United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a nonrefundable individual income tax credit for the educational expenses (tuition and supplies) of the taxpayer, spouse, or dependents at an eligible private elementary or secondary school, institution of higher education, or vocational school. Limits the credit to $1,000 per student per year.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
Federal Mandate Relief Act of 1993 - Provides that any requirement under a Federal statute or regulation that a State or local government conduct an activity (including a requirement that a government meet national standards in providing a service) shall apply to the government only if all funds necessary to pay the direct costs incurred by the government in conducting the activity are provided by the Federal Government.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
Health Care Cost Containment Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individuals to deduct the full amount of unreimbursed medical and dental expenses. (Current law allows a deduction for such expenses that exceed a certain percentage of adjusted gross income.) Requires the losing party in a medical care liability suit to pay limited amounts of the winning party's litigation expenses. Prohibits noneconomic damages (other than punitive damages) in such suits. Requires punitive damages to be paid to the unit of local government having primary responsibility for paying for indigent health services. Requires those amounts to be used for care for individuals entitled to assistance under titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act. Applies this Act to any medical care liability suit in any State or Federal court, except vaccine-related matters. Supersedes inconsistent State laws.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
Wetlands Delineation Fairness Act - Requires Federal wetlands delineation criteria regarding wetland hydrology to apply uniformly to all areas, including areas known as playas, playa lakes, prairie potholes, vernal pools, and pocosins. Defines "wetland hydrology" as the number of consecutive days that an area must be inundated or saturated with water.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
Language of Government Act of 1993 - Declares English to be the official language of the U.S. Government. States that the Government has an affirmative obligation to preserve and enhance the role of English as the official language. Requires the Government to conduct its official business in English. Prohibits anyone from being denied Government services because they communicate in English.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
Life Imprisonment for Egregious Recidivists Act of 1993 - Amends the Federal criminal code to require the court, in the case of a conviction for a Federal violent felony, to sentence the defendant to life imprisonment if the defendant has previously been convicted of two other violent felonies. Specifies that this provision shall not be construed to prevent the imposition of the death penalty.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
Legislative Line Item Veto Act of 1993 - Amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to grant the President legislative line item veto rescission authority. Makes such a rescission effective unless the Congress, during a review period of 20 calendar days, enacts a rescission disapproval bill.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
Legislative Line Item Veto Act of 1993 - Grants the President legislative line item veto rescission authority. Authorizes the President to rescind all or part of any budget authority if the President determines that such rescission: (1) would help balance the Federal budget, reduce the Federal budget deficit, or reduce the public debt; (2) will not impair any essential Government functions; (3) will not harm the national interest; and (4) will directly contribute to the purpose of this Act of limiting discretionary spending in FY 1994 or 1995. Requires the President to notify the Congress of such a rescission by special message after enactment of appropriations legislation for FY 1994 or 1995. Makes such a rescission effective unless the Congress enacts a rescission disapproval bill. Describes: (1) information to be included in the President's message; and (2) procedures to govern consideration of rescission disapproval legislation in the Senate and the House of Representatives.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
Freedom from Government Competition Act of 1992 (sic) - Requires Federal agencies to obtain all goods and services necessary for or beneficial to the accomplishment of their authorized functions by procurement from private sources unless: (1) the goods or services are required by law to be produced or performed, respectively, by the agency; or (2) the head of the agency determines and certifies to the Congress that Government production, manufacture, or provision of a good or service is necessary for national defense, that a good or service is so inherently governmental in nature that it is in the public interest to require production or performance by a Government employee, or that there is no private source capable of providing the good or service. Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to study and report to the Congress on: (1) agency activities which are inconsistent with such requirements; and (2) a schedule for transferring such activities to the private sector.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
Systematic Application of Value Engineering Act of 1993 - Requires Federal agencies to apply value engineering, at a minimum, to identify and implement opportunities to reduce capital and operation costs and improve and maintain optimum quality of construction, administrative, program, acquisition, and grant projects. Requires Inspector General audits of reported agency savings attributable to such value engineering.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
