacy of the engineering design components to be utilized in the fusion engineering device. Directs the Secretary to prepare a comprehensive program management plan for the conduct of the research, development, and demonstration activities under this Act. Directs the Secretary to develop a plan for the creation of a national magnetic fusion engineering center to accelerate fusion technology development via the concentration and coordination of major magnetic fusion engineering devices and associated activities at such a national center. Provides for the establishment of a technical panel on magnetic fusion of the Energy Research ADvisory Board to advise the Secretary on the conduct of the national magnetic fusion energy program. Requires the technical board to report at least annually to the Energy Research Advisory Board, and requires the Board to report to the Secretary. Requires the director of each magnetic fusion laboratory installation operated for, and funded by, the Federal Government to establish a program advisory committee solely for the purpose of advising such director. Directs the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to actively seek to enter into or to strengthen existing international cooperative agreements in magnetic fusion research and development activities of mutual benefit to all parties. Directs the Secretary to: (1) assess the adequacy of the supply of manpower in the engineering and scientific disciplines to achieve the purposes of this Act; (2) assure the dissemination of information concerning the national magnetic fusion program; and (3) report annually to Congress concerning activities undertaken pursuant to this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 1980
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend from June 15, 1981, to January 1, 1986, the termination date for certain provisions of the Tax Reform Act of 1976 relating to the allowance of a deduction for the amortization of certain rehabilitation expenditures for certified historic structures.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 1980
Directs the Senate Finance Committee to report to the Senate by September 3, 1980, a responsible, targeted anti- inflationary tax cut to take effect in 1981. Directs the Democratic Task Force on the Economy to recommend to the Senate a comprehensive economic policy at the earliest possible date.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 1980
Urges the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to dismantle consumer credit controls and to discourage the provision of credit for speculative, nonproductive purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1980
Establishes the Kalaupapa National Historical Preserve, Hawaii, in order to research, preserve and maintain the present character of the community, important historic structures, traditional Hawaiian sites, cultural values, and natural features, and to provide for limited visitation by the general public. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire, by exchange or donation, those lands owned by the State of Hawaii or any political subdivision thereof only in the event such lands or interests are voluntarily offered by the owner. Authorizes the Secretary to acquire privately owned lands within the boundary of the preserve by donation, purchase with donated or appropriated funds, or exchange. Authorizes the Secretary to acquire, by any method except condemnation, lands, waters, and interests therein outside the boundary of the preserve and any other unit of the National Park System but within the State of Hawaii and to convey the same to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands in exchange for lands, waters, and interests therein within the preserve owned by the Department. Allows the Secretary, with the approval of the owner, to undertake critical or emergency stabilization of utilities and historic structures, develop and occupy temporary office space, and conduct interim interpretive and visitor services on non-Federal property within the preserve. Allows the Secretary to enter into cooperative agreements with the owner or owners of property within the preserve pursuant to which the Secretary may preserve resources of historic, natural, architectural, and cultural significance. Sets forth provisions with respect to the special needs of the leprosy patients residing in the Kalaupapa settlement within the preserve. Sets forth provisions to provide for employment and training for such patients and Native Hawaiians. Establishes the Kalaupapa National Historical Preserve Advisory Commission to consult with the Secretary with respect to the development and operation of the preserve including training and research program.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1980
Amends the Internal Revenue Code with respect to the targeted jobs tax credit to permit participation in the targeted jobs tax credit program of all economically disadvantaged Vietnam-era veterans who have not retired from the Armed Forces at the rank of major or above, or its equivalent. Removes the current age limit on such participation.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1980
Disapproves a specified portion of the proposed deferral of budget authority (D80-65) for Environmental Protection Agency grants for waste treatment works.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1980
Disapproves a specified portion of the proposed deferral of budget authority (D80-65) for Environmental Protection Agency grants for waste treatment works.
United States · United States Congress · 16 June 1980
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the Secretary of Energy, in consultation with other Federal agencies, should establish a program to use energy efficient and viable alternatives to halocarbon based technologies for cooling.
