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United States · Official source
2,987 records where Rep. Bentley, Helen Delich [R-MD-2] is listed as a sponsor, author, or other actor. Search with topics and years
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1987
Amends the Tax Reform Act of 1986 to extend for one year (from April 16, 1987, to April 16, 1988) the waiver of estimated tax penalties for underpayments by individuals attributable to such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1987
Directs the President to designate May 1987 as Older Americans Month.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1987
Establishes the House of Representatives Classified Information Security Office to assure protection of classified information in the custody of Members, officers, and employees of the House that is equivalent to the protection required for such information in the executive branch. Directs the Office to: (1) assist the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence in preparing a classified information security manual; (2) receive, transmit, store, and dispose of classified information; (3) assist departments and agencies in processing House requests for access to classified information and in presenting briefings on security procedures; and (4) maintain centralized records identifying officers and employees who have access to classified information. Requires congressional approval by resolution of the classified information security manual.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1987
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the promotion of unrestricted family visits between related people of the United States and the Soviet Union is an essential part of American policy toward the Soviet Union; and (2) the President, the Secretary of State, and other administration members should raise the issue of family visitation at all appropriate opportunities in discussions with leaders of the Communist Party and the Government of the Soviet Union.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1987
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the United Nations, and in particular the Human Rights Commission, should include among its highest priorities of its human rights agenda consideration of the question of human rights in Cuba.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1987
Torture Victim Protection Act of 1987 - Amends the United Nations Participation Act of 1945 to impose civil liability on anyone who, under actual or apparent authority of any foreign nation, subjects any person to torture or extrajudicial killing. Grants jurisdiction over such cases to U.S. district courts only after claimants have exhausted all available remedies in the place where the conduct giving rise to the claim occurred.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1987
Quality of Life Action Act - Declares that every adult American: (1) able and willing to earn a living has a right to a choice among opportunities for paid employment at decent wages or for self-employment; and (2) unable to work for pay has the right to an adequate standard of living that rises with increases in the health and productivity of the society. Directs all Federal agencies to plan and carry out their policies and programs so all adult Americans may exercise these rights. Prohibits the Federal Reserve System or any other Federal agency from promoting recession, stagnation, or unemployment as a means for reducing wages and salaries or inflation. Directs the President, in each annual budget and economic report submitted after the date of enactment of this Act, to transmit to the Congress a staged program: (1) to help establish and maintain conditions under which the rights set forth in this Act may be enjoyed; and (2) to implement the Government's economic and social obligations under the Employment Act of 1946, the Full Employment and Balanced Growth Act of 1978, the Charter of the United Nations, and the Charter of the Organization of American States. Sets forth program objectives, which include: (1) providing incentives for enlarging employment opportunities; (2) increasing the opportunities for part-time employment; (3) preventing or controlling inflationary tendencies; (4) providing improved Federal incentives for investment, expansion, and increased employment; and (5) promoting conditions for more self-empowerment by those victimized by discrimination. Requires such program to include policies and projects to: (1) achieve American leadership in goods production; and (2) develop American leadership in services. Requires such policies and projects to include Federal grants and other incentives for short-term and long-term public works planning. Sets forth eligibility requirements for such grants and incentives. Requires the Government to cooperate with the United Nations and foreign governments in developing an international community based on rising living standards. Directs the President and the Congress to review laws, regulations, and procedures which may interfere with this Act and propose necessary changes. Requires the Government to make financial support for the International Monetary Fund and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development conditional upon the development and implementation of policies and procedures which will: (1) raise the standard of living in countries receiving assistance; and (2) contribute to the economic viability, credit worthiness, and ability to import goods and services to the United States. Requires the President to propose and promote international and regional conferences on unemployment and underemployment. Directs the President, in the first annual message at the beginning of the first session of the Congress after the enactment of this Act, to include specific proposals for a Conversion Planning Fund, to be administered by agencies determined by the President. Provides that such Fund shall promote short- and long-term plans for coping with declines in civilian or military activities by developing specific policies, programs, and projects (including feasibility studies, education, on-the-job