United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1983
Veterans' Programs Improvement Act of 1983 - Title I: Definition of Vietnam Era - Redefines the Vietnam era to include the period July 8, 1959, through May 7, 1975, for veterans who served in the Republic of South Vietnam during that period. Title II: Women Veterans - Directs the Administrator of Veterans Affairs to establish the Advisory Committee on Women Veterans to advise the Administrator on the administration of benefits for and needs of women veterans. Directs the Committee to report annually to the Administrator on the activities of the Veterans Administration pertaining to women, together with assessments of needs and recommendations for future action. Directs the Administrator to submit such report to Congress. Makes women veterans eligible for outpatient treatment at private facilities for medical conditions relating to gender. Title III: Veterans Administration Health-Care Programs - Extends through FY 1985 a Vietnam era veteran's eligibility for readjustment counseling. Makes the Preventive Health-Care Services Pilot Program a permanent program. Title IV: Veterans Administration Health-Care Personnel - Permits the Administrator to appoint licensed practical or vocational nurses, physical therapists, and certified or registered respiratory therapists for the medical care of veterans. Requires such personnel to have such medical, scientific, or technical qualifications as the Administrator shall prescribe. Sets forth the period of appointments and the probationary period for such personnel. Establishes wage scales and other terms and conditions of employment. Requires the Administrator and the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to submit a joint report to the Veterans' Affairs Committees concerning the conversion of selected health care occupations to title 38 (Veterans), U.S. Code. Title V: Status and Role of Administrator of Veterans' Affairs - Expresses the sense of Congress that the Administrator should be made a fully participating member of the Cabinet. Title VI: Health Hazards Studies and Report - Directs the Administrator to provide for an epidemiological study of the long-term adverse health effects of exposure to ionizing radiation from the detonation of a nuclear device, either in connection with a test or with the American occupation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, following World War II. Directs the Administrator to conduct a comprehensive review of scientific analysis of the literature covering studies relating to such effects. Directs the President and the Administrator to make several reports to the appropriate committees of Congress concerning the steps taken and the results of the literature review. Requires, after two years, an annual report from the Administrator to the appropriate committees concerning the epidemiological study. Directs the Administrator, within 90 days of submitting such report, to set forth in the Federal Register what action he proposes to take concerning Veterans Administration programs in response to such report. Directs the Administrator to report to Congress within 180 days of enactment on alternative approaches to providing benefits to veterans and the natural children of veterans who were exposed during service to either such radiation or to dioxins (Agent orange) used in Vietnam. Title VII: Technical Amendments - Makes various technical amendments.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1983
American Conservation Corps Act of 1983 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior, in cooperation with the Secretary of Agriculture, to establish and administer a public lands conservation, rehabilitation, and improvement program called the American Conservation Corps. Requires the Secretary to provide assistance to program agencies (any Federal or State agency responsible for the management of public lands) to establish and operate residential and nonresidential conservation centers to implement program projects. Describes the types of projects which will receive program preference. Limits program projects to those on public lands or Indian lands, except where projects on nonpublic lands provide documented public benefits. Sets forth requirements for establishing conservation centers and eligibility criteria for enrollees in the program. Makes persons eligible for enrollment and employment in the program if they are: (1) unemployed; (2) between the ages of 16 and 25 years; and (3) citizens, lawful permanent residents, or lawfully admitted alien parolees or refugees. Provides that in the selection of enrollees for the program, preference shall be given to economically, socially, physically, and educationally disadvantaged youth and youth residing in areas having substantial unemployment. Requires program agencies to provide services, facilities, supplies, and equipment for conservation centers as the Secretary deems necessary. Authorizes the Secretary to award grants to, or enter into agreements with, program agencies for the funding and operation of conservation centers. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1983 through 1989. Requires that such appropriations come from specified Treasury receipts. States that program enrollees shall not be deemed Federal employees, except for certain purposes. Directs the Secretary to establish pay rates and to coordinate the program with related Federal, State, local, and private activities. Directs the Secretary to submit a report to Congress, within one year of enactment of this Act, on the feasibility of allowing enrollees who have completed two years in the program an exemption from training and service under the Military Selective Service Act. Directs the Secretary to make arrangements with educational institutions to award academic credit to enrollees for competencies developed under this Act. Authorizes program agencies to make arrangements with such institutions for academic study by enrollees during nonworking hours. Requires program agencies to provide certification of skills acquired by program participants and to provide job guidance and placement information as necessary. Directs the Secretary to submit an annual report to the President and Congress detailing the activities carried out under this Act. Entitles to an appeal to the Merit Systems Protection Board any Federal employee displaced rightly or wrongly by activities under this Act. Grants similar appeal rights to the employees of any contract grantee similarly displaced.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1983
