United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1986
Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act - Requires States to provide by law for elections for Federal office: (1) absentee registration and absentee voting for uniformed services voters and overseas voters; and (2) the use of alternative write-in absentee ballots by overseas voters. Directs the President to designate the head of an executive department to have primary responsibility for the administrative functions of this Act, including: (1) prescribing an official postcard form containing a voter registration and an absentee ballot application; (2) prescribing an alternative write-in ballot for overseas voters; (3) prescribing forms and designs for balloting materials; (4) distributing election materials; and (5) reporting to the Congress in even-numbered years on its effectiveness. Provides for the distribution of official postcards. Sets forth recommendations to the States in carrying out provisions of this Act. Authorizes the use of the alternative write-in ballots in lieu of absentee ballots under specified circumstances. Directs the Postmaster to expedite the transport of election materials and declares such materials free of postage.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 1986
Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) to exempt cost-of-living increases in civil service retirement and disability programs, (including the Central Intelligence Agency retirement and disability system, the Comptrollers General retirement system, the Foreign Service retirement and disability system, the judicial survivors' annuities system, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration retirement system, the Coast Guard retirement system, the Public Health Service commissioned officers retirement system, and the Tax Court judges survivors' retirement system), military retirement benefits and certain railroad retirement benefits from reduction under the President's sequestration order. Makes this Act effective for fiscal years beginning after October 1, 1986.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1986
Declares that any matter relating to the attire of civilian employees of the National Guard shall be considered a proper subject for collective bargaining.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1986
Medicare Continuing Care, Equity, and Quality Assurance Act of 1986 - Title I: Continuing Care Reforms - Amends part A (General Provisions) of title XI of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a Continuing Care Policy Council composed of members with expertise in geriatrics or rehabilitative practices. Requires the Council to make recommendations to the Secretary concerning the administration of continuing care services under titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act and as such services are affected by title I of this Act. Amends part A (Hospital Insurance) of the Medicare program to require the Secretary to establish medical claims standards which are to be applied uniformly and take into account a patient's medical profile, condition, and other practical considerations in determining the medical reasonableness and necessity of claims for continuing care services (defined to include extended care and home health services). Requires the Secretary to annually review and, if necessary, revise the standards. Authorizes a fiscal intermediary which has initially determined that some or all of a continuing care services claim may be denied, but has not yet officially denied the claim, to consult with the service provider, patient, and patient's physician to review the determination and approve a modified claim if the services are appropriate and the patient concurs in the modification. Directs the Secretary, in determining whether payments to home health agencies and skilled nursing facilities should be denied, to continue certain presumptions of compliance with reasonable and necessary services requirements until a system providing for case-by-case determinations of authorizations for continuing care services is implemented. Requires system implementation within 30 months of enactment of this Act. Requires a fiscal intermediary to reimburse a provider of continuing care for services provided to an individual for whom there was reasonable evidence of entitlement if the provider makes a timely request that the intermediary determine whether the individual is entitled to such services. Sets forth deadlines by which fiscal intermediaries must respond to provider inquiries concerning the medical necessity of continuing care services. Requires intermediaries to reimburse providers for medically unnecessary services provided over periods during which the intermediary's response is past due. Indemnifies beneficiaries who pay providers for continuing care services without knowing that they are unqualified for such services or that such services are medically unnecessary. Requires the Secretary to investigate allegations that a skilled nursing facility or home health agency has delayed or restricted acceptance of an individual until its receipt of the intermediary's response to its entitlement or medical necessity inquiries. Entitles individuals whose claim for continuing care services has been denied to a hearing by the Secretary and judicial review of the Secretary's final decision. Authorizes provider appeals on behalf of beneficiaries. Provides that, when a fiscal intermediary denies payment for continuing care services or a provider first furnishes such services, such organizations must inform beneficiaries regarding the individual's rights under this Act to appeal payment determinations. Amends part B (Peer Review) of title XI of the Act to require peer review organizations, in certain situations to be determined by the Secretary, to perform independent medical reviews of fiscal intermediary denials of payment for continuing care services. Requires each peer review organization to annually report to the Secretary regarding such reviews. Directs peer review organizations to authorize payment for services which would not otherwise meet payment conditions where such organization certifies that exceptional circumstances exist to justify the cost-effective provision of the services. Amends part A (Hospital Insurance) of the Medicare program to establish a special benefit consisting of payments to hospitals which retain patients who require only the level of care provided in a skilled nursing facility, but cannot transfer to such a facility due to the unavailability of space in such facilities. Requires the Secretary to establish performance standards for fiscal intermediary medical claims review which: (1) weigh the accuracy and timeliness of such review commensurately with cost savings from such review; (2) specify the qualifications required of review personnel; and (3) require an intensive level of review for new providers and providers with poor performance records. Requires the Secretary to annually inform the Continuing Care Policy Council regarding the intermediaries' performance under these standards. Directs the Secretary to establish a Medicare benefits management demonstration program, including projects which: (1) substitute, for