training, and inducements for necessary and desirable labor mobility) for the expansion of economic activities in sectors where additional or improved goods or services are needed. Requires, in addition to such other funds as may be authorized, that such Fund include no less than one percent of the amount appropriated for military purposes during each subsequent year. Directs the President, as part of such annual program, to transmit to the Congress a short- and long-range schedule for implementing the purposes of this Act. Requires such schedule to include recommendations for restructuring Federal budget priorities to provide for: (1) reducing wasteful or unnecessary military expenditures; (2) increasing Federal revenues; (3) reducing the interest on the Federal debt; (4) using public and private pension funds to help attain the goals of this Act; and (5) promoting or creating development banks in areas of high joblessness and poverty. Requires the President to include recommendations for promoting education activities within each State. Requires the Joint Economic Committee to monitor actions proposed or taken under this Act. Requires that budgetary data for specific programs include evaluations and quantitative estimates of impacts on: (1) gross and net outlays computed in terms of estimates of the effects of paid employment on reducing outlays and increasing tax receipts; and (2) benefits and costs to society. Requires that each overall budget message from the President to the Congress be based on policies and programs to reduce unemployment.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1987
Consumer Rail Equity Act - Reaffirms the intent of the Congress that the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976 and the Staggers Rail Act of 1980 be implemented in a manner which provides both greater competitive alternatives and adequate railroad revenues. Directs the Interstate Commerce Commission, when determining the existence or absence of effective competition, to consider only transportation competition for movement of the same commodity from the same point of origin to the same destination. States that a presumption of overall effective competition is not established by the fact that a railroad faces effective competition with respect to either a point of destination or a point of origin. Shifts the burden of proof regarding transportation rate reasonableness from the shipper to the rail carrier establishing the challenged rate. Declares that it is Federal policy to encourage and promote competitive transportation rates for domestically produced coal and other commodities in order to increase their competitive position in domestic and export markets. Directs the Commission to establish a rail cost adjustment factor which includes changes in railroad productivity, volume, and output mix. Directs the Commission to recompute and republish the Rail Cost Adjustment Factor according to prescribed guidelines. Provides that certain rail carrier rates shall be reduced to the extent of any subsequent decreases in rail cost adjustment factors. Confirms the Commission's authority to promulgate rates set forth in a specified adjudication. Includes within the standards used to determine railroad revenue adequacy: (1) identification of revenues, expenses, and investment base reasonably related to rail transportation service; (2) straight-line depreciation of assets reasonably related to rail transportation service, minus deferred tax reserves resulting from accelerated depreciation; and (3) actual cost of debt capital and reasonable estimates of the current cost of equity capital. Requires the Commission, when making revenue adequacy determinations, to consider specified indicators of a rail carrier's financial status. Requires the Commission to determine, on an annual basis, which rail carriers are earning adequate or inadequate revenues and to determine for each rail carrier the revenues required to achieve or maintain revenue adequacy. Allows (current law requires) the Commission to exempt persons from application of this Act when: (1) such application is not necessary to implement Federal transportation policy; and (2) the Commission finds there is no market dominance involved in the affected transaction. Mandates that the rates and practices application to such exempt persons shall not be considered a matter subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission. Requires any rail carrier providing service under certain line rates to participate in competitive joint rail rates through practicable interchange connections (or publish a competitive proportional rate) if requested to do so by a rail carrier (or shipper or receiver) who has an actual or practicable interchange connection. Directs the Commission, upon petition of any interested party, to require certain terminal facilities owned by a rail carrier in interstate or foreign commerce to be used by another rail carrier if the Commission finds: (1) it is in the public interest to do so; and (2) that the owner of such terminal facility will not suffer substantial impairment of its own business interests. Directs the Commission to require, upon petition by an interested party, that rail carriers enter into reciprocal switching agreements if such an agreement is in the public interest or necessary to provide alternative competitive rail service. Directs the Commission to establish reciprocal switching compensation at a level not to exceed the current percentage of the actual variable costs for such service (unless the carrier demonstrates that a higher level is reasonable and necessary). Revises railroad line abandonment procedures to provide that a rail carrier must wait one year before resubmitting a previously denied abandonment application, unless a substantial change in circumstances can be shown. Requires the Commission to hold hearings in communities affected by a proposed railroad line abandonment if requested to do so by community protestants. Requires the Commission to base its abandonment determination upon financial data regarding the facility proposed to be abandoned rather than upon financial data regarding industry-wide averages. Directs the Commission, when considering any application for a certificate of abandonment or discontinuance, to disregard the impact on traffic volume of any surcharge imposed under specified parts of this Act (unless the surcharge improves the financial performance of the line). Subjects to Commission review any State decision regarding intrastate rates, rules, and practices if a party to such State proceedings petitions for Commission review. Requires the Commission to take action on such petition within 120 days of its receipt. Authorizes the Commission to vacate a State decision found inconsistent with this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1987