Emergency Agricultural Credit Act of 1983 - Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to permit family farmers to request economic hardship loan repayment and foreclosure deferrals through FY 1983. Provides for loan consolidation and rescheduling at the end of such deferral period. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to provide notification to Farmers Home Administration (FmHA) borrowers regarding such deferral and rescheduling programs. Prohibits deferred or rescheduled loan interest rates from exceeding original rates. Raises limits on individual aggregate guaranteed and insured operating loans. Authorizes specified amounts for FY 1983 operating loans. Sets aside a specified portion for new borrowers. Requires that at least 20 percent of FY 1983 farm ownership and operating loans be for limited-resource farmers. Requires the Secretary to notify all farmers about such program. Amends the Emergency Agricultural Credit Adjustment Act of 1978 to require the Secretary to make economic emergency loans (currently the Secretary is authorized to make such loans, but not required). Authorizes additional amounts in loan guarantees for such program.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1983
Amends the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act to provide supplemental unemployment benefits to certain railroad employees with less than ten years of service. Authorizes appropriations to the railroad unemployment insurance account and the railroad unemployment insurance administration fund in the Unemployment Trust Fund for the payment of such benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1983
Directs the United States Postal Service to issue, during the calendar year 1983, a commemorative postage stamp to honor the dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1983
Constitutional Amendment - Declares that equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State on account of sex.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1983
States that the United States and the Soviet Union should: (1) pursue a complete halt to the nuclear arms race; (2) decide when and how to achieve a mutual and verifiable freeze on the testing, production, and further deployment of nuclear warheads, missiles, and other delivery systems; (3) give special attention to destabilizing weapons; and (4) proceeding from this freeze, pursue major, mutual, and verifiable reductions in nuclear warheads, missiles, and other delivery systems.
United States · United States Congress · 8 December 1982
Expresses the sense of the Congress that Federal programs providing educational and rehabilitation services for disabled Americans should be maintained and funded at their current levels. States that changes in permanent regulations implementing Federal laws about the education and civil rights of handicapped individuals should not lessen the rights and protections provided under current regulations. States that reviews of social security eligiblity should be conducted in a manner ensuring fair treatment. States that the level of veterans disablity compensation benefits for service-connected conditions should be maintained.
United States · United States Congress · 30 November 1982
Declares that it is the sense of Congress that the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve and the Federal Open Market Committee should take actions to achieve a level of interest rates low enough to generate economic growth and reduce the current level of unemployment.
United States · United States Congress · 30 September 1982
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should immediately notify the Soviet Union that the United States is willing to reconvene bilateral negotiations on a treaty to prohibit the further development, production, and stockpiling of chemical weapons and to provide for the destruction of existing chemical weapons.
United States · United States Congress · 30 September 1982
Declares that it should be U.S. policy to: (1) support the people of Afghanistan in their struggle to be free from foreign domination; (2) provide the Afghans, upon request, with material assistance; and (3) pursue a negotiated settlement of the war in Afghanistan based on the total withdrawal of Soviet troops and the recognition of the right of the Afghans to choose their own destiny.
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 1982
Prohibits the Secretary of Agriculture from promulgating any regulation which would not maintain or enhance the nutritional integrity of supplemental foods made available under the special supplemental food program for women, infants and children of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966. Prohibits the Secretary, after September 23, 1982, from modifying any regulation governing such program, unless a finding is made that the modification will be beneficial to the health status of program participants. Requires the Secretary to submit such finding to the appropriate congressional committees prior to its publication in the Federal Register. Requires the Secretary to implement specified regulations concerning the program no later than December 31, 1982.
United States · United States Congress · 22 September 1982
Expresses the sense of the Senate that guidelines relating to title IX (Prohibition of Sex Discrimination) of the Education Amendments of 1972 should not be repealed or altered in a manner which will deny any person equal access to education.
United States · United States Congress · 16 September 1982
Residential Mortgage Investment Act of 1982 - Exempts any qualified mortgage transaction at arms-length engaged in by an employee benefit plan from specified prohibited transaction provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and the Internal Revenue Code. Provides that such exemption shall supersede any and all State laws as they relate to qualified mortgage transactions to the extent engaged in by employee benefit plans.
