United States · United States Congress · 22 July 1986
Declares that the Congress commends the commitment to peace of King Hassan of Morocco and Prime Minister Shimon Peres of Israel. Commends the Governments of Israel and Morocco for their efforts toward securing peace. Urges King Hassan to encourage other Arab leaders to follow his path and resolve their conflicts with Israel.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 1986
Omnibus Family Decency Protection Act of 1986 - Title I: Criminal Penalties and Related Provisions - Amends the Federal criminal code to provide criminal penalties for the distribution of obscene matter. Subjects such obscene material, and any property derived from such material, to forfeiture. Permits the Postal Service to carry out such forfeitures if the violation involves the mails. Provides criminal penalties for obscene television broadcasts. Requires any person who produces, distributes, or sells any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct to maintain records containing proof of ages of the persons depicted. Provides criminal penalties for violations of such recordkeeping requirements. Provides criminal penalties for producing a visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct using performers between the ages of 18 and 21. Provides criminal penalties for using a computer network to exchange information concerning visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to provide criminal penalties for making an obscene or indecent communication for commercial purposes to any person without his or her consent. (Current law provides such criminal penalties if made to minors without their consent.) Amends the National Labor Relations Act to make the employment of any person to participate in a commercial sexual performance an unfair labor practice. Amends the Mann Act to make certain offenses gender neutral. Title II: Children's Justice Provisions - Children's Justice Act - Amends the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to States to assist in developing, establishing, operating, or implementing programs for: (1) handling child abuse cases; and (2) improving procedures for protecting children from abuse. Requires each State requesting such a grant to establish a multidisciplinary task force on children's justice. Lists certain procedures a State might implement to: (1) reduce trauma to the child victim in child abuse cases; (2) improve the chances of suscessfully prosecuting child abuse cases; and (3) protect children from abuse. Directs the Secretary to: (1) prepare a summary of the approaches to improve the investigation and prosecution of child sexual abuse cases in a manner which reduces the trauma to the child victim; (2) develop model training materials to ensure that law enforcement, legal, judicial, and child welfare personnel are trained to deal with child sexual abuse victims; and (3) support research projects to assist in identifying effective approaches to achieving the objectives of this Act. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1987 through 1988. Requires the Attorney General, the Secretaries of Health and Human Services and of Education, and other department and agency heads designated by the President to meet every six months to coordinate Federal programs dealing with child abuse. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to report to the Congress annually on such activities. Directs the Attorney General to modify the classification systems used by the National Crime Information Center, the Identification System used by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Uniform Crime Reporting System, with respect to offenses involving the sexual exploitation of children, by: (1) including the age of the victim and the relationship of the victim to the offender; and (2) using a uniform definition of child. Amends the Public Health Service Act regarding the confidentiality of certain alcohol and drug abuse treatment records to state that such confidentiality requirements do not supersede State or local requirements for the reporting of incidents of suspected child abuse.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 1986
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Tax Reform Act of 1985 should be amended to: (1) preserve the deduction for contributions to individual retirement accounts; and (2) increase the amount which may be contributed to such accounts for any taxable year and deducted by or on behalf of spouses who have no compensation for such taxable year.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 1986
Federal Accounting Practices Review Commission Act of 1986 - Title I: Title, Statement of Findings, Purpose and Limitations - Declares the reasons for, and purposes of, this Act. Title II: Establishment, Duties, and Membership - Establishes the Federal Accounting Practices Review Commission to: (1) examine and describe the financial management practices of the Federal Government; (2) formulate a financial accounting and management system for Federal agencies; (3) prepare a plan for implementation of such system; and (4) recommend an ongoing method for determining and updating generally accepted accounting principles for the Government. Title III: Administration - Sets forth the administrative staffing, procedures, and powers of the Commission. Requires the Commission to submit a final report to the President and the Congress not later than 18 months after the date of completion of appointments of members to the Commission. Terminates the Commission 30 days after submission of such report. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 1986
Designates July 3, 1986, as Let Freedom Ring Day. Requests the President to encourage people to ring bells immediately following the relighting of the torch of the Statue of Liberty.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1986
