United States · United States Congress · 10 December 1985
Task Force on Elder Abuse Act of 1985 - Establishes a Task Force on Elder Abuse (Task Force) to assess the nature and extent of public and private efforts needed to report, monitor, and redress elder abuse. Sets forth provisions regarding the membership, pay, and meetings of the Task Force. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to designate a Task Force Chairman responsible for appointing an Executive Director and staff members for the Task Force. Enumerates the powers of the Task Force. Directs the Task Force to transmit an interim report and, within nine months of the Task Force's first meeting, a final report to the President and the Congress. Requires executive departments and agencies affected by the final report to submit recommendations to the President regarding the implementation of that report. Terminates the Task Force 30 days after its final report. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1987.
United States · United States Congress · 6 December 1985
Establishes a Senate Special Panel on Asylum to conduct a study of the general problems of persons from Communist countries seeking asylum in the United States. Requires a final report to the Senate within one year. Sets forth a specified limit on the expenses that such Panel may incur.
United States · United States Congress · 2 December 1985
Public Lands Cleanup Act of 1985 - Designates the first Saturday after Labor Day as Public Lands Cleanup Day. Requires each Federal land management agency to organize and participate in intergovernmental and private efforts to clean and maintain Federal public lands under their jurisdiction in observance of such day.
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1985
Veterans' Compensation and Benefits Improvement Act of 1985 - Title I: Disability Compensation and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation - Amends Federal law to increase the rates of: (1) veterans' disability compensation; (2) additional compensation for dependents; (3) the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans; (4) dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and for children; and (5) supplemental dependency and indemnity compensation for children. Expresses the sense of the Congress that any payments by the Veterans Administration (VA) to veterans as compensation for service-connected disabilities should remain exempt from Federal income taxation. Title II: Educational Assistance Program Improvements - Amends Federal law to limit on a ratio basis the amount of the monthly educational assistance payable to an individual pursuing a program of apprenticeship or other on-job training who fails to complete 120 hours of such training in any one month. Reduces by 50 percent any such assistance after the twelfth month of the individual's pursuit of such program. Adjusts the delimiting period for individuals entitled to certain combined educational assistance benefits by adding the requirement that such individuals must have been on active duty without a break in service since October 19, 1984. Reduces the ten-year delimiting period of eligibility for such assistance by any amount of time not served on active duty during the period between January 1, 1977, and October 18, 1984. Provides entitlement to educational assistance through correspondence courses. Makes clerical amendments to various veterans' benefits provisions. Limits on a ratio basis the amount of the monthly educational assistance allowance payable to post-Vietnam era veterans pursuing a program of apprenticeship or other on-job training who fail to complete 120 hours of such training in any one month. Reduces by 50 percent the amount of any such assistance available after the twelfth month of the individual's pursuit of such program. Revises administrative provisions of the basic educational assistance program. Terminates a veteran's eligibility for educational assistance benefits ten years after the date of such veteran's last discharge or release from active duty. Authorizes the granting of an extension of such delimiting period for veterans who were prevented from initiating or completing a program of education within the delimiting period because of a physical or mental disability which was not the result of the veterans' own willful misconduct. Requires a veteran to undergo educational and vocational counseling before selecting a program of education in any case in which the Administrator of Veterans Affairs has rated the veteran as being incompetent. Authorizes an appropriate continuance in a veteran's eligibility for educational assistance for those veterans who were delayed in initiating or completing a program of education because of a delay in determining such person's eligibility for educational assistance. Authorizes the Administrator to arrange for educational or vocational counseling for persons eligible for benefits. Revises Federal provisions relating to the payment of veterans' educational assistance to authorize payments to veterans enrolled in programs not leading to a standard college degree in certain instances. Prohibits a veteran from receiving educational assistance benefits under more than one educational assistance program. Authorizes the Administrator, in the case of a program of independent study pursued on a less-than-half-time basis at an educational institution, to approve a delay by the institution in certain reporting requirements until the end of the term, semester, or quarter. Allows an educational institution to certify the enrollment of a veteran for more than one term, semester, or quarter at a time but not for a period extending beyond the end of a school year. States that such provision does not apply to a veteran or other eligible person enrolled on a less than half-time basis. Establishes a Commission on Veterans' Education Policy (the Commission). Requires the Commission, no later than 18 months after the date on which at least eight members of the Commission have been appointed, to submit a report on the Commission's findings and recommendations to the Administrator and to specified congressional committees. Outlines the information to be included in such report. Requires the Administrator, no later than six months after receipt of the Commission's report, to submit an interim report to such committees with views concerning the Commission's report. Requires the Commission, no later than 90 days after its receipt of the Administrator's interim report, to report back to the Administrator and such committees on their view of the Administrator's report. Requires the Administrator, no later than two years after the date of the Commission's original report, to submit a final report to such committees. Outlines the information to be included in such report. Terminates the Commission 90 days after the Administrator submits the final report. Title III: Specially Adapted Housing and Home Loan Guaranty Program Improvements - Revises Federal veterans' home loans provisions to provide assistance to veterans with service-connected disabilities in acquiring a residence already adapted with special features considered necessary for such veteran. Requires the Administrator to prescribe regulations and standards for determining the credit standing and other factors associated with veterans receiving home loan guarantees. Outlines provisions to be included in the determination of such loan underwriting standards. Requires any lender submitting a loan to the Administrator which is to be guaranteed to certify that it has complied with certain credit information and loan processing standards. Provides civil penalties for false certifications made by lenders. Authorizes the Administrator to waive such prescribed credit underwriting standards in extraordinary circumstances. Prohibits the Administrator from making a loan to finance a purchase of property acquired by the Administrator as a result of a default on a loan guaranteed under these provisions unless the purchaser meets the established credit underwriting standards. Increases the amount of home loan guaranty entitlement for each veteran from $27,500 to $33,500. Requires the holder of a loan guarantee to promptly notify the Administrator of any failure of the debtor to make two consecutive monthly payments due on the loan. Requires the holder to initiate foreclosure within 15 days after the date on which the veteran has failed to make four consecutive monthly payments on a guaranteed loan. Provides for loss of interest payments by the Administrator to any holders of loans who fail to follow the required notification and foreclosure procedures. Requires the Administrator to compile information on common factors contributing to foreclosures on guaranteed loans and submit such findings in the annual report to the Congress. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to transfer from the direct loan revolving fund to the loan guaranty revolving fund such amounts as the Administrator determines are not needed in the direct loan revolving fund. Requires the Administrator to submit a notice of any such transfer to the appropriate committees of the Congress within 30 days of such transfer. Requires the Administrator to: (1) prescribe standardize examinations on appraising and uniform qualifications for appraisers; (2) use such examinations and qualifications in determining whether to approve an appraiser; and (3) develop and maintain a list of approved appraisers for the veterans' home loan guaranty program. Directs the Administrator to select appraisers from such list on a rotating basis, and to furnish a copy of the appraisal to the lender proposing to make the loan which is to be guaranteed under the home loan guaranty program. Requires the Administrator to take into consideration both the initial appraisal and any additional appraisal furnished to the Administrator by the proposed lender in making a determination of reasonable property value. Requires the Administrator to establish appropriate appraisal fee limitations. Requires the Administrator to provide real estate brokers and other real estate sales professionals information on the availability of real property for disposition by the VA under these provisions and the procedures used by the VA to dispose of such property. Directs the Administrator, within 90 days after the enactment of this Act, to establish the Task Force on Management and Disposition of Property (the Task Force) whose purpose will be to: (1) exchange information between the VA and the real estate industry on efficient and current real property management and disposition practices; and (2) advise the Administrator on ways to improve the manner in which the VA manages and disposes of real property acquired via foreclosures. Requires the Administrator to regularly consult with and seek the advice of the Task Force on pertinent matters. Directs the Task Force, not later than 16 months after the date on which it is established, to report to the Administrator on its activities during the preceding year. Directs the Task Force to also submit to the Administrator a final report no later than the day before the Task Force terminates. Authorizes the Task Force to submit other reports as appropriate. Directs the Administrator, no later than 60 days after receipt of the Task Force's first report, to submit such report, together with comments and recommendations, to specified congressional committees. Terminates the Task Force three years after the date on which it is established. Directs the Administrator, during the period beginning on April 1, 1986, and ending on September 30, 1987, to conduct a pilot program under which the Administrator shall contract with one or more qualified commercial organizations for the performance of VA property management and disposal functions. Outlines action to be taken by the Administrator as part of such pilot program. Directs the Administrator, no later than February 1, 1988, to submit to specified congressional committees a report on the experience under the pilot program. Outlines information to be included in such report. Title IV: National Cemetery System - Amends the national cemeteries and memorials provisions of Federal law to require the Administrator to designate a section in each national cemetery for the burial of eligible persons in graves marked with an upright marker. Requires persons (or their survivors) requesting upright markers to be buried in such a section. Provides that all other markers in a national cemetery shall be flat markers. Directs the Administrator, no later than 18 months after the enactment of this Act, and also no later than five years after such date, to report to specified congressional committees on the National Cemetery System. Outlines information to be included in each such report. Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to set aside suitable areas in Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, to honor members of the armed forces and veterans: (1) who are missing in action; (2) whose remains have not been recovered or identified; (3) whose remains were buried at sea; (4) whose remains were donated to science; or (5) whose remains were cremated and whose ashes were scattered without internment of any portion thereof. Title V: Miscellaneous Provisions - Amends veterans' administrative provisions to define the term "detailed plan and justification" which is a plan required of the Administrator before certain administrative reorganizations of VA facilities may occur. Redefines "Vietnam era" for purposes of eligibility for veterans' benefits of individuals who served during such era. Prohibits any payments made to a veteran for participation in a therapeutic or rehabilitative activity from being considered annual income for purposes of pension entitlements for such veterans. Directs the Administrator, no later than February 1, 1986, to establish an advisory committee to conduct an evaluation to determine the extent to which the programs and other activities of the VA meet the needs of veterans who are Native Americans, including Alaska Natives. Outlines information to be included in such evaluation. Directs the advisory committee, no later than August 1, 1987, to report its findings and recommendations to the Administrator. Requires various other reports concerning such Native Americans. Directs the Administrator, no later than June 1, 1986, to report to specified congressional committees a plan for collocating at least seven regional offices of the VA with VA medical centers on the grounds of such medical centers. Outlines information to be included in such plan. Requires the Administrator to arrange for an epidemiological study of any long-term adverse gender-specific health effects on women veterans of Vietnam as a result of: (1) traumatic experiences; (2) exposure to herbicides such as Agent Orange or to other chemicals or medications; or (3) any other similar experience or exposure during such service. Requires the Administrator to notify the appropriate congressional committees if it is determined that such a study is not feasible. Requires the Director of the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA), if the Administrator makes such a negative determination, to report within 60 days of such determination to the same congressional committees evaluating and commenting on such determination. Requires any such study to be conducted in accordance with a protocol approved by the Director of OTA. Requires various reports concerning such studies between the Director, the Administrator, and the appropriate congressional committees. Requires the Administrator, within 90 days after the submission of each such report, to publish in the Federal Register any actions proposed by the Administrator with respect to programs administered by the VA.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 1985
Trade Enhancement Act - Title I: National Trade Policy - Declares that it is U.S. policy to: (1) eliminate or offset foreign unfair trade practices and other trade-distorting measures through enforcement of U.S. laws and rights under the international trading system; (2) strengthen international trading rules and U.S. laws relating to such rules through trade agreements that promote open and fair world trade; (3) aid potentially competitive U.S. industries faced with injury from imports; (4) examine the underlying reasons for exchange rate misalignment and currency market instability and investigate alternative methods of structuring currency values; (5) increase the participation of developing countries in the world trading system; (6) revise U.S. laws related to unfair trade practices to eliminate trade-distorting practices of nonmarket economy countries; (7) protect intellectual property rights of U.S. persons to ensure the competitiveness, technological innovation, and growth of U.S. industry and agriculture; (8) facilitate U.S. exports; and (9) respond immediately to import problems in which national security may be involved. Title II: Trade Barriers and Distortions of Trade - Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to direct the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to prepare for the annual report on national trade estimates an estimate of the increase in U.S. exports that would result from the elimination of each act, policy, or practice identified as a significant barrier to, or distortion of, U.S. exports and foreign investment by U.S. persons. Directs the USTR, in preparing the national trade estimate, to consider the international competitiveness of the appropriate goods or services. Directs the USTR to begin investigations on an annual basis with respect to those acts, policies, and practices identified in each report on national trade estimates which: (1) are likely to be acts, policies, or practices that constitute unfair foreign trade practices; and (2) constitute a barrier to, or distortion of, a significant portion of all the U.S. goods and services that the USTR estimates would have been exported if such acts, policies, and practices did not exist. Sets forth factors to be considered in determining whether acts, policies, or practices should be investigated. Transfers from the President to the USTR the authority to: (1) determine whether U.S. action is appropriate to enforce U.S. rights under a trade agreement or to respond to certain foreign trade practices; (2) determine the appropriate additional import relief in such cases; and (3) determine any additional restrictions on service sector access authorizations. Transfers from the President to the USTR the authority to take action on the USTR's own motion. Includes among the foreign trade practices that may trigger a U.S. response any act, policy, or practice that threatens to burden or restrict U.S. commerce. Sets forth a list of foreign acts, policies, and practices which burden U.S. commerce. Authorizes the USTR, in response to certain foreign trade practices, to: (1) enter into binding agreements that fully offset the burden on U.S. commerce of such practices; or (2) withdraw, or refrain from proclaiming, eligibility of a foreign country for preferential treatment under the Generalized System of Preferences. Includes within the meaning of unreasonable foreign trade acts, policies, or practices any combination of unfair foreign trade acts, policies, or practices and any such acts, practices, or procedures that deny: (1) market opportunities (including protection of an industry in its formative stages); (2) opportunities for the establishment of an enterprise; (3) protection of intellectual property rights; or (4) protection against anti-competitive practices. Includes within the definition of "service sector access authorization" any authorization that gives access to the U.S. market to a foreign supplier of goods related to a service. Directs the USTR to determine, within 90 days of the start of such an investigation, whether: (1) the United States is being denied its rights under any trade agreement; or (2) there is any unfair trade act, policy, or practice. Sets forth the actions to be taken by the USTR based on such determination. Requires an import relief action to terminate after seven years if it has existed continuously for seven years and no request to extend the action is made during the last 60 days of such seven year period. Requires the USTR to review the effectiveness of such an import action if a request to extend the import relief is made. Authorizes the President, if such import relief involves raising tariffs or imposing import restrictions, to negotiate a trade agreement providing compensation, or to proclaim tariff changes to provide compensation for certain countries in order to meet U.S. international obligations. Title III: Relief from Injury Caused by Import Competition - Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to allow one of the purposes of an import relief petition to be the desire to enhance competitiveness. Includes among the economic factors to be considered in determining whether increased imports constitute a serious injury to a domestic industry the inability of a significant number of firms to operate domestic production facilities at a reasonable profit. Adds to the factors to be considered in import relief investigations relating to whether increased imports are a threat of serious injury to a domestic industry: (1) any combination of coordinated government actions that are bestowed on a specified enterprise the effect of which is to increase the competitiveness of that enterprise and that cause or threaten to cause serious injury to the domestic industry concerned; (2) the existence of an affirmative antidumping or countervailing duty determination; (3) the extent to which firms in the domestic industry concerned are unable to maintain existing levels of research and development expenses; and (4) the extent to which the U.S. market is the focal point for diversion of exports because of a foreign country's market restraints. Requires the International Trade Commission (ITC) in determining what domestic industry is affected by imports to treat as part of the domestic industry only the domestic production of a domestic producer who also imports. Prohibits considering imports of like or directly competitive articles by domestic producers as a factor indicating the absence of serious injury or threat of serious injury to a domestic industry. Requires the ITC, in an import relief investigation, to consider factors other than imports which may cause injury or threaten injury to a domestic industry and to report on such factors to the President. Permits the ITC to recommend both increases in import restrictions and adjustment assistance if the ITC finds that increased imports are causing a serious injury or threat of serious injury to a domestic industry. Requires the ITC to prepare for the President an estimate of the short-term and long-term effects of such increases in import duties or import restrictions on private and industrial consumers. Directs the President to impose provisional import relief if critical circumstances exist (circumstances caused by a significant increase in imports over a short period of time in which a delay in the imposition of relief would cause damage to the domestic industry that would be difficult to remedy under the usual import relief measures). Authorizes filing a petition with the Secretary of Agriculture for emergency import relief in addition to any petition filed with the ITC if the petition relates to imports of perishable products. Requires the Secretary to make a recommendation to the President within 14 days of receiving such petition on whether or not to take emergency action. Requires the Secretary to recommend emergency relief if the Secretary finds that emergency action is warranted and that increased imports of a perishable product are a substantial cause of serious injury or threat of serious injury to the competing domestic industry. Requires the President to decide, within seven days of receiving such recommendation, what, if any, import restrictions to impose on such imports. Provides for the termination of such emergency relief. Requires the ITC to evaluate the effectiveness of import