The Eighties in America Legislation: Major U.S. Legislation 1101
Year Legislation Significance
1984 Cable Communications Policy Act Forbade local television and telephone companies from owning local
cable interests unless approved by the Federal Communications
Commission; limited the authority of cities to regulate basic cable
television rates to two years.
1984 National Organ Transplant Act Earmarked funds for a national computerized network to match organ
donors and recipients; prohibited the purchase or sale of human organs
for transplantation.
1984 Retirement Equity Act Lowered the age for employees to participate in private pension plans
to twenty-one; permitted workers to retain pension rights after leaving
and returning to a job.
1984 Child Abuse Amendments Approved funds for child abuse prevention programs, to encourage
adoption of disabled children, and for matching grants to assist states in
providing domestic violence treatment and prevention programs.
1984 Hazardous and Solid Waste
Amendments
Reauthorized the Solid Waste Disposal Act for four years; required the
Environmental Protection Agency to enact regulations for certain
generators of hazardous waste by March 31, 1986; prohibited disposal of
hazardous waste close to underground drinking water sources.1984 Deficit Reduction Act Increased tax revenues by deferring certain tax reductions; amended
several federal programs to reduce spending.
1984 Drug Price Competition and Patent
Term Restoration Act
Loosened the Food and Drug Administration’s drug application
procedures in order to expedite approval of generic drugs; specified
patent protection provisions.1984 Veterans Health Care Act Authorized the Veterans Administration to establish treatment programs
for Vietnam veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
1985 Public Health Service Act
Amendment
Revised and extended provisions under the Public Health Services Act
relating to the National Institutes of Health and the National Research
Institutes; enacted pursuant to override of President Ronald Reagan’s
veto.1985 Food Security Act Reduced federal price supports and direct income subsidies to farmers
for the 1986-1990 fiscal years; exempted certain Department of
Agriculture export financing programs from federal shipment
requirements.
1985 Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act Amended the 1974 Budget Control and Impoundment Act; required
that the federal government meet annual targets to eliminate deficit
within five years; specified procedures for cuts if annual deficit
reduction targets were not met. The Supreme Court in 1986 ruled
portions of this law unconstitutional.
1985 Clark Amendment Repeal Repealed a section of the International Security and Development Act
of 1980, which prohibited assistance for military operations in Angola.
1985 U.S.-China Nuclear Cooperation
Agreement
Established a process for implementation of a nuclear cooperation
agreement between the United States and China; mandated that a
report be sent to Congress detailing China’s nonproliferation policies;
cleared the way for sale of nonmilitary nuclear technology to China.