Worker Adjustment Improvement Act of 1987 - Title I: Financing Through the Imposition of Small Uniform Duty on All Imports - Directs the President to undertake negotiations to change the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) to allow countries to impose a uniform duty on all imports in order to use the revenue from such duty to fund trade adjustment assistance programs. Directs the President to report to the Congress six months after enactment of this Act on the progress of such negotiations. Directs the President to report to the Congress as soon as the GATT allows the imposition of such a duty. Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to impose an additional duty on all imports into the United States having a value of at least $1,000, including those imports granted duty-free treatment, with specified exceptions. Title II: Unemployment Compensation for Dislocated Workers - Unemployment Compensation for Dislocated Workers Act - Allows States to enter into agreements with the Secretary of Labor under which the State agency will make payments of Federal unemployment compensation for dislocated workers to individuals who are participating in a job training program for dislocated workers under title III of the Job Training Partnership Act. Requires such individuals to have exhausted all rights to unemployment compensation under State, Federal, or Canadian law. Limits such payments to a maximum period of ten weeks of unemployment which begin in the individual's period of eligibility. Prohibits such payments to any individual for any week of unemployment which begins more than two years after the end of the benefit year for which the individual exhausted rights to regular compensation. Requires that such Federal-State agreements provide that the State establish a Federal unemployment compensation for dislocated workers account for a benefit year for each individual who files an application for such compensation. Provides that the amount in such account shall be equal to ten times the individual's average weekly benefit amount. Provides that each State which has entered into such an agreement shall be paid an amount equal to 100 percent of the Federal unemployment compensation for dislocated workers paid to individuals by the State pursuant to such agreement. Provides that funds in the extended unemployment compensation account of the Unemployment Trust Fund shall be used for making such payments to States, through transfers of such funds to the State account in the Fund. Authorizes appropriations to the extended unemployment compensation account to carry out the purposes of this title. Authorizes appropriations to the general fund of the Treasury to assist States in meeting the costs of administration of agreements under this title. Sets forth provisions relating to fraud and overpayments under this title. Title III: Strengthening the Dislocated Workers Program - Amends the Job Training Partnership Act (the Act) to require each State to include any termination or layoff which involves 100 or more employees in any place of employment in the identification of dislocated workers under title III (Employment and Training Assistance for Dislocated Workers) of the Act. Directs the Secretary of Labor to establish in the Department of Labor a Federal Dislocated Workers Unit to: (1) receive State annual plans for providing title III services; (2) receive specified reports; (3) establish performance guidelines for State title III programs and report annually to the Congress on State performance; and (4) provide technical assistance to the States and to local service providers. Directs the Secretary to: (1) enter into an agreement with the National Commission for Employment Policy to conduct research and evaluation of methods for effective worker adjustment; and (2) report annually to the Congress on the findings resulting from such agreement. Requires States to submit to the Secretary their plans of title III activities for the succeeding fiscal year. Requires States to reserve specified title III funds to establish and operate a State dislocated workers unit to: (1) respond to large-scale layoffs and terminations, especially those resulting from the permanent closure of a plant or facility; (2) establish and operate an information gathering and notification system for notification by employers of such closures; (3) provide appropriate information and assistance to both employers and employees subject to such a closure; and (4) facilitate services to dislocated workers affected by such a closure. Requires such State units to coordinate their activities with the State job coordinating council and with the appropriate regional office of the Department of Labor. Requires States to reserve specified title III funds for basic skills education programs for dislocated workers. Authorizes State dislocated workers units to establish joint labor-management training programs. Sets forth application requirements for grants to labor-management committees. Sets forth authorized uses of such funds. Adds State reporting requirements under title III of the Act. Directs the Secretary to furnish technical assistance upon State request. Directs the Secretary, within six months after enactment of this Act, to commence a study of methods of implementing portability for pensions and health benefits for dislocated workers, including an evaluation of the provision of early retirement benefits without penalty for older dislocated workers. Requires a report on such study to be submitted to the Congress within 18 months after enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1987