relief actions and to report on such evaluation to the President and the Congress. Requires the USTR to establish a plan development group for an industry after the ITC begins an import relief investigation based upon a petition filed by firms, a union, or a group of workers that represent a significant portion of the domestic industry if the petitioners request the establishment of such a plan development group. Requires each such group (made up of government and private sector representatives) to prepare an assessment of current problems in the industry and a strategy to enhance its competitiveness. Sets forth information to be included in such assessment and strategy. Requires the assessment and strategy to be submitted, along with the opinions of the members of the plan development group on the viability of such strategy, to the petitioner within 120 days of the start of an ITC import relief investigation. Authorizes the petitioner, if the ITC finds that imports have caused serious injury to the domestic industry, to submit the assessment and strategy to the ITC on the day after the ITC makes such finding. Requires the USTR to present to the ITC some of the opinions of Federal agencies on the viability of such strategy. Requires the ITC, upon submission of such assessment and strategy to the petitioner and before the ITC evaluates what effect such a strategy will have on the domestic industry to try to obtain confidential commitments from the individual members of the domestic industry on their future actions. Requires the ITC to transmit such commitments to certain members of the Government to enable them to evaluate the assessment and strategy. Requires the President under certain circumstances to consider such confidential commitments, assessment and strategy, and recommendations of the interagency trade organization. Sets forth the actions the ITC must take if the ITC finds that increased imports are a substantial cause of or constitute a threat of serious injury to a domestic industry and if an adjustment assessment and strategy have been submitted. Directs the President, in determining whether to provide import relief, to take into account the probable effectiveness of import relief as a means of promoting adjustment or modernization in order to improve competitive abilities. Directs the President, if the President has received an assessment and strategy in connection with an injured or threatened industry, to: (1) provide the import relief found necessary by the ITC; (2) provide substantially equivalent import relief; or (3) submit to the Congress a draft of a bill making certain waivers and containing provisions implementing the import relief, if any, that the President has decided to take. Provides for expedited congressional consideration of such a bill. Requires the President to implement the import relief found necessary by the ITC if after 90 days such bill is not enacted. Provides for publication of the assessment and strategy if import relief is provided. Requires a review committee to: (1) monitor actions taken by petitioners to improve the competitive position of the industry; (2) make recommendations for administrative actions to achieve the objectives of the assessment and strategy; and (3) submit to the Congress legislative recommendations. Provides for expedited consideration of legislative recommendations. Requires the review committee to consult with members of the plan development group and with members of the domestic industry if the objectives and actions specified in the assessment and strategy are not being implemented or if the confidential commitments are not being kept. Authorizes the President to terminate or modify the import relief if, after the consultations, the review committee determines that such failure to implement the strategy or commitments is not justified by changed circumstances and has adversely affected overall implementation of the objectives set forth in the assessment and strategy. Directs the President, before deciding whether to grant import relief, to consult with the interagency trade organization established pursuant to the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 and consider the recommendations of such organization. Includes among the import relief actions available to the President the right to: (1) initiate on an accelerated basis an antidumping or countervailing duty investigation; (2) direct the Attorney General to review applications from the injured industry for antitrust law exemptions; or (3) enter into multilateral negotiations to address problems not susceptible to unilateral solution. Permits an import relief investigation into imports of an article that received import relief less than two years before the start of the new investigation if good cause is shown. Sets forth the procedure for an antidumping or countervailing duty investigation which the President orders as a form of import relief. Sets forth the factors to be used to determine whether to grant an antitrust law exemption if the President as a form of import relief orders the Attorney General to consider applications for such exemptions. Requires the Attorney General to report to specified congressional committees if any such exemption is granted. Directs the President to impose import restrictions or increase import duties if multilateral negotiations ordered by the President as a form of import relief fail to provide relief from serious injury or the threat of serious injury within one year. Provides for expedited consideration of legislation implementing such import restrictions or import duty increases. Requires the ITC to review an injury determination and its recommendations relating to the determination if: (1) the ITC has made a unanimous affirmative injury determination; (2) the President declined between January 1, 1984, and October 1, 1985, to prevent or remedy the injury or threat of injury found by the ITC; and (3) a petition for review is filed within one year of enactment of this Act. Requires the ITC, within 60 days of receiving such petition, to: (1) determine whether the injury should be reaffirmed or revoked; and (2) if the injury determination is reaffirmed, report such determination to the President and set forth the increase in import duty or the import restriction necessary to prevent the injury or threat of injury. Requires the ITC to publish such report. Requires the President to decide whether to impose such import relief within 30 days of receiving such report. Title IV: Negotiating Authority for Trade Agreements - Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to urge the President to take all appropriate and feasible steps to reduce or eliminate tariff and nontariff barriers to international trade and other distortions of international trade through: (1) the full exercise of U.S. rights under international agreements; and (2) the negotiation of trade agreements. Authorizes the President to enter into trade agreements during the five years following January 3, 1988, to reduce or eliminate trade barriers and distortions if the President finds that: (1) such barriers or distortions unduly restrict U.S. foreign trade or adversely affect the U.S. economy or are likely to result in such a restriction or effect; (2) the purposes of the Trade Act of 1974 will be promoted by the reduction or elimination of such barriers or distortions. Authorizes entering into a trade agreement only if the President, at least 150 days before such agreement is entered into: (1) notifies specified congressional committees of the negotiations of such agreement; (2) consults with each such committee regarding the negotiation; and (3) submits to each such committee a written statement of the specific negotiating objectives that the President anticipates will be achieved by such agreement and its implementing bill, a description of how such objectives will be achieved, and the specific negotiating objectives the President anticipates will not be achieved and the reasons for such failure. Provides that an implementing bill will not receive expedited congressional consideration if such conditions are not met or if a specified congressional committee disapproved the negotiation within 60 days of receiving notice of it. Requires the USTR to consult with interested congressional committees at least once a year on such negotiations, their progress, and obstacles to the achievement of their objectives. Requires the President to consult with specified congressional committees before entering into any trade agreement. Requires the President, whenever entering into a trade agreement, to submit such agreement, together with a draft implementing bill and statement of proposed implementing administrative action to the Congress. Provides that a trade agreement submitted to the Congress shall enter into force with respect to the United States if and only if: (1) the President, at least 90 days before entering into such trade agreement, notified the Congress of intent to enter into it and published notice of such intent; and (2) after entering into the agreement, the President sends the final legal text of the agreement to the Congress along with certain other information. Sets forth certain recommendations the President may make to the Congress to insure that foreign countries which benefit under a trade agreement are subject to obligations under the agreement. Directs the President, upon starting negotiations on a trade agreement to limit trade barriers, to try to obtain an interim agreement under which any country participating in such negotiations shall: (1) decline to impose new trade barriers or trade-distorting devices; and (2) reduce market intervention to allow market forces to govern growth of industries characterized by overcapacity or overproduction. Requires that the U.S. objectives in negotiating trade agreements under the basic authority to negotiate shall be to obtain: (1) more open, fair, and equitable market access; (2) the reduction or elimination of barriers and other trade-distorting practices; and (3) an appropriate overall balance between benefits and concessions within the agricultural, manufacturing, mining, and services sectors. Requires that the principle objectives in negotiating agreements to reduce trade barriers shall be: (1) to obtain with respect to manufacturing, mining, agriculture, and services and with respect to related investments, equivalent competitive opportunities for U.S. exports; and (2) to bring previously made agreements into conformity with principles promoting an open nondiscriminatory, and fair world economic system. Authorizes the President for the five years following January 3, 1988, to: (1) proclaim an increase in an import duty or an imposition of an additional import duty in lieu of any limit on imports of an article; or (2) use import licenses in administering any of such limitations and sell such licenses at public auctions. Title V: Exchange Rates and Developing Country Debt - Subtitle A: Measures Relating to Exchange Rates - Declares that it is U.S. policy that the United States and the Western industrialized allies should coordinate: (1) monetary and fiscal policies in order to eliminate imbalances in trade and capital flows and to stabilize exchange rates; and (2) the participation by central banks in international currency markets in order to reduce severe currency fluctuations, deter currency speculation, aid in the stabilization of the dollar in international currency markets, and promote orderly exchange rate adjustments. Directs the President, within six months of enactment of this Act, to enter into negotiations with: (1) other G-5 countries (West Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and France) to improve the international monetary system; (2) the other G-5 countries to enhance their role in coordinating fiscal and monetary policy to ensure that their policies converge on money growth, inflation, fiscal policy, interest rates, and other economic factors; and (3) other countries to achieve reciprocal opportunities for investment. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve Board to accumulate foreign currencies in amounts sufficient to make participation in foreign exchange markets effective and credible. Requires the President to report to the Congress every six months on implementation of this subtitle. Subtitle B: Measures Relating to Developing Country Debtors - Requires the negotiating objectives of the United States with developing country debtors to be to: (1) reduce barriers to U.S. exports; (2) reduce barriers to foreign investment; (3) lessen the burden on U.S. exports and international trade caused by destabilizing debt service and trade and investment barriers maintained by developing countries; (4) lessen the destablizing impact of difficulties in international debt service; (5) encourage developing countries to eliminate structural barriers that limit their efficiency and productivity; and (6) permit the resumption of economic growth of developing countries. Amends the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 to authorize the Export-Import Bank to establish for FY 1986 through 1989 the Trade Expansion Loan Guarantee and Insurance program. Requires the program to be available to the Export-Import Bank for the establishment of general facilities consisting of guarantees and insurance in support of U.S. exports to specific developing countries if certain conditions are met. Authorizes the President to enter into negotiations with members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development to eliminate official financing or support for new mining or production facilities for commodities in developing countries and to encourage the reduction of commodities from such facilities if the commodity is in oversupply internationally. Authorizes the President to enter into negotiations with members of each multilateral development bank to prohibit aid by each such bank for any new mining or production facility for a commodity that is in oversupply internationally. Authorizes the President to enter into negotiations with the members of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to terminate the Compensatory Financing Facility and transfer the resources and assets of the Facility to the general resources of the IMF. Authorizes the President to enter into negotiations with members of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development for: (1) an agreement to permit increases in loans and guarantees by the Bank up to 200 percent of the Bank's unimpaired subscribed capital, reserves, and surplus; (2) an agreement that new lending by the Bank would be at interest rates based upon an index reflecting economic conditions in the country getting the loan; and (3) an agreement that new loans made by the Bank should be conditioned on the removal of existing trade and investment barriers and on the promotion of development of the private sector. Requires the President to report annually to the Congress on implementation of this subtitle. Title VI: Withdrawal of Benefits under Generalized System of Preferences - Directs the President to submit to the Congress, within 90 days of enactment of this Act, a draft of a bill to withdraw, within two years of enactment of this Act, trade preferences under title V of the Trade Act of 1974 from a foreign country if, on the basis of such country's per capita income and other indications of economic development and international competitiveness, the continued provision of such preferences can no longer be justified as promoting economic growth and development in the developing world. Provides for special congressional procedures with respect to such bill. Prohibits such bill from applying to any country which has entered into an agreement with the United States establishing a free trade zone between the United States and such country. Title VII: Nonmarket Economy Countries - Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to change the method of dealing with dumping from nonmarket economy countries. Requires the foreign market value of merchandise to be the trade-weighted average price at which the merchandise or similar merchandise produced by eligible market economy producers is sold in the United States if: (1) the merchandise under investigation is exported from a nonmarket economy country; and (2) the administering authority finds that the foreign market value of the merchandise cannot be accurately determined under the usual method because information provided by the country is not verifiable or is insufficient. Requires the foreign market value, if a trade-weighted average price is not available, to be the price at which the merchandise or similar merchandise produced by an eligible market economy producers is sold in the United States. Requires the foreign market value, if there are no eligible market economy producers, to be the constructed value of the merchandise or similar merchandise produced in any country other than a nonmarket economy country. Defines nonmarket economy country generally to be a country which appears on a list prepared annually by the administering authority that designates countries whose economies do not operate on market principles of cost or pricing structures. Defines an eligible market economy producer to be a foreign producer who: (1) produces merchandise that is the subject of dumping investigation or any similar merchandise in a country that is not a nonmarket economy country; (2) exports the merchandise or similar merchandise to the United States; and (3) is not subject to an antidumping or countervailing duty order against the merchandise or similar merchandise. Title VIII: Intellectual Property Rights - Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to declare that the unauthorized importation (or sale) of articles into the United States that infringe a valid U.S. patent, copyright, trademark, U.S. maskwork, or trade secret is unfair and has the effect of destroying or substantially injuring a U.S. industry or impairing the establishment of such industry. Permits any person to petition the ITC for the issuance of an order to exclude such articles, during its investigation, from entry into the United States. Sets forth: (1) civil penalties for violations under this Act; and (2) procedures for the modification or recission of an ITC order under this Act. Repeals a specified section of the Tariff Act of 1930 relating to the importation of products produced under a process covered by claims of unexpired patent. Process Patent Amendment of 1985 - Amends the patent laws to make it an infringement of patent to use, sell, or import into the United States without authority a product produced by a patented process. Directs the Department of Commerce to report to the Congress annually for five years on the effect such restriction has on the importation of ingredients for U.S. manufacturing. Agricultural Patent Reform Act of 1985 - Amends the patent laws to extend the terms of patents which encompass specified products or methods for using a product, including methods of manufacturing which primarily use recombinant DNA technology, any of which are subject to certain nonpatent regulatory review periods. Sets forth the terms and conditions of such extension, including a five-year limitation on the extension and a 25-year maximum patent term for the earliest filing. Directs the Commissioner of Patents to notify the appropriate Federal agency upon receipt from the product sponsor of a notice of extension to determine the applicable regulatory review period and whether, within that period, the sponsor acted with due diligence. Provides for notice and informal hearings for persons interested in such determinations. Permits the setting of fees to cover the costs of review. Directs the Commissioner, upon a final determination of the applicable regulatory review period, to issue to the owner of record of a patent a certificate of extension stating the fact and length of the extension and identifying the product and the use and the claim to which such extension is applicable. Makes such certificate a part of the original patent. Limits the application of such patent term extension to patents for: (1) any new animal drug or antibiotic subject to regulation under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; (2) any veterinary biological product subject to regulation under the Virus-Serum-Toxin Act; (3) any pesticide subject to regulation under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act; and (4) any chemical substance or mixture subject to regulation under the Toxic Substances Control Act. Title IX: Export Related Measures - Subtitle A: Fair Export Financing - Fair Export Financing Act of 1985 - Amends the Trade and Development Enhancement Act of 1983 to declare that one of the purposes of such Act is to establish a temporary tied aid credit program to combat the predatory concessional credit programs of foreign governments. Directs the President to negotiate limits on partially untied aid credit. Changes the U.S. negotiating objectives to include references to partially untied aid credits. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to establish within the Department of the Treasury a program of tied aid credits for U.S. exports. Requires the program to be carried out in cooperation with the Export-Import Bank or with private financial institutions or entities. (Currently the program is established within the Export-Import Bank and carried out in cooperation with the Agency for International Development (AID)). Sets forth financing methods that may be included in such program. Authorizes appropriations. Repeals the provision that established a tied aid credit program in AID. Requires the Secretary to seek the advice of the National Advisory Council on International Monetary and Financial Policies before approving financing under the tied aid credit program. Terminates the tied aid credit program on September 30, 1987. Limits judicial review of actions by the Chairman of the Export-Import Bank and by the Secretary. Changes the definition of "tied aid credit." Defines "partially untied aid credit." Deletes references to government-mixed credits and public-private cofinancing. Subtitle B: Amendments to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 - Practices and Records Act - Changes the name of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (FCPA) to the Business Practices and Records Act. Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to require securities issuers to maintain an internal accounting system that provides reasonable assurance that specified accountability and accuracy goals are met. Prohibits imposing criminal liability for failing to maintain such an accounting system. Prohibits imposing civil injunctive relief with respect to: (1) an issuer who fails to maintain the required accounting system if the issuer tried in good faith to meet the requirements; or (2) any person other than an issuer in connection with an issuer's failure to comply with such requirements, unless such person knowingly caused the issuer to fail to comply. Prohibits anyone from knowingly circumventing such an accounting system for a purpose inconsistent with the accountability and accuracy goals of such system. Requires only good faith efforts at ensuring compliance by issuers who hold 50 percent or less of the equity of domestic or foreign firms. Transfers from the Securities and Exchange Commission to the Department of Justice jurisdiction to enforce the bribery prohibitions of the FCPA with respect to issuers. Revises the prohibition against domestic concerns using any means of interstate commerce to further payments to obtain business with a foreign official. States that such a payment made "directly or indirectly" to a foreign official is illegal. Prohibits such payments that are made to: (1) influence a foreign official's act or induce such an official to violate a legal duty; or (2) induce a foreign official to affect a foreign government's act. Prohibits domestic concerns from using interstate commerce to direct or authorize an agent to further such a payment to a foreign official. Exempts from such prohibitions: (1) payments to foreign officials to expedite or to secure the performance of routine governmental action; (2) payments to such officials that are lawful under the foreign country's laws; (3) payments which constitute tokens of regard or esteem; (4) expenditures associated with selling, purchasing, or demonstrating goods; or (5) ordinary expenditures associated with performing a contract with a foreign government. Revises the fines and criminal penalties for violations of such Act. Empowers the Attorney General to undertake all civil investigations necessary to enforce the Act. Prohibits prosecution of a domestic concern or specified agents of such concern for violating the Federal mail or wire fraud provisions by making a payment to a foreign official if the prosecution is based on the theory that the official, by receiving the payment, violated a duty to or defrauded the foreign government or the citizens of a foreign country. Authorizes the Attorney General to issue guidelines specifying: (1) permissible conduct associated with common types of export sales arrangements; and (2) precautionary procedures which would create a rebuttable presumption of compliance. Provides for the establishment of a Business Practices and Records Act Review Procedure to answer specific inquiries concerning enforcement of such Act. Requires the Attorney General to issue opinions regarding compliance. Makes such opinions final and binding on all parties if the opinion states that the conduct does not involve a violation. Directs the Attorney General to protect the confidentiality of materials submitted in the review procedure. Requires annual reports to the Congress by: (1) the Attorney General concerning actions taken pursuant to such Act; and (2) the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission concerning the reporting requirements. Subtitle C: Miscellaneous Provisions - Directs the Secretaries of State and Commerce to review periodically the number of personnel assigned to U.S. missions abroad to determine whether an adequate number of such personnel are engaged in economic or commercial duties to aid U.S. exporters and businesses doing business outside the United States. Declares that the Secretaries should extend the length of assignment of such personnel in order to ensure greater continuity in promoting U.S. exports. Requires each chief of a U.S. mission to a country that is an important trading partner and which has significant potential for U.S. export sales to report annually to the President and the Congress on: (1) the strategy used by such mission to expand U.S. exports; and (2) the efforts of such mission to assist U.S. industries in expanding export sales and in improving their market position. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) each U.S. Executive Director to a multilateral development bank should take specified actions to promote procurement opportunities for U.S. firms; and (2) a Foreign Commercial Officer should be assigned to each such Director to help promote such opportunities. Requires each Federal agency, before taking any major action that may affect international trade, to prepare and publish a report on the potential impact of such action on U.S. international trade and on the ability of U.S. firms to compete in foreign markets. Directs the Secretary of Commerce, through the International Trade Administration, to develop and maintain an effective system to collect and disseminate information on international trade to U.S. exporters. Sets forth information to be included in such system. Title X: National Security - Amends the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to require the President to implement the recommendations contained in a certain report by the Secretary of Commerce with respect to imports that threaten national security if the President has made no determination and taken no action on such report within 90 days of receiving it. Requires the President and the Secretary to consider, in determining whether imports threaten national security, the impact on national security of: (1) not only short-term supply disruptions of articles needed for national security but also long-term U.S. dependence on imports of such articles; and (2) the loss of a viable domestic industry producing articles needed for national security. Requires the President to issue a proclamation on the date of enactment of this Act that implements the recommendation of the Secretary in such report if the President did not by November 20, 1985, make a specified determination with respect to such report that was received before the date that is 90 days before the enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 1985
Directs the Secretaries of State and Commerce to review periodically the number of personnel assigned to U.S. missions abroad to determine whether an adequate number of such personnel are engaged in economic or commercial duties to aid U.S. exporters and businesses doing business outside the United States. Delcares that the Secretaries should extend the length of assignment of such personnel in order to ensure greater continuity in promoting U.S. exports. Requires each chief of a U.S. mission to a country that is an important trading partner and which has significant potential for U.S. export sales to report annually to the President and the Congress on: (1) the strategy used by such mission to expand U.S. exports; and (2) the efforts of such mission to assist U.S. industries in expanding export sales and in improving their market position. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) each U.S. Executive Director to a multilateral development bank should take specified actions to promote procurement opportunities for U.S. firms; and (2) a Foreign Commercial Officer should be assigned to each such Director to help promote such opportunities. Requires each Federal agency, before taking any major action that may affect international trade, to prepare and publish a report on the potential impact of such action on U.S. international trade and on the ability of U.S. firms to compete in foreign markets. Directs the Secretary of Commerce, through the International Trade Administration, to develop and maintain an effective system to collect and disseminate information on international trade to U.S. exporters. Sets forth information to be included in such system.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 1985
Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to urge the President to take all appropriate and feasible steps to reduce or eliminate tariff and nontariff barriers to international trade and other distortions of international trade through: (1) the full exercise of U.S. rights under international agreements; and (2) the negotiation of trade agreements. Authorizes the President to enter into trade agreements during the five years following January 3, 1988, to reduce or eliminate trade barriers and distortions if the President finds that: (1) such barriers or distortions unduly restrict U.S. foreign trade or adversely affect the U.S. economy or are likely to result in such a restriction or effect; (2) the purposes of the Trade Act of 1974 will be promoted by the reduction or elimination of such barriers or distortions. Authorizes entering into a trade agreement only if the President, at least 150 days before such agreement is entered into: (1) notifies specified congressional committees of the negotiations of such agreement; (2) consults with each such committee regarding the negotiation; and (3) submits to each such committee a written statement of the specific negotiating objectives that the President anticipates will be achieved by such agreement and its implementing bill, a description of how such objectives will be achieved, and the specific negotiating objectives the President anticipates will not be achieved and the reasons for such failure. Provides that an implementing bill will not receive expedited congressional consideration if such conditions are not met or if a specified congressional committee disapproved the negotiation within 60 days of receiving notice of it. Requires the U.S. Trade Representative to consult with interested congressional committees at least once a year on such negotiations, their progress, and obstacles to the achievement of their objectives. Requires the President to consult with specified congressional committees before entering into any trade agreement. Requires the President, whenever entering into a trade agreement, to submit such agreement, together with a draft implementing bill and statement of proposed implementing administrative action to the Congress. Provides that a trade agreement submitted to the Congress shall enter into force with respect to the United States only if: (1) the President, at least 90 days before entering into such trade agreement, notified the Congress of the intent to enter into it and published notice of such intent; and (2) after entering into the agreement, the President sends the final legal text of the agreement to the Congress along with certain other information. Sets forth certain recommendations the President may make to the Congress to insure that foreign countries which benefit under a trade agreement are subject to obligations under the agreement. Directs the President, upon starting negotiations on a trade agreement to limit trade barriers, to try to obtain an interim agreement under which any country participating in such negotiations shall: (1) decline to impose new trade barriers or trade-distorting devices; and (2) reduce market intervention and allow market forces to govern growth of industries characterized by overcapacity or overproduction. Requires that the U.S. objectives in negotiating trade agreements under the basic authority to negotiate shall be to obtain: (1) more open, fair, and equitable market access; (2) the reduction or elimination of barriers and other trade-distorting practices; and (3) an appropriate overall balance between benefits and concessions within the agricultural, manufacturing, mining, and services sectors. Requires that the principal objectives in negotiating agreements to reduce trade barriers shall be to: (1) obtain, with respect to manufacturing, mining, agriculture, and services and with respect to related investments, equivalent competitive opportunities for U.S. exports; and (2) bring previously made trade agreements into conformity with principles promoting an open, nondiscriminatory, and fair world economic system. Authorizes the President for the five years following January 3, 1988, to: (1) proclaim an increase in an import duty or an imposition of an additional import duty in lieu of any limit on imports of an article; or (2) use import licenses in administering any of such limitations and sell such licenses at public auctions.
United States · United States Congress · 1 November 1985
Manufacture and Public Distribution of Certain Copyrighted Material Act-Amends the copyright law to extend the manufacturing clause, which prohibits the importation of certain English language books not manufactured in the United States and Canada, to cover printed material. Eliminates the Canadian exemption, per se. Permits exemptions from such restriction if a foreign country, including Canada, provides adequate copyright protection for foreign nationals and such country freely trades in printed matter with the United States. Eliminates the exemption for U.S. authors who transfer rights of reproduction to a foreign agent. Exempts the importation of specified works pursuant to specified agreements or treaties.
United States · United States Congress · 1 November 1985
Student Chemical Substance Abuse Prevention Act of 1985 - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to make grants to State and local educational agencies for demonstration projects designed to develop and expand drug and alcohol abuse prevention programs in public elementary and secondary schools. Sets forth demonstration program elements, application approval criteria, and reporting and evaluation requirements for such grants program. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1987 through 1990.
