legislation
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297 rows where congress = 98 and policy_area = "Commerce" sorted by introduced_date descending
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| bill_id | congress | bill_type | bill_number | title | policy_area | introduced_date ▲ | latest_action_date | latest_action_text | origin_chamber | sponsor_name | sponsor_state | sponsor_party | sponsor_bioguide_id | cosponsor_count | summary_text | update_date | url |
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| 98-s-3085 | 98 | s | 3085 | Act to Authorize the United States to Participate in Chapter II of the Patent Cooperation Treaty | Commerce | 1984-10-10 | 1984-10-10 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary. | Senate | Sen. Mathias, Charles McC., Jr. [R-MD] | MD | R | M000241 | 0 | Act to Authorize the United States to Participate in Chapter II of the Patent Cooperation Treaty - Authorizes the United States to participate in and be bound by the provisions of Chapter II of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (concerning application procedures for obtaining international patents). Authorizes the Patent and Trademark Office to act as an international preliminary examining authority whose duties shall include the collection and transmittal of handling and preliminary examination fees with respect to international patent applications. | 2025-08-29T17:40:28Z | |
| 98-hr-6424 | 98 | hr | 6424 | A bill to provide for contribution of damages attributable to an agreement by two or more persons to fix, maintain, or stabilize prices under section 4, 4A or 4C of the Clayton Act. | Commerce | 1984-10-09 | 1984-10-09 | Referred to House Committee on The Judiciary. | House | Rep. Brooks, Jack B. [D-TX-9] | TX | D | B000880 | 0 | Amends the Clayton Act to permit any person liable for damages for price-fixing to claim contribution from co-conspirators for the share of such damages attributable to their sales or purchases of goods and services. Declares that a release or covenant not to sue or enforce a judgment received in settlement by one conspirator shall not discharge any co-conspirators from liability, unless expressly provided. Directs the court to reduce the claim against the co-conspirators subject to liability by the greatest of: (1) the amount stipulated by such release or covenant; (2) the amount paid in settlement; or (3) treble the actual damages attributable to the settling person's sales or purchases of goods or services. Declares that a settlement shall release the recipient from liability from contribution, unless it is not consummated. | 2021-06-29T21:25:14Z | |
| 98-s-3074 | 98 | s | 3074 | Computer Software Protection Act of 1984 | Commerce | 1984-10-05 | 1984-10-05 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary. | Senate | Sen. Mathias, Charles McC., Jr. [R-MD] | MD | R | M000241 | 1 | Computer Software Protection Act of 1984 - Amends the copyright law to prohibit the unauthorized rental, lease or lending, of a computer program for commercial advantage. | 2025-08-29T17:39:02Z | |
| 98-s-3060 | 98 | s | 3060 | A bill to provide for contribution of damages attributable to an agreement by two or more persons to fix, maintain, or stabilize prices under section 4, 4A, or 4C of the Clayton Act. | Commerce | 1984-10-04 | 1984-10-04 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary. | Senate | Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT] | UT | R | H000338 | 0 | Amends the Clayton Act to permit any person liable for damages for price-fixing to claim contribution from co-conspirators for the share of such damages attributable to their sales or purchases of goods and services. Declares that a release or covenant not to sue or enforce a judgment received in settlement by one conspirator shall not discharge any co-conspirators from liability, unless expressly provided. Directs the court to reduce the claim against the co-conspirators subject to liability by the greatest of: (1) the amount stipulated by such release or covenant; (2) the amount paid in settlement; or (3) treble the actual damages attributable to the settling person's sales or purchases of goods or services. Declares that a settlement shall release the recipient from liability from contribution, unless it is not consummated. | 2025-07-21T19:32:26Z | |
| 98-sconres-148 | 98 | sconres | 148 | A concurrent resolution relating to the consequences of the recent Interstate Commerce Commission decision to approve the acquisition of American Commercial Lines by CSX Corporation. | Commerce | 1984-10-03 | 1984-10-03 | Referred to the Committee on Commerce. | Senate | Sen. Gorton, Slade [R-WA] | WA | R | G000333 | 3 | Expresses the sense of Congress that the Interstate Commerce Commission decision to approve the acquisition of American Commercial Lines (a barge company) by CSX Corporation (a railroad company) misconstrues congressional intent with respect to intermodal ownership and should be reversed on appeal. | 2025-01-14T18:51:33Z | |
| 98-hr-6371 | 98 | hr | 6371 | Employee Ownership Promotion Act | Commerce | 1984-10-02 | 1984-10-17 | Referred to Subcommittee on Economic Stabilization. | House | Rep. Aspin, Les [D-WI-1] | WI | D | A000224 | 0 | Employee Ownership Promotion Act - Establishes in the Treasury an Employee Ownership Feasibility Study Revolving Fund. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to make loans from the Fund to eligible employee ownership groups to fund: (1) feasibility studies to investigate the reorganization or new incorporation of an existing business enterprise as an employee owned business enterprise; and (2) professional services to implement such a feasibility study and to develop and insure the success of an employee owned business enterprise. Sets forth limits on such a loan. Sets forth the conditions under which an employee ownership group shall be eligible for feasibility study assistance from the Fund. Authorizes appropriations. | 2025-08-29T17:39:53Z | |
| 98-hr-6348 | 98 | hr | 6348 | A bill to amend the Small Business Act to provide that for purposes of section 15 of such Act the determination of labor surplus areas shall be based on jurisdictions having populations of 25,000 or more. | Commerce | 1984-10-01 | 1984-10-01 | Referred to House Committee on Small Business. | House | Rep. Seiberling, John F. [D-OH-14] | OH | D | S000230 | 0 | Amends the Small Business Act to require the Secretary of Labor, in determining labor surplus areas with respect to Government procurement with small businesses, to make such determination on the basis of criteria in effect at the time of such determination provided that any minimum population criteria shall not exceed 25,000. | 2024-02-07T15:46:26Z | |
| 98-hr-6350 | 98 | hr | 6350 | A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to impose penalties with respect to certain nondisclosure by business entities as to serious concealed dangers in products and business practices, and for other purposes. | Commerce | 1984-10-01 | 1984-10-11 | Referred to Subcommittee on Crime. | House | Rep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-1] | MI | D | C000714 | 0 | Amends the Federal criminal code to impose criminal sanctions on any manager who fails to disclose a serious concealed danger with respect to a product or business practice that is subject to the regulatory authority of a Federal agency. Provides for a fine of not more than $250,000 ($1,000,000 for a corporation) or imprisonment for not more than ten years, or both. Prohibits any person from discriminating against any manager in the terms or conditions of employment because of the disclosure of such information. | 2021-06-29T21:25:01Z | |
| 98-hr-6285 | 98 | hr | 6285 | Trademark Amendments Act of 1984 | Commerce | 1984-09-20 | 1984-10-02 | Received in the Senate and read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary. | House | Rep. Kastenmeier, Robert W. [D-WI-2] | WI | D | K000020 | 7 | Trademark Amendments Act of 1984 - Amends the Lanham Trademark Act to state that the exclusive test for determining whether a registered trademark has become a common descriptive name (generic) and therefore cancellable is whether the relevant public understands that the trademark is functioning as a mark rather than as generic. | 2025-08-29T17:38:59Z | |
| 98-hr-6286 | 98 | hr | 6286 | Patent Law Amendments of 1984 | Commerce | 1984-09-20 | 1984-11-08 | Became Public Law No: 98-622. | House | Rep. Kastenmeier, Robert W. [D-WI-2] | WI | D | K000020 | 10 | (Measure passed Senate, amended) Patent Law Amendments Act of 1984 - Title I: Patent Improvement Provisions - Amends the patent laws to make it an infringement of patent to supply without authority in or from the United States the material components of a patented invention in such a manner as to actively induce their combination outside the United States if their combination in this country would constitute an infringement. Makes it an infringement to supply without authority in or from the United States any component of a patented invention especially adapted for use in that invention and not a staple of commerce suitable for noninfringing uses, knowing that such component will be combined outside the United States in a manner which would constitute infringement were it to occur inside the United States. Authorizes the Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks to publish a statutory invention registration containing the specifications and drawings of a regularly filed application for a patent without examination if the applicant waives the right to receive a patent on the invention within a prescribed period and pays established fees. Makes such registration effective upon publication. Endows such registration with all the attributes of a patent except the right to compensation for Government-ordered secrecy and for infringement. Amends the Lanham Act to permit the Commissioner to grant a concurrent trademark registration without dual preapplication (filing) use when the owner of the pending application consents to such a grant to the other applicant. Excludes from prior art (knowledge held by a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the subject matter of the patent applies) unpublished information developed by a person other than the applicant when the subject matter and invention claimed were owned by the same person or entity at the time the invention was made. (Subject matter deemed prior art is non-patentable.) States that when joint inventors jointly apply for a patent they need not have made a … | 2025-07-21T19:32:26Z | |
| 98-hres-585 | 98 | hres | 585 | A resolution expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System should take prompt action to discourage the establishment of large lines of credit which may be used by large corporations for purposes of acquiring other corporations. | Commerce | 1984-09-19 | 1984-10-17 | Referred to Subcommittee on Domestic Monetary Policy. | House | Rep. Jeffords, James M. [R-VT-At Large] | VT | R | J000072 | 0 | Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System should take prompt and effective action to discourage the establishment of large lines of credit which may be used by large corporations for purposes of acquiring other corporations. | 2024-02-06T19:38:08Z | |
| 98-hjres-646 | 98 | hjres | 646 | A joint resolution to designate the week of September 8, 1984, as "National Independent Retail Grocer Week". | Commerce | 1984-09-13 | 1984-09-13 | Referred to House Committee on Post Office and Civil Service. | House | Rep. Campbell, Carroll A., Jr. [R-SC-4] | SC | R | C000079 | 0 | Designates the week of September 8 through September 14, 1985, as National Independent Retail Grocer Week. | 2024-02-06T20:04:02Z | |
| 98-hr-6148 | 98 | hr | 6148 | Health Spa Consumer Protection Act | Commerce | 1984-08-10 | 1984-08-10 | Referred to Subcommittee on Commerce, Transportation and Tourism. | House | Rep. Andrews, Michael [D-TX-25] | TX | D | A000209 | 0 | Health Spa Consumer Protection Act - Declares the purpose of this Act to be to protect the public from fraudulent, misleading, unscrupulous, and deceptive practices in the health spa industry. Requires any health spa owner or operator (seller), before any membership contract is executed, and before the seller collects any membership fees from the prospective health spa member (buyer), to: (1) provide the buyer with a copy of the membership contract for review; (2) orally inform the buyer of the buyer's rights to review and cancel the contract and of the conditions under which such rights may be exercised; and (3) obtain the buyer's acknowledgement of such oral notice by signature. Voids any membership contract and any renewal in excess of two years. Sets forth provisions that must be included in each membership contract. Requires the buyer to provide written notice in order to cancel the contract. Requires the seller to include a notice of cancellation in each membership contract which the buyer may detach and send to the seller. Sets forth registration and bonding requirements that must be met before any membership contract in a covered health spa may be sold. Makes any waiver by the buyer of any requirement of this Act unenforceable and any contract containing any such waiver void as against public policy. Sets forth enforcement procedures when a seller fails substantially to comply with the requirements of this Act. Declares that the rights and remedies provided under this Act are in addition to any other rights and remedies relating to the validity or enforceability of any contract or obligation. Sets forth exclusions to the provisions of this Act. Makes this Act effective with respect to any membership contract executed or renewed on or after August 10, 1984. | 2025-08-29T17:40:39Z | |
| 98-hr-6164 | 98 | hr | 6164 | Copyright Royalty Tribunal and Cable Television Reform Act of 1984 | Commerce | 1984-08-10 | 1984-08-10 | For Previous Action See H.R.5878. | House | Rep. Kastenmeier, Robert W. [D-WI-2] | WI | D | K000020 | 32 | Copyright Royalty Tribunal and Cable Television Reform Act of 1984 - Title I: Copyright Royalty Tribunal - Amends the copyright law to reduce the membership on the Copyright Royalty Tribunal from five to three commissioners. Requires the Tribunal to appoint a general counsel and chief economist. States that review of Tribunal decisions by the U.S. Court of Appeals remains unaffected by the creation of the Tribunal in the legislative branch. Requires the Tribunal, in adjusting copyright royalty rates for the carriage of television broadcast signals by cable systems, to also consider: (1) the extent to which television broadcast stations compensate copyright owners for the secondary transmission of their signals by cable systems located outside their respective local service areas; (2) the extent to which the value of additional distant signals decreases as such signals are carried by the systems; (3) the impact of the rates on cable subscribers as to the availability and cost of receiving copyrighted materials; and (4) the impact of the rates on competition with television broadcast stations. Title II: Cable Television - Excludes from a specified adjustment in royalty rates the first two distant independent television broadcast signals carried by any cable system. Revises the royalty computation formula for secondary transmissions by a cable system to redefine gross receipts based upon the type of service offered. | 2025-08-29T17:40:04Z | |
| 98-s-2950 | 98 | s | 2950 | Agricultural Patent Reform Act of 1984 | Commerce | 1984-08-10 | 1984-09-28 | Committee on Judiciary received executive comment from Commerce Department. | Senate | Sen. Thurmond, Strom [R-SC] | SC | R | T000254 | 7 | Agricultural Patent Reform Act of 1984 - Amends the patent laws to extend the terms of patents which emcompass 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 Insectide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act; and (4) any chemical substance or mixture subject to regulation under the Toxic Substances Control Act. | 2025-08-29T17:37:44Z | |
| 98-sjres-343 | 98 | sjres | 343 | A joint resolution to designate the week of September 16, 1984, through September 22, 1984, as "National Independent Free Paper Week". | Commerce | 1984-08-10 | 1984-08-10 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary. | Senate | Sen. Jepsen, Roger W. [R-IA] | IA | R | J000101 | 3 | Designates the week of September 16 through September 22, 1984, as National Independent Free Paper Week. | 2025-07-21T19:32:26Z | |
