United States · United States Congress · 23 September 1988
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit a nonrefundable credit of 20 percent of qualified adoption expenses paid or incurred by the taxpayer in connection with the legal adoption of a child with special needs. Limits the amount of the credit to $600.
United States · United States Congress · 22 September 1988
Honest and Balanced Budget Act - Amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to exclude, beginning with FY 1990, Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund receipts and outlays from Federal deficit determinations for purposes of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act). Increases the permissible maximum deficit amounts for FY 1990 through 1993. Establishes allowable maximum deficits for FY 1994 and 1995, to reach zero with respect to FY 1996.
United States · United States Congress · 16 September 1988
Motor Carrier Safety and Regulatory Reform Act of 1988 - Title I: Motor Carrier Safety - Amends the Motor Carrier Safety Act of 1984 to prohibit the Secretary of Transportation from exempting any person or commercial motor vehicle from complying with any commercial motor vehicle safety regulation or from waiving application of such regulation solely on the grounds that the commercial carrier's operations take place entirely within a municipality or its commercial zone. (Grandfathers certain commercial motor vehicle operators who operated entirely within a municipality or its commercial zone in calendar year 1988.) Directs the Secretary to: (1) issue a final rule extending motor carrier safety regulations coverage to motor private carriers of passengers operating in interstate commerce; (2) implement an education and enforcement program regarding compliance of motor private carriers of passengers with Federal motor carrier safety regulations when operating in interstate commerce; and (3) report to the Congress regarding the regulations that have been promulgated and the status of the education and enforcement program. Directs the Secretary to: (1) study the hours of service regulations pertaining to commercial motor vehicle operators to determine any relationship among them, operator fatigue, and the frequency of serious accidents involving such vehicles; and (2) report to the Congress regarding study results. Requires the Secretary to: (1) conduct a rulemaking proceeding to determine the costs and benefits of commercial motor vehicle on-board computers which monitor compliance with safety regulations; (2) issue regulations for procedures to expedite use of such computers if they contribute significantly to safety; and (3) report to the Congress on whether to make such use mandatory. Requires the Secretary to issue regulations establishing minimum uniform standards for a biometric identification system for commercial motor vehicle operators. Authorizes the Secretary to use specified funds to implement a pilot demonstration project using such a system. Directs the Secretary to initiate a rulemaking proceeding regarding the use of fusees as an alternative to bidirectional emergency reflective triangles. Directs the Secretary to establish minimum standards for training and qualifying commercial motor vehicle brake system inspectors. Title II: Motor Carrier Regulatory Reform Amendments - Amends Federal motor carrier law to require foreign motor carriers to obtain a certificate of registration from the Interstate Commerce Commission as a condition of providing interstate transportation of property (including exempt property) in the United States. Requires a copy of such certificate to be in the carrier's vehicle any time it provides such transportation in the United States. Repeals the requirement that the Commission report annually to the Congress on the extent to which cost savings resulting from direct sales at a food and grocery seller's shipping point are passed on to the ultimate consumer. Subjects general commodity freight forwarders to: (1) the same liability, and grants them the same limitation on liability, accorded common carriers; and (2) the same statutes of limitation for civil actions accorded common carriers.
United States · United States Congress · 16 September 1988
Immigration Nursing Relief Act of 1988 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to grant special immigrant status to an immigrant (and accompanying spouse and children): (1) who entered the United States before January 1, 1988, as a nonimmigrant to perform services as a registered nurse; (2) who is working in such capacity with a valid visa as of the date of enactment of this Act; and (3) with respect to whom a labor certification has been filed prior to the granting of special immigrant status. Sets forth the following conditions for admission of nonimmigrant nurses during the five-year period beginning on April 1, 1989: (1) a professional nursing license from the country where the alien studied nursing or a degree from a U.S. or Canadian nursing school; (2) completion of an appropriate examination or possession of a license in the State of intended employment; (3) such alien's employment will not adversely affect wages and working conditions of similarly employed nurses; (4) a substantial disruption of the hiring health facility's services will occur without the services of such alien; (5) the facility has taken steps toward recruitment and retention of U.S. citizens or immigrant nurses; and (6) there is no ongoing labor dispute or related activity at such facility. Provides for an initial admission period of up to three years, with extensions up to a five-year total (six years under extraordinary circumstances). Directs the Secretary of Labor to provide for the appointment by April 1, 1990, of an advisory group to advise the Secretary: (1) concerning the impact of this Act on the nursing shortage; (2) regarding programs to recruit U.S. citizens or immigrant nurses; and (3) regarding the advisability of extending the provisions of this Act beyond April 1, 1994. Directs the Secretary to conduct a study and report to the Congress by April 1, 1991, regarding the amendments made by this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 16 September 1988
Declares that the Air Force should continue to fly WC-130 aircraft for the purpose of collecting scientific data on hurricanes until satellites that can provide similar data are in place and functioning properly.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 1988
Patient Identifying Information Confidentiality Act of 1988 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, before disclosing to the Congress any medical record acquired or created by the Public Health Service, to delete identifying information in the record, unless the individual identified gives written consent. Directs the Secretary, for the purposes of cross-referencing the medical records pertaining to a particular individual, to establish by rule a system by which such records may be identified without using identifying information.