United States · United States Congress · 16 September 1982
Veterans' Compensation, Education, and Employment Amendments of 1982 - Title I: Compensation and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation Rate - Increases and Program Improvement - Increases the rates of: (1) disability compensation; (2) additional compensation for dependents; (3) the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans; (4) dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses; (5) dependency and indemnity compensation for children; and (6) supplemental dependency and indemnity compensation for children. Entitles veterans with service-connected total blindness without light perception in both eyes to the same rate of monthly compensation as is paid for the anatomical loss of both eyes. Extends dependency and indemnity compensation to survivors of veterans who were entitled to but because of error did not receive service-connected disability compensation. Supercedes specified provisions of the Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1982 concerning compensation. Title II: Amendments of Veterans' Education and Rehabilitation Programs - Permits the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs to station veterans benefits counselor's at locations other than Veterans' Administration offices including schools. Permits the payment of a subsistence allowance to a veteran pursuing a rehabilitation program while residing in a halfway house or participating in a work-release program. Increases from $75 to $100 the maximum monthly deduction from a person's military pay for contribution to a matching fund for educational assistance. Provides for the transfer of funds from the Secretary of a military department to the Administrator for the administration of an educational assistance program. Repeals the ten year delimiting period for the use of educational assistance for veterans who are discharged or released from duty after December 31, 1979. Directs the Secretary of Defense to reimburse the Administrator for educational assistance paid out after December 31, 1979. Eliminates the requirement that a vocational school prove 50 percent employment among its graduates to prevent the Administrator's disapproving a veteran's enrollment . Prohibits the Administrator from approving the enrollment of an eligible veteran or person in any sales or sales management course which does not provide specialized training. Prohibits the payment of anything but a books and supplies allowance for non-tuition courses. Permits the Administrator to discontinue educational assistance to eligible veterans and persons enrolled at institutions or in courses with uncorrected violations of specified requirements. Lessens the detail required in the Administrator's annual report to Congress on the default of educational loans. Tolls the delimiting period for any veteran prevented from participating in a vocational rehabilitation program because of an alcohol or drug dependence or abuse condition. Requires (at present, only permits) the Administrator to provide educational assistance to Vietnam era veterans in apprenticeship or on-the-job training programs, orin courses with approval vocational objectives, unless a particular veteran does not need such a program or course to obtain suitable and stable employment. Requires publication in the Federal Register of proposed regulations implementing this requirement within 30 days after enactment of this Act. Title III: Veterans Employment Amendments - Requires that priorities in jobs training programs be given to disabled and vietnam era, veterans. Changes the position of State veterans' employment representative to that of State Director for Veterans' Employment. Makes such directors functionally responsible for supervising the participation of veterans in Federal employment and training programs, job listings, discrimination complaints, and other speclified duties. Requires the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' Employment to supervise the use of funds in the disabled veterans' outreach program. Permits a waiver of limitation on the percentage of outreach specialists which shall be stationed at local employment service offices in a State. Requires outreach specialists to develop programs with the Veterans Administration vocational rehabilitation staff and others to assure maximum assistance to veterans. Directs the Assistant Secretary to monitor the employment of such specialists. Directs the Secretary of Labor to estimate the funds necessary for the administration of the employment training and reemployment rights programs, including the amounts necessary to fund the disabled veterans' outreach program specialists. Requires the Secretary's annual report to include a report on activities under such program. Requires each Federal contractor who must take affirmative action to employ such veterans to make annual reports on the number and characteristics of new hires with the State veterans' employment director. Directs the Secretary, through the Assistant Secretary, to assist in the placement of veterans using existing Federal and State agencies. Repeals the exemplary rehabilitation certificates program. Title IV: Miscellaneous Improvements - Sets forth the conditions under which the assignee of a beneficiary of a National Service Life Insurance policy or a U.S. Government Life Insurance policy may resolve disputes concerning the proceeds. Eliminates the four year cut-off for payment of claims under the Servicemen's Group Life Insurance and Veterans' Group Life Insurance programs. Prohibits the escheat of payments to the State. Directs the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs to pay the burial expenses of certain veterans of war whose bodies are held by a State and not claimed. Permits the Administrator to guarantee a loan to refinance an existing loan for the purchase of a manufactured home or the lot on which such home will be placed. Requires applications for recovery of payments or over payments of benefits under laws administered by the Veterans Administration to be made within 180 days rather than within two years. Modifies the minimum service requirement for the receipt of veterans' benefits by a veteran or his survivor or dependent. Permits the pursuit of correspondence training as specified. Prohibits the contracting out of veterans' medical care unless a particular medical care activity is not a direct patient care activity or incident to direct patient care and to contract out would be more cost-effective. Title V: Effective Dates - Sets forth effective dates for the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 16 September 1982
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) national efforts to reduce hunger and malnutrition should continue; (2) a national commitment to vital nutrition programs should continue; and (3) the Federal Government should retain primary responsibility for child nutrition programs.
