United States · United States Congress · 18 April 1991
National Training Center for Afro-American Museum Professionals Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the National Park Service, to: (1) provide for the operation and maintenance of, and technical assistance for, the National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center (the Museum), in Wilberforce, Ohio; and (2) construct a National Training Center at the Museum to prepare professionals for our Nation's museums. Authorizes appropriations for such purposes. Directs the Secretary of Education, acting through the Museum, to: (1) contract with a consortium of institutions of higher education to implement a program of Afro-American professional museum studies at such National Training Center of the Museum; and (2) provide scholarships and loans for students in those studies. Authorizes appropriations. Terminates the National Afro-American History and Culture Commission (established by the National Center for the Study of Afro-American History and Culture Act) 30 days after the enactment of this Act. Provides that ultimate governance of the Museum shall rest with a Board of Governors established by the Congress in consultation with the State of Ohio.
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 1991
Budget Simplification and Reform Act of 1991 - Title I: Biennial Budget Cycle - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974, the Rules of the House of Representatives and other Federal law to revise the Federal budget process by establishing a two-year timetable, beginning on October 1, 1993. Title II: Restricted Uses of Continuing Resolutions - Amends rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives to prohibit the consideration of any joint resolution continuing appropriations which: (1) exceeds the rate it would have been at assuming the continuation of current law; or (2) changes existing law. Title III: Expedited Rescissions - Modifies the rescission process and provides for expedited consideration in the House and Senate of certain proposed rescissions. Title IV: Budget Baseline Reform - Requires the President to draft a budget based on estimates of current fiscal year spending, proposing increases or decreases based on this level (rather than on an estimated baseline). Requires the Congressional Budget Office to use such a current fiscal year baseline in its report to the congressional budget committees, projecting growth for entitlement and discretionary spending based on current fiscal year spending. Title V: Binding Budget Resolution - Replaces the concurrent resolution on the budget with a joint resolution on the budget. Title VI: - Truth in Legislating - Amends rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives to require each report or joint explanatory statement accompanying each bill or joint resolution to contain: (1) an identification of each provision which benefits only ten or fewer beneficiaries; (2) the name of each beneficiary; (3) the name of the Member who sponsored such provision and an identification of each such provision requested by a Federal agency or Federal officer; and (4) an estimate by the Congressional Budget Office or the Joint Committee on Taxation of the costs or loss in revenues resulting from such provision. Title VII: Budget Impact on State and Local Governments - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to provide that it shall not be in order for either House of Congress to consider any legislation which would impose any requirement on State or local governments which is likely to result in an annual cost to them of $50,000,000 or more for any particular program, project, or activity, except for legislation which complies with any sequestration order issued under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act). Requires the report of the Committee on the Budget of each House accompanying the concurrent resolution on the budget to identify changes in Federal aid programs for State and local governments on a program-by-program basis. Title VIII: Pay-As-You-Go-Budget Resolutions - Prohibits the President's budget and that adopted by the Congress in a joint resolution on the budget from including: (1) total budget outlays that exceed those for the preceding fiscal year, unless at least equivalent revenue increases and their sources are identified; and (2) a reduction in revenues from the preceding fiscal year, unless at least equivalent reductions in outlays are identified, along with the affected programs. Authorizes the Congress to waive the prohibition with respect to its budget resolution by a two-thirds vote. Makes it out of order in both the Senate and the House of Representatives to consider a joint budget resolution under which fiscal year revenues exceed outlays, unless the purposes for which the excess is to be allocated are specified.
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 1991
National Commemorative Events Advisory Act - Establishes the President's Advisory Commission on National Commemorative Events to: (1) establish criteria for recommending to the President that a proposed commemorative event be approved or disapproved; (2) review proposals for national commemorative events submitted in accordance with procedures published by the Commission; and (3) issue recommendations to the President concerning each proposal reviewed. Terminates the Commission within five years after the date of its first meeting.