the process of submitting separate claims by providers for an individual beneficiary, a single benefits manager that would identify and track the benefits most appropriate to the beneficiary; and (2) provide additional benefits to Medicare beneficiaries, including noncovered benefits if no additional costs are thereby imposed on beneficiaries or Medicare. Title II: Quality Assurance Reforms - Amends part B (Peer Review) of title XI of the Act to establish a National Council on Quality Assurance. Directs the Director of the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment to provide for the appointment of members of the Council. States that the general functions of the Council shall be to: (1) provide oversight on the operations of the quality assurance system under the Medicare program; and (2) make recommendations annually to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Congress for improvements in the system. Sets forth the Council's functions more specifically. Requires the Council to report annually to the Congress on the functioning and progress of the Council. Authorizes appropriations. Requires contracts with peer review organizations to provide that: (1) at least one-half of the organizations' efforts must be on quality assurance activities; (2) quality assurance activities shall be conducted with respect to all the different types of items and services covered by Medicare; and (3) the level of activity for each of the different types of services and items shall reasonably reflect the proportion of Medicare payments made for that type of service or item. Adds to the definition of the term "peer review organization" so as to require such an entity to: (1) include in its composition representatives of other individuals responsible for the provision of services and items for which the organization is responsible for conducting quality assurance activities; and (2) have a consumer advisory board. Defines a "consumer advisory board." Requires any peer review organization to: (1) educate Medicare beneficiaries; (2) provide for a toll-free 24 hour telephone number, which shall be provided to Medicare beneficiaries for the purpose of receiving questions and complaints from Medicare beneficiaries; (3) assist in resolving any such complaints that are legitimate; (4) make available to its consumer advisory boards appropriate information received from the telephone service; and (5) train members of its consumer advisory board. Appropriates funds, in addition to any other amounts appropriated to carry out part B of title XI, from the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund for distribution to peer review organizations. Amends part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of the Medicare program to require hospitals to implement a discharge planning process which meets guidelines and standards to be established by the Secretary, in conjunction with the Continuing Care Policy Council and Council on Quality Assurance, to: (1) protect against inappropriate early hospital discharges; (2) ensure a timely and smooth transition to the most appropriate type of and setting for post-hospital care; and (3) permit early initiation of the authorization process for continuing care services. Requires peer review organizations to monitor hospitals' compliance with discharge planning process requirements. Sets forth study and reporting requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1986
Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide for annual increases in the minimum wage (five percent annually, plus any changes in the consumer price index), until a certain wage rate is attained (one-half the average hourly earnings of production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonagricultural payrolls).
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1986
Parental and Medical Leave Act of 1986 - Title I: General Requirements for Parental and Medical Leave - Entitles employees to parental leave for specified periods in cases involving the birth, adoption, or serious health condition of a child. Entitles employees to temporary medical leave for specified periods in cases involving inability to work because of a serious health condition. Sets forth conditions for certification for such types of leave. Provides that such leave may be without pay. Allows employees to substitute other types of paid leave to cover part of such leave period. Sets forth employment and benefits protections relating to such leave. Provides for administrative enforcement of this title by the Secretary of Labor, as well as enforcement by civil action. Sets forth provisions for injunctive relief, monetary relief, and attorneys' fees. Requires employers to post notice of the pertinent provisions of this title. Title II: Parental Leave and Temporary Medical Leave for Civil Service Employees - Amends specified Federal law to entitle civil service employees to parental leave and temporary medical leave for specified periods. Provides that such leave will be without pay. Allows employees to substitute other types of paid leave for part of such leave. Sets forth protection for job position and health insurance benefits of employees using such leave. Directs the Office of Personnel Management to prescribe regulations for administration of this title which are consistent with the regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Labor under title I of this Act. Title III: Commission on Paid Parental and Medical Leave - Establishes the Commission on Paid Parental and Medical Leave. Requires the Commission to report on its study of paid parental and medical leave to the Congress within two years after the Commission first meets. Terminates the Commission within 30 days after its final report. Title IV: Miscellaneous Provisions - Sets forth the effect of this Act on existing laws and existing employment benefits. Directs the Secretary of Labor to prescribe regulations to carry out title I of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1986
Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) to exempt the pay adjustments of employees under the Federal prevailing rate pay system (blue collar employees) from the President's sequestration order.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1986
Declares that the House of Representatives calls upon the President to urge: (1) Jean-Claude Duvalier to return to the Haitian people the wealth he has taken illegally; and (2) other countries to deny him asylum until he returns such funds.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 1986
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that both Spain and Israel should be congratulated on establishing full diplomatic relations with each other.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 1986
Expresses the support of the House of Representatives for the Haitian people as they try to rebuild their nation and make a peaceful transition to democracy.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 1986
Congratulates Robert H. Helmick and George D. Miller upon their appointment as president and secretary general, respectively, of the United States Olympic Committee. Encourages U.S. citizens and businesses to support the U.S. Olympic team.