United States · United States Congress · 9 September 1982
Personal Income Tax Reform Act of 1982 - Title I: Reduction of Income Tax Rates - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the income tax tables. Provides for an income tax rate of 12 percent for all individuals, estates, and trusts. Imposes a surtax (ranging from eight to 24 percent) on the adjusted gross income of single taxpayers earning over $25,000 and married taxpayers earning over $40,000. Reduces the personal holding company tax from 50 to 36 percent. Repeals the 1985 indexation of tax rates. Redefines "adjusted gross income" to repeal the deductions for: (1) long-term capital gains; (2) amortization of reforestation expenses; and (3) two-earner married couples. Provides that certain special deductions for estate and trusts shall be subtracted from adjusted gross income. Increases the amount of the personal exemption to $1500 for single taxpayers and $1750 for heads of households. Allows an additional $1000 exemption for the dependent spouse of a taxpayer filing a joint return. Increases the zero bracket amount from $3400 to $4600 for taxpayers filing joint returns and surviving spouses. Repeals the direct charitable contribution deduction. Amends the Internal Revenue Code, as amended by the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981, to revise tax return filing requirements to reflect the increased personal exemption, in the case of 65-year-old taxpayers and taxpayers filing joint returns. Revises requirements for withholding allowances to correspond with the increased personal exemption. Repeals the minimum tax on individual taxpayers. Repeals provisions which allow income averaging. Title II: Broadening of the Income Tax Base - Repeals the tax credits for: (1) the elderly; (2) political contributions; and (3) residential energy conservation. Limits the availability of the following tax credits to certain corporations: (1) the investment tax credit; (2) the new employee credit; (3) the credit for producing fuel from a nonconventional source; (4) the alcohol fuel credit; and (5) the credit for increasing research activities. Repeals the exclusion from gross income of employer-provided premiums on group-term life insurance and the exclusion of unemployment compensation benefits. Requires the inclusion in gross income of interest income on life insurance, annuity or endowment contracts. Repeals the following tax exclusions: (1) dividends received by individuals; (2) employer-provided group legal services; (3) employer-provided transportation expenses; (4) employer-provided educational assistance; and (5) interest received after 1984. Repeals the tax exclusion of: (1) employer-provided child care assistance; (2) earned income of U.S. citizens living abroad; (3) certain disability payments; (4) dividend reinvestment in public utility stock; and (5) interest on industrial development bonds and veterans' mortgage bonds received by individual taxpayers. Requires the inclusion in gross income of one-third of employer contributions to medical care plans (other than workmen's compensation). Modifies the exclusion of scholarship and fellowship grants to require that an eligible recipient be a degree candidate at a tax-exempt educational institution. Disallows the exclusion of payments for teaching, research, or other services unless all degree candidates are required to perform such services. Repeals the tax deductions for: (1) two-earner married couples; (2) adoption expenses; and (3) long-term capital gains. Provides that no distinction shall be made between short-term and long-term capital gains in the case of individual taxpayers. Disallows the tax deductions to individual taxpayers for: (1) amortization of pollution control facilities; (2) amortization of reforestation expenditures; (3) intangible drilling and development costs for oil, gas, and geothermal wells; (4) percentage depletion; (5) mineral development and mine exploration expenses; and (6) certain State and local taxes. Repeals the tax deduction for the casualty and theft losses of individuals. Limits the deduction for interest on investment indebtedness for individual taxpayers to the amount of investment income. Provides that such limitation shall not apply to trade or business indebtedness and indebtedness incurred in acquiring or rehabilitating a qualified dwelling or principal residence of the taxpayer. Modifies the accelerated cost recovery schedules to provide that increased percentages for property placed in service after 1984 and after 1985 shall only be available to certain corporations. Reduces the depreciation deduction for 15-year real property in the case of individual taxpayers. Repeals the business expense deduction for business meals. Repeals the tax credit for household and dependent care services necessary for gainful employment and replaces such credit with a tax deduction for employment-related expenses. Limits such deduction to $2,400 for taxpayers with one dependent and $4,800 for taxpayers with two or more dependents. Revises requirements for the deduction for $125,000 of gain from the sale of a principal residence by an individual over age 55. Revises the definition of "Section 11 corporation". Title III: Taxation of Individual Retirement Accounts and Qualified Pension, Profit-Sharing, and Stock Bonus Plans - Imposes a 14 percent tax on the investment income of retirement trusts, including pensions, individual retirement accounts, and other retirement plans. Repeals the tax-exempt status of certain pension, profit-sharing, stock bonus plans, and individual retirement accounts. Repeals the tax on lump-sum distributions from qualified pension plans. Title IV: Conforming Amendments; Effective Dates - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to submit a legislative proposal for implementing this Act to Congress. Sets forth effective dates for the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 19 August 1982
Environmental Programs Assistance Act of 1982 - Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (Administrator) to develop a program, through grants or contracts, designed to assist Federal, State, and local environmental agencies in carrying out projects of pollution prevention, abatement, and control. Provides that such program may include projects such as: (1) air monitoring and emission testing; (2) pesticides inventory and control; (3) water quality and supply sampling and monitoring; (4) technical libraries and public information projects; (5) carcinogenic surveys and followup; (6) hazardous materials routing surveys; (7) health screening in rural areas and among migrant workers; and (8) noise abatement and control. Directs the Administrator to: (1) submit to Congress, within 180 days after enactment of this Act a report identifying projects which serve the purpose of the program; (2) consult with representatives of State and local environmental agencies concernign ways to implement this Act; and (3) utilize the talents of older Americans available for project participation and consult with the Secretary of Labor and the Administrator of the Administration on Aging to ensure coordination with similar projects under the Older Americans Act of 1965 or the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (or under any successor statute). Authorizes the Administrator to make grants to and cooperative agreements with, public and private institutions and individuals to carry out the program under this Act. Prohibits the Administrator from making any grants to, or agreements with, any State or local environmental agency for any activities which would take the job of any agency employee or impair any existing contract for services. Authorizes appropriations to the Administrator for FY 1982 through 1985 to carry out the administrative provisions of this Act. Provides that environmentally related programs described under this Act shall be eligible for funding made available through title V of the Older Americans Act of 1965 and title III of the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1982