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code with respect to the tax-exempt status of a cooperative telephone company to provide for the tax treatment of income received from a nonmember telephone company for services by the cooperative which are indirectly paid for by members of the cooperative. Includes billing and collection services for a nonmember telephone company under such treatment.
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 1991
Constitutional Amendment - Declares that the Congress shall have the power to set reasonable limits on campaign expenditures by, in support of, or in opposition to any candidate in any primary or other election for Federal office. Declares that the States shall have such power with respect to State or local elections.
United States · United States Congress · 16 April 1991
Federal Employees Retirement Incentive Act - Allows certain Federal employees serving in entities undergoing a major reorganization, reduction in force, or transfer of functions to elect to have four years added to their age upon separation, their total creditable service, or a combination thereof (not to exceed four years) for purposes of determining retirement eligibility and benefits under the Civil Service and Federal Employees' Retirement Systems. Amends provisions governing early or immediate retirement for Government employees to consider certain requirements for entitlement to annuities to have been met (with respect to agency reorganization, reduction in force, or transfer of functions conditions) if: (1) at least five percent of the employees within the agency and geographic area involved will be separated; or (2) at least 20 percent of such employees will be subject to an immediate reduction in the rate of basic pay. Waives such minimum percentages under certain circumstances.
United States · United States Congress · 15 April 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code and title II of the Social Security Act (Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) with respect to the social security exemption for election officials and election workers employed by State and local governments to increase the allowed remuneration paid to such workers.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 1991
Davis-Bacon Repeal Act of 1991 - Repeals the Davis-Bacon Act (an Act which requires that the locally prevailing wage rate be paid to various classes of laborers and mechanics working under federally-financed or federally-assisted contracts for construction, alteration, and repair of public buildings or public works).
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 1991
World War II Cadet Nurse Civil Service Fairness Act - Includes service of at least one year but less than two years in the Cadet Nurse Corps during World War II as creditable service for purposes of civil service retirement. (Current law provides for individuals with two or more years of service.) Requires the retirement annuity of an affected individual to be redetermined provided he or she: (1) files an appropriate written application with the Office of Personnel Management within 14 months of enactment of this Act; and (2) makes required deposits to the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund with respect to service in the Corps.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 1991
Qualified Thrift Lender Reform Act of 1991 - Amends the Home Owners' Loan Act (as in effect on July 1, 1991) with regard to the qualified thrift lender test to: (1) increase required liquidity requirements; (2) include among qualifying assets stock issued by Federal home loan banks, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, or the Federal National Mortgage Association; (3) increase qualifying consumer assets; and (4) determine the required 70 percent thrift investment-portfolio investment ratio on a monthly (rather than daily or weekly) basis.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 1991
First-Time Home Buyer's Act of 1991 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to spread over a ten-year period the taxation of up to $5,000 of individual retirement plan distributions used by a first-time homebuyer within 90 days to purchase, construct, or reconstruct a dwelling that will be used as the taxpayer's principal residence for at least three years.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1991
National Historic Preservation Act Amendments of 1991 - Amends the National Historic Preservation Act to: (1) require the Secretary of the Interior to report, at least once every four years, to the President and to the Congress, on a review of threats to properties included in or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places; (2) revise requirements for Federal and State historic preservation programs; (3) provide for tribal and Native Hawaiian historic preservation programs; (4) provide for matching grants to States and direct grants to Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations to carry out this Act; (5) require development of a comprehensive preservation education and training program; (6) revise requirements for awarding and apportioning grants under this Act; (7) require adaptive use alternatives for Federal agency historic properties; and (8) provide for disposition of archaeological materials. Requires the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation to study and report to the Congress on the feasibility of establishing a registration program for artifacts removed from domestic and foreign archaeological sites. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the Council to call for and organize U.S. leadership and participation in an international conference on the international antiquities trade. Provides that the conference shall be held in 1992 as part of the commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the Columbus Discovery Voyage. Amends the National Historic Preservation Act to include within the membership of the council one member of an Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization appointed by the President. Prohibits public access to certain information about historic resources in specified circumstances. Establishes in the National Park Service a National Center for Preservation Technology. Establishes a Preservation Technology Board to: (1) provide leadership, policy advice, coordination, and professional oversight to the Center; (2) advise on priorities and the allocation of funds among Center activities; and (3) submit an annual report to the President and the Congress. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the Secretary to study and report to the Congress on: (1) the status of the inclusion of artifacts, records, and material remains on the National Register of Historic Places; and (2) the advisability of including traditional cultural practices and lifeways on it.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1991
Operation Desert Storm Commemorative Coin Act - Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to issue one dollar and ten dollar coins emblematic of the United States military's participation in Operation Desert Storm. Prescribes guidelines for the sale of such coins, including the solicitation by the Secretary of the Treasury and the President of the United Service Organizations of bids for proposals from marketing organizations to implement a coin marketing agreement. Mandates that such agreement not indicate in any manner that any portion of the sales price to the public constitutes a tax deductible contribution. Sets forth a surcharge distribution scheme. Mandates that: (1) all amounts received from the sale of such coins be deposited in the coinage profit fund; and (2) the minting and issuing of such coins not result in any net cost to the Federal Government.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1991
Agricultural Extended Retirement Credit Act of 1991 - Extends creditable service under the Civil Service Retirement System for periods of service in certain Federal-State cooperative programs which had agricultural or related purposes. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to transfer to the Department of Agriculture's Surplus Fund the savings resulting from the expedited retirement of those employees of the Department who have been extended such credit. Prohibits the obligation or expenditure of any budget authority or outlays saved in any fiscal year by reason of implementation of this Act. Requires the surplus budget authority and outlays transferred to the fund to be: (1) deposited by the Secretary in the Treasury to the credit of the Civil Service Retirement Fund, as a Government contribution; and (2) credited against pay and other personnel costs required to be sequestered under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act). Requires the Comptroller General to notify the Congress of each instance of noncompliance with the requirements of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the requirement that less than 30 percent of the gross income of a regulated investment company be derived from the sale or disposition of any of the following which were held for less than three months: (1) stocks or securities; (2) options, futures, or forward contracts (other than those on foreign currencies); or (3) certain foreign currencies.
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1991
Church Retirement Benefits Simplification Act of 1991 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to recodify and revise qualifications for church retirement and pension plans. Makes employee contributions to such plans nonforfeitable. Allows ten-year vesting with a nonforfeitable right to 100 percent of accrued benefits derived from employer contributions. Allows five-to-fifteen year vesting with a nonforfeitable right to a percentage (25% to 100%) of such accrued benefits. Requires the plan to meet minimum vesting requirements. Provides that no employee shall be considered an officer, shareholder, supervisor, or highly compensated employee if such employee receives less than $50,000 per year. Excludes from such consideration employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement if retirement benefits were a subject of good faith bargaining. Recodifies the authority of a church or a convention or association of churches to be treated as an employer making contributions to retirement income accounts. Subjects church-related hospitals and universities to certain coverage and related rules in the case of a contract purchased by a church. Requires distributions from retirement income accounts provided by churches to be in accordance with distributions under cash or deferred arrangements. Provides for determining the beginning date for such distributions. Allows self-employed ministers and chaplains who work for non-church employers to participate in their church plans. Provides that certain rules aggregating employees do not apply to churches. Restores qualified voluntary employee contributions to church plans. Treats self-employed ministers as employees for purposes of certain welfare benefit plans and retirement income accounts. Allows a deduction for contributions to retirement income accounts by such ministers. Provides that a church plan maintained by more than one employer shall not be treated as a single plan. Provides that accounting methods of deferred compensation plans of State and local governments and tax-exempt organizations do not apply to a church plan. Exempts a church plan from the requirement to maintain separate accounts for medical benefits for key employees. Provides that the special rules for computing employee contributions to pension plans do not apply to certain foreign missionaries. Repeals the elective deferral catch-up limitation for church retirement income accounts. Allows church plans to annuitize benefits and increase benefit payments. Provides that rules for self-insured medical reimbursement plans are not applicable to church plans.