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 1980
Noninstitutional Long-Term Care Services for the Elderly and Disabled Act - Amends the Social Security Act by adding a new title, title XXI (Noninstitutional Long-Term Care Services for the Elderly and the Disabled), to provide a comprehensive system of noninstitutional medical and social services for individuals aged 65 or over and individuals with chronic disabilities. Entitles an eligible individual to the following benefits: (1) home health services; (2) homemaker-home health aid services; (3) adult day services; and (4) respite care services for up to 14 days, or 336 hours in any year. Sets forth definitions of such benefits. Provides benefits to every individual who: (1) has attained age 65; (2) is disabled and eligible for benefits under titles II (Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance), XVI (Supplemental Security Income), XVIII (Medicare), and XIX (Medicaid) of the Act; (3) was eligible for such benefits but ceased to be so eligible, but only if loss of benefits would seriously jeopardize such individuals ability to continue to live in a noninstitutional community residence and such individual's income is not sufficient to allow such individual to provide a reasonable equivalent of the services available under this Act; and (4) has been certified as eligible by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. States that no eligible individual shall be eligible to receive any benefits under title XXI or any long-term care benefits under titles XIX or XX (Grants to States for Services) of the Act unless such individual has a plan of care, as specified in this Act, and has been screened and assessed by a preadmission assessment and screening team (PAT) in order to determine the types and frequency of services required by such individual and in order to assure the maximum level of independence for such individual. Provides for at least one PAT to serve each unit of general purpose local government in a State. Permits the appropriate State agency to designate a Professional Standards Review Organization (PSRO), an area agency on aging, a hospital, a local government's department of health, a rural health clinic, a health maintenance organization (HMO), a center or agency for the handicapped, or any qualified similar entity as the PAT. Prohibits any hospital with a hospital-based home health agency and any free standing home health agency from being designated as a PAT, except in a rural area in which no other entity can provide PAT services. Directs the Secretary to reimburse any PAT and any State for the reasonable costs incurred in performing duties under this Act. Requires beneficiaries under title XXI to make copayments as follows: (1) 10 percent of the reimbursable amount with respect to home health services for visits in excess of 50 visits in a calendar year; (2) 10 percent of the reimbursable amount with respect to homemaker-home health aide services for visits in excess of 50 visits in a calendar year; and (3) 10 percent of the reimbursable amount with respect to adult day services for visits to an adult day center in excess of 50 visits in a calendar year. Sets limits based on income, on such copayments, with the highest copayments being limited to five percent of an individual's income for individuals with an annual income of over $10,000. Includes SSI and OASDI benefits, unemployment compensation, and pensions as income. Directs the Secretary to pay amounts for benefits incurred by an eligible individual in accordance with specified guidelines. Creates the Federal Long-Term Care Trust Fund into which specified funds will be deposited in order to make the payments required by this Act. Coordinates the provisions of this Act with titles XVIII, XIX, and XX of the Act by providing that no payment shall be made under such titles for services, as defined in title XXI, to or on behalf of an individual who is eligible under title XXI. States that extended care services under titles XVIII, XIX, and XX shall not be covered unless the individual seeking coverage first undergoes a preadmission screening and assessment as provided in title XXI, and the need for such services has been approved under the individual's plan of care. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an annual credit of $100 to a taxpayer caring for an elderly dependent. Directs the Secretary to monitor ten designated States with respect to their PAT's and to report to Congress concerning the utilization of services under titles XVIII, XIX, XX, and XXI of the Act and the effects of implementing a copayment requirement beginning with the first visit as compared to a copayment requirement beginning after 50 visits. Directs the Comptroller General to also conduct an ongoing evaluation of the effect of the use of PAT's with respect to utilization of services. Requires the reports to include a recommended strategy for implementing title XXI on a national basis. Directs the Office of Management and Budget to prepare an analysis of the budgetary impact of the implementation of title XXI on a national basis. States that the provisions of titles XVIII, XIX, XX, and XXI of the Act relating to PAT's shall not become effective until one year after Congress has received evaluations from the Department of Health and Human Services, the Comptroller General, and the OMB.
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 1980
Extends the congratulations of the Congress to the Order of the Sons of Italy in America for their 75th anniversary. Proclaims Sunday, June 22, 1980, as "National Italian-American Day."
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 1980
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow the eligibility of shale oil property used for hydrogenation (or for a similar process subsequent to retorting) for the ten percent energy investment tax credit.