| 98-hr-6140 | 98 | hr | 6140 | Steel Advisory Council Act | Commerce | 1984-08-09 | 1984-08-20 | Referred to Subcommittee on Science Research and Technology. | House | Rep. Walgren, Doug [D-PA-18] | PA | D | W000044 | 0 | Steel Advisory Council Act - Directs the President to establish a Steel Advisory Council within the Executive Office of the President. Requires the Council to: (1) advise the President concerning modernization problems in the domestic steel industry, the effects of such problems in communities dependent on such industry, and international and domestic issues related to such industry; (2) monitor the modernization and technological status of such industry; (3) conduct research on such industry and the major modern technology; (4) provide analyses of the interrelationships of the policies of Federal agencies pertaining to such industry; and (5) report to the President annually on its activities. Terminates the Council three years after it is established. | 2025-08-29T17:38:56Z | |
| 98-s-2935 | 98 | s | 2935 | A bill to provide that on the request of a State or local government authority, the National Bureau of Standards may investigate serious accidents at fixed site amusement parks. | Commerce | 1984-08-09 | 1984-08-09 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce. | Senate | Sen. Danforth, John C. [R-MO] | MO | R | D000030 | 1 | Permits the National Bureau of Standards to investigate any accident which occurs at a fixed site amusement park if: (1) such accident caused, or could have caused, death or serious personal injury; (2) such accident is related to a fixed site amusement park; (3) an appropriate State or local government requests in writing that the Secretary of Commerce conduct an investigation; and (4) the Secretary makes a determination to conduct such an investigation. Requires the Bureau to report its findings, conclusions, and recommendations with respect to the causes of any such accident and to send a copy of such report to the State or local government requesting such investigation. | 2025-01-14T18:51:33Z | |
| 98-hr-6071 | 98 | hr | 6071 | Trademark Counterfeiting Act of 1984 | Commerce | 1984-08-02 | 1984-10-12 | Provisions Concerning Trademark Counterfeiting Contained in H.J.Res.648. | House | Rep. Hughes, William J. [D-NJ-2] | NJ | D | H000930 | 9 | (Measure passed House, amended, roll call #387 (403-0)) Trademark Counterfeiting Act of 1984 - Amends the Federal criminal code to make it a Federal offense to violate the Lanham Act or the Olympic Charter Act by the intentional use of a counterfeit trademark or the unauthorized use of the Olympic symbol. Establishes penalties of up to five years imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine ($1,000,000 fine for a corporation or other legal entity) for selling or attempting to sell counterfeit goods or services. Increases such penalties for a second or subsequent conviction under this Act. Exempts any documents seized or held by an entity of the Federal Government pursuant to this Act from disclosure requirements of the Freedom of Information Act. Permits the United States to obtain an order for the destruction of any articles found to have counterfeit marks or designations. Amends the Lanham Act to permit ex parte injunctions and seizure orders. Establishes procedures. Authorizes a civil action for any person injured as a result of a wrongful seizure. | 2021-06-29T22:27:37Z | |
| 98-hr-6027 | 98 | hr | 6027 | Local Government Antitrust Act of 1984 | Commerce | 1984-07-26 | 1984-10-24 | Became Public Law No: 98-544. | House | Rep. Rodino, Peter W., Jr. [D-NJ-10] | NJ | D | R000374 | 15 | (Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 98-1158) Local Government Antitrust Act of 1984 - Prohibits the recovery of damages, interest on damages, litigation costs, or attorney fees in an antitrust action from any local government or any local government employee or official acting in an official capacity. Provides that such prohibition shall not apply to cases commenced before the effective date of this Act, unless the defendant establishes and the court determines that it would be inequitable not to apply this prohibition to such a pending case. Declares that the existence of a jury verdict or a district court judgment shall be prima facie evidence that such prohibition shall not apply to such a case. Prohibits the recovery of damages, interest on damages, litigation costs, or attorney fees in an antitrust action against a person based on any official action directed by a local government or a local government employee or official acting in an official capacity. Provides that such prohibition shall not apply to cases commenced before the effective date of this Act. Repeals a provision of the Department of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriation Act, 1985 which prohibited the obligation or expenditure of Federal Trade Commission appropriations for any antitrust action against a local government. | 2021-09-25T05:30:24Z | |
| 98-hr-6034 | 98 | hr | 6034 | Agricultural Patent Reform Act of 1984 | Commerce | 1984-07-26 | 1984-10-01 | Placed on Union Calendar No: 633. | House | Rep. Glickman, Dan [D-KS-4] | KS | D | G000240 | 26 | (Reported to House from the Committee on the Judiciary with amendment, H. Rept. 98-1122) Agricultural Patent Reform Act of 1984 - 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 from the earliest filing. Directs the Commissioner of Patents to notify the appropriate Federal agency upon receipt from a product sponsor of a notice of extension. Requires the notified agency 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 appropriate Secretary or Administrator to consider the failure of a product sponsor to submit data which such sponsor should have known was necessary to support an extension notice. Permits the appropriate Secretary or Administrator to establish fees to cover review costs. 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. Restricts the disclosure of any data submitted during the regulatory review period which is designated as a trade secret or confidential. 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 regu… | 2021-06-29T21:23:00Z | |
| 98-hr-6024 | 98 | hr | 6024 | Patent, Trademark, and Copyright Protection Act of 1984 | Commerce | 1984-07-25 | 1984-07-30 | Referred to Subcommittee on Trade. | House | Rep. Gore, Albert, Jr. [D-TN-6] | TN | D | G000321 | 0 | Patent, Trademark, and Copyright Protection Act of 1984 - Title I: Patents - Makes liable for infringement any person who, without authority, imports into or sells or uses within the United States a product made in another country by a process patented in the United States. Entitles the patent owner to recover actual damages and the infringer's profits. Title II: Unfair Practices in Import Trade Regarding United States Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights - Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to declare unlawful as an unfair practice in import trade the importation of articles into the United States or their sale which violates the rights of holders of U.S. patents, trademarks, and copyrights. Requires the U.S. International Trade Commission to conclude any investigation of such practices within six months (12 in a more complicated case). Title III: Trademarks - Establishes criminal penalties for trafficking or attempting to traffic in a counterfeit trademark in the foreign or domestic commerce of the United States. Authorizes civil suits as well, with a successful claimant entitled to treble damages or treble defendant's profits, whichever is greater. Sets forth court jurisdiction and authorities. Title IV: Computer Software - Amends the copyright law to extend copyright protection to computer software. Continues for copyright holders any protections under State trade secret law which are not equivalent to any of the exclusive rights under the copyright law. | 2025-08-29T17:39:44Z | |
| 98-hr-6013 | 98 | hr | 6013 | A bill to amend the Small Business Act. | Commerce | 1984-07-24 | 1984-09-26 | House Requested a Conference and Speaker Appointed Conferees: Mitchell, Smith (IA), Addabbo, McDade, Conte. | House | Rep. Mitchell, Parren J. [D-MD-7] | MD | D | M000826 | 0 | (Measure passed Senate, amended) Amends the Small Business Act to increase the program levels for FY 1984 for: (1) loans made by the Small Business Administration (SBA) to handicapped persons and organizations for the handicapped; and (2) direct purchases and guarantees of debentures and purchase of preferred securities with respect to certain small business investment company programs. Requires the SBA to fix a uniform annual fee of not less than one nor more than three and one-half percent per annum of the minimum annual guaranteed rental payable under any qualified contract guaranteed under this Act. | 2024-02-07T15:46:26Z | |
| 98-hr-5982 | 98 | hr | 5982 | A bill to amend the Consumer Product Safety Act to strengthen the authority of the Consumer Product Safety Commission over amusement parks. | Commerce | 1984-06-29 | 1984-09-18 | For Further Action See H.R.5790. | House | Rep. Guarini, Frank J. [D-NJ-14] | NJ | D | G000511 | 0 | Amends the Consumer Product Safety Act to permit the Consumer Product Safety Commission to inspect amusement devices (regardless of whether they are permanently fixed to a site) and amusement buildings or other facilities located on the same premises as such devices. Permits the Commission to inspect any such site where there was any accident resulting in personal injury and involving a consumer product. Permits inspection of any consumer product involved in the accident. Conditions permission for such an inspection on the presentation of appropriate credentials and a written notice from the Commission to the owner, operator, or agent in charge of the site or product to be inspected. | 2024-02-05T14:30:09Z | |
| 98-hr-5992 | 98 | hr | 5992 | Local Government Antitrust Act of 1984 | Commerce | 1984-06-29 | 1984-07-06 | Referred to Subcommittee on Monopolies and Commercial Law. | House | Rep. Rodino, Peter W., Jr. [D-NJ-10] | NJ | D | R000374 | 3 | Local Government Antitrust Act of 1984 - Declares that the antitrust laws shall not apply to official conduct of a local government reasonably undertaken to protect or provide for the public health, safety, or welfare. Limits the amount a person or State may recover on a claim under the antitrust laws based on any other official conduct of a local government to the amount of actual damages sustained, interest thereon, and the cost of suit, including a reasonable attorney's fee. Requires interest on damages to be awarded for the period: (1) beginning on the date of filing of the claim and ending on the date of judgment unless the court finds that the award of all or part of such interest is unjust; and (2) beginning on the date of injury and ending one day before the claim is filed if the court finds that the award of all or part of such interest is just. Directs the court to award the cost of suit to the substantially prevailing party in an antitrust action based on the official conduct of a local government. Allows such award to be reduced or withheld in the interest of justice. Provides that no official, employee, or agent of such local government shall be personally liable for damages, costs, interest, or attorney's fees in such an action. | 2025-08-29T17:41:23Z | |
| 98-hr-5993 | 98 | hr | 5993 | Local Government Antitrust Act of 1984 | Commerce | 1984-06-29 | 1984-07-26 | Clean Bill H.R.6027 Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee in Lieu. | House | Rep. Rodino, Peter W., Jr. [D-NJ-10] | NJ | D | R000374 | 3 | Local Government Antitrust Act of 1984 - Declares that no person or State shall be entitled to recover monetary relief on any claim under the antitrust laws resulting from the official conduct of a local government. Directs the court to award the cost of suit to the substantially prevailing party in an action based on such a claim. Allows such award to be reduced or withheld in the interest of justice. | 2025-08-29T17:41:57Z | |
| 98-s-2835 | 98 | s | 2835 | Agricultural Producers Protection Act | Commerce | 1984-06-29 | 1984-09-24 | Committee on Judiciary. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 98-1250. | Senate | Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT] | MT | D | B000243 | 0 | Agricultural Producers Protection Act - Amends the Clayton Act to provide that no person shall be barred from commencing an antitrust action to recover damage resulting from any underpayment received on the sale of cattle, hogs, sheep, grains, or soybeans because such person did not sell such products directly to the defendant, provided that such person possessed the livestock or grain for at least 21 days prior to sale. Prohibits such person from recovering any amount of such an underpayment that has been passed on to other persons who have a cause of action to recover damages themselves. | 2025-08-29T17:39:35Z | |
| 98-s-2848 | 98 | s | 2848 | Women's Small Business Ownership Act of 1984 | Commerce | 1984-06-29 | 1984-06-29 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business. | Senate | Sen. Boschwitz, Rudy [R-MN] | MN | R | B000647 | 2 | Women's Small Business Ownership Act of 1984 - Establishes the National Commission on Women's Small Business Ownership to review: (1) the status of women owned small businesses nationwide; (2) the role of the Federal Government in aid to and the promotion of women owned small businesses; (3) data collection procedures and the availability of data relating to women owned businesses, women owned small businesses, and small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged women; (4) other Federal initiatives relating to women owned small businesses, including those relating to Federal procurements; and (5) special impediments suffered by small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged women. Directs the Commission to recommend: (1) new private sector initiatives which would provide management and technical assistance to women owned small businesses; (2) ways to promote greater access to financing and procurement opportunities for such businesses; and (3) other measures relating to small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged women. Terminates the Commission on the date that it transmits its final report to the President and to each House of the Congress. Authorizes appropriations. | 2025-08-29T17:38:39Z | |
| 98-hr-5938 | 98 | hr | 5938 | Record Rental Amendments of 1984 | Commerce | 1984-06-27 | 1984-09-11 | House Incorporated this Measure in S.32 as an Amendment. | House | Rep. Edwards, Don [D-CA-10] | CA | D | E000064 | 16 | Record Rental Amendment of 1984 - Amends the copyright law to prohibit the unauthorized rental of a phonorecord by its owner for commercial advantage. Deems such unauthorized use an infringement and subject to civil penalties. Includes within the scope of a compulsory license to make and distribute phonorecords the right to rent them. Requires the licensee to pay a royalty for each rental. Terminates such restrictions on rental after five years. | 2025-08-29T17:39:55Z | |
| 98-s-2797 | 98 | s | 2797 | A bill to require that directors of certain corporations hold securities of those corporations. | Commerce | 1984-06-27 | 1984-10-02 | Committee on Banking. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 98-1013. | Senate | Sen. Chafee, John H. [R-RI] | RI | R | C000269 | 0 | Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to direct the Securities and Exchange Commission to require that each director of an issuer of registered equity securities own at least 1,000 shares of such securities or agree to make periodic purchases using the total amount of his or her fees for service as a director until he or she owns 1,000 shares. | 2025-01-14T18:20:21Z | |
| 98-hjres-608 | 98 | hjres | 608 | A joint resolution designating the month of October 1984 as "National Quality Month". | Commerce | 1984-06-26 | 1984-09-20 | See S.J.Res.304. | House | Rep. Lundine, Stanley N. [D-NY-34] | NY | D | L000516 | 245 | Designates October 1984 as National Quality Month. | 2024-02-06T20:04:02Z | |