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1991
Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to provide that it shall not be in order for either House of Congress to consider any legislation which would impose any requirement on State or local governments which is likely to result in an annual cost to such governments of $50,000,000 or more for any particular program, project, or activity, except for legislation which complies with any sequestration order issued under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act). Requires the report of the Committee on the Budget of each House accompanying the concurrent resolution on the budget to identify changes in Federal aid programs for State and local governments on a program-by-program basis.
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1991
Intergovernmental Mandate Relief Act of 1991 - Prohibits a Federal agency or court from requiring compliance in any fiscal year by State or local governments with any intergovernmental regulation unless provisions of law have been enacted which compensate such governments for additional direct costs incurred by such compliance. Declares that the compensation requirement may be waived by the enactment of a joint resolution of the Congress. Requires the Director of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to estimate such additional direct costs and include such estimates in annual reports to the President and the Congress. Requires congressional committees to propose amendments to significant laws for which regulations will be promulgated containing provisions to compensate State and local governments for additional direct costs of complying with any intergovernmental regulation which takes effect on or after enactment of this Act. Establishes procedures for Federal agencies to reimburse State governments for additional direct costs and for State governments to reimburse local governments for such costs. Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to require CBO to prepare cost estimates for bills or resolutions which are likely to cost State and local governments $100,000,000 (currently, $200,000,000) or more annually.
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1991
Educational Equity Act of 1991 - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to revise the formula for determining the amount of grants to States under the chapter 1 title I program for educationally disadvantaged children. Replaces the State per pupil expenditure with the national per pupil expenditure, in such formula.
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code with respect to the offset for rental real estate activities under passive activity rules to increase the low-income housing credit and the rehabilitation credit under such rules.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1991
Authorizes the States to waive application of the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 to vehicles used either for transporting farm supplies from retail dealers to or from a farm, for custom harvesting, or in commercial feed yard operations, regardless of whether or not they are controlled or operated by a farmer.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1991
Requires the Architect of the Capitol to replace all incandescent light bulbs, with specified exceptions, in the House of Representatives office buildings with compact fluorescent light bulbs. Requires the Comptroller General to study and report to the House on the economic and environmental effects of the program, together with recommendations for implementing a similar program in all Federal office buildings.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1991
Amends Federal law to increase the Federal payments in lieu of taxes to units of local government for entitlement land. Requires the Secretary of the Interior to adjust such payments by the rate of inflation according to the Consumer Price Index.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to restore prior law for determining wages subject to employer social security taxes for certain employers whose employees receive income from tips.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1991
Repeals a Federal provision prohibiting the payment of veterans' disability compensation to an incompetent veteran having no spouse, child, or dependent when such veteran's estate value exceeds $25,000, until such estate value is reduced to less than $10,000.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 1991
Amends the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 to exclude from the definition of "owner or operator," for purposes of limiting liability for releases of hazardous substances, a person who, without participating in the management of a vessel or facility, holds indicia of ownership primarily to protect a security interest in such vessel or facility. Defines "indicia of ownership" as an interest in a vessel or facility acquired either for: (1) securing payment of a loan or indebtedness or the performance of an obligation; or (2) protecting a security interest. Makes liable for any release or threatened release of a hazardous substance attributable to their activities: (1) any person who causes the transfer of a vessel or facility subject to a security interest; or (2) a fiduciary or trustee who acquires ownership or control of a vessel or facility. Makes conforming amendments to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the treatment of rental and nonrental real estate activities under the limitations on losses from passive activities.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1991