Amends the National Housing Act to extend authority through FY 1987 for: (1) title I financial institution insurance for housing renovation and modernization; (2) general mortgage insurance; (3) low and moderate income and displaced families mortgage insurance; (4) homeownership for lower income families including mortgage insurance authority and housing stimulus authority; (5) mortgage co-insurance, including rental rehabilitation and development projects; (6) graduated payment and indexed mortgage insurance; (7) the demonstration mortgage reinsurance program; (8) mortgage insurance for armed forces' civilian employees and defense housing for impacted areas; (9) mortgage insurance for land development; and (10) mortgage insurance for medical and dental group practice facilities. Sets forth specified limits on FY 1986 and 1987 insured housing loans and on FY 1987 guaranteed mortgage-backed securities. Amends the Housing Act of 1964 to extend urban rehabilitation loan authority through FY 1987. Amends the Housing Act of 1949 to extend Farmers Home Administration authority through FY 1987 for: (1) insured loans for rental and cooperative housing and related facilities for elderly persons and families in rural areas; (2) rural communities with 10,000 to 20,000 population to participate in rural housing programs; and (3) mutual and self-help housing grant and loan authority. Amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to extend authority for national flood insurance, including emergency implementation and flood-risk zones through FY 1987. Amends the National Housing Act to extend authorities for the national crime insurance program and existing contracts through FY 1987. Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to extend community development block grant entitlement authority for certain metropolitan city and urban county areas through FY 1987. Amends the Housing and Urban-Rural Recovery Act of 1983 to extend for 30 days the maximum interest rate limitation on loans for housing and related facilities for elderly or handicapped families through FY 1987. Extends the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act through FY 1987.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 1986
Disapproves the President's recommendation to extend the President's authority to waive the freedom of emigration requirements under the Trade Act of 1974 in order to extend the most-favored nation status of Romania.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 1986
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the threshold for itemized deductions for medical and dental expenses for Federal income tax purposes should not be greater than five percent of adjusted gross income.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1986
Child Protection Act of 1986 - Amends the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Statute to extend its coverage to the sexual exploitation of children. Allows any person injured personally or in his business or property by such violations to bring a civil suit for treble damages. Amends the Federal criminal code to require a mandatory life sentence in kidnapping offenses involving the murder of a minor. Establishes mandatory minimum sentences for the sexual exploitation of minors. Provides that the period of any applicable limitation for the commencement of prosecution for certain offenses involving the sexual exploitation of children shall not begin until the child has reached the age of 18 years. Directs the Attorney General to submit a report to the Congress detailing possible changes in the Federal Rules of Evidence, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, and other procedures which would facilitate the participation of child witnesses in cases involving child abuse and sexual exploitation. Directs the Attorney General to modify the classification system used by the National Crime Information System and the Federal Bureau of Investigation with respect to offenses involving the sexual exploitation of children by: (1) including the age of the victim and the relationship of the victim to the offender; and (2) using a uniform definition of a child. Grants the Postal Service certain authority with respect to the seizure and forfeiture of materials used in, or depicting, the sexual exploitation of children. States that amounts received from such forfeitures shall be deposited in the Postal Service Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1986
United States House of Representatives Election Recount Act of 1986 - Declares that any recount of ballots for the office of Representative shall be completed: (1) in a general election by December 31 of the year of the election; and (2) in a special election by the end of six weeks after the election.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 1986
Federal Product Liability Reofrm Act of 1986 - Title I: - Sets forth findings and purposes of this Act. Title II - Limits the amount of damages which may be recovered against a product seller for noneconomic losses to $250,000. Makes a product seller who has acted with flagrant indifference to consumer safety liable for punitive damages. States that punitive damages may not be awarded in the absence of a compensatory award. Limits the amount of punitive damages which may be recovered. Provides that all product liability actions shall be governed by the principles of comparative responsibility. Specifies the manner in which damages are to be apportioned. Requires the reduction of any damages award by any amount received by the claimant from collateral sources (including workers' compensation benefits). Establishes a two-year statute of limitations and a ten-year statute of repose. Preempts inconsistent State and Federal laws.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 1986
Product Liability Reform Act of 1986 - Preempts inconsistent State laws. Declares that the provisions of this Act are inapplicable in certain actions under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954. Bases liability for damages in product liability actions on whether: (1) the design, production, distribution, or sale of the product was negligent; or (2) the product was defective, and such defect rendered the product unreasonably dangerous. Includes among the applicable defenses in such actions proof that: (1) the defect was the subject of an adequate warning; (2) the defect was apparent to a reasonable person, or the subject of common knowledge; (3) the injury resulted from an unreasonable or unforeseeable use or alteration of the product; and (4) at the time the product was made, the ability to discover and eliminate the defect was unavailable. States that joint and several liability may not be applied to any product liability action subject to this Act (unless persons acting in concert were the proximate cause of the injury). Limits the amount of damages for noneconomic losses to $100,000. Requires that damage awards for future economic losses exceeding $100,000 be made by periodic payments. Requires that damage awards be offset by amounts received as compensation for the same injury. Establishes a contingency fee schedule for plaintiffs' attorneys. Directs the Attorney General to provide recommendations regarding the creation, adoption, and use of alternative dispute resolution techniques.