Wilderness Protection Act of 1982 - Withdraws from disposition under all laws pertaining to oil, gas, oil shale, coal, phosphate, potassium, sulphur, gilsonite, and geothermal leasing: (1) wilderness areas; (2) lands recommended for wilderness designation, until Congress determines otherwise or until the lands concerned are recommended for other uses; (3) wilderness study areas, for the period of interim wilderness protection and management required by law; and (4) lands identified for further planning in Executive Communication 1504, 96th Congress, until one year after the final approval and implementation of an initial forest plan covering the further planning area. Exempts from the withdrawal pursuant to this Act: (1) national forest system land released to management for nonwilderness uses; (2) lands designated as congressional wilderness study areas in Colorado and New Mexico and certain lands within the River of No Return Wilderness in Idaho; (3) Bureau of Land Management wilderness study areas; and (4) lands in Alaska. Permits activities compatible with the preservation of the wilderness environment for the purpose of inventorying energy, mineral, and other resource values in areas withdrawn by this Act. Requires the Secretary of the Interior to augment recurring surveys of mineral values of wilderness areas and to acquire information on the areas withdrawn by this Act by conducting mineral inventories of such areas. Authorizes the President to recommend to Congress that minerals exploration, development, or extraction be permitted in specified areas withdrawn under this Act if: (1) there is an urgent national need for the mineral activity; and (2) the need outweighs the public values of the wilderness lands involved and the potential adverse environmental impacts likely to result. Makes such a recommendation effective only upon enactment of a joint resolution by Congress approving such recommendation. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to issue oil and gas leases for the subsurface of national forest or public land wilderness areas that are immediately adjacent to oil and gas producing fields or areas that are prospectively valuable. Prohibits surface occupancy under such leases and provides that such leases may be entered only by directional drilling from outside the wilderness or by other nonsurface disturbing methods.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1982
Balanced Monetary Policy Act of 1982 - Amends the Federal Reserve Act to require the Board of Governors and the Federal Open Market Committee of the Federal Reserve System to establish yearly targets for positive real short-term interest rates and for the growth or diminution of money and credit aggregates, consistent with the interest rate targets. Requires the Board and the Federal Open Market Committee to take necessary actions to assure that such targets are achieved, on average, on an annual basis. Requires a written report to specified congressional committees if such targets cannot or should not be achieved because of unfavorable economic conditions. Requires the Board of Governors to transmit specified information to Congress biannually. Requires the Board to announce publicly changes in objectives and plans at the time those changes are determined.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 1982
States that the President, at the earliest possible date, should: (1) request Senate consent to ratification of the Threshold Test Ban and Peaceful Nuclear Explosion Treaties; and (2) resume trilateral test ban treaty negotiations.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 1982
Ocean and Coastal Development Impact Assistance Block Grant Act - Establishes the Ocean and Coastal Development Impact Assistance Fund in the Treasury. States that four percent of all bonus revenues and six percent of all royalty revenues from Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas leases shall be deposited in such Fund. Provides block grants from such Fund to coastal States and territories for ocean and coastal energy impact assistance and resource management. Sets forth an allocation formula based upon oil or gas production, coastal population, and shoreline. Requires a State to give at least 40 percent of such grant to local coastal communities. Provides for assessment and audit of such block grants.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 1982
Veterans' Diagnostic Services Experiment Act of 1982 - Directs the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs to establish an experimental program to determine the economic and functional feasibility of furnishing diagnostic health-care services to eligible veterans in a remote area. States that such program shall run from January 1, 1983, through January 1, 1986. Requires the Administrator to enter into a contract with a health-care facility in Aroostook County, Maine, to serve as a diagnostic clinic. Requires the Administrator to establish an advisory committee to advise him on operating procedures and requirements. Directs such committee to report to the Administrator annually. Directs the Administrator to report to the Veterans' Affairs Committees by July 1, 1985, on the operation of the program.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 1982
Authorizes the erection of a memorial on public grounds in the District of Columbia in honor and commemoration of members of the armed forces who served in the Korean War. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to select, with the approval of the National Commisson of Fine Arts and the National Capital Planning Commission, a suitable site on public grounds for such memorial. Subjects the design and any plans for the memorial to the approval of the Secretary, the National Commission of Fine Arts, and the National Capital Planning Commission. Declares that no moneys belonging to the United States or the District of Columbia shall be expended for the erection of such memorial.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 1982
Repudiates and denounces a statement by Secretary of the Interior James Watt concerning the effect on U.S.- Israeli relations of opposition by the American Jewish community to the Reagan administration's energy policies.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 1982
Constitutional Amendment - Declares that equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State on account of sex.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1982
National Diffusion Network Act - Directs the Secretary of Education to carry out a program to promote the spread of exemplary educational programs, products, and practices to interested elementary and secondary schools. Requires the Secretary to provide for evaluation, information, materials, training, and technical assistance. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to, and contracts with, public and nonprofit private educational institutions and organizations to carry out such program. Declares that such program shall be deemed to be a continuation of the National Diffusion Network for which provision is made under the Education Consolidation and Improvement Act of 1981. Directs the Secretary to allocate funds available under such Act to such program. Authorizes additional appropriations, if necessary, to carry out such program in FY 1983 through FY 1986.