National Sea Grant College Program Authorization Act of 1991 - Amends the National Sea Grant College Program Act to require that the National Sea Grant College Program be administered by a National Sea Grant Office within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Authorizes appropriations to carry out specified provisions of the Act and for administration of the Act. Repeals provisions authorizing grants relating to marine affairs and resource management.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1991
Used Oil Recycling Act of 1991 - Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to prohibit the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency from listing or identifying as a hazardous waste any: (1) recycled oil; (2) used oil transferred to a person who certifies that such oil will be rerefined, processed, or reclaimed for a beneficial purpose or stored less than 12 months prior to such transfer; and (3) used oil which has been removed from the engine of a light duty motor vehicle or household appliance by the owner, transferred to a service station dealer, and stored by the dealer for less than 12 months. Requires the Administrator to determine whether to list as a hazardous waste used oil which is a solid waste and does not satisfy the above-listed criteria. Directs the Administrator to establish management standards for the storage, testing, transportation, treatment, exportation and importation, and processing of used oil. Requires such standards to be designed to protect human health and the environment by encouraging and expanding reliance on recycling of used oil. Exempts generators of used oil from recordkeeping or reporting requirements if such generators: (1) enter into an agreement for delivery of such oil to a recycling facility whose owner or operator certifies compliance with such standards or recycles such oil; (2) do not mix the oil with any hazardous wastes; and (3) maintain necessary records relating to the oil. Prohibits mixing used oil with any hazardous waste identified under such Act except where: (1) such mixing involves an identified hazardous waste and the resulting mixture does not exhibit a characteristic identified in such Act; and (2) the used oil mixture is burned to recover useful energy such that protection of human health and the environment is assured. Deems owners or operators of facilities which process used oil for fuel to have permits for recycling activities if in compliance with management standards. Directs the Administrator to conduct inspections of such facilities to determine compliance with such standards. Requires the Administrator to implement educational programs to inform the public about the environmental and safety hazards associated with improper handling of used oil and the benefits of used oil recycling. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Administrator to promulgate regulations concerning the procurement of used oil fuel by Federal agencies subject to the requirements of the Solid Waste Disposal Act.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1991
Savings and Investment Incentive Act of 1991 - Title I: Retirement Savings Incentives - 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. 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. Title II: 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 (2) financially devastating medical expenses.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1991
Comprehensive Wetlands Conservation and Management Act of 1991 - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to revise provisions concerning permits for dredged or fill material. Prohibits, unless such activity is undertaken pursuant to a permit issued by the Secretary of the Army: (1) the discharge of dredged or fill material into U.S. waters; or (2) the draining, channelization, or excavation of wetlands. Authorizes the Secretary to issue permits for such activities. Sets forth permit application procedures. Requires the Secretary, upon receiving applications, to: (1) classify as Type A wetlands wetlands that are of critical significance to the long-term conservation of the ecosystem of which they are a part and which meet specified requirements; (2) classify as Type B wetlands wetlands that provide habitat for a significant population of avian, aquatic, or wetland dependent wildlife or provide other significant wetlands functions; and (3) classify as Type C wetlands wetlands that serve marginal functions but exist in such abundance that regulation of activities is not necessary to conserve wetlands values and functions, or are prior converted cropland, fastlands, or wetlands within intensely developed areas that do not serve significant wetlands functions. Directs the Secretary to notify a permit applicant of the classification. Permits owners of interests in Type A wetlands to seek compensation for the fair market value of such lands. Provides that title for such lands shall pass to the United States upon acceptance of an offer for compensation. Deems such takings to be takings of surface interests in lands only or water rights allocated under State law unless the Secretary determines that the exploration for, or development of, oil and gas or mineral interests is not