| 98-hr-5929 | 98 | hr | 5929 | A bill to amend the Federal Trade Commission Act to make the sale or distribution in or affecting commerce or the production for sale or distribution in or affecting commerce of counterfeit goods or services an unfair or deceptive act or practice and an unfair method of competition and to authorize the Federal Trade Commission to initiate seizure actions in such cases, and for other purposes. | Commerce | 1984-06-26 | 1984-08-01 | Ordered to be Reported. | House | Rep. Florio, James J. [D-NJ-1] | NJ | D | F000215 | 5 | Title I: Amendment to Federal Trade Commission Act - Amends the Federal Trade Commission Act to make the sale, distribution or the production for sale or distribution of counterfeit goods or services an unfair method of competition and an unfair or deceptive act or practice in or affecting commerce. Permits the Federal Trade Commission, on or after the date the Commission issues a complaint with respect to a sale, distribution, or production of counterfeit goods, to proceed against the counterfeit goods by process of libel for their seizure and condemnation in any district court within the jurisdiction of which such goods are found. Permits the Commission to order counterfeit goods detained for a certain period. Defines "counterfeit goods or services" with respect to trademark, patent, and copyright law. Title II: Amendments to the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act and the Wool Products Labeling Act of 1939 - Amends the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act and the Wool Products Labeling Act of 1939 to require a textile fiber or wool product processed or manufactured in the United States to be so identified. Requires the product, as well as the package in which it is contained, to be labeled as to country origin. Provides that this Act shall not be construed as requiring such labeling on each hosiery product contained in a package that is so labeled. Requires catalog sales descriptions and other advertisements for textile and wool products to contain country of origin information. Requires that the identification label or imported textile and wool products be affixed to the most conspicuous place on the inner side of the product. | 2024-02-05T14:30:09Z | |
| 98-hr-5911 | 98 | hr | 5911 | A bill to amend the copyright law regarding work for hire. | Commerce | 1984-06-21 | 1984-06-25 | Referred to Subcommittee on Courts, Civil Liberties, and the Administration of Justice. | House | Rep. Frank, Barney [D-MA-4] | MA | D | F000339 | 1 | Amends the copyright laws to require that a work-for-hire contract must be entered into prior to the commencement of the work which is the subject of the contract. Provides that the determination of an employer- employee relationship in a work-for-hire situation shall be based on the determination of withholding requirements of the Federal tax laws. Provides that each separate contribution to a collective work or compilation, any supplementary work, any instructional text, and any part of an audiovisual work, other than a motion picture, shall be treated as distinct from the larger or revised work as a whole and will be subject to the copyright law's provisions for limited rights transfer. Requires any transfer of rights with respect to these types of works to be in writing and contain the rights being acquired, the consideration paid for that right, and the signatures of both parties. Provides that the rights acquired under such an agreement which are not exercised within two years of the first publication shall become nonexclusive. Permits the author of a copyrighted work who transfers rights to the work to bring a court suit to terminate or reform the transfer agreement where the profits received by the transferree are disproportionate to the consideration paid to the author. Requires the author to prove that the terms of the transfer have proven to be unfair or grossly disadvantageous. | 2025-01-16T12:12:20Z | |
| 98-hr-5878 | 98 | hr | 5878 | Copyright Royalty Tribunal and Cable Television Reform Act of 1984 | Commerce | 1984-06-15 | 1984-08-10 | Clean Bill H.R.6164 Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee in Lieu. | House | Rep. Kastenmeier, Robert W. [D-WI-2] | WI | D | K000020 | 2 | Copyright Royalty Tribunal and Cable Television Reform Act of 1984 - Title I: Copyright Royalty Tribunal - Amends the copyright law to reduce the membership on the Copyright Royalty Tribunal from five to three commissioners. Requires the Tribunal to appoint a general counsel and chief economist. States that review of Tribunal decisions by the U.S. Court of Appeals remains unaffected by the creation of the Tribunal in the legislative branch. Requires the Tribunal in adjusting copyright royalty rates for the carriage of television broadcast signals by cable systems to also consider: (1) the extent to which television broadcast stations compensate copyright owners for the secondary transmission of their signals by cable systems located outside their respective local service areas; (2) the extent to which the value of additional distant signals decreases as such signals are carried by the systems; and (3) the impact of the rates on cable subscribers as to the availability and cost of receiving copyrighted materials. Title II: Cable Televisions - Excludes from a specified adjustment in royalty rates: (1) the first three distant independent television broadcast signals carried by any cable system which does not carry any local independent television broadcast signals; or (2) the first two distant independent television broadcast signals carried by any cable system which carries any local independent television broadcast signals. Revises the royalty computation formula for secondary transmissions by a cable system to redefine gross receipts based upon the type of service offered. | 2025-08-29T17:41:58Z | |
| 98-hr-5868 | 98 | hr | 5868 | Strategic Petroleum Corporation Charter Act | Commerce | 1984-06-14 | 1984-06-27 | Subcommittee Hearings Held. | House | Rep. Tauke, Thomas Joseph [R-IA-2] | IA | R | T000053 | 1 | Strategic Petroleum Corporation Charter Act - Amends the Energy and Conservation Act to establish within the Department of Energy the Strategic Petroleum Corporation for the purpose of creating another means of obtaining reserves of petroleum. Provides that the Corporation shall be administered by a Board of Directors. Directs the Corporation to seek to increase exports to a foreign nation, when such nation is adversely affected by financial problems which make it difficult for such nation or importers within such nation to make payment for U.S. exports, through arrangements whereby such nation or importers within such nation can provide petroleum as security to assure payment for such U.S. exports. Permits the Corporation to accept petroleum as security, and to issue a negotiable warehouse receipt for such security, which is provided to ensure repayment of financing provided or guaranteed by the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Central Bank for Cooperatives, the Export-Import Bank, or any private financing institution with respect to the export of products and commodities produced in the United States. Requires the petroleum to be stored in the United States. Requires the Corporation to provide that, as part of any agreement entered into under this Act, the Federal Government shall have: (1) in the event a severe energy supply interruption is declared by the President, the right to purchase any petroleum used as security at the average refiner acquisition cost for crude oil in effect 30 days before the date of the applicable declaration; (2) the right of first refusal to purchase the petroleum at the sale price agreed to between a third party and the borrower or his successor or other holder of interest if the sale of the security is negotiated while it is in such storage, or the right to purchase the petroleum at the current market price if the material is to be removed from storage; and (3) such other rights as the Corporation may prescribe by rule. Provides that any such petroleum purchased by the Federa… | 2025-08-29T17:40:45Z | |
| 98-hr-5830 | 98 | hr | 5830 | National Industrial Antitrust Act of 1984 | Commerce | 1984-06-12 | 1984-06-18 | Referred to Subcommittee on Monopolies and Commercial Law. | House | Rep. Lipinski, William O. [D-IL-5] | IL | D | L000342 | 0 | National Industrial Antitrust Act of 1984 - Provides that attempting to make, making, or performing a contract to carry out jointly a research and development program directly related to an essential industry shall not be deemed per se to violate the antitrust laws. Prohibits the imposition of a criminal penalty for an antitrust violation arising from such conduct if the parties involved have submitted to the Attorney General an annually updated notice disclosing each party to the joint research and development contract, each research and development program to be conducted under such contract, the parties participating in each program, and the written and oral agreements pertaining to such contract or program. Provides that no person shall be liable for an amount exceeding actual damages, interest, and the cost of suit for an antitrust violation arising from conduct for which such a notice is submitted to the Attorney General. Restricts the disclosure of information submitted for such notice. Defines an "essential industry" as: (1) the manufacture of automobiles and trucks; (2) the manufacture or milling of steel; (3) the manufacture of rubber, generally, or of rubber products for use in automobile or truck manufacturing; or (4) the manufacture of machine tools. Provides that a merger between persons engaged solely in the same essential industry shall not be prohibited under the Clayton Act unless as a result of such merger there will be fewer than three other persons who compete substantially nationwide in each line of commerce common to both persons involved in the merger. | 2025-08-29T17:39:21Z | |
| 98-hr-5818 | 98 | hr | 5818 | An act to enable the Consumer Product Safety Commission to protect the public by ordering notice and repair, replacement or refund of certain toys or articles intended for use by children if such toys or articles contain a defect which creates a substantial risk of injury to children. | Commerce | 1984-06-11 | 1984-10-17 | Became Public Law No: 98-491. | House | Rep. Waxman, Henry A. [D-CA-24] | CA | D | W000215 | 10 | (Measure passed Senate, amended) Toy Safety Act of 1984 - Amends the Federal Hazardous Substances Act to permit the Consumer Product Safety Commission, after it determines that any toy or other article intended for use by children that is not a banned hazardous substance creates a substantial risk of injury to children, to order the manufacturer or any distributor or dealer of the toy or article to take any one or more of the following actions: (1) to give public notice that the toy or article creates a risk of injury to children; (2) to mail such notice to each manufacturer, distributor, or dealer; or (3) to mail such notice to every person to whom the person giving notice knows such toy or article was delivered or sold. Permits the Commission, after offering interested persons an opportunity for a hearing, to order the manufacturer, distributor, or dealer either to repair such toy so that it will not create a risk of injury, to replace it with a safe equivalent toy or article, or to refund the purchase price. Declares that such an order may prohibit the person to whom it applies from manufacturing for sale, offering for sale, distributing in commerce, or importing into the customs territory of the United States (or any combination of such actions) the toy or article with respect to which the order was issued. | 2025-01-14T18:51:33Z | |
| 98-sconres-117 | 98 | sconres | 117 | A concurrent resolution relating to the promotion of technological innovation in computer software and the protection of computer software. | Commerce | 1984-06-07 | 1984-06-19 | Committee on Finance requested executive comment from OMB, International Trade Commission, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, Treasury Department, State Department, Commerce Department. | Senate | Sen. Lautenberg, Frank R. [D-NJ] | NJ | D | L000123 | 19 | Expresses the sense of Congress that copyright protection is essential for computer software and lack of such protection or the use of other legal protections incorporating compulsory licensing would undermine the computer software industry here and abroad. States that any nation's withdrawal of copyright protection or instigation of broad compulsory licensing of software should be opposed under the Universal Copyright Convention or through other avenues. | 2025-01-03T19:04:17Z | |
| 98-hr-5788 | 98 | hr | 5788 | A bill to amend the Consumer Product Safety Act to make that Act applicable to amusement devices permanently fixed to a site. | Commerce | 1984-06-06 | 1984-09-18 | For Further Action See H.R.5790. | House | Rep. Porter, John Edward [R-IL-10] | IL | R | P000444 | 0 | Amends the Consumer Product Safety Act to grant the Consumer Product Safety Commission jurisdiction over amusement rides located at fixed sites. | 2024-02-05T14:30:09Z | |
| 98-hr-5790 | 98 | hr | 5790 | Amusement Park Safety Act of 1984 | Commerce | 1984-06-06 | 1984-10-03 | Received in the Senate and read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce. | House | Rep. Simon, Paul [D-IL-22] | IL | D | S000423 | 1 | (Measure passed House, amended, roll call #430 (300-119)) Amusement Park Safety Act of 1984 - Amends the Consumer Product Safety Act to define the term "amusement ride" to mean any device: (1) which carries or conveys passengers over a fixed or restricted route or course within a defined area for purposes of amusing the passengers; and which is customarily controlled or directed by a person employed for the purpose of operating the ride. Applies the provisions of such Act to any amusement ride which is not permanently fixed to a site. Declares that an amusement ride which is permanently fixed to a site is not a consumer product for the purposes of promulgating safety standards or bans regarding such rides. Permits the Consumer Product Safety Commission to release information from which the public can readily ascertain the identity of the amusement ride manufacturer or owner-operator. Requires the Commission to give notice and summary not less than 30 days prior to the public disclosure unless the agency determines that public health and safety requires a shorter period of notice and such finding is published in the Federal Register. Requires the Commission to provide the amusement ride operator with a reasonable opportunity to submit comments to the agency regarding such information. Requires the Commission to notify an amusement ride operator if it intends to disclose a document the operator claims to be inaccurate. Permits an operator, prior to the release of such a document, to bring an action in district court to enjoin such disclosure. Requires immediate notification of the Comission if any amusement ride operator obtains information which reasonably supports the conclusion that one of the amusement rides the operator owns contains a defect which could create a substantial product hazard. Authorizes the Commission to order correction of an amusement ride defect if it determines that an amusement ride presents a substantial product hazard and that corrective action is in the public interest. Permits the C… | 2025-01-14T18:51:33Z | |
| 98-sjres-304 | 98 | sjres | 304 | A joint resolution to designate the month of October 1984 as "National Quality Month". | Commerce | 1984-06-06 | 1984-09-28 | Became Public Law No: 98-436. | Senate | Sen. Helms, Jesse [R-NC] | NC | R | H000463 | 45 | Designates October 1984 as National Quality Month. | 2025-07-21T19:32:26Z | |
| 98-hr-5767 | 98 | hr | 5767 | A bill to amend the Small Business Act to require that 10 percent of the amounts appropriated for the acquisition of goods and services by contract be set aside for small business concerns owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. | Commerce | 1984-05-31 | 1984-07-25 | Referred to Subcommittee on SBA & SBIC Authority, Minority Enterprise, and General Small Business Problems. | House | Rep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-1] | MI | D | C000714 | 0 | Amends the Small Business Act to require not less than ten percent of the amounts appropriated for the acquisition of goods and services by contract be set aside for small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. | 2024-02-07T15:46:26Z | |