Repeals provisions of the Communications Act of 1934 relating to assistance for public telecommunications facilities, telecommunications demonstrations, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Supervisory Reforms Title II: Nonsupervisory Reforms Subtitle A: Expedited Funds Availability and Electronic Transfers Subtitle B: Amendments to the Truth in Lending Act Subtitle C: Homeownership Amendments Depository Institution Burden Relief Act of 1993 - Title I: Supervisory Reforms - (Secs. 101-105) Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to modify the guidelines governing: (1) the coordination of Federal and State examinations and reporting requirements for insured depository institutions; (2) the consolidation of requisite reports by a depository institution holding company for its capital-efficient insured depository institution subsidiaries; (3) the non-applicability to capital-efficient depository institutions of certain financial status reports for the early identification of needed improvements; and (4) the submission of duplicative information to Federal banking supervisory agencies. (Sec. 106) Prohibits a Federal banking agency from requiring an insured depository institution to submit information unrelated to either its safety or soundness, its insured deposits, or its reserve requirements. (Sec. 107) Limits the information that a capital-efficient insured depository institution must include in its federally required financial status report. (Secs. 108-109) Exempts from certain regulatory standards capital-efficient insured depository institutions and insured depository institutions which received an "outstanding rating for meeting community credit needs". (Sec. 110) Sets forth guidelines for each Federal banking agency to review and report to the Congress on needless burdens imposed by the Federal banking regulatory scheme. (Sec. 111) Amends the Federal Reserve Act to repeal the statutory scheme with respect to interbank liabilities. (Sec. 112) Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to set forth expedited approval procedures under which capital-efficient State banks may engage in specified activities. (Sec. 113) Amends the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) to set forth self-certification procedures for certain regulated financial institutions in good standing. Permits Federal financial supervisory agencies to accept in satisfaction of CRA requirements State examinations conducted pursuant to comparable community reinvestment laws. Declares that a comprehensive examination of performance shall only be conducted if a Federal regulatory agency is not satisfied that credit is being extended throughout the community in a nondiscriminatory manner. (Sec. 114) Exempts specified banks from the purview of the CRA. (Sec. 115) Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to modify the assessment base guidelines for deposit insurance premiums. (Sec. 116) Mandates that certain Federal banking regulations be accompanied with a detailed statement about their economic impact upon small banks and savings associations. (Sec. 117) Mandates that each Federal banking regulatory agency establish a separate Office of Regulatory Quality to monitor its examination activities. (Sec. 118) Limits the frequency of routine examinations of insured depository institutions except those for safety and soundness. (Secs. 119-121) Amends the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 to modify the guidelines for: (1) certain reorganizations of banks into holding companies; and (2) certain bank holding companies seeking approval to engage in specified nonbanking activities. (Sec. 122) Amends Federal law regarding monetary instruments transactions to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to: (1) review annually all regulations pertaining to monetary instruments transaction requirements seeking public comment; and (2) publish all written rulings interpreting such law, as well as staff commentaries. (Sec. 123) Amends the Federal Reserve Act to modify the aggregate limits on insider lending for specified small banks. Title II: Nonsupervisory Reforms - Subtitle A: Expedited Funds Availability and Electronic Transfers - (Sec. 201) Amends the Expedited Funds Availability Act to: (1) modify the availability schedules for both depository institution accounts and new accounts; and (2) authorize the Board to establish rules for losses and liability among the States and their political subdivisions in connection with any aspect of the payment system. Subtitle B: Amendments to the Truth in Lending Act - (Sec. 211) Amends the Truth in Lending Act to: (1) exempt from its purview credit transactions involving consumers whose income or net worth exceeds specified thresholds; and (2) modify its information disclosure guidelines. Subtitle C: Homeownership Amendments - (Sec. 221) Amends the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act of 1975 to modify the total assets criterion used to exempt depository institutions from its purview. (Sec. 222) Amends the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 to repeal its homeownership debt counseling notification requirements. (Sec. 223) Forbids a Federal banking agency from requiring any institution under its purview to engage in data collection practices pursuant to the requirements of the Fair Housing Act other than data required under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act of 1975.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
Privatization of Art Act of 1991 (sic) - Amends the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965 to abolish the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Council on the Arts (NCA). Provides for transfer of all NEA property to the National Endowment for the Humanities. Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to provide for the termination of the affairs of NEA and NCA.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
Provides for the transfer of the United States Postal Service to a private corporation. Directs the President to transmit to the Congress: (1) a comprehensive plan providing for the transfer of property subject to this Act; and (2) recommendations for legislation as necessary. Establishes the Postal Privatization Commission to: (1) carry out the functions relating to the issuance of securities to postal employees; and (2) consult with the President on transferring the Postal Service to a private corporation.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
Provides for a maximum speed limit of 65 miles per hour on all highways with four lanes or more open to traffic located outside of urbanized areas. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to study and report to the Congress on the effects on highway safety of increasing the speed limit on such highways.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
Directs the Comptroller General to conduct an annual fiscal year audit of: (1) the Federal Reserve Board; (2) the Federal Advisory Council; (3) the Federal Open Market Committee; and (4) all Federal Reserve banks and branches, including transactions of the system open market account conducted through recognized dealers. Requires the Comptroller General to report the audit results to the Congress and to submit copies to: (1) the President; (2) the Federal Reserve Board; and (3) the Federal Reserve banks.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to terminate the authority for individuals to designate income tax payments to the Presidential Election Campaign Fund. Allows individual taxpayers to designate a portion of any tax overpayment (not less than one dollar) and to make cash contributions with their tax returns to reduce the public debt. Allows individuals who do not itemize deductions a deduction for contributions to reduce the public debt.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