compatible with conservation of the surface interests in lands that have been classified as Type A wetlands. Authorizes the Secretary to classify such interests as Type A wetlands and to notify the owner that he may receive compensation. Sets forth provisions concerning court jurisdiction and remedies for taking of interests. Requires the Secretary to deny a permit authorizing activities in Type A wetlands unless: (1) such activities can be undertaken with minimal alteration or surface disturbance; (2) there are overriding public interest concerns that require use of the lands for purposes other than conservation; or (3) the proposed use of the land will result in overall environmental benefits. Authorizes the Secretary to issue a permit for activities in Type B wetlands subject to conditions that ensure that the watershed or aquatic ecosystem of which such wetlands are a part does not suffer loss or degradation of wetlands values or functions. Imposes requirements for mitigation when such activities result in the permanent loss or degradation of Type B wetlands where such loss or degradation is not a temporary or incidental impact. Directs the Secretary to establish a mitigation banking program in each State to ensure compensation for loss and degradation of wetlands. Requires the primary objective of such programs to be to provide for the restoration, enhancement, or creation of ecologically significant wetlands on an ecosystem basis. Sets forth requirements of such programs. Permits activities in Type C wetlands to be undertaken without specified authorization. Authorizes the Secretary to issue general permits on a State, regional, or nationwide basis for activities in wetlands if such activities are similar in nature and will not result in the significant loss of ecologically significant wetlands values and functions. Exempts specified activities from this Act's requirements. Permits States or political subdivisions to submit land management plans for identified wetlands for the Secretary's approval. Authorizes and directs the Secretary to establish standards that govern the delineation of lands as wetlands. Prohibits more than 20 percent of any county, parish, or borough from being classified as Type A wetlands. Requires the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to undertake a project to identify and classify U.S. wetlands. Provides for public participation in such project and makes information concerning identification and classification available to the public. Authorizes the Secretary to commence civil actions for permit violations. Prescribes civil penalties for such violations. Authorizes States to administer permit programs for activities covered by this Act, subject to the Secretary's approval.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude State and local governmental plans from the limitation on benefits exceeding 100 percent of the participant's average compensation for the high three years. Provides that qualified governmental excess benefit arrangements shall not be taken into account in determining whether pension plans meet the limitations on benefits and contributions of qualified plans. Requires taxation of such benefits as if they were provided under a deferred compensation plan maintained by a corporation not exempt from tax which does not meet the requirements of qualified pension, profit-sharing, and stock bonus plans. Exempts disability income received as a pension, annuity, or similar allowance as a result of personal injuries or sickness from the reduced dollar limitation for defined benefit plans where the employee has less than ten years participation or the retirement benefit begins before the social security retirement age. Revises the special rule for State and local government plans which requires such limitation to equal the accrued benefit to allow the election of such rule to be revoked under certain circumstances.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1991
Office of Inspector General Law Enforcement Act of 1991 - Amends the Inspector General Act of 1978 to grant criminal investigators of the Offices of Inspector General who perform any duty of a law enforcement officer the authority to: (1) obtain and execute search and arrest warrants and serve subpoenas and summonses; (2) make felony arrests and arrests without warrant for offenses against the United States committed in their presence; and (3) carry and use firearms.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1991
Legal Services Reform Act of 1991 - Imposes requirements with respect to funds provided by the Legal Services Corporation. Sets forth prohibitions, with exceptions, on redistricting activities, the solicitation of employment, certain participation in precomplaint settlement negotiations or litigation, lobbying, or the provision of defense assistance in certain drug-related eviction proceedings by fund recipients. Directs the Corporation to require each recipient to maintain records of time spent on the cases of matters with respect to which that recipient is engaged in activities. Grants the Board of Directors of nonprofit State legal services organizations which are funded by the Corporation authority to set specific priorities for the types of matters and cases to which their staffs shall devote their time and resources. Prohibits the staff of such organization from undertaking cases or matters other than in accordance with the specific priorities