| 98-hr-5687 | 98 | hr | 5687 | Corporation for Small Business Investment Charter Act | Commerce | 1984-05-21 | 1984-05-31 | Referred to Subcommittee on SBA & SBIC Authority, Minority Enterprise, and General Small Business Problems. | House | Rep. Mitchell, Parren J. [D-MD-7] | MD | D | M000826 | 0 | Corporation for Small Business Investment Charter Act - Amends the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to provide that references to small business investment companies operating under the Act shall be deemed to refer to small business investment companies operating under the provisions of this Act. Includes in the term "small business investment company" any organization which is qualified to conduct business with the Corporation for Small Business Investment. Requires small business investment companies to provide a source of equity capital for incorporated and unincorporated small businesses under such terms as the small business investment company may fix in accordance with the rules of the Corporation. (Currently, such capital is provided by small business investment companies in accordance with the regulations of the Small Business Administration.) Provides that small business investment companies may provide to small businesses: (1) equity investments and loans on a participation or guaranteed basis; and (2) consulting and advisory services on a fee basis. Establishes the Corporation for Small Business Investment. Authorizes the Corporation to: (1) make loans to small business investment companies; (2) purchase preferred securities, debentures, and guarantee debentures issued by such companies; and (3) act as issuer of such securities. Requires the Corporation to establish criteria for the qualification of: (1) small business investment companies to conduct business with such corporation; and (2) small business investment companies whose investments will be made solely in small businesses which will help facilitate the ownership in such businesses by persons who have been hampered by social or economic disadvantages. Permits the purchase of stock in small business investment companies by national banks. Authorizes small business investment companies to: (1) purchase stock issued by the Corporation; (2) borrow money; and (3) issue its debenture bonds, promissory notes, or other obligations under condi… | 2025-08-29T17:38:49Z | |
| 98-s-2686 | 98 | s | 2686 | Corporation for Small Business Investment Charter Act | Commerce | 1984-05-17 | 1984-05-17 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business. | Senate | Sen. Weicker, Lowell P., Jr. [R-CT] | CT | R | W000253 | 1 | Corporation for Small Business Investment Charter Act - Amends the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to provide that references to small business investment companies operating under the Act shall be deemed to refer to small business investment companies operating under the provisions of this Act. Includes in the term "small business investment company" any organization which is qualified to conduct business with the Corporation for Small Business Investment. Requires small business investment companies to provide a source of equity capital for incorporated and unincorporated small businesses under such terms as the small business investment company may fix in accordance with the rules of the Corporation. (Currently, such capital is provided by small business investment companies in accordance with the regulations of the Small Business Administration.) Provides that small business investment companies may provide to small businesses: (1) equity investments and loans on a participation or guaranteed basis; and (2) consulting and advisory services on a fee basis. Establishes the Corporation for Small Business Investment. Authorizes the Corporation to: (1) make loans to small business investment companies; (2) purchase preferred securities, debentures, and guarantee debentures issued by such companies; and (3) act as issuer of such securities. Requires the Corporation to establish criteria for the qualification of: (1) small business investment companies to conduct business with such corporation; and (2) small business investment companies whose investments will be made solely in small businesses which will help facilitate the ownership in such businesses by persons who have been hampered by social or economic disadvantages. Permits the purchase of stock in small business investment companies by national banks. Authorizes small business investment companies to: (1) purchase stock issued by the Corporation; (2) borrow money; and (3) issue its debenture bonds, promissory notes, or other obligations under cond… | 2025-08-29T17:41:37Z | |
| 98-hr-5638 | 98 | hr | 5638 | Textile Fiber and Wool Products Identification Improvement Act | Commerce | 1984-05-10 | 1984-06-28 | Subcommittee Hearings Held. | House | Rep. Broyhill, James T. [R-NC-10] | NC | R | B000966 | 79 | Textile Fiber and Wool Products Identification Improvement Act - Amends the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act and the Wool Products Labeling Act of 1939 to require a textile fiber or wool product to be so labeled if it has been processed or manufactured in the United States. Requires the product, as well as the package in which it is contained, to be labeled as to country of origin. Provides that such requirement shall not be construed as requiring such labeling on each hosiery product contained in a package as long as such package is labeled. Requires catalog sales descriptions and other advertisements for textile and wool products to contain country of origin information. Requires that the identification label on imported textile fiber or wool products be affixed to the most conspicuous place on the inner side of the product. | 2025-08-29T17:38:14Z | |
| 98-hr-5630 | 98 | hr | 5630 | Toy Safety Act of 1984 | Commerce | 1984-05-09 | 1984-06-07 | Clean Bill H.R.5818 Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee in Lieu. | House | Rep. Waxman, Henry A. [D-CA-24] | CA | D | W000215 | 1 | Toy Safety Act of 1984 - Amends the Federal Hazardous Substances Act to permit the Consumer Product Safety Commission to order a manufacturer of a toy or other article intended for use by children that has been determined to create a substantial risk of injury to children, to: (1) give public notice of such danger; (2) mail such notice to each manufacturer, distributor, or dealer; and (3) mail such notice to every person to whom the person giving the notice knows such toy or other article intended for used by children was delivered or sold. Permits the Commission to order the manufacturer, distributor, or dealer either to repair such toy so that it will not create a risk of injury, to replace such toy with a safe equivalent toy or article, or to refund the purchase price. | 2025-08-29T17:39:05Z | |
| 98-s-2650 | 98 | s | 2650 | Toy Safety Act of 1984 | Commerce | 1984-05-09 | 1984-09-12 | Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Voice Vote. | Senate | Sen. Kasten, Robert W., Jr. [R-WI] | WI | R | K000019 | 12 | (Measure passed Senate, amended) Toy Safety Act of 1984 - Amends the Federal Hazardous Substances Act to permit the Consumer Product Safety Commission, after it determines that any toy or other article intended for use by children that is not a banned hazardous substance creates a substantial risk of injury to children, to order the manufacturer or any distributor or dealer of the toy or article to take any one or more of the following actions: (1) to give public notice that the toy or article creates a risk of injury to children; (2) to mail such notice to each manufacturer, distributor, or dealer; or (3) to mail such notice to every person to whom the person giving notice knows such toy or article was delivered or sold. Permits the Commission, after offering interested persons an opportunity for a hearing, to order the manufacturer, distributor, or dealer either to repair such toy so that it will not create a risk of injury, to replace it with a safe equivalent toy or article, or to refund the purchase price. Declares that such an order may prohibit the person to whom it applies from manufacturing for sale, offering for sale, distributing in commerce, or importing into the customs territory of the United States (or any combination of such actions) the toy or article with respect to which the order was issued. | 2025-01-14T18:51:33Z | |
| 98-hr-5624 | 98 | hr | 5624 | A bill to require 70 percent of the shareholders of certain corporations to approve compensation paid in excess of certain limitations to employees of such corporations. | Commerce | 1984-05-08 | 1984-05-15 | Referred to Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Consumer Protection and Finance. | House | Rep. Weaver, James H. [D-OR-4] | OR | D | W000227 | 1 | Prohibits certain corporations from paying compensation to any employee in excess of 2,500 percent of the present cash value of all compensation received by the least compensated full time employee of that corporation unless such compensation is approved by a 70 percent vote of all shareholders of such corporation. Limits applicability of this Act to U.S. corporations which meet specified criteria, including having at least $100,000,000 in total property, total sales, or total assets. | 2024-02-05T14:30:09Z | |
| 98-hr-5573 | 98 | hr | 5573 | Local Government Antitrust Act of 1983 | Commerce | 1984-05-02 | 1984-05-30 | Subcommittee Hearings Held. | House | Rep. Stump, Bob [R-AZ-3] | AZ | R | S001044 | 1 | Local Government Antitrust Act of 1983 - Declares that Federal antitrust laws shall not apply to laws or actions of local governments, excluding activities involving the sale of goods or services by such a government in competition with private persons, except to the extent Federal antitrust laws would apply to a similar State law or action. | 2025-08-29T17:39:37Z | |
| 98-hr-5525 | 98 | hr | 5525 | Semiconductor Chip Protection Act of 1984 | Commerce | 1984-04-26 | 1984-06-11 | House Incorporated this Measure in S.1201 as an Amendment. | House | Rep. Edwards, Don [D-CA-10] | CA | D | E000064 | 74 | (Measure passed House, amended, roll call #221 (388-0)) Semiconductor Chip Protection Act of 1984 - Extends sui generis protection to original mask works fixed in semiconductor chip products. Defines a mask work as the two- and three-dimensional features of shape, pattern, and configuration of the surface of the layers of a semiconductor chip product which portray the appearance of a product or convey information. Requires as a condition of protection that: (1) the owner of the mask work be a resident or citizen of the United States or of a country which is party to a protection treaty to which the United States is also a party on the date the work is first commercially exploited or registered; (2) the work is first commercially exploited in the United States; or (3) the mask work comes within the scope of a presidential proclamation extending reciprocal protection to the works of foreign citizens or residents. Vests exclusive rights in the mask work in the owner who may transfer, convey, or bequeath such interest. Recognizes the first registered transfer in case of a conflict. Sets the protection term for mask works at ten years from date of registration or first commercial exploitation, whichever comes first. Sets forth the exclusive rights of the owner of such a protection, including the right to: (1) reproduce the mask; (2) import or distribute a semiconductor chip product in which the mask work is embodied; and (3) cause another to perform such acts. Excludes from an owner's exclusive rights a mask work used for educational purposes or an innocent purchaser of a semiconductor chip product. Protects works registered within two years of first commercial exploitation. Sets forth administrative procedures for the Register of Copyrights. Permits the owner of the mask work to place a notice of protection on such works which includes the words 'mask work' or M in a circle, the year the work was first fixed in a semiconductor chip product, and the name of the owner of the work. Entitles the owner of a mask wo… | 2025-04-07T14:20:38Z | |
| 98-hr-5529 | 98 | hr | 5529 | Agricultural Patent Reform Act of 1984 | Commerce | 1984-04-26 | 1984-07-26 | Clean Bill H.R.6034 Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee in Lieu. | House | Rep. Glickman, Dan [D-KS-4] | KS | D | G000240 | 35 | Agricultural Patent Reform Act of 1984 - Amends the patent laws to extend the terms of patents which emcompass 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. Directs the Commissioner of Patents 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, and analogous products provisions of the Act of March 4, 1913; (3) any pesticide subject to regulation under the Federal Insectide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act; and (4) any chemical substance or mixture subject to regulation under the Toxic Substances Control Act. | 2025-08-29T17:37:38Z | |
| 98-hr-5532 | 98 | hr | 5532 | Trademark Counterfeiting Act of 1984 | Commerce | 1984-04-26 | 1984-08-02 | Clean Bill H.R.6071 Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee in Lieu. | House | Rep. Hughes, William J. [D-NJ-2] | NJ | D | H000930 | 0 | Trademark Counterfeiting Act of 1984 - Amends the Federal criminal code to make it a Federal offense to violate the Trademark Act or the Olympic Charter Act by the intentional use of a counterfeit trademark or the unauthorized use of the Olympic symbol. Establishes penalties. Increases such penalties for a second or subsequent conviction under this Act. | 2025-08-29T17:41:18Z | |
| 98-hr-5536 | 98 | hr | 5536 | A bill to prevent a franchisor from operating, or authorizing the operation of, a new marketing premises within the marketing area of an existing franchised marketing premises if the new premises will have a significant impact on the sales of the existing franchised premises. | Commerce | 1984-04-26 | 1984-05-01 | Referred to Subcommittee on Commerce, Transportation and Tourism. | House | Rep. Moakley, John Joseph [D-MA-9] | MA | D | M000834 | 0 | Prohibits a franchisor from operating or authorizing the operation of any marketing premises for a product or service under a trademark in the marketing area of an existing marketing premises for such product or service. Excludes from such prohibition new premises which it is anticipated will not reduce the existing franchise's sales by ten percent or more. Subjects disagreements on such exclusion to arbitration. Entitles an invaded franchisee to civil relief and to attorney's fees if such franchisee prevails. Reserves the question of exemplary damages to the court. Supersedes all State and local law in such area. | 2024-02-05T14:30:09Z | |
| 98-s-2589 | 98 | s | 2589 | A bill to amend the Federal Trade Commission Act to impose certain requirements with respect to the acquisition of substantial energy reserves holders, and for other purposes. | Commerce | 1984-04-25 | 1984-04-25 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary. | Senate | Sen. Kassebaum, Nancy Landon [R-KS] | KS | R | K000017 | 0 | Amends the Federal Trade Commission Act with respect to a consent agreement proposed by the Federal Trade Commission, a consent decree proposed for submission to a court of competent jurisdiction, or an order issued by the Commission or a court with respect to an acquisition of a substantial energy reserve holder which provides for the divestiture of any part of the assets of such holder or of the person acquiring such holder, to prohibit such agreement, decree, or order from becoming final before the required divestiture has been approved by the Commission or the court. Declares that if a substantial energy reserve holder is acquired in such an acquisition, or if such a holder is acquired and an action or proceeding has been commenced by a public party on or after January 1, 1984, to declare the acquisition a violation of this Act or of an Antitrust Act, the substantial energy reserve holder shall be maintained as a separate viable business entity. Prohibits such an entity 's assets from being commingled with those of the person making the acquisition, and prohibits the person making the acquisition from electing more than 20 percent of the board of directors of such holder, until: (1) 60 days after the date the consent agreement, consent decree, or order becomes final; or (2) if the final agreement, decree, or order does not require divestiture, the date it becomes final. Makes January 1, 1984, the effective date for the restrictions set forth by this Act. Permits the Federal Trade Commission or the Assistant Attorney General to extend the waiting period for evaluation of a proposed acquisition for an additional period of not more than 60 days if the net sales or total assets of the person proposed to be acquired exceed $2,000,000,000. | 2025-07-21T19:32:26Z | |