United States · United States Congress · 25 October 1985
Expresses the sense of the Congress that no part of any tax reform legislation based on the President's tax reform proposal submitted to the Congress on May 29, 1985, shall: (1) take effect before its date of enactment, but in no case earlier than July 1, 1986; or (2) apply to transactions occurring pursuant to a binding contract in effect prior to its date of enactment.
United States · United States Congress · 24 October 1985
Veterans' Compensation and Benefits Improvements Act of 1985 - Title I: Disability Compensation and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation Rate Increases - Amends Federal law to increase the rates of veterans' disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, and the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans. Increases the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and for children, as well as the rates of supplemental dependency and indemnity compensation for children. Makes such increases dependent upon the occurrence of similar increases under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act. Directs the Administrator of Veterans Affairs to compute alternative rate increases if such title II increases do not occur, and pay such increased benefits as of December 1, 1985. Requires any such computed increases to be published in the Federal Register. Title II: Educational Assistance Program Improvements - Terminates a veteran's eligibility for educational assistance benefits as of ten years after the date of such veterans's last discharge or release from active duty. Authorizes the granting of an extension of such delimiting period for veterans who were prevented from initiating or completing a program of education within the delimiting because of a physical or mental disability which was not the result of the veterans' own willful misconduct. Requires a veteran to undergo educational and vocational counseling before selecting a program of education in any case in which the Administrator has rated the veteran as being incompetent. Authorizes an appropriate continuance in a veteran's eligibility for educational assistance for those veterans who were delayed in initiating or completing a program of education because of a delay in determining such person's eligibility for educational assistance. Authorizes the Administrator to arrange for educational or vocational counseling for persons eligible for benefits. Revises Federal provisions relating to the payment of veterans' educational assistance to authorize payments to veterans enrolled in programs not leading to a standard degree in certain instances. Requires the Administrator, in the case of educational assistance allowances for veterans pursuing an education at an institution on a less-than-half-time basis, to receive certification from such institution that such veteran has enrolled in and is pursuing a program at such institution. Prohibits a veteran from receiving educational assistance benefits under more than one educational assistance program. Authorizes the Administrator, in the case of a program of independent study pursued on a less-than-half-time basis at an educational institution, to approve a delay by the institution in certain reporting requirements until the end of the term, semester, or quarter. Repeals Federal law allowing: (1) payments of educational assistance to veterans beyond the ten-year delimiting period; (2) the accelerated payment of educational allowances; and (3) the granting of educational loans to veterans. Authorizes the Administrator, for education loans made prior to the enactment of this Act, to continue collecting the principal and interest due on such loans, and to continue to maintain a certain fund used for the collection of such loan amounts. Title III: Home Loan Guaranty Program Improvements - Revises Federal veterans' home loans provisions to require the Administrator to prescribe regulations and standards for determining the credit standing and other factors associated with veterans receiving home loan guarantees. Outlines provisions to be included in the determination of such loan underwriting standards. Requires any lender submitting a loan to the Administrator which is to be guaranteed to certify that it has complied with certain credit information and loan processing standards. Provides civil penalties for false certifications made by lenders. Authorizes the Administrator to waive such prescribed credit underwriting standards in extraordinary circumstances. Directs the Administrator to also require certain certifications from veterans applying for a home loan guarantee. Increases the amount of home loan guaranty entitlement for each veteran from $27,500 to $32,500. Requires the holder of a loan guarantee to promptly notify the Administrator of any failure of the debtor to make two consecutive monthly payments due on the loan. Requires the holder to initiate foreclosure within 15 days after the date on which the veteran has failed to make four consecutive monthly payments on a guaranteed loan. Provides for loss of interest payments by the Administrator to any holders of loans who fail to follow the required notification and foreclosure procedures. Directs the Administrator to compile and transmit to the Senate and House Veterans' Affairs Committees information on common factors which contribute to foreclosures on such guaranteed loans. Directs the Administrator, during the period beginning April 1, 1986, and ending September 30, 1987, to conduct a pilot program to contract with commercial organizations for the management and disposal of property acquired by the VA due to veterans' home foreclosures. Directs the Administrator, no later than March 3, 1988, to report to the Senate and House Veterans' Affairs Committees on the experiences under the pilot program. Outlines information to be included in such report. Requires the reasonable value of any property, construction, repairs, or alterations in connection with a guaranteed loan to be determined by an appraiser designated by the lender of such loan. Directs the Administrator to furnish to real estate brokers and other real estate professionals information on the availability or real property for disposition due to foreclosure and the procedures used by the VA to dispose of such property. Directs the Administrator to establish the Task Force on Management and Disposition of Property (the Task Force) whose purpose will be to: (1) exchange information between the VA and the real estate industry on efficient and current real property management and disposition practices; and (2) advise the Administrator on ways to improve the manner in which the VA manages and disposes of real property acquired via foreclosures. Requires the Administrator to regularly consult with and seek the advice of the Task Force on pertinent matters. Directs the Task Force, no later than July 1, 1986, and no later than July 1 of each second year thereafter, to report to the Administrator on its activities during the preceding period, together with recommendations. Directs the Administrator, no later than 30 days after the receipt of each such report, to transmit such report to the Senate and House Veterans' Affairs Committees, together with recommendations and other specified information. Title IV: Miscellaneous Provisions - Amends the national cemeteries and memorials provisions of Federal law to require the Administrator to designate a section in each national cemetery for the burial of eligible persons in graves marked with an upright marker. Requires persons (or their survivors) requesting upright markers to be buried in such a section. Provides that all other markers in a national cemetery shall be flat markers. Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to set aside suitable areas in Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, to honor members of the armed forces and veterans: (1) who are missing in action; (2) whose remains have not been recovered or identified; (3) whose remains were buried at sea; (4) whose remains were donated to science; or (5) whose remains were cremated and whose ashes were scattered without internment of any portion thereof. Prohibits further payments of pension, compensation, or retirement pay to institutionalized veterans determined to be incompetent and whose estate value exceeds $8,000 until the estate is reduced to $2,000 (currently, $1,500 and $500, respectively). Directs the Administrator to conduct an evaluation to determine the extent to which the programs and other activities of the VA meet the needs of veterans who are Native Americans, including Alaska Natives. Outlines information to be included in such evaluation. Directs the Administrator, no later than October 1,1987, to report the findings of such evaluation to the Senate and House Veterans' Affairs Committees. Directs the Administrator, no later than September 30, 1987, to collocate at least five regional offices of the VA with VA medical centers. Directs the Administrator, no later than September 30, 1986, to report to the Senate and House veterans' Affairs Committees on the feasibility of collocating more than five such offices. Outlines information to be included in the feasibility report. Requires the Administrator to assess the benefits and costs of combining VA regional offices which are located near each other. Retitles the Emergency Veterans' Job Training Act of 1983 as the Veterans' Job Training Act of 1983. Extends through FY 1986 the authorization of appropriations under such Act. Extends the veterans' educational assistance program under such Act through specified periods after the enactment of this Act. Amends such Act to assure the payment of veterans' educational assistance for FY 1986 even if funds are not authorized to be appropriated for such purpose. Increases veterans' eligibility for such assistance by reducing from 15 out of 20 to ten out of 20 the number of weeks preceding an application for assistance a veteran must have been unemployed in order to qualify. Directs the Secretary of Labor to evaluate the feasibility and advisability of establishing and administering a program under which grants are made from a veterans' job training grant fund to a State or appropriate private industry council to fund on job training programs similar to veterans' job training programs in depressed employment areas or industries. Directs the Secretary, no later than 90 days after enactment of this Act, to report the results of such evaluation to the Senate and House Veterans' Affairs Committees. Outlines specified findings and recommendations to be included by the Secretary in such report.
United States · United States Congress · 24 October 1985
Declares that no letter of offer, prior to March 1, 1986, shall be valid with respect to any proposed sales to Jordan of advanced weapons systems, including advanced aircraft and advanced air defense systems, that are described in the notification pursuant to the Arms Export Control Act, unless direct peace negotiations between Israel and Jordan are underway.
United States · United States Congress · 22 October 1985
Prohibits the President from issuing a letter of offer relating to proposed sales to Jordan of certain advanced weapons systems before the start of direct bilateral negotiations between Jordan and Israel. Prohibits delivery of any weapons if such a letter of offer is issued and accepted before enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 21 October 1985
Anti-Terrorism Trade Preference Act of 1985 - Directs the Secretary of State to identify and publish the name of each country that repeatedly supports acts of international terrorism. Requires the Secretary to provide the Congress with a list of such countries annually. Imposes the following sanctions on countries identified as supporting international terrorism: (1) termination, withdrawal, or suspension of any treaty that relates to most-favored-nation treatment of such country; (2) denial of most-favored-nation treatment and imposition of column 2 tariff rates on imports from such countries; (3) non-application of the Generalized System of Preferences on imports from such countries; and (4) non-application of the provisions of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act with respect to the products of such countries. Authorizes the President to waive such sanctions if it would be in the best interests of the United States. Directs the President to notify the Congress 30 days before any such waiver takes effect.