Constitutional Amendment - Declares that the Congress and the States shall have power to prohibit the act of physical desecration of the U.S. flag and to set criminal penalties for such act.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
Constitutional Amendment - Requires the Congress, prior to each fiscal year, to adopt a statement in which total Federal outlays do not exceed total receipts, unless a three-fifths vote of both Houses authorizes a specific excess. Limits the rate of increase in receipts in the statement to that of the increase in national income in the previous calendar year, unless law is enacted solely to approve specific additional receipts. Directs the President to submit a balanced budget. Authorizes waiver of these provisions in time of war. Sets a permanent limit on the amount of Federal public debt, prohibiting any increase unless legislation enacted by a three-fifths majority of both Houses become law.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits a person who has been elected to: (1) the Senate two times from being eligible for election or appointment to the Senate; and (2) the House of Representatives six times from being eligible for election to the House.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
Constitutional Amendment - Grants the President authority to disapprove or reduce any item of appropriation in an appropriation bill. Requires a three-fifths vote of each House to override such a disapproval or reduction.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
Constitutional Amendment - Declares that nothing in the Constitution shall prohibit the inclusion of voluntary prayer in any public school program or activity. Provides that neither the United States nor any State shall prescribe the content of any such prayer.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
Amends rule XXIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives to make it out of order to put the question upon final passage of any bill or resolution until printed copies of the measure have been available for all Members for at least one day. Provides for the suspension of this Act for a particular bill or resolution in a national emergency upon the joint request of the Speaker and Minority Leader and with an affirmative two-thirds vote.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
Designates minority party membership on the following standing committees of the House of Representatives: (1) Agriculture; (2) Appropriations; (3) Armed Services; (4) Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs; (5) Budget; (6) District of Columbia; (7) Education and Labor; (8) Energy and Commerce; (9) Foreign Affairs; (10) Government Operations; (11) House Administration; (12) Natural Resources; (13) Judiciary; (14) Merchant Marine and Fisheries; (15) Post Office and Civil Service; (16) Public Works and Transportation; (17) Rules; (18) Science, Space, and Technology; (19) Small Business; (20) Standards of Official Conduct; (21) Veterans' Affairs; and (22) Ways and Means.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Constitution provides that all citizens have the right to keep and bear arms and that such right supersedes the power and authority of any government.
United States · United States Congress · 5 January 1993
Declares that the Congress opposes any attempt to lower the estate tax exemption or raise the effective rate of taxes on estates because such measures contradict the fundamental goal of the United States Government of encouraging long-term private saving through which productive investment that promotes economic growth can be realized.
United States · United States Congress · 6 October 1992
Tax Fairness Restoration and Economic Growth Act - Title I: Tax Reductions - Subtitle A: Capital Gains Provisions - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude capital gain from gross income and exempt capital gain from tax. Makes such exemption applicable to computing the alternative minimum tax. Subtitle B: Restoration of Income Averaging - Sets forth provisions to restore income averaging. Subtitle C: Elimination of Double Tax on Dividends - Allows a shareholder credit (for taxpayers other than corporations) for dividends from domestic corporations. Provides for determining such credit based on the corporation's post-1992 Federal income taxes and post-1992 undistributed earnings. Includes such credit in the determination of gross income. Allows corporations a 100 percent deduction for amounts received as dividends from domestic corporations. Revises computations on dividends received by corporations on the preferred stock of a public utility. Subtitle D: Permanent Extension of Research Credit - Makes permanent law the credit for increasing research activities. Subtitle E: Reduction of Individual Tax Rate - Reduces individual income tax rates by eliminating the highest tax bracket. Subtitle F: Retirement Savings Incentives - Part I Restoration of IRA Deduction - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to remove the limitations on deductions for individual retirement plans and provides a cost-of-living adjustment for deductible amounts. Part II: Nondeductible Tax-Free IRAs - Establishes special individual retirement accounts that are nondeductible. Makes such accounts nontaxable if earnings on contributions are held for at least five years. Applies the early withdrawal penalty to distributions made before the end of the five year-period. Part III: Penalty-Free Distributions - Provides exemptions from the ten-percent penalty on early withdrawals from individual retirement plans for: (1) first home purchases; (2) higher education expenses; and (3) financially devastating medical expenses. Subtitle G: Repeal of Excise Penalty Taxes on Autos - Repeals the excise tax on luxury items (passenger vehicles, boats, aircraft, jewelry, and furs). Subtitle H: Repeal of Limitation On Itemized Deductions - Repeals the overall limitation on itemized deductions. Subtitle I: Repeal of Passive Loss Limitations - Repeals passive loss limitations. Subtitle J: Restoration of 10-Percent Investment Credit - Restores the ten percent investment tax credit for property placed in service after enactment of this Act. Subtitle K: Restoration of Accelerated Cost Recovery System - Restores the accelerated cost recovery system as in effect on the day after the enactment of the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981. Subtitle