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 1982
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the percentage of completion, completed contract, or any other accounting method which clearly reflects income from the performance of contracts which normally require more than 12 months to complete. Sets forth rules for the severance or aggregation of contracts, for the treatment of a contract as completed, and for the treatment of contract costs.
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 1982
Small Business Debt-Equity Relief Act of 1982 - States that no Intenal Revenue Service regulations determining whether an interest in a corporation is to be treated as stock or indebtedness shall apply to an instrument issued before 180 days after the regulations are submitted to Congress. Requires that any such proposed regulations shall be consistent with the findings of Congress set forth in this Act if the Secretary of the Treasury chooses to adopt them.
United States · United States Congress · 27 May 1982
Military Widows and Surviving Children Benefits Restoration Act - Directs the Secretary of the military department concerned to make monthly payments equivalent to the child's insurance benefit under the Social Security Act before the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 to certain children between the ages of 18 and 22 attending institutions of higher learning. Limits eligibility for such payments to children of veterans who died on active duty or from a service-connected disability. Directs the Secretary to make a lump-sum payment to persons who would have been entitled to such payments one month before the effective date of this Act. Directs the Secretary of the military department concerned to make monthly payments to the surviving spouse of such veteran in the amount such spouse would have received under the Social Security Act were she caring for a child under 16 (when such child is actually between 16 and 18 years of age). Directs the Secretary to make a lump-sum payment to persons who would have been entitled to such payments one month before the effective date of this Act. Directs the Secretary concerned to notify each member of the armed forces that his or her dependents will be ineligible for such benefits should the member die after the applicable date, in no case later than August 13, 1983. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide the Secretary concerned with information necessary to carry out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 27 May 1982
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the United States: (1) should not sell advanced weapons to Jordan; (2) should ensure that Israel retains its qualitative military edge in the Middle East; and (3) should focus its efforts on bringing Jordan into direct peace negotiations with Israel.
United States · United States Congress · 26 May 1982
Violent Crime and Drug Enforcement Improvements Act of 1982 - Title I: Bail Reform - Bail Reform Act of 1982 - Repeals the Bail Reform Act of 1966 and sets forth new bail procedures. Retains execution of a money bond as a condition for pretrial release. Authorizes a judicial officer to consider the safety of any person or the community when making a pretrial release determination. Establishes as a mandatory release condition that the person not commit a Federal, State, or local crime during release. Expands the discretionary release conditions to include that the defendant: (1) maintain employment or an educational program; (2) avoid contact with an alleged victim or potential witness; (3) report to a law enforcement or pretrial service agency; (4) comply with a curfew; (5) refrain from possessing a firearm or using alcohol or narcotic drugs; (6) undergo medical treatment; (7) agree to forfeit designated property, including money, upon failure to appear; and (8) return to custody at specified hours. Prohibits a judicial officer from imposing financial conditions that result in the pretrial detention of a person. Authorizes a judicial officer to order the detention for up to ten days of a person who is presently on pretrial release for a felony under Federal, State, or local law or on probation or parole or release pending sentencing or appeal for any offense, upon a determination that such person may flee or pose a danger to any person or the community. Requires that a detention hearing be held in any case involving: (1) a crime of violence; (2) any offense punishable by life imprisonment or death; (3) a narcotics offense punishable by at least ten years' imprisonment; (4) a serious risk of flight or obstruction of justice; or (5) any felony committed after the person has been convicted of two or more offenses for which a hearing is mandated. Authorizes a judicial officer after such a hearing to order the pretrial detention of a person upon finding that no condition will reasonably assure such person's appearance and the safety of any other person and the community. Creates certain rebuttable presumptions with regard to absence of such conditions. Enumerates additional factors to be considered by the judicial officer in making a release determination, including the defendant's past conduct, history of drug or alcohol abuse, criminal history, and the nature and seriousness of the danger to the community or any person. Requires the detention of a person who has appealed his conviction unless the judicial officer finds by clear and convincing evidence that: (1) such person is not likely to flee or pose a danger to another person or property; and (2) the appeal raises a substantial question of law or fact. Requires the detention of a person awaiting sentencing unless the officer finds by clear and convincing evidence that the person is not likely to flee or pose a danger to any other person or the community. Authorizes a U.S. attorney to appeal a release order. Makes a person guilty of an offense for failing to appear after having been released. Provides increased penalties for persons charged with more serious offenses. Makes it an affirmative defense to such crime that uncontrollable circumstances prevented the person from appearing. Establishes mandatory additional penalties for commission of an offense while on pretrial release. Subjects a person who has been conditionally released and violates a condition of release to revocation of release and prosecution for contempt of court. Authorizes a surety to arrest a person charged with an offense who is released upon execution of an appearance bond with such surety. Requires such person to be delivered promptly to a judicial officer for a revocation determination. Grants new authority to law enforcement officers to arrest a person who violates pretrial release