United States · United States Congress · 21 October 1985
Awards a congressional gold medal posthumously to Leon Klinghoffer to show the Congress' admiration for the bravery he displayed while kidnapped by terrorists. Authorizes the President to present the gold medal to his widow, Marilyn Klinghoffer. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 18 October 1985
Declares that it is congressional policy to prohibit the number of Soviet nationals admitted to the United States to serve as members of the Soviet mission at United Nations (U.N.) headquarters from substantially exceeding the number of U.S. nationals who serve as members of the U.S. mission at U.N. headquarters, unless the President determines that the admission of additional Soviet nationals would be in the interests of the United States. Directs the Secretary of State to report to the Congress every six months on the number of Soviet nationals admitted to the United States because the President determined their admission would be in the national interest and on their duties with the Soviet mission. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Secretary and the Attorney General should report to the Congress within six months on a plan for ensuring that the excess number of Soviet nationals admitted due to a routine replacement of personnel does not exceed the five percent limit.
United States · United States Congress · 10 October 1985
Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Advisory Committee Act - Establishes in the Department of Transportation as a Federal advisory committee the Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Advisory Committee (the Committee) whose function is to advise, consult with, and make recommendations to the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating (the Secretary) on matters relating to: (1) navigation safety; (2) safety equipment and procedures; (3) marine insurance; (4) vessel design, construction, maintenance, and operation; and (5) personnel qualifications and training. Authorizes the Committee to make available to the Congress any information authorized to be given to the Secretary. Requires the Committee to meet at least once during each calendar year. Requires the Committee to consist of 17 members having various knowledge and experience in the commercial fishing industry. Requires public notice for annual appointments to such Committee. Provides a three-year term of service for appointed members, with no limit on terms per member. Requires the Secretary and the Secretary of Commerce to designate a representative to participate as an observer with the Committee. Directs the Secretary, except regarding national security issues, to consult with the Committee before: (1) proposing legislation or regulations; (2) authorizing or conducting research; or (3) taking any other major action of the U.S. Government. Allows for compensation for such Committee members unless he or she is a member of the uniformed services or an employee of the United States. Terminates the Committee on September 30, 1991. Requires the Committee, two years before such termination, to recommend to the Congress whether it should be renewed and continue beyond such termination date. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 8 October 1985
Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to direct the President, in providing assistance to developing countries, to: (1) place a high priority on conservation and sustainable management of tropical forests; and (2) take certain steps (including engaging in dialogues on conserving forest resources and information exchanges with recipient countries, supporting projects and activities which offer alternatives to colonizing forests, supporting related training and research programs, helping to end destructive agricultural practices, and denying any assistance for certain activities harmful to the forests). Directs the President, whenever feasible, to accomplish the objectives of this Act through projects managed by private and voluntary and other nongovernmental organizations. Requires the annual report to the Congress on foreign aid programs to include a report on the implementation of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 8 October 1985
Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize appropriations to help developing countries protect and maintain wildlife habitats and develop sound wildlife management and plant conservation programs. Requires each country development strategy statement or other country plan prepared by the Agency for International Development (AID) to include a detailed plan to assist that country in the conservation of biological diversity. States that, whenever feasible, such protection, maintenance, management, and conservation activities shall be accomplished through projects managed by private and voluntary organizations and other nongovernmental organizations. Directs AID to allocate at least a specified sum for projects managed by such organizations. Directs the Administrator of AID to take certain steps, including: (1) cooperating with appropriate organizations; (2) looking to the World Conservation Strategy as an overall guide; (3) engaging in dialogues and exchanges of information with recipient countries which stress the importance of conserving biological diversity; (4) supporting training and education which improve the capacity of recipient countries to prevent loss of biological diversity; and (5) the denial of any assistance for actions which invade or significantly degrade national parks or similar protected areas. Requires the annual report to the Congress on foreign aid programs to include a report on implementation of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 7 October 1985
Pornography Forfeiture Proceedings Venue Act of 1985 - Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to require the appropriate customs officer, upon the discovery of the attempted importation into the United States or seizure of books or matter containing obscene material, to transmit such information to the appropriate U.S. attorney who shall institute proceedings for the forfeiture, confiscation, and destruction of such books or matter. Requires a court, upon motion of the United States, to stay such forfeiture proceedings pending the completion of any related criminal proceedings.
United States · United States Congress · 5 October 1985
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should raise with the Soviet Union the matter of Poland's suppression of speech and political activity, and that by so doing the President raises and defends the principles of human rights as embodied in the Helsinki Accords.
United States · United States Congress · 4 October 1985
Directs the Secretary of Commerce to adjust census figures as necessary so that illegal aliens shall not be counted for purposes of the apportionment of Representatives in the Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 1985
Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to eliminate the second concurrent resolution on the budget and thus provide for the annual adoption of a single concurrent resolution on the budget (budget resolution). Sets forth maximum Federal budget deficit amounts for each of fiscal years 1986 through 1990 providing for the incremental reduction of the deficit to zero by 1990. Prohibits either House of Congress from considering or adopting a budget resolution or a revision thereof providing for budget outlays exceeding revenues by more than the prescribed maximum deficit amount. Requires the Congress to complete action on any reconciliation bill or resolution to: (1) an original budget resolution by June 15 of each year; or (2) a revised budget resolution within 30 days after the revision is adopted. Provides that no amendment that would increase specific budget outlays or reduce specific revenues set forth in a budget resolution or reconciliation bill as reported shall be in order in the House or the Senate, unless such amendment provides for offsetting adjustments in other outlays and revenues to ensure that total outlays are not increased and total revenues are not reduced. Requires each Senate and House committee to report its subdivisions of allocated budget outlays and new budget authority within ten legislative days after the budget resolution is agreed to. Makes it out of order for the House or the Senate, after the Congress has completed action on the budget resolution for a fiscal year, to consider legislation that, if enacted, would: (1) provide for or require budget outlays or new budget authority in excess of the appropriate committee allocation reported in connection with such resolution, unless the legislation is favorably reported by the Committee on Appropriations of the House involved with a certification that the appropriate committee will take actions necessary to assure that enactment of such legislation will not result in a deficit exceeding the maximum deficit amount applicable; or (2) provide for new budget authority or spending authority or reduce revenues so that the resulting deficit would exceed the maximum deficit amount applicable. Requires the conference report on any legislation providing new budget authority or new or increased tax expenditures to disclose the information required to be disclosed in committee reports on such legislation. Requires the Federal budget transmitted to the Congress by the President each year, and revisions thereof, to set forth levels of outlays and revenues resulting in a deficit not in excess of the applicable maximum deficit amount. Permits the President to transmit alternative budgets satisfying such requirement. Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and the Director of the Congressional Budget Office: (1) to estimate the levels of total revenues and budget levels for each fiscal year; (2) to estimate the rate of real economic growth during that year; (3) to determine whether the deficit for such year will exceed the applicable maximum deficit amount and whether such excess is statistically significant; and (4) if either Director determines that the maximum deficit amount will be exceeded, to submit a report to the President and the Congress specifying the amount of such excess, whether it is statistically significant, the estimated rate of real economic growth for that year, and the percentages by which automatic spending increases and relatively controllable expenditures shall be reduced during such year in order to eliminate such excess. Requires the President, upon receiving such a report, to: (1) issue an order that eliminates one-half of such excess by suspending or uniformly reducing (not below zero) automatic spending increases under Federal law for such year and the other half by sequestering such amounts of budget authority as are necessary to reduce each relatively controllable expenditure by a uniform percentage; and (2) send a message to both Houses of Congress identifying the total amount and percentage by which automatic spending increases are to be reduced, the total amount of budget authority to be sequestered, the amount of budget authority to be sequestered for each relatively controllable expenditure, and the account, department, establishment, project, or function affected by the cut in budget authority. (Authorizes the President to issue such an order if the reported excess is not statistically significant.) Directs the President to issue such order: (1) within 14 days after receiving such report if the estimate for real economic growth for the fiscal year is zero or greater; or (2) within 30 days if the estimate for real economic growth is less than zero. Authorizes the President, during such 30-day period, to submit to the Congress a joint resolution to: (1) reduce the deficit to an amount not exceeding the applicable maximum deficit amount; or (2) suspend the requirements of this Act for such fiscal year. Permits the President's message to the Congress to include alternative ways to reduce the deficit to an amount not exceeding the maximum deficit amount. Permits the Committee on the Budget of the House or the Senate, within ten days after the President has issued such an order, to report a joint resolution superseding such order. Makes it out of order for the House or the Senate to consider or agree to any such resolution which, if enacted, would cause the fiscal year deficit to exceed the maximum deficit amount. Sets forth House and Senate procedures for consideration of such a resolution. Waives specified provisions of this Act in any fiscal year for which a declaration of war has been enacted. Makes this Act applicable through FY 1990.