L: Credit for First-Time Homebuyer - Allows a credit for a first-time homebuyer of ten percent of the price of the principal residence. Limits such credit to $2,500. Requires the residence to be acquired on or after February 1, 1992, and before January 1, 1993. Title II: Taxpayer Bill of Rights - Subtitle A: Additional Safeguards to Protect Taxpayers' Rights - Part I: Taxpayers' Advocate - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish in the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) the Office of Taxpayers' Advocate, headed by the Taxpayers' Advocate, appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Requires the Office to: (1) assist taxpayers in resolving problems with the IRS; (2) identify areas in which taxpayers have problems in dealings with the IRS; (3) propose changes in the administrative practices of the IRS to mitigate such problems; and (4) identify potential legislative changes which may be appropriate to mitigate such problems. Requires the Taxpayers' Advocate to annually report to specified congressional committees on Office activities. Requires the Commissioner of Internal Revenue to establish procedures requiring a formal response to all recommendations submitted to the Commissioner by the Taxpayers' Advocate. Authorizes the terms of a Taxpayer Assistance Order to require the Secretary of the Treasury to take certain actions (currently, only to cease or refrain from taking such actions). Part II: Modifications to Installment Agreement Provisions - Requires prior notification to taxpayers under an installment agreement to pay tax liability before altering, modifying, or terminating such an agreement. Provides for administrative review of denials of requests for installment agreements. Suspends the failure to pay penalty during any period an installment agreement is in effect. Part III: Interest - Extends from ten days to 21 days the period for which interest will not be imposed after notice and demand for payment, if such payment is less than $100,000. Provides for the abatement of interest in the case of an assessment due to the error or delay of an IRS managerial act. Increases the interest rate for overpayment of tax from two percent to three percent (making such rate equal to the interest rate for underpayment of tax). Waives interest on all overpayments refunded within 45 days after a return is filed. Part IV: Joint Returns - Requires separate deficiency notices in the case of a joint income tax return if the most recent data available to the IRS shows that such spouses did not file a joint return with each other. Allows the disclosure of collection activities to an individual requesting such information in the case of a joint return where such individual is no longer married to or resides in the same household as the other joint filer. Removes limitations on filing a joint return after filing separate returns. Part V: Collection Activities - Authorizes the Secretary, if it is determined to be in the best interest of the taxpayer and the United States, to: (1) withdraw a notice of a lien; (2) return property that has been levied upon; and (3) offer compromises in civil or criminal cases. Requires the Secretary, at the request of the taxpayer, to make reasonable efforts to notify credit reporting agencies and financial institutions of such withdrawal notice. Part VI: Erroneous and Fraudulent Information Returns - Requires payee statements to provide the phone number of the person providing payment. Establishes civil damages for the fraudulent filing of information returns. Requires the Secretary to take reasonable steps to corroborate the accuracy of an information return when making a determination of a deficiency by a third party, when such return is disputed by the taxpayer. Part VII: Modifications to Penalty for Failure to Collect and Pay Over Tax - Declares that a person shall not be liable for any penalty for failure to collect and pay over tax if such person: (1) is not a significant owner, or highly compensated employee of the trade or business; (2) notifies the Secretary within ten days after such failure; and (3) such notification was before any notice by the Secretary with respect to such failure. Requires the Secretary to disclose certain information where more than one person is liable for a penalty. Part VIII: Awarding of Costs and Certain Fees - Repeals the "substantially justified" test for determining whether a taxpayer may recover costs and fees incurred as part of an administrative or court proceeding. Provides for the awarding of reasonable litigation or administrative costs to a prevailing party who represents himself in an administrative or court proceeding. Makes IRS employees personally liable in certain cases. Provides that any failure to agree to an extension of time for the assessment of any tax shall not be taken into account in determining whether a prevailing party has exhausted all administrative remedies. Part IX: Other Provisions - Revises provisions on the required content of tax due, deficiency, and other notices. Provides for the treatment of returns prepared for or executed by the Secretary for purposes of certain tax penalties. Provides protection for taxpayers who rely on certain guidance published by the IRS. Subtitle B: Form Modifications - Directs the Secretary to: (1) ensure that taxpayers are aware of permission to pay tax in installments, extensions of time for payment of tax, and compromises of tax liability; (2) improve procedures for taxpayers to notify the Secretary of changes in names and addresses; (3) include in a specified publication a section on the rights and responsibilities of divorced individuals; (4) ensure that employees are aware of their responsibilities under the Federal tax system and that the public is aware of penalties for failure to collect and pay over tax; and (5) notify taxpayers of any payments that cannot be associated with any outstanding tax liability. Subtitle C: Additional Improvements - Requires the Secretary to report to the tax-writing committees on: (1) a pilot program for appeals of certain enforcement actions (including lien, levy, and seizure actions); (2) a study on ways to assist the elderly, physically impaired, foreign-language speaking, and other taxpayers with special needs to comply with IRS laws; (3) the scope and content of the IRS taxpayer-rights education program for its officers and employees; and (4) cases involving complaints about misconduct of IRS employees and the disposition of such complaints. Requires the Comptroller General to report to the tax-writing committees on: (1) a study of notices of deficiency; (2) the accuracy and clarity of 25 of the most commonly used IRS forms, notices, and publications; and (3) a study of IRS employee-suggestion programs.