Directs the Postal Service to restore the reduced rates applicable to mailings of fewer than 5,000 copies of publications to counties adjacent to the county of publication. Limits to 20,000 the number of copies of such publications which may be mailed under reduced rates within the county of publication.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1987
Designates October 14, 1987, as William Penn Appreciation Day.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1987
Designates the week beginning May 10, 1987, as National Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Awareness Week.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1987
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that Federal excise tax rates should not be increased.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1987
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should negotiate an agreement with Japan providing that Japan pay the United States an annual security fee equal to two percent of Japan's gross national product to compensate the United States for expenditures made pursuant to the United States/Japanese Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 1987
Equitable Automobile Transportation Act of 1987 - Directs a person shipping foreign vehicles from Japan or South Korea into the United States to transport an equal number of such vehicles on U.S. vehicle carriers that the person ships on foreign vessels. Requires shippers to file a bill of lading with the Secretary of Transportation for every shipment of foreign vehicles brought into the United States. Directs the Secretary to prescribe regulations to enforce this Act. Authorizes the Secretary to reduce such required equal percentage for a temporary period, under certain conditions. Provides penalties for the violation of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 1987
Authorizes appropriations for the restoration of Fort McHenry at the Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine in Maryland.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 1987
Prohibits Federal restrictions requiring the hunting of migratory birds using steel shot, unless a State adopts such restrictions itself.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 1987
Assimilative Crimes Act Amendments of 1987 - Amends the Federal criminal code to provide that the criminal penalty for operating a motor vehicle under the influence of a drug or alcohol in a special maritime or territorial jurisdiction of the United States shall be the punishment provided under the law of that State, territory, possession, or district. States that whoever operates a motor vehicle in such a jurisdiction consents to certain tests if arrested for driving under the influence of a drug or alcohol. States that any person refusing to submit to such tests shall be denied the privilege of operating a motor vehicle for one year.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 1987
Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize additional appropriations for FY 1988 and 1989 for the Child Survival Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 1987
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a deduction for expenses related to preparation of withholding certificates. Requires that a person who filed such certificate knew it to be false or fraudulent before the imposition of civil penalties. Establishes a transition period for imposition of such penalties.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 1987
Amends provisions of the Tariff Act of 1930 which prohibit the importation of immoral articles (treasonous or obscene materials, drugs for causing unlawful abortions, and lottery tickets) to permit customs officers to transmit information regarding the seizure of such articles to the U.S. attorney in the district to which the articles are addressed for institution of forfeiture, confiscation, and destruction actions. (Present law requires seizure information to be transmitted only to the U.S. attorney's office in the district at which the seizure took place.) Requires forfeiture proceedings for obscene material to begin within 30 days of seizure. Prohibits invalidation of a seizure or forfeiture for delay if proceedings are postponed pending the consideration of constitutional issues. Permits stays of forfeiture proceedings pending completion of any related criminal matters.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 1987
Medicare Diabetic Foot Disease Prevention Act - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide coverage under part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of the Medicare program for therapeutic shoes furnished to individuals with severe diabetic foot disease.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 1987
Amends the Federal criminal code to provide a mandatory life sentence (except when the death penalty is invoked) for any person convicted of gathering or delivering defense information to a foreign government.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 1987
Prohibits the contracting out for performance by private contractor personnel of any function at an arsenal or weapons manufacturing facility under the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense. Provides an exception to such prohibition for functions currently under contract.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 1987