| 98-hr-5452 | 98 | hr | 5452 | A bill to amend the Federal Trade Commission Act to impose certain requirements with respect to the acquisition of substantial energy reserves holders, and for other purposes. | Commerce | 1984-04-12 | 1984-05-16 | Joint Hearings Held by Subcommittee on Fossil and Synthetic Fuels and by Subcommittee on Commerce, Transportation and Tourism. | House | Rep. Florio, James J. [D-NJ-1] | NJ | D | F000215 | 11 | Amends the Federal Trade Commission Act with respect to a consent agreement proposed by the Federal Trade Commission, a consent decree proposed for submission to a court of competent jurisdiction, or an order issued by the Commission or a court with respect to an acquisition of a substantial energy reserve holder which provides for the divestiture of any part of the assets of such holder or of the person acquiring such holder, to prohibit such agreement, decree, or order from becoming final before the required divestiture has been approved by the Commission or the court. Declares that if a substantial energy reserve holder is acquired in such an acquisition, or if such a holder is acquired and an action or proceeding has been commenced by a public party on or after January 1, 1984, to declare the acquisition a violation of this Act or of an Antitrust Act, the substantial energy reserve holder shall be maintained as a separate viable business entity. Prohibits such an entity's assets from being commingled with those of the person making the acquisition, and prohibits the person making the acquisition from electing more than 20 percent of the board of directors of such holder, until: (1) 60 days after the date the consent agreement, consent decree, or order becomes final; or (2) if the final agreement, decree, or order does not require divestiture, the date becomes final. Makes January 1, 1984, the effective date for the restrictions set forth by this Act. Permits the Federal Trade Commission or the Assistant Attorney General to extend the waiting period for evaluation of a proposed acquisition for an additional period of not more than 60 days if the net sales or total assets of the person proposed to be acquired exceed $2,000,000,000. | 2024-02-05T14:30:09Z | |
| 98-hr-5374 | 98 | hr | 5374 | Corporate Community Investment and Jobs Preservation Act of 1984 | Commerce | 1984-04-05 | 1984-04-10 | Referred to Subcommittee on Monopolies and Commercial Law. | House | Rep. Coyne, William J. [D-PA-14] | PA | D | C000846 | 3 | Corporate Community Investment and Jobs Preservation Act of 1984 - Requires each corporation involved in a proposed merger to file a community impact statement if: (1) a premerger notification is required under the Clayton Act; and (2) the merger will result in a loss of jobs in any jurisdiction for more than 100 employees of an establishment of one of the corporations involved. Requires such statement to include: (1) the number of jobs to be reduced; (2) the reasons for such reduction; (3) any alternative to such reduction; (4) a plan to minimize the effects of such reduction on the remaining employees and on the local government of the affected area; (5) the nature of the business of the corporation establishment at which the reduction will occur; and (6) the economic circumstances of such corporation,including the profitability of the operation of the affected establishment and any plan for future investments, employment, and production at such establishment. Requires the statement to be submitted to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Department of Justice, the employees of each corporation involved and representatives of their labor unions, and the local governments of the areas where establishments of such corporations are located on the same day that the premerger notification is filed under the Clayton Act. Directs the FTC, if it receives a request within a specified period from such a local government or from ten percent of the employees of one of the corporations, to hold public hearings on and investigate the statement to determine: (1) the economic reasons for any proposed reduction in employment; (2) the estimated economic losses to employees of the establishment where the reduction will occur, the local government having jurisdiction over such establishment, and persons in the geographic area of such establishment; and (3) recommendations of any local government, any employee labor union, or any other person respecting the proposed merger. Directs the FTC to publish a report containing the … | 2025-08-29T17:40:49Z | |
| 98-hr-5334 | 98 | hr | 5334 | Small Business Development Center Improvement Act of 1984 | Commerce | 1984-04-03 | 1984-05-14 | House Incorporated this Measure (Amended) in S.1429 as an Amendment. | House | Rep. Mitchell, Parren J. [D-MD-7] | MD | D | M000826 | 1 | (Measure passed House, amended) Small Business Development Center Improvement Act of 1984 - Amends the Small Business Act to require the term for grants under the Small Business Development Center program be based upon a calendar year or coincide with the Federal fiscal year. Provides that, with respect to the requirement that indirect costs or in-kind contributions paid for by a Federal program shall not be included in any matching non-Federal additional amount, salaries paid by a grant applicant shall not be treated as other than in-kind contributions unless paid to full-time employees or to other than full-time employees if such amount does not exceed the aggregate amount paid to full-time employees. Provides for the continuation of financial assistance to establish small business development centers under the Small Business Development Center program. Repeals the requirement that an applicant to assist small businesses obtain approval of an area plan by the Small Business Administration (SBA) when applying for assistance under the program. Provides that such applicants must consult with the SBA when providing assistance to small businesses. Requires that each small business development intake center and intake subcenter: (1) have a full-time staff; and (2) to the extent practicable be located in an easily accessible facility in order to provide maximum benefits to small businesses. Requires the SBA to develop a program for a biannual onsite evaluation measuring the effectiveness of each small business development center (Currently such evaluations are conducted annually.) Requires the SBA's program proposal to be submitted to the Committee on Small Business of both Houses by January 31, 1985. Provides that, in lieu of the current contract, the SBA may study the development of an in-house computer system to provide a management information system for the Small Business Development Center program. Requires that any such change shall not occur prior to October 1, 1986, nor until such time as the SBA evaluates … | 2024-02-07T15:46:26Z | |
| 98-hr-5298 | 98 | hr | 5298 | White House Conference on Small Business Authorization Act | Commerce | 1984-03-29 | 1984-05-08 | Became Public Law No: 98-276. | House | Rep. Mitchell, Parren J. [D-MD-7] | MD | D | M000826 | 53 | (Measure passed House, amended) White House Conference on Small Business Authorization Act - Calls upon the President to conduct a National White House Conference on Small Business, not earlier than January 1, 1985, and not later than September 1, 1986, to: (1) increase public awareness of the contributions of small business; (2) identify small business problems; (3) examine the status of minority and women small business owners; (4) assist small business in carrying out its role as the nation's job creator; (5) assemble small businesses to develop specific recommendations for executive and legislative action; and (6) review the status of recommendations adopted at the Conference. Authorizes and directs Federal departments, agencies, and instrumentalities to provide support and assistance to the planning of such conference. Requires a final report of the Conference, within six months from the date such conference is convened, to be submitted to the President and the Congress. Requires the Small Business Administration to report annually to the Congress for the next three years following the submission of the final report of the Conference. Authorizes appropriations. | 2024-02-07T15:46:26Z | |
| 98-hr-5305 | 98 | hr | 5305 | A bill to protect consumers and franchised automobile dealers from unfair price discrimination in the sale by the manufacturer of new motor vehicles, and for other purposes. | Commerce | 1984-03-29 | 1984-07-25 | Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended). | House | Rep. Taylor, G. [R-MO-7] | MO | R | T000075 | 12 | Prohibits an automobile manufacturer from selling or leasing or offering to sell or lease any new automobile in interstate commerce to any person (including an automobile dealer) during any sales period at a price which is higher than the lowest price at which any other automobile of the same model, similarly equipped, is sold or leased or offered for sale or lease, by the manufacturer during that sales period. Sets forth specified exceptions to such prohibition. Permits any person to bring an action against an automobile manufacturer to require compliance with this Act. Declares that nothing in this Act shall repeal, modify, or otherwise affect the application of any provision of the Federal antitrust laws. | 2024-02-05T14:30:09Z | |
| 98-s-2489 | 98 | s | 2489 | Small Business Competition Enhancement Act of 1984 | Commerce | 1984-03-29 | 1984-08-07 | Indefinitely postponed by Senate by Unanimous Consent. | Senate | Sen. Weicker, Lowell P., Jr. [R-CT] | CT | R | W000253 | 32 | (Measure indefinitely postponed in Senate, H. R. 4209 passed in lieu) Small Business and Federal Procurement Competition Enhancement Act of 1984 - Amends the Small Business Act to set forth specified evaluation factors to be included by Federal agencies with respect to solicitations for competitive and noncompetitive awards of development or production contracts for a major system. Provides a waiver for certain evaluation factors if the contracting officer determines in writing that such provisions would not be applicable to the production contract or would not be in the best interests of the Government. Requires an agency before it can establish or enforce any existing prequalification requirement with respect to the awarding of a contract to: (1) prepare a written justification stating the necessity for establishing such requirement and the reasons why free and open competition is not feasible; (2) specify in writing and make available upon request all standards which a contractor, or its product, must satisfy in order to become qualified; (3) specify an estimate of the testing and evaluation costs to be incurred by such contractor to become qualified; (4) ensure that such contractor is provided, upon request, an opportunity to demonstrate its ability to meet such standards; and (5) promptly inform such contractor as to whether qualification has been attained. Provides that a person who is denied an opportunity to demonstrate their ability to meet such standards may not be denied the opportunity to submit and have considered an offer for a contract solely because such person: (1) is not on a qualified bidder's list; or (2) in the case of a contract for the purchase of a product, does not have its product on a qualified product's list. Sets forth the procedures an agency must follow in the event that the number of available qualified sources or products is less than two actual manufacturers or the products of two actual manufacturers, respectively. Requires the examination and revalidation of a prequalificati… | 2025-08-29T17:40:49Z | |
| 98-s-2487 | 98 | s | 2487 | White House Conference on Small Business Authorization Act | Commerce | 1984-03-28 | 1984-04-11 | Indefinitely postponed by Senate by Voice Vote. | Senate | Sen. Weicker, Lowell P., Jr. [R-CT] | CT | R | W000253 | 60 | (Reported to Senate from the Committee on Small Business with amendment, S. Rept. 98-380) White House Conference on Small Business Authorization Act - Calls upon the President to conduct a National White House Conference on Small Business, not earlier than January 1, 1985, and not later than September 1, 1986, to: (1) increase public awareness of the contributions of small business; (2) identify small business problems; (3) examine the status of minority and women small business owners; (4) assist small business in carrying out its role as the nation's job creator; (5) assemble small businesses to develop specific recommendations for executive and legislative action; and (6) review the status of recommendations adopted at the Conference. Authorizes and directs Federal departments, agencies, and instrumentalities to provide support and assistance to the planning of such conference. Requires a final report of the Conference, within six months from the date such conference is convened, to be submitted to the President and the Congress. Requires the Small Business Administration to report annually to the Congress for the next three years following the submission of the final report of the Conference. Authorizes appropriations. | 2025-01-14T17:16:56Z | |
| 98-hr-5264 | 98 | hr | 5264 | Agricultural Producers Antitrust Access Act | Commerce | 1984-03-27 | 1984-03-29 | Referred to Subcommittee on Monopolies and Commercial Law. | House | Rep. Smith, Neal Edward [D-IA-4] | IA | D | S000596 | 4 | Agricultural Producers Antitrust Access Act - Amends the Clayton Act to provide that no person shall be barred from commencing an antitrust action to recover damage resulting from any underpayment received on the sale of cattle, hogs, sheep, grains, or soybeans because such person is not a direct seller to the defendant, provided that such person possessed the livestock or grain for at least 21 days prior to sale. Prohibits such person from recovering any amount of such an underpayment that has been passed on to other persons who are entitled to recover damages themselves. | 2025-08-29T17:40:29Z | |
| 98-hr-5237 | 98 | hr | 5237 | Fair Competition Act of 1984 | Commerce | 1984-03-22 | 1984-03-26 | Referred to Subcommittee on Monopolies and Commercial Law. | House | Rep. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA-7] | MA | D | M000133 | 4 | Fair Competition Act of 1984 - Amends the Clayton Act to prohibit any person engaged in commerce from selling, or contracting to sell, goods below cost where the effect may be to injure, destroy, or prevent competition in or affecting commerce. Authorizes any person injured in business or property as a result of a violation of this Act to sue for treble damages in U.S. district court. | 2025-08-29T17:37:54Z | |
| 98-hr-5219 | 98 | hr | 5219 | Energy Antimonopoly Act of 1984 | Commerce | 1984-03-21 | 1984-03-26 | Referred to Subcommittee on Monopolies and Commercial Law. | House | Rep. Simon, Paul [D-IL-22] | IL | D | S000423 | 0 | Energy Antimonopoly Act of 1984 - Amends the Clayton Act to prohibit any major oil producer from: (1) merging or consolidating with any person engaged in commerce; (2) obtaining control over another person through the acquisition of stock or other share capital; or (3) acquiring a majority of the assets of another person if such person has assets exceeding $100,000,000. Defines a major oil producer as any person which alone or with subsidiaries produced within the United States, or had interests in, a total of 35,000,000 barrels or more of crude oil, condensate, or natural gas liquids during calendar year 1982. | 2025-08-29T17:37:39Z | |