United States · United States Congress · 2 October 1992
Community Opportunity Pilot Program Act of 1992 - Provides authority and a Federal mechanism for approval of five pilot projects for the development of community opportunity systems to demonstrate the potential for improving the economic opportunity for low-income residents of the community through restructured programs providing services and benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 1 October 1992
Housing Assistance Innovation Act of 1992 - Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to permit a qualifying public housing agency or resident management corporation to carry out a demonstration program allowing it to set policies for the operation and development of one or more projects, without regard to certain public housing requirements. Excludes employee-residents of specified HUD-assisted housing from certain wage rate requirements. Provides for evictions and tenancy terminations based upon felony convictions under specified public and Indian housing programs. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 30 September 1992
Taxpayer Protection, Deposit Insurance Reform, and Regulatory Relief Act of 1992 - Title I: 100 Percent Cross-Guarantees - Subtitle A: Definitions - Sets forth definitions relating to depository institutions, non-depository guarantors, affiliates, financial terms, and funds. Subtitle B: Cross-Guarantee Process - Sets forth a cross-guarantee mechanism whose purpose is to: (1) protect the full amount of deposits by prohibiting depository institutions from operating without a cross-guarantee contract issued by syndicates of guarantors; (2) charge risk-sensitive premiums for the guarantees provided; (3) establish a self-regulating system with stop-loss mechanisms; and (4) regulate the cross-guarantee marketplace only to the extent of maintaining its soundness and viability (but not the solvency of any individual depository institution regardless of its size). Includes a stop-loss limit for losses of a guaranteed party as a direct guarantor of other guaranteed parties. Requires the cross-guarantor's contract obligations to be independent of the obligations of any other party under the contract. Prohibits direct guarantors under any cross-guarantee or stop-loss contract from obtaining collateral for cross-guarantee obligations. Sets forth the requirements for: (1) cross-guarantee contracts; (2) stop-loss contracts; (3) direct guarantors; and (4) cross-guarantee and stop-loss syndicates. Declares that any action arising under a cross-guarantee or stop-loss contract shall be deemed to arise under Federal law. Confers original jurisdiction upon the Federal courts for any action arising under such contracts. Subtitle C: Powers and Duties of the FDIC - Grants the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) exclusive enforcement, regulatory, and approval authority over the cross-guarantee process. Outlines the FDIC approval process for cross-guarantee and stop-loss contracts. Requires the FDIC to provide for the incorporation of a stock, for-profit corporation to establish and maintain a central electronic repository for: cross-guarantee, stop-loss, and group cross-guarantee syndicate contracts. Mandates that the repository files be directly accessible to any direct guarantor, guaranteed party, syndicate agent, and other eligible persons. Precludes any cross-guarantee or stop-loss contract from taking effect until it is in such repository file. Vests management authority for the repository in a board of directors. Prohibits closed loop situations (i.e., a group of institutions guarantee each other without sharing such risk with outside guarantors). Requires syndicate agents under a cross guarantee contract to submit periodic status reports to the FDIC regarding guaranteed depository institutions. Cites conditions under which the FDIC must appoint itself conservator or receiver for a depository institution guaranteed under a cross-guarantee contract. Establishes an FDIC- administered cross-guarantee backup fund to pay for: (1) the administrative expenses incurred in regulating the cross-guarantee system and providing deposit insurance; and (2) any loss incurred by a depositor in connection with an insured deposit at a depository institution. States that deposits in any guaranteed depository institution shall be insured against loss to the same extent as deposits are insured against loss by the FDIC (as in effect before the date of enactment of this Act) if the FDIC cannot recover adequate funds to pay for any loss due to the appointment or receiver under this Act. Subtitle D: Miscellaneous Provisions - Requires the FDIC to: (1) ensure that all deposit-taking institutions, with specified exceptions, become guaranteed under a cross-guarantee contract; and (2) establish the Cross-Guarantee Advisory Committee to advise the FDIC Board of Directors regarding the operation and regulation of the cross-guarantee process. Declares that no collateral is required for lending by any Federal Reserve Bank to a guaranteed company. Requires the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to submit annual status reports to certain congressional committees regarding losses incurred as a result of lending within the cross-guarantee system. Permits a cross-guarantee company or banking office to advertise that deposits and certain other liabilities under an FDIC-approved cross-guarantee contract are fully guaranteed against loss. Subtitle E: Transition to 100 Percent Cross-Guarantee Process - Sets forth a conversion schedule to implement an eight-year transition period for the cross-guarantee system, which shall become effective when a specified minimum number of FDIC-approved cross-guarantee contracts and total assets are approved. Requires the FDIC immediately to appoint a conservator or receiver for any depository institution which has not complied with such schedule. Prescribes guidelines for severance pay and related benefits for former State and Federal banking agency employees. Title II: Amendments to Other Laws - Amends Federal banking laws to conform with the provisions of this Act, including amendments relating to: (1) national banks; (2) Federal Reserve System member banks; (3) savings associations; (4) savings and loan holding companies; (5) the FDIC; and (6) Federal bankruptcy law.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 1992
Expresses the sense of the Congress that if Saudi Arabia acquires F-15 aircraft from the United States it should demonstrate its peaceful intentions by lifting its economic boycott against Israel and against U.S. companies that trade with Israel.
United States · United States Congress · 9 September 1992
Authorizes the President to direct that any funds available for foreign assistance programs be used for emergency disaster assistance payments for expenses related to Hurricane Andrew or other natural disasters in the United States. Makes such funds available only to such extent or in such amount as provided in advance in an appropriation Act. Continues to consider such funds as funds within the international category for purposes of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
United States · United States Congress · 6 August 1992
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) a presidential commission should be established to investigate whether there has been any measurable depletion of stratospheric ozone beyond the seasonal variations caused by natural phenomena; (2) such commission should investigate whether it has been proven that the use of man-made chlorofluorocarbons damages stratospheric ozone and whether the phaseout of chlorofluorocarbons will have any effect on ozone levels in the stratosphere; and (3) the membership of the commission should be equally apportioned between representatives from the scientific community whose published research shows that chlorofluorocarbons have a negligible effect on ozone depletion and representatives whose research makes contrary claims.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 1992
Repeals specified portions of the Unemployment Compensation Amendments of 1992 (Public Law 102-318) which: (1) provide for optional trustee-to-trustee transfers of eligible rollover distributions; and (2) impose a withholding tax on distributions not so transferred. Requires the Internal Revenue Code to be applied and administered as if such provisions (and the amendments made by such provisions) had not been enacted.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 1992
Authorizes the National Captive Nations Committee, Inc., to establish a memorial on Federal land in the District of Columbia or its environs to honor the victims of communism.