Omnibus Taxpayers' Bill of Rights Act - Requires the Secretary of the Treasury (Secretary) to prepare a statement setting forth in nontechnical terms: (1) the rights and obligations of a taxpayer and of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) during a tax audit; (2) the procedures by which a taxpayer may appeal adverse decisions, prosecute refund claims, and file complaints; and (3) the procedures that the IRS may use in enforcing revenue laws. Directs the Secretary to transmit drafts of such statement to specified congressional committees and to distribute the final statement to all taxpayers with tax forms sent by the IRS. Amends the Inspector General Act of 1978 and other Federal law to establish within the Department of the Treasury (Department) an Office of Inspector General (Inspector). Transfers to such Office the existing audit and investigation units of the Department. Prohibits the Inspector from reviewing: (1) monetary, fiscal, and tax policy; and (2) the exercise of legal judgment in the investigation and litigation of cases. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) withhold from the Inspector requested information that the Secretary determines will jeopardize the success of an ongoing investigation or litigation, confidential sources, or the national security; and (2) prohibit the Inspector from undertaking or continuing an audit or investigation under limited circumstances described in this Act. Requires the IRS, upon taxpayer request, to conduct any interview regarding a deficiency assessment at a reasonable time and place convenient to the taxpayer and to the IRS, and to permit the taxpayer, at his or her own expense, to record the interview. Authorizes the IRS interviewer to record such interview if the taxpayer has been given prior notice and is provided, upon request and payment of reproduction costs, with a transcript of the recording. Requires the interview to warn the taxpayer that: (1) he or she has a right to remain silent; (2) any statement the taxpayer makes may be used against him or her; and (3) he or she has the right to the presence of an attorney, certified public accountant, enrolled agent, or enrolled actuary. Permits a waiver of such rights if voluntarily and knowingly made. Amends Federal law to require the Comptroller General (Comptroller) of the General Accounting Office to: (1) conduct audits of the IRS with respect to the efficiency, uniformity, and equity of the internal revenue laws (current law specifies no particular focus for such audits); and (2) conduct special audits or investigations of internal revenue law administration upon the request of any congressional committee or Member of Congress. Requires the Comptroller's annual report to the Congress to include specified findings concerning IRS management, efficiency, procedures, and structure. Divests of its finality a vote of the Joint Committee on Taxation to disapprove a Comptroller General audit of the IRS. Designates such vote as a recommendation to disapprove an audit and makes such recommendation subject to congressional approval. Prohibits evaluations of IRS personnel based on revenue collected from taxpayers as a result of audits or investigations involving such personnel. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to prescribe criminal penalties for: (1) any investigation by an officer or employee of the United States in connection with Federal tax laws that inquires into the beliefs, associations, or activities of any individual or organization; or (2) the maintenance of any records containing information derived from such an investigation. Creates a civil cause of action in Federal court (regardless of the amount in controversy) for any taxpayer aggrieved by such prohibited investigation or recordkeeping. Authorizes both equitable remedies and awards of damages, including punitive damages, litigation costs and reasonable attorney fees, in such cases. Extends from ten to 30 days the period between the required notice to a person who neglects or refuses to pay tax liability and a levy on such person's salary, wages, or other property. Specifies information that must be incorporated in such notice, including possible alternative actions and the appropriate appeals procedures. Adds to the circumstances triggering termination of such a levy: (1) an agreement between the taxpayer and the Secretary for payment of the liability; and (2) the Secretary's determination that the taxpayer's financial condition precludes enforceability of the liability. Revises the list of property exempt from levy to: (1) increase the exempt amount permitted for certain personal effects, the property of a business, and wages; (2) add an exemption for certain deposits in qualified institutions; and (3) provide an express exemption, except under limited circumstances specified in this Act, for the taxpayer's principal residence, a motor vehicle used by the taxpayer as the primary means of transportation to work, and any tangible personal property essential to the operation of the taxpayer's business in cases when a levy would prevent the taxpayer from carrying on such business. Prohibits a levy on any property when levy and sales expenses would exceed either the liability for which the levy is made or the fair market value of the levied property. Sets forth situations in which the Secretary must release a levy. Applies to jeopardy levies the administrative and judicial review procedures currently applicable to jeopardy assessments. Authorizes the Secretary, in certain cases, to enter into a binding agreement with a taxpayer under which such taxpayer may pay tax liability in installments. Requires the Secretary to offer in writing to enter such an agreement with any individual: (1) whose tax liability is $20,000 or less; and (2) who has not been delinquent in installment tax payments under similar agreements during a specified period. Permits the Secretary, after proper notice and a hearing, to modify or annul such an agreement upon the finding that the financial condition of the affected taxpayer has significantly changed. Requires the Secretary to abate in full any deficiency, including penalty or interest, completely attributable to erroneous advice in writing given to a taxpayer by an IRS officer or employee in response to such taxpayer's specific inquiry. Directs IRS officers and employees, when giving oral advice to a person, to inform such person that the contents of such communication are not binding on the IRS. Authorizes the IRS Ombudsman, upon application filed by a taxpayer, to issue a Taxpayer Assistance Order if, in the determination of the Ombudsman: (1) the taxpayer is suffering or is about to suffer from an unusual or irreparable loss as a result of the manner in which the internal revenue laws are being administered by the