| 98-hr-5153 | 98 | hr | 5153 | Basic Industries Merger, Acquisition, and Joint Ventures Study and Moratorium Act | Commerce | 1984-03-15 | 1984-03-21 | Subcommittee Hearings Held. | House | Rep. Florio, James J. [D-NJ-1] | NJ | D | F000215 | 2 | Basic Industries Mergers, Acquisitions, and Joint Ventures Study and Moratorium Act - Amends the Federal Trade Commission Act to require the Federal Trade Commission to conduct a comprehensive study and report to the President and Congress on the trend, causes, and effects of mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures involving petroleum companies, leading domestic automobile companies, and leading foreign automobile companies. Permits the Commission to designate other industries for inclusion in such study upon finding that mergers, acquisitions, or joint ventures involving companies in such an industry threaten national security, competition, employment, economic stability, innovation, or international competitiveness. Directs the Commission to evaluate specifically: (1) the trend of major energy concerns to acquire domestic petroleum supplies by acquiring domestic petroleum companies rather than through exploration and development of new petroleum reserves; and (2) the trends of domestic automobile manufacturers to import automobiles and components and to enter into joint ventures with foreign automobile manufacturers for marketing or production. Prohibits, during the period beginning on January 1, 1984, and ending with the expiration of the 16th month after enactment of this Act: (1) any person from acquiring control of a substantial energy reserve holder through a merger; (2) any leading domestic automobile manufacturer from acquiring control of another leading domestic automobile manufacturer or a leading foreign automobile manufacturer through a merger; (3) a leading foreign automobile manufacturer from acquiring control of a leading domestic automobile manufacturer through a merger; and (4) any leading domestic or foreign automobile manufacturer from being a party to a joint venture with another leading domestic automobile manufacturer for the production or marketing of motor vehicles for sale in the United States. Directs the Commission to specify the restrictions that shall apply during such period to… | 2025-08-29T17:42:09Z | |
| 98-s-2434 | 98 | s | 2434 | A bill to amend section 15 of the Small Business Act. | Commerce | 1984-03-15 | 1984-04-12 | Committee on Small Business. Hearings concluded. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 98-1166. | Senate | Sen. Boschwitz, Rudy [R-MN] | MN | R | B000647 | 3 | Amends the Small Business Act to require the Small Business Administration to assign to each major procurement center a breakout procurement center representative who shall: (1) review procurement method codes with the goal of encouraging increased competition among small business; (2) review procurement requirements which limit the opportunity for small businesses to compete as prime contractors; (3) review and conduct a value analysis of engineering change proposals to determine if such proposal will result in lower costs to the Government; and (4) review the systems that account for the access to and ownership of manufacturing data. Directs the Director of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization of each agency to assign technical advisors to assist each breakout procurement center representative. Sets forth the method for determining either an increase in the rate of basic pay or a payment of a cash award to a breakout procurement representative whenever it is determined that such representative has achieved a significant savings for the Government. Requires the Comptroller General to report to the Committees on Small Business of the House of Representatives and of the Senate regarding breakout procurement procedures. | 2025-01-14T17:16:56Z | |
| 98-hr-5137 | 98 | hr | 5137 | A bill to amend the Clayton Act to temporarily prohibit certain involuntary acquisitions of persons engaged in commerce or in any activity affecting commerce. | Commerce | 1984-03-14 | 1984-03-23 | Subcommittee Hearings Held. | House | Rep. Rodino, Peter W., Jr. [D-NJ-10] | NJ | D | R000374 | 0 | Amends the Clayton Act to prohibit, for a specified time, any person engaged in commerce or in any activity affecting commerce from obtaining control of another such person by acquiring the stock, other share capital, or assets of such other person if such other person disapproves such acquisition. | 2021-06-29T21:11:06Z | |
| 98-hr-5108 | 98 | hr | 5108 | A bill to amend the Magnuson-Moss Warranty--Federal Trade Commission Improvement Act to require that consumer product warranties include a statement of the availability from the manufacturer of spare parts. | Commerce | 1984-03-13 | 1984-03-15 | Referred to Subcommittee on Commerce, Transportation and Tourism. | House | Rep. Byron, Beverly B. [D-MD-6] | MD | D | B001220 | 5 | Amends the Magnuson-Moss Warranty-Federal Trade Commission Improvement Act to require that consumer product warranties include a statement of the period (if any) during which spare parts for the product will be available from the manufacturer after the expiration of the warranty. Makes the manufacturer or supplier of a consumer product which provides such a statement of the availability of spare parts liable in accordance with the rules of the Commission for the replacement of the product. Makes such requirement applicable with respect to warranties issued for consumer products after the expiration of one year from the date of enactment of this Act. | 2024-02-05T14:30:09Z | |
| 98-hr-5041 | 98 | hr | 5041 | Joint Research and Development Act of 1984 | Commerce | 1984-03-06 | 1984-08-09 | House Incorporated H.R.5041 into S.1841 as an Amendment. | House | Rep. Rodino, Peter W., Jr. [D-NJ-10] | NJ | D | R000374 | 22 | (Measure passed House, amended, roll call #110 (417-0)) Joint Research and Development Act of 1984 - Declares that no joint research and development venture shall be deemed illegal per se under the Federal antitrust laws or under any similar State law. Excludes from the term "joint research and development venture" any activity in which two or more participating parties: (1) exchange information regarding the sales, marketing, or distribution of any product, process, or service; or (2) restrict or require the participation by any party in another research and development program, the production or marketing by any party of any product, process, or service, or the sale, licensing, or sharing by any party of any invention or development neither developed by such venture nor integrally related to a product or process developed by such venture. Permits any party to a joint research and development venture to file with the Attorney General and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) a written notice disclosing: (1) the parties to such venture; and (2) the nature, objectives, and duration of the venture. Directs the Attorney General or the FTC, within 60 days after receiving such notice, to publish in the Federal Register a notice identifying the parties to such venture and the area of planned activity and duration of such venture. Exempts material submitted as part of such notices from public disclosure. Limits the amount that may be recovered on a claim brought by a person or by a State on behalf of its residents for an injury to business or property sustained as a result of a violation of a State or Federal antitrust law, to the amount of the actual damages sustained, interest on such damages from the date the action is filed or from the date of injury, as specified, and the cost of the suit, if: (1) the claim is based on conduct under a joint research and development venture that is described in the venture notice filed with the Attorney General and the FTC; and (2) such claim is filed after such notice is publis… | 2025-07-21T19:32:26Z | |
| 98-hr-5003 | 98 | hr | 5003 | Uniform Science and Technology Research and Development Utilization Act | Commerce | 1984-03-01 | 1984-08-15 | Reported to House (Amended) by House Committee on Science and Technology. Report No: 98-983 (Part I). | House | Rep. Fuqua, Don [D-FL-2] | FL | D | F000430 | 5 | (Reported to House from the Committee on Science and Technology with amendment, H. Rept. 98-983 (Part I)) Uniform Science and Technology Research and Development Utilization Act - Title I: Policy - States the findings and purpose of this Act. Title II: Implementation - Directs the Federal Coordinating Council for Science, Engineering, and Technology, acting through a committee chaired by the Secretary of Commerce, to make recommendations to the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy and to the Secretary with regard to uniform polices, guidelines and practices to carry out this Act. Requires the transmission to Federal agencies, through appropriate channels, of Council recommendations adopted by the Director. Permits the Council to make a continuing analysis of how Federal agencies implement policies and practices under this Act and to report annually on its efforts. Permits the Secretary of Commerce to assist Federal agencies in promoting the licensing, utilization, and eventual commercialization of Government-owned inventions. Title III: Allocation of Rights - Provides that Federal contractors may elect to own inventions they make under Government research and development contracts unless: (1) it is determined by the Government that the invention is needed for foreign intelligence or counterintelligence purposes; (2) the contractor is not located in the United State or is a foreign government; (3) it is determined that government rights in the subject invention beyond the license right are necessary for the agency concerned to fulfill its obligations under certain international agreements; (4) it is determined on a case-by-case ownership; or (5) the contract includes the operation of a Government-owned, contractor-operated facility of the Department of Energy primarily dedicated to that Department's naval nuclear propulsion or weapons related programs. Requires such determinations to e made in writing and filed with the Council. Requires each contract to include a patent rights clause that … | 2025-01-16T12:12:20Z | |
| 98-s-2375 | 98 | s | 2375 | Small Business Secondary Market Improvements Act of 1984 | Commerce | 1984-02-29 | 1984-07-10 | Became Public Law No: 98-352. | Senate | Sen. Weicker, Lowell P., Jr. [R-CT] | CT | R | W000253 | 13 | (Measure passed Senate, amended) Small Business Secondary Market Improvements Act of 1984 - Amends the Small Business Act to require the Small Business Administration (SBA) to develop procedures for the promotion of a secondary market for the portions of loans guaranteed by the SBA. Authorizes the SBA to: (1) issue trust certificates (based on and backed by a trust or pool) representing ownership of all or a fractional part of the guaranteed portion of loans guaranteed by the SBA (except loans to State and local development companies); and (2) guarantee the payment on such certificates. Pledges the full faith and credit of the United States to guarantee such trust certificates. Prohibits the SBA from collecting any fee for such guarantees. Prohibits any State, local, or Federal law from precluding or limiting the SBA from exercising its ownership rights in the portions of loans constituting the trust or pool against which such certificates are issued. Requires the SBA to provide for a central registration of all loans and trust certificates sold pursuant to this Act. Authorizes the SBA to regulate brokers and dealers of such guaranteed loans and trust certificates. Requires the SBA, within nine months after the enactment of this Act, to consult with Federal and State agencies and officials, securities industry, financial institutions, and small businesses to develop regulations to implement this Act. Requires the SBA, not later than March 31 of each year, to transmit to the Committees on Small Business of both Houses of Congress a report on the secondary market operations during the preceding year. | 2025-01-14T17:16:56Z | |
| 98-hr-4963 | 98 | hr | 4963 | Joint Research and Development Act of 1984 | Commerce | 1984-02-28 | 1984-03-01 | Clean Bill to be Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee in Lieu. | House | Rep. Rodino, Peter W., Jr. [D-NJ-10] | NJ | D | R000374 | 11 | Joint Research and Development Act of 1984 - Declares that no joint research and development program shall be deemed illegal per se under the Federal antitrust laws or under any similar State law. Excludes from the term "joint research and development program" any activity in which two or more participating parties: (1) exchange information regarding the sales, marketing, or distribution of any product, process, or service; or (2) restrict or require the participation by any party in another research and development program, the production, marketing, or other commercial application by any party of any product, process, or service, or the sale, licensing, or sharing by any party of any invention not jointly developed under the program. Permits any party to a joint research and development program to file with the Attorney General and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) a written notice disclosing: (1) the parties to such program; (2) the nature, objectives, and duration of the program; and (3) the agreements made by the parties under the program. Directs the Attorney General or the FTC, within 60 days after receiving such notice, to publish in the Federal Register a notice identifying the parties to such program and the general nature and duration of such program. Exempts material submitted as part of such notices from public disclosure. Limits the amount that may be recovered in an action brought by a person or by a State on behalf of its residents for an injury to business or property sustained as a result of a violation of a State or Federal antitrust law, to the amount of the actual damages sustained, interest thereon, and the cost of the suit, if: (1) the action is based on conduct under a joint research and development program that is described in the program notice filed with the Attorney General and the FTC; and (2) such action is filed after the notice of such program is published in the Federal Register. Directs the court to award the prevailing party in such action a reasonable attorney's fee. … | 2025-08-29T17:40:54Z | |
| 98-hr-4964 | 98 | hr | 4964 | Uniform Patent Procedures Act of 1984 | Commerce | 1984-02-28 | 1984-05-15 | Referred to House Committee on Post Office and Civil Service Sequentially, for a Period Ending not Later than 6/15/84. | House | Rep. Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr. [R-WI-9] | WI | R | S000244 | 1 | Uniform Patent Procedures Act of 1984 - Sets forth the policy and objectives of this Act. Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to issue implementing regulations. Provides that Federal contractors may automatically own inventions they make under Government research and development contracts unless: (1) it is determined that the discovery is needed for foreign intelligence or counterintelligence purposes; (2) the contractor is not located in the United States or is a foreign government; or (3) it is determined on a case-by-case basis that exceptional circumstances require Federal ownership. Requires these determinations to be made in writing and filed with the Secretary. Provides that if a contractor does not elect to file a patent application, the Federal agency may then assert ownership. Provides that the agency may use a subject invention royalty free and can require that it be kept updated on utilization of the contractor. Provides that agencies may force contractors to grant licenses to competitors for using an invention made under Federal research and development contracts: (1) if effective steps are not being taken toward commercialization; (2) to alleviate serious health or safety needs not being satisfied by the contractor; or (3) to meet requirements for public use specified by Federal regulations not being satisfied by the contractor. Permits a contractor to appeal such a determination within 60 days to the United States Claims Court. Assures that the owner of a patent will not be deprived of any background patent or of any rights under such patent. Prohibits agencies from requiring contractors to give up privately developed technologies to competitors in order to secure a contract, unless specifically approved by the agency head with a written justification. Repeals specified provisions of the patent law. Specifies that nothing in this Act shall be construed to grant any civil or criminal immunity from any antitrust law of the United States. Provides that this Act becomes effective six months afte… | 2025-08-29T17:40:42Z | |