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 1992
Federal Grants for State and Local "G.I. Bills" for Children - Requires the Secretary of Education to use specified funds to make competitive grants to States and localities for educational choice programs. Authorizes reservation of a specified portion of such funds for national evaluation of such programs. Authorizes appropriations. Makes a State or locality eligible for such a grant if it: (1) has taken significant steps to provide a choice of schools to families with school children in the program area, including those not eligible for scholarships under this Act; (2) will, if awarded a grant, provide scholarships to parents of eligible children that may be redeemed for elementary or secondary education at a broad variety of public and private (including religious) schools serving that area; and (3) permits all such lawfully operating schools serving the area to participate in its program under this Act if they so choose. Requires grantees to provide scholarships to parents of eligible children, with a value of $1,000 from Federal funds under this Act and an additional amount, if any, of State, local, and nongovernmental funds. Excludes such scholarships from consideration as income for Federal income tax or Federal program eligibility purposes. Requires such scholarships to be provided to parents of children who reside in the program area, will attend a participating public or private school, and are from a middle- or low-income family (as determined by the grantees, in accordance with the Secretary's regulations). Limits the maximum family income for eligibility to not more than the higher of the State or national median family income. Provides for continuation of such scholarship aid to a child in each program year, unless the child no longer resides in the program area or no longer attends school, or the child's family income exceeds by 20 percent or more than the maximum income of families who received scholarships in the preceding year. Requires the grantee to provide scholarships to the lowest income families if the grant amount is insufficient to provide such aid to each child up to the income level for which the grantee applied. Sets forth application requirements, including descriptions of program areas and economic profiles of children residing there. Requires that programs be selected to receive such grants on the basis of: (1) number and variety of educational choices they make available to families of eligible children; (2) extent to which choices among public, private, and religious schools are available to all families in the area, including those not eligible for scholarships; (3) proportion of children from low-income families among participants; and (4) applicant's financial support of the program, including, State, local, and nongovernmental supplementary funds, not only for scholarships but also for other economic incentives such as tax relief (taking local conditions into account). Requires awards to programs in urban and rural areas and in different areas of the Nation. Requires award of annual grants, taking account of availability of appropriations, number and quality of applications, and other appropriate factors. Allows each grant to be for up to four years and to be renewed for an additional four-year period. Requires the following sequence for use of the Federal portion of such a scholarship: (1) for tuition and fees at the school selected by the parents, and for reasonable transportation costs (at the parent's option); (2) if the parent's so choose, for supplementary academic services for the child (up to $500 in cost) from any provider chosen by the parents that the grantee determines is capable to do so and has an appropriate refund policy; and (3) any remaining funds to be used either by the public school the child attends for student academic achievement programs, or, if the child attends private school, by the grantee for additional scholarships. Sets forth the effect of this Act on other programs. Requires a local educational agency to provide to any child in an educational choice program the same services that it would otherwise provide to that child under chapter 1 title I Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 provisions for educationally disadvantaged children. Declares that this Act does not affect specified requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Provides that such scholarships are aid to families, not institutions, so that their expenditure shall not be construed as Federal financial aid or assistance to a school or provider of supplementary academic services. Requires schools or providers of academic services, in order to receive scholarship funds under this Act, to comply with antidiscrimination requirements under specified Federal laws. Directs the Secretary to promulgate regulations to implement this requirement, taking into account the purposes of this Act and the nature, variety, and missions of schools and providers that may participate. Prohibits consideration of Federal funds provided under this Act in Federal, State, or local agency determination of other assistance to such grantees or schools attended. Provides that no State constitution or law shall be construed or applied to prohibit any grantee from: (1) paying administrative costs of a program under this Act; or (2) providing any Federal funds received under this Act to parents for use at a religious or other private institution. Declares that nothing in this Act authorizes the Secretary to exercises direction, supervision, or control over any participating school or educational institution as to curriculum, instructional program, administration or personnel. Directs the Secretary to conduct with specified reserved funds, a national evaluation of the program authorized by this Act. Directs the Secretary to promulgate regulations to enforce this Act. Prohibits such enforcement through a private cause of action.