United States · United States Congress · 20 February 1986
Amends the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to provide that any deferral of budget authority proposed by the President shall not take effect unless the Congress, within 45 legislative days after receiving the President's proposal, completes action on a bill making such deferral.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1986
Authorizes and requests the President to present, on behalf of the Congress, gold medals to Anatoly and Avital Shcharansky in recognition of their supreme dedication and total commitment to human rights and freedoms. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to determine the design of the medals. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary to sell bronze duplicates of the medals.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1986
Full Credit Card Cost Disclosure Act - Amends the Truth in Lending Act to require that any credit card solicitation include information regarding finance charge conditions, interest rates, and other related charges and fees. Requires such information, as prescribed by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, to be prominently displayed and in table form.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1986
Age Discrimination in Employment Amendments of 1986 - Amends the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 to remove the existing 70-year upper age limit of the class to which the discrimination prohibitions apply, thus extending coverage to all individuals who are at least 40 years of age. Removes the 69-year upper age limit for group health plan coverage. Delays the effect of this Act for employees under a collective bargaining contract until January 1, 1990, or the termination of such contract, if earlier.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1986
Drug Abuse Education Act of 1986 - Requires the Secretary of Education to establish a program of grants to States for drug abuse education in elementary and secondary schools. Lists the State and local educational agency uses of such funds. Restricts the amount States may use for administrative costs. Provides for: (1) the allotment of such grant funds to States; (2) State application for such grant funds; (3) allocations to local educational agencies; and (4) local application to State educational agencies. Provides for the equitable participation of children enrolled in private nonprofit elementary and secondary schools in such program. Requires the Secretary to: (1) collect and disseminate program-related information to State and local educational agencies; (2) provide technical assistance; and (3) identify research and development priorities. Authorizes appropriations for such activities. Provides that the use of such grant funds is to supplement and not supplant other Federal funds. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1987 through 1991.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1986
Authorizes the President, on behalf of the Congress, to present a gold medal to Mary Lasker in recognition of her humanitarian contributions in medical research and education, urban beautification, and the fine arts. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to provide for the sale of bronze duplicates of the medal.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1986
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should: (1) not provide any new food, development, or other economic assistance for Haiti; (2) suspend trade benefits to Haiti under the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act; (3) call upon other donor countries to suspend direct assistance, including military assistance; and (4) impose economic sanctions against Haiti (excluding restrictions on U.S. food exports). Declares that all such sanctions should be continued until the Haitian Government takes steps to hold free elections, implement political reforms, establish political parties, and end human rights abuses. States that the United States should provide new food and other economic assistance only if the Haitian Government cooperates to implement such assistance.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1986
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the United States, in cooperation with other members of the international donor community, should call upon the Ethiopian Government to recognize that resources donated for famine relief should be used for that purpose and not diverted to resettlement efforts; (2) such forced resettlements by the Ethiopian Government should be halted and monitored by the United Nations (U.N.); (3) the Ethiopian Government should commit sufficient resources to move food and relief goods to meet the needs of its people; and (4) the U.N. should insist on free access to resettlement sites for international observers and the news media and report on conditions in the resettlement camps.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 1986
Bankruptcy Judgeship Act of 1986 - Amends the judicial code to increase the number of bankruptcy judges: (1) from two to three for the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas; (2) from seven to eight for the Northern District of California; (3) from four to six for the Eastern District of California; (4) from 12 to 18 for the Central District of California; (5) from three to four for the Southern District of California; (6) from two to four for the Middle District of Florida; (7) from four to five for the Northern District of Georgia; (8) from one to two for the Southern District of Georgia; (9) from one to two for Idaho; (10) from eight to ten for the Northern District of Illinois; (11) from two to three for the Central District of Illinois; (12) from one to two for the Northern District of Iowa; (13) from one to two for the Southern District of Iowa; (14) from one to two for the Eastern District of Kentucky; (15) from two to three for the Western District of Louisiana; (16) from two to three for