conditions. Title II: Witness-Victim Protection - Witness Victim Protection Act of 1982 - Amends rule 32 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure to require that presentence reports contain information assessing the impact upon and cost to any person who was the victim of the offense. Amends the Federal criminal code to establish as offenses "tampering with a witness, victim, or an informant" and "retaliating against a witness or an informant." Amends the Bail Reform Act of 1966 to require as a condition of pretrial release that the defendant not commit these offenses. Grants general authority to the Attorney General to relocate or protect Government witnesses. Authorizes the Attorney General to initiate civil proceedings to restrain tampering with a witness or victim. Grants exclusive jurisdiction to the Federal courts over civil claims against the United States for damages caused by dangerous offenders who are released or escape from the lawful custody of a U.S. employee as a result of such employee's gross negligence. Directs the Attorney General to develop Federal guidelines for the fair treatment of crime victims to ensure all victims of crime are justly compensated. Title III: Controlled Substances Penalties - Controlled Substances Penalties Amendments Act of 1982 - Increases the fine levels for drug trafficking. Increases the penalties for trafficking in large amounts of controlled substances. Title IV: Protection of Federal Officials - Amends the Federal criminal code to make it a Federal crime to kill, assault, or kidnap a cabinet officer or second ranking official in each executive department, Director or Deputy Director of Central Intelligence, U.S. Supreme Court justice or nominee, or senior presidential or vice presidential adviser. Includes as a Federal crime any attempt or conspiracy to commit such offenses. Title V: Sentencing Reform - Sentencing Reform Act of 1982 - Sets forth a new sentencing structure applicable to a defendant who is found guilty of an offense under any Federal statute. Permits an individual to be sentenced to a term of imprisonment or probation and a fine, and to receive additional sanctions, including: (1) forfeiture for certain racketeering crimes and drug-related offenses; (2) an order of notice to victims of crimes in cases involving fraud or deceptive practices; or (3) an order of restitution in cases involving bodily injury or property damage. Permits an organization to receive these penalties, with the exception of imprisonment. Creates the United States Sentencing Commission. Specifies factors to be considered by a sentencing court, including the guidelines and policy statements issued by the United States Sentencing Commission. Requires the court to impose a sentence within the range set forth by the Commission unless aggravating or mitigating circumstances exist that were not adequately considered by the Commission in formulating the guidelines. Requires the court to state in open court at the time of sentencing the reason for imposing a sentence at a point within the prescribed range, or the specific reason for imposing a sentence outside of such range. Authorizes the imposition of a term of probation, unless specifically prohibited, for all but the most serious class of felonies. Requires as a mandatory condition of probation that a defendant not commit another crime. Enumerates 20 discretionary conditions. Sets forth a fine schedule for the categories of offenses generally at higher levels than current law. Includes higher maximums for organizational defendants. Directs the court to consider the defendant's financial status in determining the amount of a fine and the method of payment. Sets maximum terms of imprisonment for five classes of felonies (A to F), three classes of misdemeanors (A to C), and an infraction (five day maximum). Allows the court, in imposing a sentence of imprisonment for a felony or misdemeanor, to include a term of supervised release after imprisonment. Eliminates the special sentencing provisions under current law for dangerous special offenders, youth offenders, young adult offenders, and drug addicts, but provides for these categories of offenders under the proposed sentencing guidelines. Excludes capital punishment as an authorized penalty, but leaves unaffected the current death penalty and procedures for aircraft hijacking. Eliminates the parole system. Permits a defendant to petition for a sentence reduction upon a showing of extraordinary and compelling reasons. Limits this motion for defendants who are sentenced to six or more years of imprisonment. Allows the defendant or the government to file a notice of appeal in the district court for review of a final sentence. Title VI: Criminal Forfeiture - Comprehensive Criminal Forfeiture Act of 1982 - Amends the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) to specify that property subject to forfeiture for racketeering activity includes: (1) all proceeds obtained directly or indirectly from racketeering activity; (2) real and tangible and intangible personal property; and (3) positions, offices, appointments, and benefits obtained through illegal activity. Makes property forfeitable to the United States upon the commission of the act giving rise to forfeiture. Permits the forfeiture of property which has been transferred to a third party, but includes a provision protecting innocent bona fide purchasers. Authorizes a court to order the forfeiture of substitute assets of the defendant where the original property cannot be located or traced. Authorizes a court to take appropriate action preserving the availability of property during the pre-indictment period effective for up to 90 days. Specifies the circumstances under which a temporary restraining order may be issued without notice to the affected party. Authorizes the Attorney General to grant petitions for remission or mitigation of forfeiture. Directs the Attorney General to establish regulations governing the restitution and disposition of forfeited property. Amends the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 to establish general criminal forfeiture provisions for felony violations under titles II and III. Includes provisions similar to the RICO amendments of this Act, relating to property subject to forfeiture, third party transfers, asset substitution, pre-indictment orders, and remission. Authorizes a court to issue a warrant authorizing the seizure of property subject to forfeiture in the same manner provided for a search warrant, if other injunctive relief would not assure the availability of the property. Provides that a criminal forfeiture proceeding shall stay any civil forfeiture proceeding with respect to the same property. Authorizes the Drug Enforcement