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 1992
Individual Investment Account Act of 1992 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a deduction for amounts contributed to individual investment accounts. Allows tax-free distributions, limited to $15,000 for all taxable years, from such accounts for use in the purchase of a principal residence by a first-time homebuyer. Makes such accounts tax-exempt unless the individual engages in prohibited transactions. Adjusts dollar limitations under this Act for inflation. Allows such deduction in determining adjusted gross income. Exempts such accounts from estate tax. Excludes from gross income gain from the sale or exchange of property if, during the five-year period ending on the date of the sale or exchange, such property has been owned and used by the taxpayer as a principal residence for periods aggregating three years or more. Limits such exclusion to the amount paid to an individual investment account during the one-year period beginning on the date of the sale or exchange. Provides for adjusting the basis of a residence acquired through the use of an individual investment account.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 1992
Small Business Regulatory Cost Relief Act of 1992 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to replace the small business tax credit for expenditures to provide access to disabled individuals with the small business tax credit for regulatory costs. Makes such credit 50 percent of qualified regulatory costs for a taxable year as exceed $250. Declares that such costs include eligible access expenditures for the disabled.
United States · United States Congress · 2 July 1992
Credit Availability and Regulatory Relief Act of 1992 - Title I: Supervisory Reforms - Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to authorize the appropriate Federal banking agency to exempt any insured depository institution owned or controlled by a depository institution holding company from statutory examination requirements if: (1) the agency is satisfied that adequate internal controls and examination procedures exist within the holding company structure; and (2) the institutions owned or controlled by the holding company having at least 80 percent of all insured depository institutions owned or controlled by such holding company have been subjected to onsite examinations. Modifies statutory auditing and reporting requirements in order to reduce the regulatory costs incurred by insured depository institutions. Requires the Small Business Administration together with specified financial institution regulatory agencies to conduct a joint study and report to the Congress on the appropriate methods to obtain the information needed to assess the availability of credit to small businesses, including minority-owned small businesses and small farms. Repeals the existing mandate for certain regulatory standards for safety and soundness. Requires the appropriate Federal banking agencies to review their regulations and adopt uniform regulations. Excludes from bank closure requirements specified branches and automated teller machines. Amends the Federal Reserve Act to modify the aggregate statutory limits on insider lending. Repeals the current statutory mandate with respect to the regulation of interbank risks. Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to change the assessment base calculation for deposit insurance premiums (from the two most recent quarterly call reports of the institution to the next-to-last call report and the one immediately before it). Amends the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 to: (1) establish a threshold of $100,000 or less level below which State-certified or State-licensed appraisers are not required for certain Federal real estate-related transactions; and (2) prohibit the States from requiring State-certified or State-licensed appraisers for such transactions. Amends the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 to set forth guidelines for self-certification of small rural regulated financial institutions that have complied with such Act. Requires the appropriate Federal financial supervisory agency to investigate any allegation filed against a regulated financial institution regarding whether it is helping to meet the credit needs of its community, consistent with safe and sound operation of the institution. Modifies the regulatory the guidelines for such institutions. Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to require: (1) the appropriate Federal banking agencies to jointly establish application requirements to reduce duplicative filings by depository institutions; and (2) the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to minimize the regulatory burden imposed upon insured depository institutions. Removes certain interest rate restrictions placed upon depository institutions that are adequately capitalized. Repeals provisions relating to private deposit insurers and deposit institutions lacking Federal deposit insurance. Prohibits the Federal Trade Commission from bringing an action or proceeding against a private deposit insurer for non-compliance with the requirement to complete a certain annual audit within a specified time period. Requires the Secretary to study and report to the Congress on: (1) those measures necessary to ensure adequate public disclosure of depository institutions that lack Federal deposit insurance; and (2) the appropriateness of imposing audit requirements on private deposit insurers. Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991 to delay the effective dates for specified new requirements for insured financial institutions. Amends the Home Owners' Loan Act to accelerate the effective date by which savings associations may engage in certain affiliate transactions permitted for banks. Title II: Non-Supervisory Reforms - Subtitle A: Expedited Funds Availability and Electronic Transfers - Amends the Expedited Funds Availability Act to eliminate next-day availability schedules for checks drawn on and deposited at an automated teller machine of the same depository institution. Makes the availability schedule for new accounts applicable during the 90-day (currently 30-day) period beginning on the date the account is established. Authorizes the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the Federal Reserve Board) to establish rules imposing liability and allocating risk of loss among depository institutions and other entities participating in the payments system, including the States and political subdivisions on which checks are drawn. Subtitle B: Amendments to the Truth in Lending Act - Amends the Truth in Lending Act to: (1) exempt from its purview credit transactions involving consumers whose income or net worth exceeds specified thresholds; and (2) prohibit the recovery of punitive damages. Subtitle C: Homeownership Amendments - Amends the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974 to exempt lenders who finance the purchase of residential real estate from requirements to provide certain information booklets to borrowers if the lender denies the loan application within three business days after it is received. Amends the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act of 1975 to index the asset size of depository institutions exempt from the Act to increases in the Consumer Price Index. Amends the Competitive Equality Banking Act of 1987 to apply the definition of "adjustable rate mortgage loan" with respect to the interest rate cap to consumer loans only. Prohibits an appropriate Federal banking agency from requiring any depository institution to engage in Fair Housing Act data collection activities if such activities are already required under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act of 1975. Subtitle D: Amendments to the Truth in Savings Act - Amends the Truth in Savings Act to direct the Federal Reserve to exempt certain broadcast, electronic, or outdoor advertisements from interest-rate disclosure requirements, as well as (at the Board's discretion) interest rate notice boards on the premises of an institution. Authorizes the Board to exempt or modify certain disclosure requirements with respect to specified accounts and interest rates. Limits the civil liability of a depository institution to an accountholder to the actual damages sustained. Subtitle E: Expedited Procedures for Bank Holding Companies - Amends the Bank Holding Company Act to set forth expedited procedures by which banks may reorganize into bank holding companies. Amends the Securities Act of 1933 to: (1) reflect such expedited procedures; and (2) prescribe expedited procedures for bank holding companies to seek approval to engage in nonbanking activities. Amends the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 and the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to permit, with the concurrence of the Attorney General, the reduction to five days of the post-approval waiting period for bank holding company acquisitions and bank mergers.