Maryland; (17) from two to three for the Western District of Michigan; (18) from one to two for Nebraska; (19) from two to three for Nevada; (20) from five to seven for New Jersey; (21) from one to two for the Western District of North Carolina; (22) from one to two for the Northern District of Oklahoma; (23) from two to three for the Western District of Oklahoma; (24) from three to four for the Western District of Pennsylvania; (25) from one to two for South Carolina; (26) from one to two for South Dakota; (27) from two to three for the Eastern District of Tennessee; (28) from two to three for the Western District of Tennessee; (29) from four to five for the Northern District of Texas; (30) from three to six for the Southern District of Texas; (31) from two to three for the Western District of Texas; (32) from two to three for Utah; (33) from one to two for the Eastern District of Washington; and (34) from three to four for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. Makes members of the bar of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico eligible for appointment to bankruptcy judgeships.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 1986
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the President should urge the Government of South Africa to indicate its willingness to negotiate with the black majority by: (1) granting unconditional freedom to Nelson Mandela; (2) recognizing the African National Congress; and (3) establishing a framework for political talks.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 1986
Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1986 - Amends specified Acts to rename them the Civil Rights Act of 1968 and the Fair Housing Act. Amends the Fair Housing Act to make it unlawful to: (1) refuse to sell or rent a dwelling to an individual because that individual, or someone associated with that individual, is handicapped; (2) discriminate against a handicapped individual in the conditions of sale or rental, or in the provision of a related service or facility; (3) refuse to permit reasonable modifications to permit access to the premises (provided the renter agrees to restore the premises to their original condition); or (4) make reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, or services to afford handicapped individuals equal use and enjoyment of a dwelling. Makes it unlawful for anyone engaged in residential real estate-related transactions to discriminate in the provision or terms of a transaction because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. States that nothing in this Act limits the applicability of any reasonable local, State, or Federal restrictions on the maximum number of occupants permitted to occupy a dwelling unit. States that nothing in this Act regarding familial status applies to any State or Federal program aimed at assisting the elderly. Establishes new administrative enforcement authority in addition to existing enforcement provisions. Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to transmit an annual report to the Congress on the progress made in eliminating discriminatory housing practices. Allows an aggrieved person to file a complaint with the Secretary alleging a discriminatory housing practice. Allows the Secretary to file such a complaint on his own initiative or investigate a housing practice to determine whether such a complaint should be brought. Requires the Secretary to attempt to correct the discriminatory practice by informal methods of conciliation. Requires the Secretary to refer matters to the Attorney General, recommending that civil actions be filed, where a respondent has failed to comply with conciliation agreements. Allows the Secretary to refer matters to the Attorney General for prompt judicial action when necessary. Makes certain changes in the current requirements for referring charges to State or local agencies for investigation and enforcement. Specifies the elements of "substantial equivalency" which permit certification and referrals of discrimination charges. Permits the Secretary to file an administrative complaint or refer the matter to the Attorney General for civil action if the investigation supports a finding of reasonable cause, except with respect to matters involving land use control, which must be referred. Specifies the hearing procedures to be utilized if an administrative complaint is issued. Permits criminal penalties of up to a $100,000 fine and/or imprisonment for not more than one year for noncompliance with subpoenas or other lawful orders. Permits the administrative law judge to award appropriate relief, including punitive damages. Permits the filing of a petition for review of a final order in an appropriate court of appeals within 30 days of service of such order. Permits any prevailing party to be awarded reasonable attorney's fees. Makes certain revisions in the private right of action for aggrieved persons. Extends the statute of limitations from 180 days to two years. Disallows simultaneous administrative and judicial proceedings involving the same charge. Allows the Attorney General to intervene upon certification that the civil action is of general public importance. Continues the authority of the Attorney General to initiate civil actions where there is reasonable cause to believe that a pattern or practice of resistance to fair housing rights has occurred. Permits the Attorney General to commence a civil action for appropriate temporary or preliminary relief pending final disposition of the complaint. Describes the types of relief which may be granted in civil actions under such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 1986
Disapproves specified proposed deferrals and rescissions of budget authority for specified housing and community development programs (including a rescission of budget authority for the housing for the elderly and the handicapped and the urban development action grant program and a deferral of budget authority for the community development block grant program).