United States · United States Congress · 9 September 1988
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Secretary of Labor, in cooperation with the ACTION Agency, should publicize and promote projects under the Retired Senior Volunteer Program and the Older American Community Service Employment Program that encourage and recruit older individuals to provide child care services in community-based child care centers.
United States · United States Congress · 9 September 1988
Recognizes the 100th anniversary of the Loyal Order of Moose and commends the accomplishments of its members in providing service in the spirit of voluntarism.
United States · United States Congress · 11 August 1988
Designates January 29, 1988, as National Challenger Center Day. (The Challenger Center is an institution offering children and teachers activities and information derived from American space research.)
United States · United States Congress · 11 August 1988
Constitutional Amendment - Requires each committee of the Congress to be appointed so that the voting strength of each political party on that committee reflects the relative voting strength of that political party in the relevant House.
United States · United States Congress · 10 August 1988
States the sense of the Congress that the President or the Congress should immediately abrogate the Panama Canal Treaties of 1977 and the Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal and that the Congress should repeal the Panama Canal Act of 1979.
United States · United States Congress · 10 August 1988
Establishes a joint committee of the Congress to be known as the Ad Hoc Joint Committee on Labor Relations for the Capitol Police. Directs the committee to formulate a labor relations program for the Capitol Police, which is: (1) based on progressive principles and practices of labor relations programs in the public and private sectors; (2) sensitive to the needs of the Congress; and (3) designed to promote the efficient operation of the Capitol Police. Directs the committee to report its proposed program to both Houses within 180 days after they have agreed to this resolution. Requires such report to present the program in the form of recommended amendments to the Rules of the House of Representatives and the Standing Rules of the Senate. Deems such recommended amendments to be agreed to by both Houses 30 legislative days after the committee reports, except to the extent that such amendments are rejected by either House. Terminates the committee 30 days after the submission of its report.
United States · United States Congress · 10 August 1988
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) South Korea, Japan, and the European Economic Community should reduce their trade surpluses with the United States; (2) the President should enter into bilateral trade negotiations with such countries to reduce such surpluses; (3) the President should set a specified minimum target for increases in U.S. agricultural exports when negotiating such reductions; and (4) in reaching the minimum target for such exports, the United States should increase by a specified amount beef and wheat exports to such countries.
United States · United States Congress · 9 August 1988
Requests the Secretary of Labor to publish specific standards for the application of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to volunteer fire departments to assure that such departments have specific rules by which to operate that will not restrict their ability to provide fire prevention services.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1988
Federal Employee Long Term Care Protection Act - Directs the Office of Personnel Management to arrange for the conversion of a portion of a Government employee's life insurance policy to long-term care insurance.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1988
Amends the War Claims Act of 1948 to authorize the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the United States to provide for the payment of claims filed by underground fighters. Defines an "underground fighter" as any individual who: (1) as a member of the U.S. armed forces between December 7, 1941, and August 16, 1945, served as a guerrilla fighter resisting forces hostile to the United States or concealed himself from a hostile force for more than ten days while in danger of capture or after escaping as a prisoner of war; (2) is, or was at death, a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident alien; and (3) was never separated from the U.S. armed forces, except under honorable conditions. Provides that the compensation allowed to any underground fighter shall be five dollars for each day he served as a guerrilla fighter or concealed himself from hostile forces. Provides that any claim allowed by the Commission shall be certified to the Secretary of the Treasury and paid by such Secretary. Declares that any claim must be filed with the Commission within one year after enactment of this Act. Requires the Commission to complete its determination for any such claim no later than one year after such claim is filed. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1988
Expresses the sense of the Congress that India should allow Sikhs full access to the Golden Temple and remove all military presence from the shrine. Urges the Government of India to use restraint in resolving the dispute with the Sikh people in the Punjab. Calls for a political solution to restore home rule in the Punjab, with religious freedom and human rights guarantees.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 1988
Designates September 13, 1989, as Uncle Sam Day in honor of Samuel Wilson of the city of Troy, New York, on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the city. (Samuel Wilson was the progenitor of the national symbol, Uncle Sam.)
