Treasury, Postal Service, and General Government Appropriations Act, 1981

(Reported to Senate from the Committee on Appropriations with amendment, S. Rept. 96-955)

Treasury, Postal Service, and General Government Appropriations Act, 1981 - =Title I: Department of the Treasury= - Treasury Department Appropriation Act, 1981 - Makes appropriations for fiscal year 1981 as follows: (1) Office of the Secretary for salaries and expenses; (2) Office of Inspector General for salaries and expenses; (3) the international affairs functions; (4) Federal Law Enforcement Training Center for salaries and expenses (with limitations on travel amounts); (5) Bureau of Government Financial Operations for salaries and expenses; (6) payments to the governments of the Virgin Islands and American Samoa; (7) Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms for salaries and expenses (specified amounts earmarked for explosives tagging research or development); (8) U.S. Customs Service for salaries and expenses; (9) Bureau of the Mint for salaries and expenses; (10) Bureau of the Public Debt for administration; (11) Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for salaries and expenses, taxpayer service and returns processing, examinations and appeals, investigations and collections (specified amounts earmarked for narcotics cases), and energy credit payments; and (12) Secret Service for salaries and expenses.

Prohibits the use of Customs Service funds for: (1) overtime compensation without the written consent of the Commissioner of Customs; and (2) shortening the deferment procedure for the collection of estimated duties. Prohibits giving Secret Service protection to other than specified individuals.

Declares that such appropriations shall be available for specified services. Prohibits the use of such appropriated funds for: (1) the collection of any underpayment of tax unless the conduct of IRS officers and employees complies with specified statutory requirements; (2) the withholding of tax on interest or dividend income, except for nonresident aliens; (3) the disqualification of pension plans which are equal to or more stringent than 40 percent vesting after four years of participation; (4) imposing interest and penalties for the underpayment of taxes as a result of erroneous IRS advice; (5) implementing procedures to eliminate the tax exemptions of private and religious schools discriminating against minorities; (6) denying a charitable deduction for general purpose contributions used by tax-exempt religious organizations for educational purposes; and (7) promulgating rules shortening the time for making a return or paying excise taxes on certain alcohol and tobacco products. Permits the disclosure of tax returns to Federal investigative agencies if a U.S. district court finds such information is material and relevant to a Federal criminal violation. Authorizes the Secretary to transfer up to one percent from any appropriation account to another after approval by the Appropriations Committees.

=Title II: Postal Services= - Postal Service Appropriation Act, 1981 - Makes appropriations for fiscal year 1981 to: (1) the U.S. Postal Service for the Postal Service Fund; and (2) the Postal Rate Commission for salaries and expenses.

=Title III: Executive Office of the President= - Executive Office Appropriations Act, 1981 - Makes appropriations for fiscal year 1981 for salaries and expenses of: (1) the President; (2) Office of Administration; (3) White House Office; (4) special assistance to the President; (5) Council of Economic Advisors; (6) Council on Wage and Price Stability; (7) Domestic Policy Staff; (8) National Security Council; (9) Office of Management and Budget; and (10) Office of Federal Procurement Policy. Appropriates fiscal year 1981 funds for: (1) the operating expenses of the Executive Residence and the Vice President's Residence; and (2) unanticipated needs. Prohibits the use of appropriated funds to reapportion the House of Representatives based on the twentieth decennial census.

=Title IV: Independent Agencies= - Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1981 - Makes appropriations for fiscal year 1981 for the: (1) Administrative Conference of the United States for salaries and expenses; (2) Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations for salaries and expenses; (3) Advisory Committee on Federal Pay for salaries and expenses; (4) Committee for Purchase from the Blind and Other Severely Handicapped for salaries and expenses; (5) contributions to international buffer stocks of natural rubber; (6) Federal Election Commission for salaries and expenses; (7) General Services Administration (GSA) for expenses of the Federal Buildings Fund; (8) Federal Supply Service; (9) Transportation and Public Utilities Service; (10) National Archives and Records Service; (11) records declassification; (12) Automated Data and Telecommunications Service; (13) Federal Telecommunications Fund; (14) Federal Property Resources Service; (15) National Defense Stockpile Transaction Fund; (16) general management and administration; (17) Office of Inspector General; (18) Indian trust accounting; (19) former Presidents' allowances and staff; (20) presidential transition; (21) Business Service Centers; (22) Federal Information Centers; and (23) Working Capital Fund.

Credits rentals received by and funds transferred to the GSA to the appropriate account. Permits GSA funds to be used to hire passenger vehicles. Authorizes the GSA Administrator to transfer up to one percent between appropriation accounts after approval by the Appropriations Committees.

Appropriates funds for fiscal year 1981 for the: (1) Office of Personnel Management salaries and expenses including a transfer of trust funds; (2) payments for retired Federal employees' health benefits; (3) Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund; (4) intergovernmental personnel assistance; (5) Merit Systems Protection Board for salaries and expenses including a transfer of funds; (6) Office of Special Counsel for salaries and expenses; (7) Federal Labor Relations Authority for salaries and expenses; and (8) U.S. Tax Court.

=Title V: General Provisions= - Requires consultant contracts to be a matter of public record. Limits the amount of funds which may be used for travel expenditures. Prohibits the use of appropriated funds to: (1) pay the salary of the replacement for a former employee who has applied for restoration to his or her former position after such former employee has been discharged from the Armed Forces; (2) purchase or sell real estate or establish new offices without congressional approval; (3) beyond the current fiscal year unless expressly so provided; (4) the procurement of any hand or measuring tools or stainless steel flatware not produced in the United States unless U.S. tools or flatware of satisfactory quality and sufficient quantities cannot be produced; and (5) transfers of functions or personnel, including border patrol activities, out of the U.S. Customs Service without congressional authorization. Limits obligations of appropriated funds during the last quarter and last month of the fiscal year. Requires Federal department heads to report quarterly to the Appropriations Committees and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) concerning their obligations. Directs the OMB Director to report to the Appropriations Committees on the impact of such restrictions. Makes appropriated funds available for payment of damages awarded for the unauthorized disclosure of income tax returns. Reduces, by specified amounts, the funds available to the Treasury Department, GSA, and the Office of Personnel Management for consultant services.

=Title VI: General Provisions= - Fixes the maximum amount allowable for the purchase of passenger vehicles. Restricts the use of appropriated funds to pay Federal compensation to aliens. Makes appropriations for travel and activity expenses available for quarters and cost-of-living allowances. Prohibits paying a person filling a position whose nomination for such position has been disapproved.

Permits funds available for administrative expenses to be used for rent in the District of Columbia and for the employment of experts and consultants. Authorizes the use of foreign credits when the Treasury is reimbursed. Prohibits the use of appropriated funds for: (1) lobbying for or against legislation pending before Congress; (2) salaries of U.S. Postal Service officers or employees who hinder other employees from communicating with Congress; and (3) interdepartmental bodies without congressional approval.

Makes funds available to GSA for space and services charges and public improvements of buildings and for guards for Federal or Postal buildings.

Prohibits paying GSA higher rates for rental of space and services than for the current fiscal year for which appropriations were granted. Prohibits the use of appropriated funds for: (1) administrative expenses in connection with purchase contracts pursuant to the Public Buildings Amendments of 1972; (2) wage increases for prevailing rate employees and crews of vessels before the next applicable wage survey adjustment becomes effective after October 1, 1980; (3) the prosecution of any Federal employee who in good faith violated the prohibition against the disclosure of income tax return information; and (4) any regulation which would cause the loss of tax-exempt status to private or religious schools.