United States · United States Congress · 24 September 1985
Expresses the sense of the Senate that any tax reform legislation adopted by the Congress should not remove the tax-exempt status for private purpose State and local bond obligations.
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 1985
Declares that the Congress supports the efforts of the democratic forces in Chile to achieve a peaceful return to democratic government. Expresses its view that the National Accord for the Transition to Full Democracy is an important step toward that goal. Calls upon the Government of Chile, the armed forces, and all the leaders of all sectors of Chilean society to demonstrate their commitment to a genuine transition through a process of dialogue, negotiation, and consensus.
United States · United States Congress · 20 September 1985
Fuel Cells Energy Utilization Act of 1985 - Amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to redefine the term "cogeneration facility" to include facilities utilizing fuel cell systems. Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to redefine the term "domestic renewable energy industry" to include industries using fuel cell technology (thus bringing fuel cells systems technology within the ambit of Federal energy legislation). Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to prepare guidelines for cities and municipalities specifying environmental and safety standards for the use of fuel cell technology. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to report to the Congress regarding the export market potential for integrated systems of fuel cells with renewable power technologies.
United States · United States Congress · 20 September 1985
Renewable Energy/Fuel Cell Systems Integration Act of 1985 - Directs the Secretary of Energy to implement a research program regarding: (1) fuel cell use of methane gas generated from biomass forms; (2) technologies using renewable energy sources (such as wind and solar energy) to produce hydrogen for fuel cell use; and (3) fuel cell technology for electric power production as backup spinning reserve components to renewable power systems in rural and isolated areas. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to, and enter into contracts with, private research laboratories. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress regarding the fuel cell research program. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1986.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 1985
Extends through October 31, 1985, the authority of the Veterans Administration (VA) to operate a regional office in the Republic of the Philippines. Extends through October 31, 1985, the authority of the VA to contract for hospital care and outpatient services in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands and to contract for treatment and rehabilitation services for alcohol and drug dependence and abuse disabilities. Amends the Emergency Veterans' Job Training Act of 1983 to extend through July 1, 1986, the period for entering into training under such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 1985
Unfair Foreign Competition Act of 1985 - Amends the Clayton Act to include a specified antidumping provision among U.S. antitrust laws. Amends such antidumping provision of the Unfair Competition Act of 1916 to allow any person who is injured in her or his property or business by the sale or importation of an article made in a foreign country to bring a civil action against the manufacturer, exporter, or related importer of such article if: (1) the article is imported or sold in the United States at less than its foreign market or constructed value; and (2) such sale or importation causes or threatens material injury to U.S. industry or labor or prevents the establishment or modernization of U.S. industry. (Currently, the cause of such an action is predicated on the intent of the importer to injure or prevent the establishment of U.S. industry or to monopolize trade.) Restricts the court jurisdiction of such an action to the district court of the District of Columbia or the Court of International Trade. Entitles a prevailing plaintiff in such an action to appropriate equitable relief or, if such relief is inadequate, to compensatory damages, and legal expenses (currently, treble damages and legal expenses). Declares that the standard of proof in such an action is a preponderance of the evidence. Places the burden of proof for rebutting a prima facie case on the defendant. Includes within the meaning of prima facie case a finding by the International Trade Commission (ITC) that dumping exists. Authorizes the court to: (1) issue subpoenas to be enforced in any judicial district; (2) enjoin importation of articles allegedly dumped pending the defendant's compliance with any court order; (3) review, in camera, confidential or privileged material; (4) accept material under seal; and (5) disclose such material. Requires expedited treatment of such actions. Sets a four-year statute of limitations for actions under this Act. Requires the foreign market value or constructed value of an article to include the amount of any subsidy provided to the manufacturer, producer, or exporter of the article. Expresses the sense of the Congress that this Act is consistent with the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. Allows any person who is injured in his or her business or property by the fraudulent, grossly negligent, or negligent entry or introduction of merchandise into U.S. commerce to bring a civil action in the district court of the District of Columbia or the Court of International Trade, without respect to the amount in controversy. Entitles a person prevailing in such an action to appropriate equitable relief or, if such relief is inadequate, compensatory damages, and legal expenses. Permits the United States to intervene in an action under this Act as a matter of right. Subjects any court order under this Act to nullification by the President pursuant to authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 1985
Expresses the sense of the Senate that: (1) the President should initiate negotiations with Japan to open up the vehicle carrier trade between the United States and Japan to include participation by U.S. shipping firms in long-term, core vehicle transportation contracts; and (2) the President should report to the Congress on the progress of such negotiations within 90 days after the Senate agrees to this resolution.
United States · United States Congress · 17 September 1985
Amends the Federal criminal code to provide that any person convicted of espionage shall forfeit to the United States any money or other property involved in or obtained as a result of such espionage activities. Provides that where such money or property is unavailable for forfeiture, the person convicted of such crime must forfeit property up to the value of the property gained from the espionage activity. Permits the courts to order the forfeiture of proceeds received or to be received from a contract relating to the depiction of such offense in a movie, book, newspaper, magazine, radio or television production, or live entertainment or presentation of any kind. Authorizes the Attorney General to pay a reward not to exceed $100,000 for information leading to the arrest or conviction of persons committing espionage, or leading to the prevention, frustration, or mitigation of the effect of an act of espionage. Disqualifies an officer or employee of the United States or of any State or local government while performing official duties from receiving such a reward.
United States · United States Congress · 17 September 1985
Revises Federal law concerning the appointment of probationary employees to the Department of Medicine and Surgery of the Veterans Administration (the Department) to allow review boards appointed under guidelines of the Administrator of Veterans Affairs to review the performance of such employees at any time, and to allow the Chief Medical Director of the Department to take appropriate action thereon.
United States · United States Congress · 17 September 1985
Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act Amendments of 1985 - Amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to modify the leasing of Outer Continental Shelf lands within three miles of a State's coastal boundary to require the Secretary of the Interior to provide updates to the appropriate Governor on any ecological or geological information regarding lands offered for lease, including an identification of any potentially hydrocarbon-bearing area. Requires the Secretary to transfer 27 percent of the revenues received from such a lease to the affected coastal State. Requires such distribution from the Federal share even when a State and the Federal Government have an agreement for distribution of revenues from any hydrocarbon-bearing area which underlies the Federal and State boundary. Requires the Secretary to distribute amounts accrued under these requirements from October 1, 1985, to the date of distribution by the start of 1986. Sets forth a distribution formula for funds placed in a separate account because of boundary disputes for the following States: (1) Louisiana; (2) Texas; (3) California; (4) Alabama; (5) Alaska; (6) Mississippi; and (7) Florida. States that boundaries determined by a final decree of the Supreme Court remain immobilized. Requires a distribution of revenues derived between September 18, 1978, and the end of FY 1985 according to the 27-percent rule, minus monies received for FY 1986 by the start of 1986. Directs the Secretary to deposit ten percent of Federal leasing revenues in the disputed boundaries account as of FY 1986.
United States · United States Congress · 17 September 1985
Amends Federal provisions regarding employment within the Veterans Administration's Department of Medicine and Surgery to allow the Administrator of Veterans Affairs to employ, on a temporary or part-time basis, certified or registered respiratory therapists, physical therapists, and licensed practical or vocational nurses.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 1985
Gold Bullion Coin Act of 1985 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue gold coins in 50-dollar, 25-dollar, ten-dollar, and five-dollar denominations. Requires the Secretary to acquire the gold for such coins by purchase only from natural deposits in the United States or a U.S. territory or possession or from U.S. reserves. Repeals a provision prohibiting the Government from delivering any gold coin. Requires any profit from the sale of such coins to be deposited in the Treasury and applied toward reducing the national debt. Directs the Secretary to ensure that the issuance of such coins results in no net cost to the Government.
![Official portrait of Sen. Murkowski, Frank H. [R-AK]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/m001085_200.jpg)