Secretary; and (2) the Secretary has failed to carry out any of his or her duties or has violated any provision of law. Allows the terms of a Taxpayer Assistance Order to require the Secretary to release property of the taxpayer levied upon or to cease or refrain from certain actions. Requires the Secretary to obey any Taxpayer Assistance Order issued by the Ombudsman. Allows an administrative appeal of tax liens. Revises the criteria according to which the Secretary determines a minimum sale price for property seized by levy and subject to a tax sale. Prohibits the Secretary from authorizing a class audit of taxpayers in a particular business or trade until each group member is given proper notice and the opportunity either to file an amended return or to challenge the Secretary's findings at a hearing. Places upon the IRS the burden of proof on all issues in all administrative and judicial proceedings between the IRS and a taxpayer. Applies the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act to all IRS rules and regulations prescribed by the Secretary.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 1987
Requires the President to include in the annual Federal budget submitted to the Congress an analysis by the Council of Economic Advisers of the budget's impact on the international competitiveness of U.S. business and the U.S. balance of payments position, including projections for Government borrowing, domestic savings, private domestic investment, the merchandise trade and current accounts, and foreign indebtedness. Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to require that a similar analysis by the Congressional Budget Office be included in the report of the Committee on the Budget of each House of Congress which accompanies each concurrent resolution on the budget.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 1987
Ocean Transportation Practices Act of 1987 - Directs the Federal Maritime Commission (the Commission) to investigate whether unfair trade practices are used in the ocean transportation of goods transported in the foreign commerce of the United States. Requires the Commission to find an unfair trade practice when the acts, policies, or practices of a foreign country unreasonably impair the transportation of goods in the foreign commerce of the United States by vessels documented under the laws of the United States. Outlines further standards to be used by the Commission in making such determinations. Outlines action to be taken by the Commission if an unfair trade practice is found to exist. Provides for civil liability for the owner of a foreign vessel found to be engaging in unfair trade practices if certain negotiated actions are not taken within a specified time period. Requires any final action by the Commission under this Act to be reported to the Congress in writing within 60 days. Directs that any civil penalties collected as the result of enforcement of this Act are to be deposited into the Maritime Displacement Account. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to use the amounts so deposited to assist vessels affected by unfair trade practices to gain access to the trades. Directs the Secretary to prescribe regulations to carry out this provision.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 1987
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 · 26 February 1987
Designates the month of May 1987 as National Home Remodeling Month.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 1987
Authorizes and requests the President to issue a proclamation saluting Michigan on its 150th anniversary of statehood.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 1987
Authorizes the President, on behalf of the Congress, to present a gold medal to Mrs. Jesse Owens in recognition of the late Jesse Owens' athletic achievements and humanitarian contributions to public service, civil rights, and international goodwill. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to sell bronze duplicates of the medal.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 1987
Grants a Federal charter to the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs, Incorporated.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 1987
Amends the Federal criminal code to establish penalties for damaging or destroying any religious real property or interfering with any person's free exercise of religious beliefs.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 1987
Merchant Seamen's Benefit Act - Provides for creditable active duty service for veterans' benefits purposes for certain individuals who served in the merchant marine during World War II, who were prisoners of war or civilian internees as the result of enemy action against merchant shipping, and who were in an accredited wartime maritime training program. Prohibits payment of benefits for periods before the date of enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 1987
Medicare Catastrophic Illness Coverage Act - Amends part A (Hospital Insurance) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to remove durational limitations on the coverage of inpatient hospital services. Provides coverage of post-hospital extended care services for up to 100 days each year. (Currently such services are provided for up to 100 days during a "spell of illness".) Requires a beneficiary to pay a deductible for each of the first two inpatient hospital admissions in a year. (Currently an inpatient hospital deductible is required for each "spell of illness.") Eliminates the coinsurance requirement for inpatient hospital services and outpatient hospital extended care services. Amends part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of the Medicare program to cover the amount by which a part B enrollee's out-of-pocket expenses exceed $2,000 in 1988, adjusting such ceiling thereafter to reflect changes in total Medicare per capita expenses. Excludes from the computation of a beneficiary's out-of-pocket expenses amounts above the full part B payment to physicians and others who do not accept assignment. Includes in the computation of the part B premium an amount equal to the Secretary of Health and Human Services' estimate of a part B enrollee's share of the benefits and administrative costs which result from this Act's catastrophic care coverage and beneficiary expense ceiling. Provides for the transfer to the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund of part B premium revenues which are attributable to the catastrophic care coverage this Act establishes under part A of the Medicare program.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 1987