United States · United States Congress · 22 April 1986
Expresses the sense of the Congress that a Children's Challenge Center for Space Science should be established in conjunction with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration at the Johnson Space Center as a memorial to the seven Challenger astronauts and others who gave their lives exploring space.
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 1986
Anti-Terrorism Act of 1986 - Declares that any person who organizes, attempts, commits, procures, or supports acts of terrorism shall be considered to have committed an act of aggression against the United States and may be pursued with deadly force. Defines terrorism to mean activity directed against U.S. persons which: (1) is committed by a non-U.S. national or permanent resident alien; (2) involves violent or dangerous acts which would be crimes in the United States; and (3) is intended to intimidate a civilian population, to influence government policy, or to affect the conduct of a government by assassination or kidnapping. Authorizes the President, subject to the provisions of the Constitution, to protect U.S. persons from terrorism through the use of all antiterrorism and counterterrorism measures that the President deems necessary. Requires the President's authority to apply: (1) to all terrorists wherever they may be; and (2) until the President determines that no terrorist poses a threat to U.S. persons. Prohibits this Act from being construed as granting any authority to use deadly force within the United States which would not exist in the absence of this Act. Requires the President to report to the Congress within ten days of taking any action under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 1986
Small Business Act of 1986 - Title I: Findings - Sets forth the findings of this Act. Title II: Transfers to the Department of Commerce - Transfers to the Secretary of Commerce all functions, powers, and duties of the Small Business Administration (SBA) under specified provisions of the Small Business Act and the White House Conference on Small Business Authorization Act. Transfers from the SBA to the Department of Commerce the Office of Advocacy. Title III: Transfers to the Department of the Treasury - Transfers to the Secretary of the Treasury all rights, outstanding obligations, and assets of the SBA with respect to guaranteed loans and debentures and other specified guarantees made by the SBA to small businesses under the Small Business Act and the Small Business Investment Company Act of 1958. Authorizes and directs the Secretary of the Treasury to purchase from the Federal Financing Bank all notes, bonds, debentures, or other obligations held by such bank that are guaranteed by the SBA. Transfers to the Secretary of the Treasury the regulatory authorities of the SBA with respect to small business investment companies and minority enterprise small business investment companies under the Small Business Investment Company Act of 1958. Terminates such authorities upon the disposition of specified loans, debentures, or equity securities by the Secretary of the Treasury. Title IV: Termination of Functions Under the Small Business Act and the Small Business Investment Company Act of 1958 - Terminates on October 1, 1986, various provisions of the Small Business Act and the Small Business Investment Company Act of 1958. Title V: Miscellaneous Amendments and Repeals of Other Laws - Makes various conforming amendments and repeals specified provisions of Federal law relating to the SBA and the provisions of this Act. Title VI: General Administrative Provisions - Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of the Treasury to exercise and, where appropriate, to delegate any authority that is transferred from the SBA to them by this Act. Establishes in the Department of Commerce a Small Business Administration which shall be headed by an Under Secretary of Commerce. Authorizes any unobligated funds that remain at the end of FY 1986 in the Disaster Loan Fund account to be transferred to the Business Loan and Investment Fund. Authorizes appropriations. Title VII: Transitional, Savings, and Conforming Provisions - Provides for the transfer of personnel to the appropriate agency with respect to any functions or authority transferred from the SBA by this Act. Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, in consultation with the Administrator of the SBA, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Secretary of the Treasury, to make such determinations as may be necessary with regard to the functions transferred by this Act. Provides that all orders, determinations, regulations, and licenses that have been issued or granted by the President or an SBA official in the performance of functions that were transferred under this Act and that are in effect on October 1, 1986, shall continue in effect until modified or revoked in accordance with law. Authorizes the SBA from October 1, 1986, to December 31, 1986, to operate for the purpose of winding up its affairs and advising the Departments of Commerce and the Treasury. Prohibits the SBA from conducting any program activities during such period. Terminates the SBA on December 31, 1986.