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 1988
Women's Business Ownership Act of 1988 - Title I: Congressional Findings and Purposes - Sets forth congressional findings and purposes with respect to small businesses owned and controlled by women. Title II: Demonstration Projects - Amends the Small Business Act to direct the Small Business Administration (SBA) to provide financial assistance to private organizations to conduct demonstration projects giving financial, management, and marketing assistance to small businesses, including start-up businesses, owned and controlled by women. Describes application criteria. Requires the SBA to report to the congressional Small Business Committees on the projects. Terminates authority for this pilot program on October 1, 1991. Authorizes appropriations. Title III: Procurement Assistance - Amends the Small Business Act to include small business concerns owned and operated by women as a discrete group for purposes of Government contracts and subcontracts and procurement programs. (Current law governing these programs refers expressly only to small business concerns and small business concerns owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals as groups targeted for assistance.) Instructs the Director of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization of each Federal agency to designate a Women-in-Business Specialist to be responsible for programs designed to assist concerns owned and controlled by women. Directs Federal agencies, in their procurement activities, to engage in affirmative action to identify and solicit offers from small businesses owned and controlled by either women or socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. Title IV: Access to Capital - Amends the Consumer Credit Protection Act to prohibit the Federal Reserve Board, except under limited circumstances, from exempting from such Act's provisions any class of transactions that are primarily for personal, family, or household purposes, or business or commercial loans made available by a financial institution. Limits to five years any exemption authorized under the circumstances specified in this Act, unless a subsequent determination is made that the exemption remains appropriate. Requires lenders to keep records relating to loans and to provide written notice to applicants of their right to receive notice of reasons for a loan denial. Authorizes the SBA to establish a certified loan program for lenders that display knowledge and proficiency with respect to SBA regulations and programs. Directs the SBA to encourage small business loans of $50,000 or less under both this new program and the preferred lenders program in FY 1989 through 1991 by permitting participating lenders to: (1) use their own forms without regard to SBA paperwork; and (2) retain one-half of the loan guarantee fee. Requires SBA reporting to specified congressional committees in connection with the certified loan program. Directs the Federal Reserve Board, the Comptroller of the Currency, the Department of Commerce, and the SBA jointly to study levels of availability of and demand for debt and equity capital by small businesses, as well as innovative financing techniques to meet any unmet demand. Requires reporting to the congressional Small Business Committees. Title V: National Women's Business Council - Establishes the National Women's Business Council to review the status of women-owned businesses nationwide and to develop detailed multiyear plans in connection with both private and public sector actions to assist and promote such businesses. Requires annual reporting to both the President and the Congress. Title VI: Statistical Data and Effect on Other Programs - Directs: (1) the Bureau of Labor Statistics to include in its census reports on women-owned businesses specified information on sole proprietorships, partnerships, and corporations; (2) the Bureau of the Census to include in its Business Census data the number of corporations that are 51 percent or more owned by women; (3) the SBA's Office of the Chief Counsel for Advocacy to report on the most cost-effective and accurate ways to gather and present the statistics required in these census reports; and (4) Federal agencies to report to the Office of Federal Procurement Policy the number of first-time contract recipients that are small businesses owned and controlled either by women or by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. Requires the President's annual Report on Small Business and Competition to include in separate detail information relevant to small businesses owned and controlled either by women or by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 1988
Egg Producers' Financial Protection Act of 1988 - Amends the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 to establish a statutory trust for the benefit of unpaid egg producers or egg handlers from the inventories of, and proceeds from, such eggs or egg products held by egg purchasers with an average annual value of eggs (by purchase or production arrangement) greater than $50,000. States that a dishonored payment instrument shall not be considered as payment. Provides that an unpaid producer or handler shall lose such trust benefit if he or she fails to give written notice of nonpayment or dishonored payment to the purchaser within specified time periods and by filing such notice with the Secretary of Agriculture. Includes egg purchase and production activities under the enforcement provisions of such Act. Includes egg purchasers under the recordkeeping provisions of such Act. States that the Secretary may only exercise jurisdiction over egg producers in prompt payment or unreasonable or discriminatory practices proceedings in order to avoid impairment of the Secretary's jurisdiction. Authorizes the Secretary to seek injunctive relief in egg payment disputes. Provides administrative enforcement authority for egg trust and prompt payment provisions under such Act. Requires a purchaser to pay a producer or handler in full within 14 days of the transfer of possession of such eggs. States that a payment delay or attempted delay shall be considered an "unfair practice" violation under such Act. States that the amendments made by this Act shall not be construed to: (1) affect the Secretary's authority with respect to live poultry or poultry products; or (2) affect the Federal Trade Commission's authority to prevent unfair competition or practices in commerce.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 1988