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 the 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 · 25 February 1987
Afghan Adjustment Act of 1987 - Provides for the adjustment to permanent resident status of specified nationals of Afghanistan who have resided in the United States since January 1, 1986.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 1987
Amends the Tax Reform Act of 1986 to repeal the provision which disallows the treatment of certain technical personnel as self-employed individuals for employment tax purposes. Specifies that the Internal Revenue Code shall be applied and administered as if such provision had not been enacted.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 1987
Designates June 14, 1987, as Baltic Freedom Day. Expresses disapproval of the refusal of the U.S.S.R. to recognize the sovereignty of the Baltic Republics.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 1987
Designates the month of May 1987 as National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1987
Pornography Victims Protection Act of 1987 - Amends the Federal criminal code with respect to the prohibition against the sexual exploitation of children to add as a condition triggering Federal penalties that the person concerned know that a minor was transported in interstate or foreign commerce for the purpose of producing pornography. Makes it a criminal offense for any person to coerce, intimidate, or fraudulently induce an individual 18 years or older to engage in any sexually explicit conduct for the purposes of producing any visual depiction of such conduct. Grants the U.S. district courts jurisdiction to prevent and restrain violations of this Act. Authorizes the Attorney General or any person threatened with loss or damage by such conduct to institute a civil suit. Provides for treble damages for a victim who suffers physical injury, emotional distress, or property damage. Imposes civil penalties for violation of the prohibition against sexual exploitation of children.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1987
Employee Polygraph Protection Act - Prohibits any employer from using any lie detector test or examination in the work place, for both pre-employment testing and testing in the course of employment. Requires the Secretary of Labor to prepare and have printed notices setting forth this prohibition. Requires employers to post these notices. Provides penalties for violations of this Act. Exempts Federal, State, and local employees from the Act's coverage.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1987
Technology Education Act of 1986 - Defines "technology education" as a comprehensive educational process designed to develop a population that is knowledgeable about technology and its evolution, systems, techniques, utilization in industry and other fields, and social and cultural significance. Directs the Secretary of Education, subject to the availability of appropriations under this Act, to establish a program of grants to local educational agencies (LEAs), State educational agencies (SEAs), consortia of public and private agencies, organizations, and institutions, and institutions of higher education for not more than ten demonstration programs in technology education for secondary schools. Sets forth grant application requirements. Directs the Secretary to consider equitable geographic distribution in making such grants. Permits such grants to be used to develop a model demonstration program for technology education with specified components. Includes among such components research and development of curriculum materials, an institute to develop teacher capabilities in technology education, and multidisciplinary teacher workshops for interfacing mathematics, science, and technology education. Limits the Federal share to 65 percent of the costs of programs or projects assisted under this Act. Requires that at least ten percent of such costs be covered by private sector contributions. Directs the Secretary to disseminate the results of such programs or projects so as to improve the training of educational personnel. Amends the Education Consolidation and Improvement Act of 1981 to direct the Secretary to make available specified amounts of discretionary funds to carry out this Act for FY 1987 through 1989.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1987
Designates April 9, 1987, as National Prisoner of War Recognition Day.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1987
National Institute for New Agricultural and Forestry Industrial Materials Act of 1987 - Establishes in the Office of Critical Agricultural Materials of the Department of Agriculture the National Institute for New Agricultural and Forestry Industrial Materials to encourage private efforts to increase the use of advanced technology suitable for application to the industrial use of industrial crops and forest products. Sets forth operating and administrative provisions. Requires the establishment of regional education centers at land-grant colleges and universities to provide users and producers of industrial crops and forest products with production, processing, and marketing information. Authorizes FY 1988 through 1991 appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1987