United States · United States Congress · 30 May 1980
Underground Coal Gasification and Unconventional Gas Research, Development, and Demonstration Act - Directs the Secretary of Energy to prepare a comprehensive research, development, and demonstration plan for underground coal gasification and unconventional natural gas production. Requires the Secretary to transmit such plan to Congress not later than June 30, 1981. Requires the Secretary to establish immediately research, development, and demonstration programs for underground coal gasification and unconventional natural gas production. Requires the Secretary to solicit proposals and evaluate new or improved technology which would contribute to such production. Directs the Secretary to solicit proposals for the design of underground coal gasification and enhanced gas recovery facilities for the demonstration programs established pursuant to this Act. States that the goals of such programs shall include the demonstration of: (1) a minimum production capacity of 15,000,000 standard cubic feet per day of synthetic natural gas from underground coal gasification by the year 1987; (2) significant gas production on a continuous basis to provide system performance and reliability data; (3) increased gas production from unconventional gas formations through the use of advanced fracturing technology; and (4) unconventional gas production from geopressure reservoirs through multi-long-term high-volume flow tests. Directs the Secretary to submit to Congress a viable design and cost estimate of the demonstration program facilities. Directs the Secretary to prepare a comprehensive commercialization plan which shall include: (1) the identification of efforts necessary to establish a sufficient industrial infrastructure to meet national underground coal gasification and unconventional natural gas production goals; and (2) an analysis of the government actions needed to minimize and eliminate legal and institutional barriers to and economic uncertainties of such plan. Directs the Secretary to transmit such plan to Congress within two years after the enactment of this Act. Requires the Secretary to submit to Congress an annual report of the activities undertaken pursuant to this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 1980
Makes the Select Committee on Indian Affairs a permanent committee of the Senate.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 1980
Title I: Export Trading Companies - Export Trading Company Act of 1980 - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to promote export trading companies and facilitate contacts between producers of exportable goods and export trading companies. Authorizes any banking organization to invest up to specified amounts in export trading companies upon notifying, but without obtaining the prior approval of, the appropriate Federal banking agency, if such investment does not cause an export trading company to become a subsidiary of such organization. Allows greater investment by Edge Act Corporations not engaged in banking. Permits any banking organization to invest beyond such limitations with the prior approval of the appropriate Federal banking agency. Requires prior notification of such agencies in specified circumstances. Sets forth further limitations on export trading companies and investments by banking organizations. Specifies factors to be taken into consideration by the banking agencies. Permits such agencies to impose conditions in approving applications to invest in export trading companies. Requires such agencies to report to the appropriate congressional committees concerning implementation of this Act and any recommendations. Provides for judicial review of denial orders in the appropriate U.S. Court of Appeals. Sets forth the grounds for disapproval. Provides for remand for further consideration by the banking agency. Directs the Economic Development Administration and the Small Business Administration to give special weight to export-related benefits when considering applications for loans and guarantees by export trading companies. Directs the Export-Import Bank of the United States to provide loan guarantees to export trading companies or exporters to be secured by accounts receivable or inventories when adequate financing is not otherwise available and such guarantees will facilitate expansion of exports. Title II: Export Trade Associations - Export Trade Association Act of 1980 - Amends the Webb-Pomerene Act to exempt the export trade, export trade activities, and methods of operation of certified export trade associations and export trading companies from the antitrust laws. Delays the effectiveness of any certificate upon the notification of the Secretary of Commerce by the Attorney General or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) of disagreement with the decision to issue a certificate. Sets forth the procedure to be followed by any association, company, or export trading company seeking certification under this Act and by the Secretary in issuing such certificates. Provides for appeal of the Secretary's denial of certification. Authorizes the Attorney General or the FTC to bring an action to invalidate a certification. Requires the Secretary, in consultation with the Attorney General and the FTC, to publish guidelines for determining whether an association or export trading company will meet the certification requirements. Requires certified associations and export trading companies to submit annual reports to the Secretary. Directs the Secretary to establish within the Department of Commerce an office to promote export trade associations and trading companies. Provides for automatic certification of existing associations. Requires that all applications for certification be kept confidential with specified exceptions. Authorizes the Secretary to require an association or trading company to modify its operation