Eliminates post-1968 service in the National Guard as a prerequisite to civil service retirement credit for former National Guard technicians. Amends the National Guard Technicians Act of 1968 to eliminate post-1968 service as a prerequisite for National Guard technicians to receiving credit in the determination of length of Federal civil service for purposes of leave, Federal employees' death and disability compensation, group life and health insurance, severance pay, tenure, and status. Sets forth rules for applying provisions of this Act to affected individuals.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 1988
Fastener Quality Assurance Act of 1988 - Defines "fastener" as a screw, nut, bolt, or stud having internal or external threads, or a washer commonly used to perform a load indicating or bearing stress distribution function, with a diameter of one-quarter inch or more and containing any steel. Prohibits the offering for sale or sale in interstate commerce of any fastener unless it bears a specified insignia and is part of a lot which: (1) conforms to standards and specifications represented by the manufacturer or ordered by the purchaser; and (2) has been inspected, tested, and certified according to this Act. Requires manufacturers to have a fastener lot sample inspected by a laboratory accredited under an approved system (including one owned or affiliated with the manufacturer if it is so accredited). Sets forth requirements governing sample size. Authorizes the laboratory, upon determination of conformance with the appropriate standards and specifications, to provide the manufacturer certificates with respect to such lot. Sets forth requirements for such certificates, the form of which is to be prescribed by the Secretary of Commerce (the Secretary) within 180 days after enactment of this Act. Directs the Secretary, also within such 180-day period, to issue regulations to establish a program for approval of any system for the accreditation of laboratories engaged in such inspection and testing of fasteners, if such system demonstrates that it has adopted or otherwise adheres to the requirements of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard. Directs the Secretary, if the responsible technical committee withdraws the ASTM Standard, to: (1) approve an alternative standard issued by the ASTM or another voluntary consensus standards organization; or (2) issue a standard which incorporates the ASTM Standard together with any necessary modifications. Directs the Secretary to approve or reapprove any system which demonstrates that it has adopted or otherwise adheres to such a new standard. Prohibits any manufacturer from selling any lot or portion of a lot of fasteners manufactured in the United States unless delivery to the first purchaser is accompanied by an original certificate from an accredited laboratory. Prohibits any person from selling any lot or portion of a lot of fasteners manufactured outside the United States to any importer or end user unless delivery is accompanied by such a certificate. Allows such delivery to an importer or private label distributor without the required certificate if: (1) the manufacturer discloses in writing the appropriate standards and specifications; and (2) the importer or private label distributor assumes responsibility in writing for the inspection and testing (for which purposes they shall be considered a manufacturer, except they must provide the laboratory with the manufacturer's written disclosure). Prohibits further sale or offer of sale unless delivery to the first subsequent purchaser is accompanied by an original certificate from an accredited laboratory. Requires that a copy of the original certificate be provided to subsequent purchasers who purchase at wholesale a lot or a portion from: (1) the purchaser of domestically manufactured fasteners; (2) the importer or end user who purchased foreign manufactured fasteners; (3) a private label distributor; or (4) any subsequent seller. Requires persons who make material physical alterations to a fastener subsequent to its manufacture to have such altered fastener inspected and tested before offering for sale or selling it. Requires manufacturers or private label distributors of fasteners offered for sale or sold in interstate commerce to: (1) be identified by a raised or depressed insignia on the surface or the fastener; and (2) comply with requirements of a program for recordation of such insignias. Directs the Secretary to establish such program, including regulations to ensure traceability, within 180 days after enactment of this Act. Sets forth civil remedies, including declaratory and injunctive relief, and criminal penalties, including fines and imprisonment, for violations of this Act. Sets forth recordkeeping requirements for laboratories, manufacturers, importers private label distributors, and wholesalers. Provides that nothing in this Act shall be construed to: (1) preempt any rights or causes of action that any buyer may have with respect to any seller of fasteners under the law of any State, except in so far as such State law conflicts with this Act; and (2) limit or otherwise affect the authority of the National Bureau of Standards or any voluntary consensus standards organization to establish, modify, or withdraw any standards and specifications under any other law or authority in effect on the date of enactment of this Act. Applies this Act only to fasteners fabricated more than 240 days after its enactment.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 1988