Textile and Apparel Trade Act of 1987 - Limits the 1987 imports of textiles and textile products classified under a category to an amount equal to 101 percent of the total 1986 imports classified under such category. Limits the 1987 imports of nonrubber footwear classified under a nonrubber footwear category to an amount equal to: (1) the total 1986 imports of nonrubber footwear classified under such category; and (2) in the case of low priced nonrubber footwear, the total 1986 imports of low priced nonrubber footwear classified under such category. Provides for a one-percent annual growth in the amount of permitted imports of textiles and textile products after 1987. Authorizes the President to: (1) enter into trade agreements to grant new concessions as compensation, to the extent required under U.S. trade agreements for the import limits imposed by this Act; and (2) proclaim such modification or continuance of any existing duty on textiles and textile products and on nonrubber footwear as necessary to carry out such agreements. Prohibits the President from reducing any rate of duty by more than ten percent. Requires the President, before entering into such trade agreements, to consider whether such country has violated trade concessions of benefit to the United States and such violation has not been adequately offset by U.S. action or by the action of such country. Sets forth requirements governing staged rate reductions in the tariffs of articles affected by this Act. Prohibits the President, except as authorized by this paragraph, from entering into trade negotiations with any country with respect to duties on textiles, textile products, and nonrubber footwear. Prohibits the President, except as provided in this paragraph, from decreasing or proposing a decrease in any such duty by any means, including an implementing bill or a proclamation. Requires the President to report annually to the Congress on the administration of this Act. Requires the Secretary of Commerce, ten years after enactment of this Act, to study and report to the Congress on the operation of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1987
Retiree Benefits Security Act of 1987 - Amends Federal bankruptcy law to apply provisions governing the rejection of collective bargaining agreements in reorganization cases to collective bargaining agreement provisions relating to benefits for retired employees. Provides that bankruptcy claims for retiree benefits and claims arising under any collective bargaining agreement or rejection thereof shall not be limited to one year's compensation. Designates the labor organization which is the recognized exclusive collective bargaining representative in a collective bargaining agreement as the authorized representative of persons receiving retirement benefits under such agreement in bankruptcy proceedings. Directs the court to appoint a committee of retirees to serve as such representative if the labor organization elects not to serve or if the recipients of retiree benefits are not covered by a collective bargaining agreement. Requires the debtor in possession or trustee in a reorganization case to pay and not modify any retiree benefits under any program established or maintained by the debtor prior to filing a bankruptcy petition. Allows modification of such benefits: (1) by court order; or (2) as agreed to by the trustee and the authorized representative of benefit recipients. Treats such payments as administrative expenses. Permits the court to order a modification in retiree benefit payments only if: (1) with respect to benefits covered by a collective bargaining agreement, such agreement is rejected in bankruptcy; and (2) with respect to benefits whether covered or not, the court finds that modifications are necessary to permit the reorganization of the debtor and assure that all creditors, the debtor, and all affected parties are treated fairly and equitably and that the balance of equities clearly favors the modification sought by the trustee. Permits the court, before issuing a final order, to authorize the trustee to implement interim changes in benefits not provided by a collective bargaining agreement, if essential to the continuation of the debtor's business, or in order to avoid irreparable damage to the estate. Provides that any retiree benefits paid between the filing of a petition and confirmation of a plan shall not be deducted from amounts calculated for claims for unpaid future retiree benefits or for any benefits not provided due to modifications, unless otherwise agreed by the debtor and the authorized representative. Requires a reorganization plan to place all claimants for retiree benefits in a separate class consisting only of such claimants. Requires that a plan, to be fair and equitable with respect to such claimants: (1) provide that each claim holder of such class receive property of a value equal to the allowed amount of such claim; or (2) provide that each claim holder of such class receive such value as found by the court to represent the minimum reduction in retiree benefits consistent with the ability of the debtor to provide such benefits after plan confirmation. Provides for the retroactive application of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1987
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a 50 percent excise tax on any "greenmail profits" paid to certain corporate stockholders. Defines "greenmail profits" as any gain realized by a four-percent shareholder of any stock in a corporation if: (1) the shareholder held such stock for a period of less than two years; and (2) during the two-year period ending on the date of the sale or exchange of such stock there was a public tender offer for such stock. Disallows an income tax deduction for any interest paid or accrued on indebtedness incurred to acquire stock in a corporation pursuant to a hostile offer.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1987
Amends the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act of 1930 to make it unlawful to fail to mark any perishable agricultural commodity as to its State, country, or region of origin. Increases the penalty from $2,000 to $50,000 for such labeling or misrepresentation violations.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1987
Amends the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 to allow a retired railroad worker to be employed in any non-railroad employment and still qualify for an annuity, subject to specified deductions, including reduction of certain benefits by $1 for every $2 earned from the last non-railroad employment.