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 1986
Declares that the House of Representatives, on behalf of the U.S. people, expresses its gratitude to the Government and people of the United Kingdom who assisted the United States in its exercise of self-defense against Libya and in the fight against state-sponsored international terrorism.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 1986
Bilingual Education Act Amendments of 1986 - Amends the Bilingual Education Act (the Act) to add to the statement of policy the declaration that, regardless of the method of instruction, programs which serve children of limited English proficiency have the equally important goals of developing both academic achievement and English proficiency. Removes a requirement that the Secretary of Education (the Secretary) reserve limited portions of funds under the Act for special alternative instructional programs and related activities. Removes a requirement that the Secretary reserve at least 75 percent of funds under part A (Financial Assistance for Bilingual Education Programs) of the Act for transitional bilingual education programs.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 1986
Federal Financial Management Improvement Act - Establishes: (1) the Office of the Chief Financial Officer of the United States in the Executive Office of the President; (2) an Assistant Secretary for Financial Management in each executive department; and (3) a Controller in each executive agency. Requires officers to be appointed to such positions by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Requires the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to: (1) provide central direction and monitoring of the executive agencies in the management of their financial activities; (2) ensure that the President and the Congress are fully informed of the Government's financial management condition; and (3) maintain the central accounting and reporting records of the Government. Requires each Assistant Secretary and Controller to: (1) maintain a strategic financial management plan for his or her department or agency; and (2) participate in the appointment, development, and evaluation of financial managers of such department or agency. Requires the budget of each department and agency to contain a line item for its Assistant Secretary or Controller based on its strategic financial management plan. Establishes in the executive branch the Federal Finance Council, which shall consist of the CFO and the Assistant Secretaries, as an advisory body on financial management objectives, information requirements, plans, operations, and activities. Directs the President to transfer to the Office of the CFO: (1) such functions of the executive agencies as the President determines are properly related to the functions of the Office; and (2) such personnel, property, and records of such agencies as are related to the transferred functions.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1986
San Luis Rey Indian Water Rights Settlement Act - Provides for the settlement of water rights claims between the United States and the La Jolla, Rincon, San Pasqual, Pauma, and Pala Bands of Mission Indians (California). Requires the Secretary of the Interior, upon the settlement of all water rights claims, to deliver water to the Indian Water Authority in the vicinity of the Bands' Reservations. Requires the Indian Water Authority to reimburse the United States for operational and maintenance costs (except construction costs) incurred in the delivery of such water. Requires the Indian Water Authority to pay costs associated with the conveyance of such water through non-Federal facilities. Prohibits the Secretary from being obligated to deliver such water if: (1) such delivery would require the construction of new Federal facilities; (2) consent is denied for the use of non-Federal facilities; or (3) necessary contracts have not been executed. Requires the Secretary to use project use power from the Central Valley Project to deliver water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to the Indian Water Authority. Requires the Indian Water Authority to reimburse the United States at the project use rate for irrigation water for the operation and maintenance costs incurred in providing power for the delivery of water. Sets forth limitations on the costs of providing such power. Establishes the San Luis Rey Indian Water Authority. Provides that the Authority, upon the approval of the Secretary, may lease, sell, and manage any water or power resource on or off the Reservations of the Bands. Authorizes the Secretary to lease, grant rights-of-way across, or transfer title to any Indian tribal or allotted land which is used to divert, convey, and store the waters of the San Luis Rey River for the local entities, including the Rincon and Bear Valley powerplants.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1986
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that Federal excise taxes and tariffs when incurred by business in the production of income should remain deductible for Federal income tax purposes.