set by its Board, except in emergency situations defined by such Board. Requires the staff to report to the Board on a quarterly basis and to the Corporation on an annual basis on all cases undertaken other than in accordance with such priorities. Directs the Corporation to promulgate a suggested list of priorities which boards of directors may use in setting priorities. Specifies that funds derived from Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts (IOLTA) and other non-Corporation funds shall not be expended for any purposes prohibited under this Act. Requires all grants and contracts awarded by the Corporation to be awarded under a competitive bidding system. Outlines provisions regarding: (1) termination or denial of funding under such a system; (2) distribution of funds; and (3) approval of attorney members of local boards. Prohibits fund recipients, or clients of such recipients, from claiming or collecting attorneys' fees from nongovernmental parties to litigation initiated by such clients with the assistance of such recipients. Requires the Corporation to create a fund to pay defendants or clients if a Federal court has found that an action commenced by a plaintiff with the assistance of a recipient involves a violation of Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, or if the president of the Corporation finds that such action involves a violation of the standards of Rule 11 or was commenced for the purpose of retaliation or harassment. Authorizes appropriations for such fund. Directs such president, upon application by the defendant, to award from the fund all reasonable costs and attorneys' fees incurred by the defendant in defending the action. Requires the Corporation's Board of Directors, within 90 days, to issue regulations to provide for the distribution of attorneys' fees received by a recipient. Specifies that such fees shall be transferred to the Corporation, which shall distribute such fees among its grantees for the direct delivery of legal assistance, except that, subject to approval by the Corporation, a recipient: (1) shall not be required to transfer fees or other compensation received as a result of a mandated court appointment; (2) may retain reasonable costs customarily allowed in litigation against an unsuccessful party; and (3) may retain the actual cost of bringing the action. Bars the use of funds made available to any recipient from any source to participate in any litigation with respect to abortion. Places restrictions on; (1) the bringing of a class action by a recipient, or employee of a recipient, against the Federal Government or any State or local government; and (2) the use of funds made available to a recipient to provide legal assistance for or on behalf of aliens. Bars the use of funds for the dissemination of information about particular public policies or political activities. Allows the use of such funds to advise eligible clients regarding the nature of the legislative process, or to inform such clients of their rights under any statute, order, or regulation. Directs the Corporation to undertake one or more demonstration projects to study the feasibility of using client copayments to assist in setting the service priorities of its programs. Authorizes the Corporation to adopt a permanent system of client copayments for some or all of its legal assistance programs. Prohibits any attempt, such as the creation or use of "alternative corporations," to evade the provisions of this Act. Increases the maximum compensation (from level V to level III of the Executive Schedule) for officers and employees of the Corporation. Requires the Corporation's principal office to be in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area (current law specifies the District of Columbia.) Limits the definition of "attorney client privilege," for purposes of the Legal Services Corporation Act, to protect only communications made in confidence by a client for the purpose of seeking legal advice (but excludes the disclosure of specified information, except to the extent provided by court order, to any Federal department or agency auditing, or any auditor receiving Federal funds to conduct an audit of, the activities of the Corporation or any recipient.)
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1991
Suspends U.S. economic and military assistance to Jordan. Waives such suspension if the President notifies the Congress that such waiver is in the U.S. national interest. Requires the President, unless such notification is made, to: (1) terminate or suspend any trade agreement or treaty providing for most-favored-nation trade treatment to Jordan; (2) deny such treatment to Jordan and subject Jordanian products to the rates of duty set forth in duty column number 2 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States; and (3) make the Generalized System of Preferences under the Trade Act of 1974 inapplicable to Jordan.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1991
Authorizes the President to present a gold medal to General H. Norman Schwarzkopf in recognition of his exemplary performance in coordinating the planning, strategy, and execution of U.S. combat action and his invaluable contributions to the United States and to the liberation of Kuwait. Authorizes appropriations.
![Official portrait of Rep. Barnard, Doug, Jr. [D-GA-10]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/0cfaa9df4c43300bfb59befe46ba7cd8_200.jpg)