| 98-hr-4897 | 98 | hr | 4897 | A bill to amend the Clayton Act to provide for the consideration of certain mitigating factors in certain determinations. | Commerce | 1984-02-22 | 1984-02-27 | Referred to Subcommittee on Monopolies and Commercial Law. | House | Rep. Feighan, Edward F. [D-OH-19] | OH | D | F000059 | 3 | Amends the Clayton Act to require that the effects of actual and potential foreign competition in a domestic line of commerce and indications of a danger to the continued existence of that line of commerce be considered as mitigating factors in any determination as to whether the acquisition of the stock or assets of one corporation by another corporation may substantially lessen competition or tend to create a monopoly. | 2021-06-29T21:09:15Z | |
| 98-hjres-481 | 98 | hjres | 481 | A joint resolution to provide for the designation of April 15 to April 21, 1984, as "National Coin Week". | Commerce | 1984-02-09 | 1984-02-23 | Referred to Subcommittee on Census and Population. | House | Rep. Annunzio, Frank [D-IL-11] | IL | D | A000212 | 20 | Authorizes and requests the President to designate April 15 to April 21, 1984, as National Coin Week. | 2024-02-06T20:04:02Z | |
| 98-hr-4814 | 98 | hr | 4814 | Patent Invention Protection Act | Commerce | 1984-02-09 | 1984-06-27 | Subcommittee Hearings Held. | House | Rep. Albosta, Donald J. [D-MI-10] | MI | D | A000076 | 0 | Patent Invention Protection Act - Amends the patent laws to make it an infringement of patent to import into or sell in the United States without authority a product made in another country by a process patented in the United States. Makes it an infringement of patent to supply in the United States the material components of a patented invention for combination outside the United States, knowing that their combination in this country would constitute an infringement. | 2025-08-29T17:38:42Z | |
| 98-hr-4773 | 98 | hr | 4773 | Small Business Secondary Market Improvements Act of 1984 | Commerce | 1984-02-07 | 1984-06-25 | Other Measure S.2375 Passed House in Lieu. | House | Rep. Nowak, Henry [D-NY-33] | NY | D | N000163 | 45 | (Reported to House from the Committee on Small Business with amendment, H. Rept. 98-853) Small Business Secondary Market Improvements Act of 1984 - Amends the Small Business Act to require the Small Business Administration (SBA) to develop procedures for the promotion of a secondary market for the portions of loans guaranteed by the SBA. Authorizes the SBA to: (1) issue trust certificates (based on and backed by a trust or pool) representing ownership of all or a fractional part of the guaranteed portion of loans guaranteed by the SBA (except loans to State and local development companies); and (2) guarantee the payment on such certificates. Pledges the full faith and credit of the United States to guarantee such trust certificates. Prohibits the SBA from collecting any fee for such guarantees. Prohibits any State, local, or Federal law from precluding or limiting the SBA from exercising its ownership rights in the portions of loans constituting the trust or pool against which such certificates are issued. Requires the SBA to provide for a central registration of all loans and trust certificates sold pursuant to this Act. Authorizes the SBA to regulate brokers and dealers of such guaranteed loans and trust certificates. Requires the SBA, within nine months after the enactment of this Act, to consult with Federal and State agencies and officials, securities industry, financial institutions, and small businesses to develop regulations to implement this Act. Requires the SBA, not later than March 31 of each year, to transmit to the Committees on Small Business of both Houses a report on the secondary market operations during the preceding year. | 2024-02-07T15:46:26Z | |
| 98-hr-4718 | 98 | hr | 4718 | National Entrepreneurship Act | Commerce | 1984-02-01 | 1984-05-15 | Subcommittee Hearings Held. | House | Rep. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY-10] | NY | D | S000148 | 0 | National Entrepreneurship Act - Title I: State Pension Investment Units - Requires a pension investment unit of each State, in order to help accelerate such State's rate of economic growth and job creation, to: (1) identify and make recommendations to eliminate tax and legal barriers that prevent pension funds from investing a greater portion of their assets in the securities of young entrepreneurial corporations; (2) analyze and evaluate the long-term growth of such corporations; (3) help pension funds reduce the risk of investing in such corporations; and (4) collect and disseminate information about other investment options. Requires the Secretary of Labor to solicit proposals from States for the establishment and operation of State pension investment units. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to States to pay the Federal share of the cost of establishing and operating such units. Requires each State, in order to be eligible to receive such a grant, to establish a pension investment unit as an office within the State government. Requires each unit to establish a council composed of trustees and managers of pension plans established in the State and an Advisory Committee composed of representatives of participants in major public and private pension plans established in such State. Declares that the Federal share for each fiscal year shall be 50 percent. Authorizes appropriations through FY 1987. Terminates the authority granted by this title on September 30, 1987. Title II: State Venture Capital Corporation Assistance Act - Provides matching grants to States which establish or expand existing venture capital corporations. Sets forth the eligibility criteria for such a matching grant. Requires the Secretary of Commerce to monitor and evaluate annually the effectiveness of each corporation assisted under this title. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1985 through FY 1989. Title III: Secondary Mortgage Markets - Technology Development and Mortgage Assurance Corporation Act - Establishes the Technology Deve… | 2025-08-29T17:41:38Z | |
| 98-hr-4643 | 98 | hr | 4643 | Textile Fiber and Wool Products Identification Improvement Act | Commerce | 1984-01-25 | 1984-01-31 | Referred to Subcommittee on Commerce, Transportation and Tourism. | House | Rep. Broyhill, James T. [R-NC-10] | NC | R | B000966 | 68 | Textile Fiber and Wool Products Identification Improvement Act - Amends the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act and the Wool Products Labeling Act of 1939 to require a textile fiber or wool product to be so labeled if it has been processed or manufactured in the United States. Requires the product, as well as the package in which it is contained, to be labeled as to country of origin. Requires catalog sales descriptions and other advertisements for textile and wool products to contain country of origin information. Requires that the identification label on imported textile fiber or wool products be affixed to the most conspicuous place on the inner side of the product. Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to exempt from the additional duty for failure to mark those articles exported to the country of origin. | 2025-08-29T17:38:29Z | |
| 98-hr-4624 | 98 | hr | 4624 | A bill to provide relief to the victims of the 1979 Pearl River Flood. | Commerce | 1984-01-24 | 1984-02-01 | Referred to Subcommittee on SBA & SBIC Authority, Minority Enterprise, and General Small Business Problems. | House | Rep. Dowdy, Wayne [D-MS-4] | MS | D | D000466 | 0 | Requires the cancellation of loans issued by the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Farmers Home Administration (FmHA) to certain qualified persons who suffered sufficient damage or loss during the spring 1979 flood in Jackson, Mississippi. Provides that cancellation of all or a part of the principal or interest of such loans will be determined by the FmHA and the SBA on a case-by-case basis. | 2024-02-07T15:46:26Z | |
| 98-hr-4633 | 98 | hr | 4633 | Small Business Free Enterprise Act | Commerce | 1984-01-24 | 1984-02-10 | Referred to Subcommittee on Health and Safety. | House | Rep. Paul, Ron [R-TX-22] | TX | R | P000583 | 0 | Small Business Free Enterprise Act - Title I: Incentives - Subtitle A: Social Security Tax Reduction - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to eliminate employee and employer social security payroll taxes for employees of qualified small businesses. Subtitle B: Reduction in Capital Gain Tax Rates - Revises the computation of the alternative tax for the corporate capital gains of a qualified small business. Defines "qualified small business" as an entity which: (1) is actively engaged in a trade or business; (2) has no more than 20 employees during the taxable year; and (3) receives no government subsidies, grants, loans, or loan guarantees. Increases the deduction for the capital gains of an individual taxpayer who sells or exchanges qualified small business property. Exempts sales or exchanges of qualified small business property from the minimum tax. Subtitle C: Corporate Rate Reduction - Lowers the corporate income tax rate for qualified small business corporations to five percent of taxable income. Subtitle D: Other Incentives - Allows a qualified small business to write off the entire cost of a business asset as a depreciation expense in the first year after such asset is placed in service. Allows a full investment tax credit for such asset despite the taxpayer's election to use accelerated depreciation. Allows a qualified small business to elect to compute taxable income: (1) under the cash receipts and disbursement method of accounting; and (2) without any requirement to use inventories. Exempts qualified small businesses from the Federal minimum wage laws and the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Title II: Effective Dates - Sets forth effective dates for this Act. | 2025-08-29T17:39:30Z | |
| 98-hr-4502 | 98 | hr | 4502 | A bill to prohibit the designation of countries as beneficiary developing countries under title V of the Trade Act of 1974 unless adequate protection is provided for United States trademarks. | Commerce | 1983-11-18 | 1983-11-29 | Referred to Subcommittee on Trade. | House | Rep. Downey, Thomas J. [D-NY-2] | NY | D | D000471 | 9 | Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to prohibit the President from designating a country as a beneficiary developing country if the country does not have adequate laws or fails to enforce effectively laws that protect U.S. trademarks whether or not the trademarks are licensed or recognized in that country. Prohibits the President from taking such action unless there has been an opportunity for a public hearing. | 2024-02-07T16:32:33Z | |
| 98-hr-4515 | 98 | hr | 4515 | Small Business Long Term Financing Act of 1983 | Commerce | 1983-11-18 | 1983-11-18 | Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means. | House | Rep. Hance, Kent R. [D-TX-19] | TX | D | H000144 | 1 | Small Business Long-Term Financing Act of 1983 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce the rate of the corporate income tax. Permits a taxpayer to defer tax on gain from the sale or exchange of property which is reinvested in small business investment property within a one year rollover period. Specifies that such investment must be made in a business whose average annual gross receipts for the taxable year and the two preceding taxable years does not exceed $2,000,000. Provides for an extended statute of limitations for assessing any tax deficiency arising from a taxpayer's failure to reinvest within the one year rollover period. Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Internal Revenue Code to permit small businesses to make loans and leases from pension funds without incurring a tax penalty for prohibited transactions. Requires that such loans: (1) be made for a period of ten years or less; (2) bear interest at competitive rates; and (3) be adequately secured. Limits such loans and leases to not more than 50 percent of the total assets of the pension trust. | 2025-08-29T17:41:18Z | |
| 98-hr-4521 | 98 | hr | 4521 | Small Business Tax Simplification Act of 1983 | Commerce | 1983-11-18 | 1983-11-18 | Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means. | House | Rep. Jenkins, Edgar L. [D-GA-9] | GA | D | J000083 | 1 | Small Business Tax Simplification Act of 1983 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow employers who withhold an aggregate amount of FICA and income taxes of less than $5,000 per month to make deposits of such taxes once per month. (Present regulations require deposits eight times per month for employers who withhold an amount of such taxes in excess of $3,000 per month.) Allows a taxpayer to elect to use the cash receipts and disbursements method of accounting without regard to any requirement to use inventories if such taxpayer is a qualified small business for the taxable year and the two preceding taxable years. Defines "qualified small businesses" as any person engaged in a trade or business if: (1) the average annual gross receipts do not exceed $2,000,000; and (2) the active participants in such trade or business own 50 percent of its capital and profits, interests, or, in the case of a corporation, at least 50 percent of its stock. Limits such election to taxpayers whose inventories do not exceed the reasonable needs of the business. Allows such qualified small businesses to deduct in the current tax year up to $100,000 of its depreciable business assets. | 2025-08-29T17:38:58Z | |
| 98-hr-4524 | 98 | hr | 4524 | A bill to amend title 35, United States Code, to clarify certain provisions relating to filing of patent applications in foreign countries. | Commerce | 1983-11-18 | 1984-06-27 | Subcommittee Hearings Held. | House | Rep. Kastenmeier, Robert W. [D-WI-2] | WI | D | K000020 | 0 | Amends the patent laws to modify the procedure for filing a patent application in a foreign country to eliminate the need for a license for modifications of explanatory information transmitted to or filed in a foreign country for patents on which no secrecy order has been issued. Eliminates criminal penalties for the failure to obtain a license for a patent application that is not subject to a secrecy order. | 2025-01-16T12:12:20Z | |
| 98-hr-4525 | 98 | hr | 4525 | A bill to amend title 35, United States Code, to make certain clarifications with respect to prior art. | Commerce | 1983-11-18 | 1984-06-27 | Subcommittee Hearings Held. | House | Rep. Kastenmeier, Robert W. [D-WI-2] | WI | D | K000020 | 0 | Amends the patent laws to exclude from prior art (knowledge held by a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the subject matter of the patent applies) unpublished information developed by the applicant singly or jointly with others, or which is known to the applicant only by virtue or his or her employment. (Subject matter deemed prior art is non-patentable.) | 2025-01-16T12:12:20Z | |
| 98-hr-4526 | 98 | hr | 4526 | A bill to amend title 35, United States Code, with respect to use of patented inventions outside the United States. | Commerce | 1983-11-18 | 1984-06-27 | Subcommittee Hearings Held. | House | Rep. Kastenmeier, Robert W. [D-WI-2] | WI | D | K000020 | 0 | Amends the patent laws to make it an infringement of patent to import or sell in the United States without authority a product made in another country by a process patented in the United States. Makes it an infringement of patent to supply in the United States the material components of a patented invention for combination outside the United States, knowing that their combination in this country would constitute an infringement. | 2025-01-16T12:12:20Z | |