to be consistent with international obligations of the United States. Directs the President to appoint, with the Senate's advice and consent, a task force seven years after enactment to examine the effect of this Act and to make recommendations. Title III: Taxation of Export Trading Companies - Amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 to make banking organizations which have invested in an export trading company eligible for treatment as domestic international sales corporations (DISC). Includes the gross receipts from the export of services produced in the United States and from export trade services as qualified export receipts, in the case of a DISC which is an export trading company. Directs the Secretary of Commerce, with the Secretary of the Treasury, to develop and distribute information concerning the utilization of the DISC provisions. Amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 to make export trading companies eligible for Subchapter S treatment if the shareholders of such companies are otherwise small business corporations. Exempts such companies from restrictions on the amount of foreign income they can receive and still be eligible for Subchapter S tax treatment.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 1980
Expresses the sense of the Senate that social security benefits should remain exempt from all taxation.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 1980
Veterans' Disability Compensation and Survivors' Benefits Amendments of 1980 - Title I: Veterans' Disability Compensation Benefits - Increases the rates of veterans' compensation for: (1) wartime disability compensation; (2) additional compensation for dependents; and (3) clothing allowances paid to certain disabled veterans. Title II: Survivors' Dependency and Indemnity Compensation Benefits - Increases the rates of veterans' dependency and indemnity compensation for: (1) a surviving spouse; (2) surviving children; and (3) supplemental children's benefits. Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions - Extends the authority for the Veterans' Administration regional office in the Republic of the Philippines until September 30, 1985. Sets forth procedures for: (1) retroactive payments for additional children entitled to dependency and indemnity compensation; and (2) reducing payments to a dependent child who has attained the age of 18 and is attending an educational institution, and whose parent is receiving compensation payments as a surviving spouse. Provides for pension payments to a hospitalized veteran having neither spouse nor child if such veteran is readmitted within six months of a period of care. Title IV: Effective Date - States that the amendments made by this Act shall take effect on October 1, 1980.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 1980
Entitles any individual covered by a Federal health benefits program which provides payment for the services of a qualified professional gerontological nurse practitioner, to unrestricted selection of, and access to, such nurse practitioner.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 1980
Amends the Social Security Act to revise, for medicare purposes, the definition of "skilled nursing facility" to require that such facilities provide for having a qualified professional gerontological nurse practitioner available, on at least a consultant basis, to assure that necessary gerontological nursing services are furnished. Revises the definition of "physician", for medicare purposes, to include a qualified professional nurse practitioner who is licensed by the State in which such nurse performs such function or action, but only with respect to functions or actions which such nurse is legally authorized to perform as a registered nurse in a State by such State and, then only for purposes of specified provisions relating to: (1) medical and other health services; (2) certification of the need for inpatient psychiatric hospital services; and (3) the requirement that each patient at a hospital be under the care of a physician. Defines "qualified professional gerontological nurse practitioner", for both medicare and medicaid purposes, as an individual who: (1) is licensed to practice nursing by the State in which such function or action is performed; and (2) (a) holds a master's degree in gerontological nursing or a related field from an accredited educational institution, or (b) is certified as a gerontological nurse practitioner by the duly recognized professional nurses organization. Includes among the requirements for State plans for medical assistance, for medicaid purposes, provisions that qualified professional gerontological nurse practitioners: (1) who are legally authorized to provide professional services will be among those for whose professional services payment will be made, with respect to health services covered under the State plan; (2) will be available, at least on a consultant basis, to assure that necessary gerontological nursing services are furnished to patients at any intermediate care facility or skilled nursing facility receiving payments for services under the State plan; (3) will be extended the same staff and similar privileges as physicians, with respect to professional services both groups are authorized to provide, in any hospital receiving payments under the State plan; and (4) will base admissions to such hospitals on nursing diagnoses or a determined functional diagnosis.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 1980
Emergency Child Health Services Act of 1980 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize grants for demonstration programs for children's emergency medical services. Sets forth eligibility requirements. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to report to Congress by January 1, 1984, regarding such programs. Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 1981-83 for such programs.