Administration to set aside 25 percent of the amounts realized from forfeitures under the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 for payment for information or assistance leading to forfeiture. Terminates this program on September 30, 1984. Title VII: Offenders With Mental Disease or Defect - Authorizes a special verdict of "not guility only by reason of insanity" for any criminal defendant who raises the issue of insanity by notice as currently provided. Establishes a new civil commitment procedure for persons found not guilty only by reason of insanity. Title VIII: Surplus Federal Property Amendments - Amends the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 to authorize the Administrator of the General Services Administration to transfer to any State or local government surplus property determined by the Attorney General to be required for correctional facility use. Requires the Administrator to report annually to Congress on the acquisition cost of all donated personal property and real property disposed of during the preceding fiscal year. Title IX: - Miscellaneous Criminal Justice Improvements - Makes it a Federal offense to use interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire. Increases penalties for violent crimes committed in aid of racketeering activities. Expands explosives offenses to cover arson. Permits administrative forfeiture procedures for property valued at less than $100,000. Extends kidnapping jurisdiction to protect certain Federal officials if the crime is committed while the victim is engaged in his official duties. Extends Federal jurisdiction over the robbery of a pharmacy. Increases the penalties for distributing controlled substances in or on or within 1,000 feet of, an elementary or secondary school. Revises the provisions relating to offenses against families of Federal officials, currency and foreign transactions, truck theft, felony-murder, the Federal juvenile justice system, and emergency electronic surveillance. Urges the President to promote a declaration by the United Nations of an International Year Against Drug Abuse.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1982
Amends the Tariff Schedules of the United States to require that imported potatoes certified as seed potatoes must be imported for use as seed (not for human consumption).
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 1982
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend from 1982 to 1985 the energy tax credit for certain cogeneration equipment. Extends such credit to equipment using oil and gas for more than 20 percent of the energy consumed by the system.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 1982
Reaffirms Senate Resolution 179 and House Resolution 177 which called upon the President to take steps to strengthen the international barriers to proliferation of nuclear weapons. Urges the President to seek agreement at the Versailles economic summit conference, and through other appropriate channels, that all nuclear supplier nations will export nuclear fuel, equipment, and technology only to those non-nuclear-weapon states that have accepted full-scope safequards of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 1982
Amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 to extend by five months (until September 30, 1982) the period within which an individual must have become a full-time student at a postsecondary educational institution in order to receive, after July 1982, child's insurance benefits on the basis of student status under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act. Extends by one year (through August 1986) the period during which such benefits may be paid to an individual so qualified. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to notify all individuals entitled to such benefits at the time this Act is enacted of the changes made by this Act. Amends title II of the Social Security Act to require the Secretary of the Treasury to implement identification procedures for benefit checks issued under title II which have not been presented for payment within 12 months after their issuance. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to credit the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund with the amount of all such uncashed benefit checks. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to pay benefit checks presented for payment after they have been credited to a trust fund, recharge the trust fund, and notify the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Provides for the transfer of funds from the general fund of the Treasury to reimburse the trust funds for the total amount of all unnegotiated benefit checks.
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 1982
Expresses the sense of Congress that the Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy should take immediate action to carry out the provisions of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act with respect to the simplification of all Government procurement procedures and forms.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 1982
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the requirement that the operating capacity of intercity buses must increase for such property to qualify for the investment tax credit. Treats a lessee of such property, in the case of an election with respect to applying the energy percentage, as having acquired the property for purposes of applying the energy percentage only.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 1982
Extends the congratulations of the Senate to the people and leaders of Greater Miami and Dade County, Florida, for their efforts in the production of the New World Festival of the Arts. Acclaims the Festival as a major cultural and artistic event.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1982
Declares that the United States cannot be neutral in implementing a specified United Nation's Resolution calling for the withdrawal of Argentine troops from the Falkland Islands. States that the United States should prepare to further all efforts pursuant to that Resolution to achieve full withdrawal of Argentine forces from the Falklands.
United States · United States Congress · 28 April 1982
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend until December 31, 1987, the authority for the targeted jobs income tax credit. Extends the credit to all cooperative education students regardless of their economic status. Disallows the credit for employees who have worked for the same employer within the last 180 days. Limits the credit claimed on any individual to $4,500.
![Official portrait of Sen. Mitchell, George J. [D-ME]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/m000811_200.jpg)