| 98-hr-4527 | 98 | hr | 4527 | A bill to amend title 35, United States Code, to make certain clarifications with respect to joint inventors. | Commerce | 1983-11-18 | 1984-06-27 | Subcommittee Hearings Held. | House | Rep. Kastenmeier, Robert W. [D-WI-2] | WI | D | K000020 | 0 | Amends the patent laws to state that when joint inventors jointly apply for a patent they need not have made a contribution to each claim contained in the application. | 2025-01-16T12:12:20Z | |
| 98-hr-4528 | 98 | hr | 4528 | A bill to amend title 35, United States Code, to provide for arbitration of patent interferences. | Commerce | 1983-11-18 | 1984-06-27 | Subcommittee Hearings Held. | House | Rep. Kastenmeier, Robert W. [D-WI-2] | WI | D | K000020 | 0 | Amends the patent laws to permit arbitration of issues arising when a patent application is made which would interfere with any pending or unexpired patent (patent interference). | 2025-01-16T12:12:20Z | |
| 98-hr-4529 | 98 | hr | 4529 | A bill to amend title 35, United States Code, with respect to assertions of invalidity of a patent by a licensee of that patent. | Commerce | 1983-11-18 | 1984-06-27 | Subcommittee Hearings Held. | House | Rep. Kastenmeier, Robert W. [D-WI-2] | WI | D | K000020 | 0 | Amends the patent laws to state that a patent licensee cannot be estopped from asserting the invalidity of the patent in a judicial proceeding. Insures the right of the licensor to receive royalty payments during the time such licensor's patent is under challenge, or to terminate the license at will. | 2025-01-16T12:12:20Z | |
| 98-hr-4542 | 98 | hr | 4542 | A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to prohibit the purchase of coal or coke from a foreign nation at a United States defense facility in Europe if coal from the United States is available. | Commerce | 1983-11-18 | 1983-12-01 | Referred to Subcommittee on Readiness. | House | Rep. Mollohan, Alan B. [D-WV-1] | WV | D | M000844 | 0 | Prohibits the Secretary of a military department from purchasing coal or coke from a foreign nation for use at a U.S. defense facility in Europe if U.S. coal is available. | 2025-06-06T14:17:56Z | |
| 98-s-2138 | 98 | s | 2138 | A bill to amend the copyright law regarding work for hire. | Commerce | 1983-11-18 | 1983-11-29 | Referred to Subcommittee on Patents, Copyrights and Trademarks. | Senate | Sen. Cochran, Thad [R-MS] | MS | R | C000567 | 0 | Amends the copyright laws to require that a work-for-hire contract must be entered into prior to the commencement of the work which is the subject of the contract. Provides that the determination of an employer-employee relationship in a work-for-hire situation shall be based on the determination of withholding requirements of the Federal tax laws. Provides that each separate contribution to a collective work or compilation, any supplementary work, any instructional text, and any part of an audiovisual work, other than a motion picture, shall be treated as distinct from the larger or revised work as a whole and will be subject to the copyright law's provisions for limited rights transfer. Requires any transfer of rights with respect to these types of works to be in writing and contain the rights being acquired, the consideration paid for that right, and the signatures of both parties. Provides that the rights acquired under such an agreement which are not exercised within two years of the first publication shall become nonexclusive. Permits the author of a copyrighted work who transfers rights to the work to bring a court suit to terminate or reform the transfer agreement where the profits received by the transferree are disproportionate to the consideration paid to the author. Requires the author to prove that the terms of the transfer have proven to be unfair or grossly disadvantageous. | 2025-07-21T19:32:26Z | |
| 98-s-2171 | 98 | s | 2171 | Uniform Patent Procedures Act of 1983 | Commerce | 1983-11-18 | 1984-10-05 | Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 1329. | Senate | Sen. Dole, Robert J. [R-KS] | KS | R | D000401 | 2 | (Reported to Senate from the Committee on the Judiciary with amendment, S. Rept. 98-662) Amends the patent laws concerning the allocation of patent rights in inventions made with Federal assistance. Makes patentable for federally-assisted invention purposes any novel variety of plant which is or may be protectable under the Plant Variety Protection Act. Permits the Federal agency providing the assistance to limit patent ownership by small business or nonprofit organizations that are not located in or do not have a place of business in the United States. Permits a nonprofit organization or small business firm to retain title to any subject invention they research with Federal assistance whether or not the work was performed in Government-owned laboratory facilities. Requires any agency which determines that the patent rights to certain subject inventions should not accrue to the research organization or firm but to the United States to notify the Secretary of Commerce within 30 days of awarding the applicable funding agreement. Requires the submission of an analysis for determinations made on the basis of the exceptional circumstances rule. Requires determinations involving small business to also be sent to the Small Business Administration. Requires a contractor to elect whether or not to retain title to a subject invention within two years after disclosing such invention's existence to the Federal agency. Permits the election period to be shortened if the one year statutory period in which U.S. patent protection can still be obtained is triggered by public use, sale, or publication. Requires the Federal agency to protect information submitted by a contractor on invention utilization or efforts at obtaining utilization under march-in rights. Permits a nonprofit organization to assign rights to a subject invention to an organization that not only manages inventions but may be involved, directly or indirectly, in the manufacture or sale of articles or processes which might utilize or compete with the invention. … | 2025-08-29T17:39:21Z | |
| 98-hr-4460 | 98 | hr | 4460 | A bill to clarify the circumstances under which a trademark may be canceled or considered abandoned. | Commerce | 1983-11-17 | 1984-09-20 | Clean Bill H.R.6285 Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee in Lieu. | House | Rep. Kastenmeier, Robert W. [D-WI-2] | WI | D | K000020 | 4 | Amends the Lanham Trademark Act to state that the exclusive test for determining whether a registered trademark has become a common descriptive name (generic) and therefore cancellable is whether a majority of the relevant public understands that the trademark is functioning as a mark rather than as a generic. | 2025-01-16T12:12:20Z | |
| 98-hr-4462 | 98 | hr | 4462 | Patent and Trademark Office Procedures Improvement Act of 1983 | Commerce | 1983-11-17 | 1984-06-27 | Subcommittee Hearings Held. | House | Rep. Kastenmeier, Robert W. [D-WI-2] | WI | D | K000020 | 1 | Patent and Trademark Office Procedures Improvement Act of 1983 - Amends the patent laws to merge the Board of Appeals and the Board of Patent Interferences into the Board of Appeals and Interferences. | 2025-08-29T17:41:30Z | |
| 98-hr-4466 | 98 | hr | 4466 | Small Business Federal Construction Incentive Act of 1984 | Commerce | 1983-11-17 | 1983-12-12 | Referred to Subcommittee on Labor Standards. | House | Rep. Stenholm, Charles W. [D-TX-17] | TX | D | S000851 | 6 | Small Business Federal Construction Incentive Act of 1984 - Amends the Small Business Act and the Davis-Bacon Act to increase from $2,000 to $1,000,000 the threshold dollar amount subjecting certain contracts with small businesses to the Davis-Bacon Act and requiring them to specify the minimum wages to be paid to laborers and mechanics. Amends the Davis-Bacon Act to direct the Small Business Administration, not later than 18 months after the enactment of this Act, to study the impact of the amendments made by this Act and report its findings to the Small Business Committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Requires a contractor or subcontractor, in the case of a contract with a small business which does not exceed $1,000,000, to furnish wage statements for each employee at the midpoint and the conclusion of the period covered by the contract. | 2025-08-29T17:38:19Z | |
| 98-hr-4415 | 98 | hr | 4415 | Manufacturing Sciences and Technology Research and Development Act of 1983 | Commerce | 1983-11-16 | 1984-07-25 | For Further Action See S.1286. | House | Rep. Fuqua, Don [D-FL-2] | FL | D | F000430 | 1 | Manufacturing Sciences and Technology Research and Development Act of 1983 - Permits the Secretary of Commerce, through the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Productivity, Technology, and Innovation, to award grants and enter into cooperative agreements to provide for research on ways of producing more efficient manufacturing processes and methods, including: (1) computer-assisted design; (2) automated materials handling; (3) automated testing; and (4) integrated manufacturing systems. Requires grants to be made on a competitive basis. Permits the Secretary to enter into cooperative agreements to establish and support Centers for Manufacturing Research and Technology Utilization. Permits such Centers to conduct applied research on a matching funds basis. Authorizes appropriations for both the grants and cooperative agreements for FY 1984-1988. Directs the Secretary to establish a program of experimental activities to identify the most feasible means of utilizing advanced manufacturing methods by retraining displaced workers. Requires the Secretary to report to Congress within one year on such program. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1984 and 1985. Directs the Secretary to select specific domestic technology-sensitive industrial sectors to analyze their long-term capability for remaining competitive. Authorizes appropriations for such purpose for FY 1984-1988. Directs the Secretary to establish a Manufacturing Sciences and Technology Enhancement Advisory Committee to advise the Secretary concerning the activities to be conducted under this Act. Requires such Committee to submit to Congress an annual report. | 2025-08-29T17:41:37Z | |
| 98-s-2084 | 98 | s | 2084 | A bill to amend the Small Business Act to restrict the authority of the Small Business Administration to deny financial assistance to small business concerns solely because the primary business operations of such concerns relate to the communication of ideas. | Commerce | 1983-11-11 | 1984-05-17 | Committee on Small Business. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 98-823. | Senate | Sen. Sasser, Jim [D-TN] | TN | D | S000068 | 6 | Amends the Small Business Act to prohibit the Small Business Administration (SBA) from denying financial assistance to a small business solely because its primary operation is: (1) book, newspaper, magazine, greeting card, or calendar publication or distribution; (2) radio or television broadcasting; (3) film, record, or video tape production or distribution; (4) theatre or motion picture entertainment; (5) instruction or tutoring in academic subjects; or (6) a similar operation. Permits such denial if the SBA determines after a hearing that assistance will be used primarily to: (1) advance or inhibit religion; (2) threaten the overthrow of organized government; or (3) engage in illegal activity or the dissemination of obscene materials. | 2025-01-14T17:16:56Z | |
| 98-hr-4360 | 98 | hr | 4360 | Industrial Competitiveness Act | Commerce | 1983-11-10 | 1984-06-06 | Placed on Union Calendar No: 478. | House | Rep. LaFalce, John J. [D-NY-32] | NY | D | L000556 | 133 | (Reported to House from Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs with amendment,H.Rept.98-697(Part I)) Industrial Competitiveness Act - Title I: Council on Industrial Competitiveness - Establishes in the executive branch an independent agency to be known as the Council on Industrial Competitiveness. Sets forth the duties of the Council including the duty to: (1) collect and analyze information concerning current and future economic trends and market opportunities; (2) create forums where national leaders will identify national economic problems; (3) provide policy recommendations regarding specific issues concerning industrial strategies; (4) evaluate existing government policies and business practices in terms of their competitive impact; and (5) stimulate and promote employee ownership. Sets forth the membership and the powers of the Council. Requires the Council to establish, as appropriate, industry subcouncils which shall examine the competitive problems facing individual industries in the economy and develop recommendations regarding long-term strategies. Requires the Council to examine and make public all foreign trade agreements that have been agreed to by the United States. Directs the Council to monitor and maintain public records on the effect of imports on all major U.S. industries and on such other U.S. industries as may be specified by the Council. Requires the Council to report to Congress and the President, within one year of enactment of this title, with recommendations for changes in Federal policy necessary to implement effective industrial strategies. Requires the Council to report annually to the President, Congress, and the Bank for Industrial Competitiveness on the major industrial development priorities of the United States, the policies needed to meet such priorities, and the existing government policies affecting industries. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1985. Title II: Bank for Industrial Competitiveness - Subtitle A: Bank for Industrial Competitiveness - Establishes the B… | 2024-02-06T19:38:08Z | |
| 98-hr-4361 | 98 | hr | 4361 | Advanced Technology Foundation Act | Commerce | 1983-11-10 | 1984-06-14 | Subcommittee Hearings Held. | House | Rep. LaFalce, John J. [D-NY-32] | NY | D | L000556 | 13 | (Reported to House from Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs with amendment,H.Rept.98-693(Part I)) Advanced Technology Foundation Act - Establishes within the executive branch of the Government an Advanced Technology Foundation which, by grants, contracts, and loans, shall: (1) initiate and support applied scientific research and development programs directed at facilitating the movement of basic scientific concepts into commercial products; (2) foster diffusion of the latest developments in applied research and technology throughout business, commerce, and industry; and (3) evaluate the status and needs of various industries in regard to the development and commercialization of new technologies, processes, and products with a goal toward improving the international competitiveness of U.S. goods and services. Requires the Foundation to establish a Federal Industrial Extension Service with information on services available from Government agencies and qualified institutions directed at assisting the application of scientific and technological innovations to industries. Provides for the appointment of the Director of the Foundation. Requires the Foundation to transmit a report to the President, the Congress, and the Council on Industrial Competitiveness regarding actions taken by it during the previous fiscal year. Authorizes appropriations through FY 1988. | 2024-02-07T15:21:41Z |
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CREATE TABLE legislation (
bill_id TEXT PRIMARY KEY,
congress INTEGER,
bill_type TEXT,
bill_number INTEGER,
title TEXT,
policy_area TEXT,
introduced_date TEXT,
latest_action_date TEXT,
latest_action_text TEXT,
origin_chamber TEXT,
sponsor_name TEXT,
sponsor_state TEXT,
sponsor_party TEXT,
sponsor_bioguide_id TEXT,
cosponsor_count INTEGER DEFAULT 0,
summary_text TEXT,
update_date TEXT,
url TEXT
);
CREATE INDEX idx_leg_congress ON legislation(congress);
CREATE INDEX idx_leg_type ON legislation(bill_type);
CREATE INDEX idx_leg_policy ON legislation(policy_area);
CREATE INDEX idx_leg_date ON legislation(introduced_date);
CREATE INDEX idx_leg_sponsor ON legislation(sponsor_name);
CREATE INDEX idx_leg_sponsor_bioguide ON legislation(sponsor_bioguide_id);