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 1980
Veterans' Administration Health-Care Personnel Act of 1980 - Amends the Veterans' Administration Physician and Dentist Pay Comparability Act of 1975 to authorize the payment of special pay to physicians and dentists in the Department of Medicine and Surgery of the Veterans' Administration (VA) who are employed intermittently or less than half-time, occupy internship or residency positions, or are retired annuitants. Exempts physicians, dentists, nurses, and other health-care professionals employed by the Department from the Senior Executive Service. Directs the Administrator of the Veterans' Administration to appoint such licensed practical or vocational nurses, and nursing assistants as he or she may deem necessary for the medical care of veterans. Requires that such medical personnel have medical and technical qualifications as prescribed by the Administrator. Increases pay under the basic pay schedules for: (1) employees of the Office of the Chief Medical Director; (2) physicians and dentists; (3) nurses; (4) nursing support; and (5) clinical podiatrists and optometrists. Provides for special pay and additional pay under special guidelines for such personnel. Authorizes the Administrator to increase the rates of pay, within specified limits, for selected personnel in specified geographic areas in order to provide rates competitive with comparable health personnel by non-federal health care facilities in the same labor market. Requires the Chief of Staff of a VA medical center to be a full-time VA employee who does not receive remuneration of any kind from an affiliated institution. Permits chiefs of staff serving on a less than full-time basis to continue to receive remuneration from an outside source. Prohibits such employee from receiving increases in special pay. Authorizes the Administrator to provide support for the training of selected registered nurses and nurse practitioners for a baccalaureate degree in nursing. Stipulates that the personnel of the Department of Medicine and Surgery serving on less than full-time basis shall receive civil service retirement credit for such service only on a pro-rata basis. Excludes licensed practical or vocational nurses and nursing assistants from the jurisdiction of the disciplinary boards appointed by the Chief Medical Officer. Restricts the activities of the Special Medical Advisory Groups established by the Administrator to policy matters related to education and training arising in connection with the program with respect to which it was appointed. Stipulates that final decisions concerning employment at the VA facility must be made by the VA. Establishes a medical center advisory committee in each VA health-care facility to advise medical center management with respect to all matters concerning the provision of health care to eligible veterans and dependents. Authorizes the Administrator to appoint licensed practical or vocational nurses and nursing assistants to part-time or temporary positions without regard to civil service or classification rules. Authorizes the defense of such personnel in malpractice suits. Increases special and incentive pay for physicians and dentists in the Department of Medicine and Surgery. Establishes additional special pay for physicians and dentists serving in an area in which there are extraordinary difficulties in the recruitment and retention of such personnel. Establishes a Veterans' Administration Physicians' and Dentists' Pay Board. Sets forth the composition and duties of such Board. Requires the Board to investigate pay distinctions among VA doctors and dentists and such professionals in other Federal agencies and in the private sector and to report annually on the need for special pay as an incentive for recruitment of doctors and dentists by the VA. Requires the Administrator to conduct a pilot program and study for a specified period of time on the difficulties of recruitment and retention of nursing and nursing support personnel in at least six geographic regions. Requires the submission of the results of such study to Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 1980
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Act of 1980 - Title I: Regulation of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Facilities and Plantships - Prohibits any person from owning, constructing, or operating an ocean thermal energy conversion facility and prohibits United States citizens from owning, constructing, or operating an ocean thermal energy conversion plantship without a license issued pursuant to this Act. Authorizes the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to issue, transfer, amend, or renew licenses for the ownership, construction, and operation of such facilities or plantships upon application and in accordance with this Act. Sets forth criteria for determining whether to issue such licenses, and directs the Administrator to prescribe any conditions deemed necessary to carry out this Act or which are required by any Federal department or agency. Directs the Administrator to establish bonding requirements or other assurances necessary to assure that upon revocation or other termination of a license, the licensee will remove all components of any such facility or plantship from the ocean and the seabed as directed by the Administrator. Sets the term of such licenses at a maximum of 25 years, with a right of renewal for an additional ten years for each renewal. Directs the Administrator to issue regulations, within one year of the date of enactment of this Act, to carry out the purposes and provisions of this Act. Directs the Secretary of the Interior, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, the Chief of Engineers of the United States Army Corps of Engineers, and the heads of other Federal departments and agencies having jurisdiction over or expertise concerning any aspect of the construction or operation of such facilities or plantships to submit to the Administrator written comments as to their expertise or statutory responsibilities with respect to this or any other Federal law. Sets forth application procedures and requirements for licenses