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 1986
Consumer Rail Equity Act - Reaffirms the intent of the Congress that the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976 and the Staggers Rail Act of 1980 be implemented in a manner which provides both greater competitive alternatives and adequate railroad revenues. Establishes a rebuttable presumption of rail market dominance if a person challenging a transportation rate shows that the railroad charging such rate does not face effective transportation competition. Shifts the burden of proof regarding transportation rate reasonableness from the shipper to the rail carrier establishing the challenged rate. Declares that it is Federal policy to encourage and promote competitive transportation rates for domestically produced coal and other commodities in order to increase their competitive position in domestic and export markets. Directs the Commission to establish a rail cost adjustment factor which includes changes in railroad productivity, volume, and output mix. Provides that certain rail carrier rates shall be reduced to the extent of any subsequent decreases in rail cost adjustment factors. Includes within the standards used to determine railroad revenue adequacy: (1) identification of revenues, expenses, and investment base reasonably related to rail transportation service; (2) straight-line depreciation of assets reasonably related to rail transportation service, minus deferred tax reserves resulting from accelerated depreciation; and (3) actual cost of debt capital and reasonable estimates of the current cost of equity capital. Requires the Commission, when making revenue adequacy determinations, to consider specified indicators of a rail carrier's financial status. Requires the Commission to determine, on an annual basis, which rail carriers are earning adequate or inadequate revenues and to determine for each rail carrier the revenues required to achieve or maintain revenue adequacy. Allows (current law requires) the Commission to exempt persons from application of this Act when: (1) such application is not necessary to implement Federal transportation policy; and (2) the Commission finds there is no market dominance involved in the affected transaction. Requires any rail carrier providing service under certain line rates to participate in competitive joint rail rates through practicable interchange connections (or publish a competitive proportional rate) if requested to do so by a rail carrier (or shipper or receiver) who has an actual or practicable interchange connection. Directs the Commission, upon petition of any interested party, to require certain terminal facilities owned by a rail carrier in interstate or foreign commerce to be used by another rail carrier if the Commission finds: (1) it is in the public interest to do so; and (2) that the owner of such terminal facility will not suffer substantial impairment of its own business interests. Directs the Commission to require, upon petition by an interested party, that rail carriers enter into reciprocal switching agreements if such an agreement is in the public interest or necessary to provide alternative competitive rail service. Directs the Commission to establish reciprocal switching compensation at a level not to exceed the current percentage of the actual variable costs for such service (unless the carrier demonstrates that a higher level is reasonable and necessary). Revises railroad line abandonment procedures to provide that a rail carrier must wait one year before resubmitting a previously denied abandonment application, unless a substantial change in circumstances can be shown. Requires the Commission to hold hearings in communities affected by a proposed railroad line abandonment if requested to do so by community protestants. Requires the Commission to base its abandonment determination upon financial data regarding the facility proposed to be abandoned rather than upon financial data regarding industry-wide averages. Subjects to Commission review any State decision regarding intrastate rates, rules, and practices if a party to such State proceedings petitions for Commission review. Requires the Commission to take action on such petition within 120 days of its receipt. Authorizes the Commission to vacate a State decision found inconsistent with this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 1986
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the President should award the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously to Michael J. Smith, Francis R. Scobee, Ronald E. McNair, Ellison S. Onizuka, Sharon Christa McAuliffe, Gregory B. Jarvis, and Judith A. Resnik, all of whom died in the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger.
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 1986
Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) to exempt cost-of-living increases in Federal civil service retirement and disability programs, military retirement benefits, and certain railroad retirement benefits from reduction under the President's sequestration order.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 1986
Prohibits any benefits payable from the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund, including cost-of-living increases, during calendar year 1987 from being subject to reduction or suspension by statute or presidential order.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 1986
Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) to exempt cost-of-living increases in Federal retirement and disability programs from reduction under the President's sequestration order for FY 1986. Provides for reducing the outlays of each agency to offset the increased costs.
![Official portrait of Del. Fauntroy, Walter E. [D-DC-At Large]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/f000046_200.jpg)