United States · United States Congress · 2 July 1992
Information Services Fair Competition Act of 1992 - Amends the Communication Act of 1934 to make it unlawful for any common carrier or its affiliate engaged in the provision of information services to include in its charges for telephone exchange service any operating expenses, costs, depreciation charges, or other expenses determined by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to be properly associated with the provision of information services by such carrier or affiliate. Directs the FCC to adopt regulations to ensure that these provisions are not evaded by carriers subject to this Act. Directs a common carrier or its affiliate engaged in the provision of information services to meet requirements such as: (1) book maintenance in a specified manner; (2) interconnection to its network that is equal in price, quality, and type to the interconnection that the carrier provides to itself or to its affiliate; (3) information concerning the network interface specifications that allows such information service provider to connect to that carrier's network; (4) public disclosure of the specifications for any new or changed type of network interface for information services that the carrier or its affiliate provides or may provide; and (5) response, on a nondiscriminatory basis, to a bona fide request for a new type of basic service necessary to support an information service within 120 days after receipt of such request, and offer such service on an unbundled basis if it is technically feasible and if the marketing and economic demand forecast support such offering. Authorizes the FCC, upon application of a carrier which shows that it is technically unable to meet one or more of the requirements mentioned above, to grant a waiver to such carrier only if the public interest would be served thereby. Requires the FCC to adopt regulations that specify the form and manner in which the network disclosure information shall be made by common carriers. Requires common carriers, subject to this Act, to comply with any relevant regulations already in effect until such regulations are adopted and published in the Federal Register. Prescribes guidelines for the release of network disclosure information. Makes it unlawful for a common carrier or its affiliate to use, in connection with the provision of such carrier's information services, customer proprietary network information that the carrier has collected in the course of providing telephone exchange service unavailable to unaffiliated providers of information services unless prior consent of the customer has been obtained or in cases where the FCC has determined that the use of disclosure of such information serves the public interest. Prohibits: (1) any common carrier or affiliate from engaging in the provision of a burglar alarm service until ten years after the enactment of this Act unless such service was provided to a customer by the carrier or affiliate on July 1, 1992; and (2) a Federal agency or State from regulating the rates, terms, or conditions for the provision of information services. Authorizes the FCC to impose any remedy, without limitation, to ensure that the costs of providing information services are not borne by subscribers to telephone exchange service.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 1992
Designates the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in Marlin, Texas, as the Thomas T. Connally Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 1992
Urban Entrepreneurial Opportunities Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a deduction for equity contributions made by a corporation to an urban entrepreneurial opportunity financing subsidiary of such corporation. Requires the subsidiary to use such contribution in making qualified enterprise zone business loans to qualified small business concerns. Establishes an overall program limitation among the contributing corporations to be allocated by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1992
Directs the National World War II Memorial Fund, Inc., to construct a memorial on Federal land in the District of Columbia or its environs to: (1) honor members of the armed forces who served in World War II; and (2) commemorate U.S. participation in that conflict. Directs the fund to plan, design, and oversee the construction of the Memorial. Establishes the World War II Memorial Advisory Board to: (1) promote and encourage the donation of private funds for the construction of the Memorial; and (2) recommend the site for and assist in the selection of the design of the Memorial. Terminates the Board within 30 days after completion of the Memorial or on the lapse of the authority provided by this Act. Authorizes the Fund to solicit and accept private contributions for construction of the Memorial. States that the requirements and authority of this Act shall lapse if: (1) construction of the Memorial is not commenced within seven years of its enactment; or (2) before such construction, the Secretary of the Interior certifies that funds are not available in an amount sufficient to ensure its completion.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1992
Prohibits voluntary contributions by the United States to the United Nations Development Program, for any year after 1992, from exceeding 90 percent of the amount of such contribution for 1992. Prohibits the use of such contributions for projects in China, North Korea, Iran, Cuba, Iraq, Jordan, Libya, Yemen, Syria, Vietnam, and Laos.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1992
Calls upon the President to urge the United Nations Security Council to direct the Secretary General of the United Nations to provide a plan and budget for intervention as may be necessary to enforce the Security Council resolutions seeking cessation of hostilities in the former republics of Yugoslavia.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1992
Community Bank Burden Reduction Act of 1992 - Amends the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 to set forth conditions under which a regulated financial institution shall not be subject to its examination requirements.
![Official portrait of Rep. Armey, Richard K. [R-TX-26]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/a000217_200.jpg)