authorized for issuance by this Act, including provisions for public notice hearings, and Federal agency review. Requires that applicants for licenses remit a fee at the time of filing such application, to be determined by the Administrator, and to be deposited in the miscellaneous receipts of the Treasury. Establishes priorities for the issuance of licenses where more than one application is submitted for the same designated application area. Establishes criminal penalties for the breaking of or injury to any submarine electric transmission cable or equipment being constructed or operated under a license issued under this Act. Requires a licensee to indemnify the owner of any vessel which sacrifices any anchor, fishing net, or other fishing gear to avoid injuring any such cable or equipment. Requires any licensee who causes any break in or injury to any submarine cable or pipeline to bear the cost of the repairs thereto. Directs the Administrator to submit applications for issuance, transfer, or renewal of any license to the Attorney General for antitrust review. Directs the Administrator to designate as an "adjacent coastal State" any coastal State either directly to be connected by electric transmission cable or pipeline to an ocean thermal energy conversion facility or plantship or located within 15 miles of any such proposed facility or plantship. Authorizes the Administrator to make such designation for any other State, upon request, upon a determination that there is a risk of damage to the coastal environment or if it is likely that the thermal plume of any proposed facility or plantship would impinge on possible locations for other ocean thermal energy conversion facilities or plantships which would be connected to such State. Requires that the Administrator transmit to the Governor of any designated adjacent coastal State a complete copy of each license application. Prohibits the issuance of any license for an ocean thermal energy conversion facility or plantship without consultation with the Governor of such State where such State has an approved coastal zone management program in effect pursuant to the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972. Directs the Administrator to condition the license granted so as to make it consistent with such State program. Prohibits the Administrator from issuing such licenses for any facility or plantship unless the adjacent coastal State to which such facility or plantship is to be directly connected has an approved coastal zone management plan in effect. Authorizes State to enter into agreements or compacts to apply for such licenses and to establish agencies for implementing such agreements or compacts. Requires the Administrator to issue regulations requiring licensees to pursue diligently such facility or plantship construction and operation and authorizes the termination of any license for failure to comply with such regulations. Directs the Administrator to initiate a program to assess the environmental effects of such facilities or plantships so as to determine whether their cumulative impact requires that a limit be placed on the number or total capacity of such facilities or plantships to be licensed under this Act. States that the issuance of such licenses is deemed to be a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality of the environment for purposes of the environmental impact statement provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. Authorizes the preparation of a consolidated environmental impact statement by the Administrator and other involved Federal agencies and departments. Directs the Secretary of the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating to issue regulations and enforce procedures concerning any ocean thermal energy conversion facility or plantship, including rules on vessel movement, transfer of materials between facilities and plantships and transport vessels, designation of anchorage areas, maintenance, law enforcement, and the equipment, training, and maintenance required to prevent pollution of and other adverse impacts on the marine environment and to clean up any pollutants which may be discharged. Directs the Secretary to designate a zone of appropriate size around and including any ocean thermal energy conversion facility or plantship for the purpose of navigational safety, and to establish safety zones during the period of construction of such facilities or plantships. States that for the purposes of the vessel inspection laws, such facilities and plantships shall be deemed to be vessels. Requires that licenses include such conditions as necessary to ensure that construction and operation of such facilities and plantships are conducted with reasonable regard for navigation, fishing, energy production, scientific research, or other uses of the high seas, including the operation of other ocean thermal energy conversion plantships and facilities. Authorizes the inspection and monitoring of licensees' activities, and sets forth procedures thereon. Sets forth provisions for the suspension, revocation, and termination of licenses for failure to comply with provisions of this Act or applicable rules or conditions issued or imposed by the Administrator under the authority of this Act. Includes provisions for the immediate suspension of facility or plantship construction or operation upon a determination by the Administrator that such action is necessary to protect public health and safety or to eliminate dangers to the environment, or upon a determination by the President that such suspension is necessary to avoid a conflict with any international obligation of the United States established by treaty or convention. Sets forth provisions concerning recordkeeping, reports, and public access to information. Authorizes licensees to relinquish to the Administrator any right to conduct construction or operation of such a facility or plantship, but stipulates that such relinquishment shall not relieve the licensee of any obligation or liability established by this Act. Authorizes civil actions by any person having a valid legal interest which is or may be adversely affected by actions of licensees or by the failure of the