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an income tax deduction for interest on a qualified educational loan incurred to pay the educational expenses (tuition, fees, books, supplies, reasonable living expenses) of the taxpayer, spouse, or dependent. Permits an exclusion from gross income of scholarship amounts used for a student's reasonable living expenses while attending school away from home.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 1988
Amends Federal veterans' benefits provisions to provide for the tolling of the ten-year delimiting period for educational and rehabilitative assistance to veterans when an alcohol or drug dependence or abuse condition exists and the veteran is under recognized treatment for such condition. Outlines limits to the extension of such delimiting period. Makes similar extensions of such tolling period for alcohol or drug dependence or abuse conditions recognized and treated in connection with the following programs: (1) rehabilitation for veterans with service-connected disabilities; (2) educational assistance for post-Vietnam era veterans; (3) educational assistance for Vietnam-era veterans; and (4) educational assistance for veterans' survivors and dependents. Outlines limits to the extension of the delimiting period in each case.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 1988
Resolves that the Congress should implement policies under which: (1) the Bell operating companies would be permitted to provide information services, conduct research, design and market software, and design, manufacture, and market telecommunications equipment and customer premises equipment; and (2) statutory safeguards would ensure that these Bell activities would not harm telephone service customers or competition in the information services or manufacturing industries and would prevent cross subsidies between regulated and unregulated service offerings.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 1988
Rural Electrification Administration Lending Assistance Improvements Act of 1988 - Amends the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to limit after September 30, 1988, the Rural Electrification Administration's (REA) authority to guarantee loans to 70 percent for electric distribution and subtransmission facilities and telephone facilities and 80 percent for electric generation and transmission facilities. Prohibits REA guarantees of loans from any Federal lending agency after such date. Revises guaranteed loan and direct or insured loan prepayment provisions. Reduces the maximum amount of funds that a borrower may invest. Prohibits the REA from insuring loans after such date unless specified findings are made. Bases interest rates on comparable U.S. obligations, with a minimum rate of five percent. Prohibits the REA from guaranteeing loans after such date to certain metropolitan area borrowers for: (1) recreation purposes; or (2) telephone service improvement if the borrower's gross revenues exceed specified amounts. Prohibits the issuance of class A stock after September 30, 1988. Requires 51 percent of such stock to be redeemed on September 30, 1995, with the remaining stock redeemed and retired by September 30, 2005. Repeals the provision creating a telephone bank reserve for losses due to interest rate changes. Requires the telephone bank to retire all Treasury-held debentures by September 30, 1995. Prohibits the further issuance of such debentures. Provides for the privatization of the telephone bank.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 1988
Amends the Export Administration Act of 1979 to prohibit the export of petroleum products (from Alaska and from the rest of the United States) that are domestically produced by oil refineries owned by non-U.S. citizens. Sets forth specified exceptions.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 1988
Condemns human rights suppressions and civil liberties violations by the Nicaraguan Government. Declares that the expulsion from Nicaragua of U.S. diplomatic representatives is intolerable. Calls on Nicaragua to implement true democratic reforms in keeping with the Esquipulas II and Sapoa accords and to comply with international standards concerning the treatment of political prisoners. Urges Central American leaders to convene and assess the conditions in Nicaragua. Urges both parties to the Nicaraguan conflict to abide by the ceasefire and resume peace negotiations.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 1988
Amends the Automobile Information Disclosure Act to make its labeling and entry requirements applicable to light duty trucks (of not more than 6,000 pounds) manufactured after October 1, 1989.
United States · United States Congress · 7 July 1988
Directs the Federal Communications Commission to establish and implement a telecommunications relay system to increase access to Federal departments and agencies for users of Telecommunications Devices for the Deaf (TDDs). Requires the system and its associated plans to include: (1) expansion of the existing relay system to a prescribed minimum service level; (2) accessibility of TDDs in Federal agencies; (3) publication of a TDD directory of Government access numbers; (4) adoption and display of logos identifying TDD stations; and (5) support for the development of cost-reducing technologies. Directs the FCC to complete its existing inquiry concerning an interstate relay system for TDD users. Requires that the Congress install TDDs and assure their accessibility in congressional offices as soon as practicable. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 7 July 1988
Merchant Mariner Memorial Act of 1988 - Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to convey the right, title, and interest of the United States in vessels in the National Defense Reserve Fleet to nonprofit organizations for use in funding merchant marine memorials, provided the vessels have no usefulness to the Government and are scheduled to be scrapped and the organizations agree to sell the vessels for scrap, divide the proceeds, and use them for the memorial. Requires organizations to have raised a minimum amount from non-Federal sources before enactment of this Act in order to participate in the sale. Limits an organization to one grant under this Act. Terminates this Act two years after enactment.