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 · 10 March 1986
Provides that if construction of an additional space shuttle orbiter is authorized, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall select the name of such orbiter from among suggestions submitted by elementary and secondary school students, under a suggestion program established by the Administrator.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1986
Makes funds available from the contingent fund of the House of Representatives for a voluntary controlled substances testing program for Members and employees of the House of Representatives.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1986
Provides that any requirement to substantiate a deduction under the Internal Revenue Code with respect to the business use of a vehicle must be based on regulations in effect before the Tax Reform Act of 1984.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 1986
Merger Modernization Act of 1986 - Amends the Clayton Act to revise the standard of anticompetitive effects required to prohibit a merger. Prohibits a merger if there is a significant probability that the merger will substantially increase the ability to exercise market power. Defines "the ability to exercise market power" as the ability of one or more firms profitably to maintain prices above competitive levels for a significant period of time. Directs the courts, in determining whether a merger will substantially increase the ability of a firm to exercise market power, to consider all economic factors relevant to the affected markets, including: (1) the difficulty of entry by foreign or domestic firms into the market; (2) efficiencies derived from the merger; and (3) any other evidence indicating whether the merger will increase the ability to exercise market power.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1986
United States - Mexico Border Health Education and Training Act of 1986 - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services, from amounts allotted to each State, to make grants to and enter into contracts with schools of medicine and osteopathy to establish and operate health education and training center (border center) programs along the border with Mexico (in Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas). Requires such border center programs to be cooperative programs between such schools and one or more private or public health education centers located along the border. Requires each border center to have an advisory board. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1987 through 1989.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1986
General Aviation Tort Reform Act of 1986 - Amends the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to provide uniform rules for negligence and products liability claims arising from general aviation accidents. Allows any person claiming damages from such an accident to bring a products liability action against the general aviation manufacturer if: (1) the product was defective when it left the control of the manufacturer; (2) the defective condition was the proximate cause of the harm; (3) the condition would not have been corrected by actions described in directives issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or the manufacturer; and (4) the aircraft was being used for a purpose and in a manner for which it was manufactured. Provides an alternative method to establish manufacturer liability where the manufacturer failed to provide reasonable warnings (unless such warnings would not have affected the conduct of the product user). Provides a third method to establish manufacturer liability where: (1) the manufacturer made an express warranty with respect to the product; (2) the warranty related to that aspect of the product which caused the harm; (3) the product failed to conform to the warranty; and (4) such failure was the proximate cause of the harm. States that all actions for damages arising from a general aviation accident shall be governed by the principles of comparative responsibility. Provides that defendants in such actions are severally but not jointly liable for damages (except that manufacturers of airframes and systems or components of aircraft may be jointly and severally liable under certain circumstances). Provides a 12-year limitation on liability of manufacturers. States that express warranties running for a longer period of time and the duty to provide additional warnings shall not be affected by such limitations. Allows awards of punitive damages. Prescribes a statute of limitations for such actions. Preempts State laws to the extent that this Act establishes applicable rules or procedures. Grants Federal district courts (concurrently with State courts) original jurisdiction (without regard to the amount in controversy) in all civil actions for damages arising out of a general aviation accident. Allows the removal of State actions to an appropriate Federal district court by any defendant. Prescribes venue restrictions. Expresses the intent of the Congress that orders to pay reasonable expenses, including attorney's fees, be enforced.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1986
Child Abuse Victims Rights Act of 1986 - Amends the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Statute to extend its coverage to the sexual exploitation of children. Authorizes a civil suit for treble damages for any persons injured personally or in their business or property by violations of RICO relating to the sexual exploitation of children. Amends the Federal criminal code to provide a mandatory life sentence for any person who kidnaps an individual under the age of 18. Imposes the death penalty in any case where such victim dies as a result of the kidnapping. Increases the penalties for offenses involving the sexual exploitation of children. Provides for a mandatory minimum sentence for second offenders. Extends the statute of limitations for certain offenses involving the sexual exploitation of children. Requires the Attorney General, within one year, to submit a report to the Congress recommending possible changes in the Federal Rules of Evidence, the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and other courtroom prosecutorial and investigative procedures which would facilitate the participation of child witnesses in cases involving child abuse and sexual exploitation. Specifies a list of considerations including: (1) the use of closed-circuit cameras, two-way mirrors, and other out-of-court statements; (2) the use of judicial discretion to circumscribe the use of harassment or confusing questions; (3) the use of videotape in investigations; (4) the possibility of streamlining investigative procedures; and (5) improved training of prosecutorial and investigative staff in the special problems of child witnesses. Requires the Attorney General to modify the classification system used by the National Crime Information Center in its Interstate Identification Index, and by the Identification Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with respect to offenses involving the sexual exploitation of children, to include the age of the victim and the relationship of the victim to the offender. Requires such classification to use a uniform definition of a child.
![Official portrait of Rep. Badham, Robert E. [R-CA-40]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/b000024_200.jpg)