Administrator to comply with the requirements of this Act. Authorizes judicial review of any decision of the Administrator concerning a license. Title II: Maritime Financing for Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion - States that for the purposes of the Merchant Marine Act: (1) any ocean thermal energy conversion facility or plantship licensed under this Act, and any vessel providing shipping service to or from such facilities or plantships, shall be deemed to be a vessel operated in the foreign or domestic commerce of the United States; and (2) any vessel documented under the laws of the United States and providing such service shall be deemed to be used in, and used in an essential service in, the foreign commerce or foreign trade of the United States. Amends the Federal Ship Mortgage Insurance provisions of the Merchant Marine Act of 1936, to include such facilities and plantships in the definition of "vessel" and to add a definition of "ocean thermal energy conversion facility or plantship." Amends such provisions to authorize the Secretary of Commerce to guarantee, or make a commitment to guarantee, payment of the principal of and interest on an obligation which aids in financing a vessel designed for use as an ocean thermal energy conversion facility or plantship. Increases the aggregate principal amount which may be guaranteed with respect to such facilities or plantships constructed without the aid of a construction-differential subsidy. Increases the aggregate unpaid principal amount of obligations guaranteed under such Act to $12,000,000,000, and requires that $2,000,000,000 of such amount be limited to obligations pertaining to demonstration ocean thermal energy conversion facilities or plantships guaranteed under such Act. Establishes the OTEC Demonstration Fund as a special sub-account of the Federal Ship Financing Fund, to be used for obligation guarantees authorized by such Act which do not otherwise qualify under other sections thereof. Limits to five the number of ocean thermal energy conversion facilities or plantships which may obtain obligation guarantees. Title III: Enforcement - Provides for the enforcement of provisions of this Act and rules or orders issued thereunder and lists prohibited acts. Authorizes the Administrator to issue compliance orders to any person for violation of specified provisions of this Act and to request the Attorney General to commence civil action for relief or civil penalties for any violation for which the Administrator is authorized to issue such compliance orders. Establishes civil and criminal penalties for such violations as specified. Title IV: Miscellaneous Provisions - Directs the Administrator, after consultation with the Secretary of State, to issue amendments to any regulations issued under this Act to conform such regulations to any treaty ratified by the United States as a result of any United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea. Exempts from the provisions of this Act any ocean thermal energy conversion facility or plantship designated by the Secretary of Energy as a demonstration project. Sets forth provisions concerning the relationship of other laws to the facilities and plantships authorized for construction and operation under this Act, including a provision that the law of the nearest adjacent coastal State to which such a licensed facility is connected by electric transmission cable or pipeline is declared to be the law of the United States. Directs the Administrator to establish standards and regulations for the safe construction and operation of submarine electric transmission cables and equipment over which the United States has jurisdiction. Directs the Administrator to submit to Congress an annual report on the administration of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 26 March 1980
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System should immediately take steps to reduce interest rates.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 1980
Nondiscrimination in Insurance Act - Prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin with respect to the issuance or terms of insurance contracts. Permits insurers who regularly provide insurance solely to persons of a single religious affiliation to continue to do so. Allows any person who is aggrieved by any violation of this Act to maintain a civil action in an appropriate State or Federal court. Sets forth the recovery allowed in such an action, including injunctive relief and punitive damages. Authorizes the Commissioner and Attorney General of each State to enforce the discriminatory prohibitions established by this Act. Permits the Commissioner to issue cease and desist orders and the Attorney General to intervene in administrative proceedings, seek injunctive relief, order restitution, and impose fines. Stipulates that no action may be maintained in Federal court if a State has enacted into law the provisions of this Act and has established administrative procedures to consider violations. Authorizes the Attorney General of the United States, whenever there is reasonable cause to believe that any insurer or other person is engaged in a pattern or practice of resistance to the full enjoyment of the rights granted by this Act or that any group has been denied such rights and an issue of general public importance is raised, to bring a civil action in Federal court to seek injunctive or other appropriate relief.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1980
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to pay a specified sum to a named individual in satisfaction of a claim against the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1980
Authorizes the classification of a certain individual as a child for purposes of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 1980
Congratulates the members of the 1980 U.S. Winter Olympic team, its coaches and officials for a job well done. Recognizes the International Olympic Committee, the U.S. Olympic Committee, the Lake Placid Olympic Organizing Committee and the people of the Lake Placid area for their successful efforts in organizing and producing the XIII Winter Olympic Games.
United States · United States Congress · 20 February 1980
Provides for the assignment of clerical or secretarial employees to assist the representatives of the Veterans' Employment Service.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1980
Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to direct the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration to encourage States, local governments, and public agencies to adopt a law enforcement officers' bill of rights which substantially provides as a minimum the following: (1) allowing off-duty officers to engage in political activities; (2) granting officers specified procedural rights in connection with investigations of their conduct on duty which may lead to a personnel action; (3) requiring officer representation on any police complaint review board established in the jurisdiction; (4) allowing officers to file civil actions to recover damages from persons violating these rights; and (5) prohibiting mandatory disclosure of officers' finances.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 1980
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the earned income exclusion for United States citizens working abroad, who are bona fide residents of a foreign country, from an annual rate of $20,000 to: (1) $50,000; or (2) $65,000, if such persons have been working abroad for more than two years. Allows separate exclusions to married individuals who are both working overseas, although one's excess exclusion cannot be used against income earned by the other. Allows an exclusion from gross income for housing allowances or housing expenses which exceed 20 percent of earned income (determined without regard to such allowance). Repeals current provisions of the Code allowing tax deductions to such persons for certain living expenses abroad.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 1980
Directs the President to issue a proclamation honoring the memory of Walt Disney on the 60th anniversary of the creation and production of his first original, animated cartoon.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 1980
Amends the Clayton Act to prohibit the direct or indirect restriction by any person engaged in commerce on the use of credit instruments in any transaction concerning the sale, resale, or transfer of gasohol or other synthetic motor fuel, where there is no similar restriction on transactions concerning conventional motor fuel. Prohibits any other condition, restriction, agreement, or understanding which otherwise discriminates against or unreasonably limits the sale, resale, or transfer of gasohol or other synthetic motor fuel.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1980
Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should implement the objectives of the International Year of Disabled Persons (1981).
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 1980
Expresses the gratitude of the Senate for the forceful action of Colonel Ishmail Kahn and Mr. Bill Hamidullah in repelling the attackers of the International School of Islamabad in Pakistan.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 1980
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the zero bracket amount for heads of households from $2,300 to $3,400 (the same level as that for married individuals filing a joint return).
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1980
Deauthorizes the navigation project for the Kalihi Channel, Hawaii. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to modify any regulations relating to the Kalihi Channel bridge consistent with such deauthorization.
United States · United States Congress · 20 December 1979
Amends titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to provide coverage under the Medicare and Medicaid programs for the services of a clinical social worker.
United States · United States Congress · 20 December 1979
Subchapter S Capital Formation Act of 1979 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code: (1) to increase from 15 to 100 the maximum permissible number of shareholders of a Subchapter S corporation; and (2) to allow additional classes of stock in such corporations so long as the issuance of such stock will not have any effect upon the allocation of income among the shareholders of the corporation.
United States · United States Congress · 20 December 1979
Native American Culture and Art Development Act - Establishes the Institute of Native American Culture and Arts Development under the direction and control of a Board of Trustees. Sets forth the composition and terms of membership on such Board. Requires that the first Chairman of such Board be appointed by the President and subsequent Chairmen be elected by the trustees. Directs such Chairman, in consultation with the Board, to appoint a President to carry out the policies and functions of such Institute. Sets forth the powers of such Board. Directs the appropriate Federal department to transfer to the Institute the jurisdiction and control over the real property comprising the Institute of American Indian Arts facility located in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Authorizes the Board to establish within the Institute: (1) a Center for Culture and Art Studies to include Departments of Traditional Arts and Sciences, Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Language, and Literature; (2) a Center for Native American Scholars to include research and fellowship programs and publications; (3) a center for Cultural Exchange to include an inter-American Indian program, marketing and promotion of Indian crafts, promotion of Indian art, exhibits and shows; (4) a Museum of Indian Arts to include the acquisition of Indian art and the curation and exhibition of Indian art; and (5) other related centers or programs. Transfers to the Institute the functions of the Institute of American Indian Arts and the Indian Arts and Crafts Board. Makes the laws applicable to such entities applicable to the Institute. Directs the President of the Institute to submit an annual report to the Board concerning the administration of the Institute. Authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 1981 to carry out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 20 December 1979
Authorizes and requests the President to designate June 27, 1980, as "Helen Keller Day."
United States · United States Congress · 20 December 1979
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the intervention of the Office of the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers resulting in the purge of Rikizo Hirano in 1947 was improper. States that all Federal records should be corrected to clear Rizido Hirano of wrongdoing.
United States · United States Congress · 20 December 1979
Expresses the Senate's support for efforts to win the freedom of the hostages in Iran. Calls upon all nations to join in cooperative efforts to restrict relations with Iran. Declares that: (1) any trial or public exploitation of the hostages would be viewed as added provocation; and (2) the American people will not be diverted from their determination that the hostages be freed.