United States · United States Congress · 10 April 1986
Energy Incentives and Agricultural Financial Resources Act of 1986 - Title I: Sense of Congress on Tax Reform Provisions Which Detrimentally Affect the Petroleum Industry - Declares that it is the sense of the Congress that retention of current income tax provisions relating to the petroleum industry is necessary to provide capital formation for the industry. Urges elimination of any provision of the Tax Reform Act of 1985 (H.R. 3838) or of any similar tax reform legislation which would detrimentally affect the oil depletion allowance, the deduction for intangible drilling and development costs, the credit for producing fuel from a nonconventional source, or other tax provisions favorable to the petroleum industry. Title II: Federal Banking Agency Cooperation with Troubled Banks and Thrift Institutions - Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to revise provisions concerning the extraordinary acquisition of troubled banks and thrift institutions. Authorizes an in-State or out-of-State bank holding company or savings and loan holding company to: (1) establish a newly chartered bank in a State where an insured bank with total assets of $250,000,000 or more is closed or is in danger of failing (as determined by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) for the purpose of purchasing the assets and assuming the liabilities of the closed or failing bank; (2) purchase the stock of the failing bank; (3) purchase the stock or assets of, or merge with, a bank subsidiary which is in danger of closing if the subsidiary holds 35 percent or more of the assets of a bank holding company with assets of at least $1,000,000,000; or (4) establish a newly chartered bank in the same State as the failing subsidiary to merge with, or purchase the assets and assume the liabilities of, such subsidiary or affiliated banks. Requires any such transaction to be approved by the Corporation and the primary Federal and State supervisors of each party thereto. Provides that an out-of-State bank holding company which acquires a closed or failing bank shall not be entitled to acquire additional banks in the State in which such bank is located. Authorizes any acquired bank to retain and operate all existing branches and to establish new branches to the same extent as a national bank located at such bank's principal office. Prohibits any in-State or out-of-State bank holding company which acquires a closed or failing bank from being required to divest any other bank or from being prevented from acquiring any other bank or bank holding company by reason of such acquisition. Sets forth provisions concerning: (1) the shareholder approval of such an acquisition; and (2) the solicitation of offers and disclosure of information to prospective purchasers by the Corporation. Amends the Garn-St Germain Depository Institutions Act of 1982 to extend the Net Worth Certificate Act for two years. Requires the appropriate Federal banking agency to: (1) permit an insured agricultural or energy bank to account for troubled debt restructuring according to generally accepted accounting principles by not requiring a change in the recorded investment unless the investment exceeds total, reasonably anticipated, future receipts, given the new terms of the loan; (2) establish a program of capital standard forbearance for such an insured bank for which capital reduction is largely attributable to problems in the agricultural or energy sectors of the economy or any other sector of the economy experiencing financial difficulties; and (3) implement call report requirements for renegotiated loans which authorize such loans to be disclosed as "restructured and in compliance with modified terms." Directs the Comptroller of the Currency to establish new lending limits for banks covered by the capital standard forbearance program. Prohibits such a lending limitation from exceeding 20 percent of the unimpaired capital and unimpaired surplus of the lending institution. Creates a moratorium on the establishment of nonbank banks until July 15, 1986. Title II: Repeal of Certain Restrictions on the Use of Natural Gas and Petroleum -(Please note that H.R.4553 has two titles numbered "Title II.") - Amends the Powerplant and Industrial Fuel Use Act of 1978 to: (1) repeal the prohibitions against the use by electric powerplants and major fuel-burning installations of petroleum and natural gas as primary energy sources; (2) remove the restrictions placed upon Federal major fuel-burning installations against the use of natural gas and petroleum as primary energy sources; and (3) repeal the guidelines for the emergency use of natural gas or petroleum as a primary energy source by any person operating a peakload powerplant or a major fuel-burning installation. Revokes the authority of the Secretary of Energy to require any major fuel-burning installation to furnish certain information regarding the use of primary energy sources of fuel. Amends the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 to repeal the natural gas incremental pricing provisions. States that incremental pricing rules promulgated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) shall continue in effect only with respect to the flow-through of costs incurred before enactment of this Act, including any surcharges based on such costs. Authorizes FERC to direct natural gas companies to provide transportation services through certificated facilities if to do so does not impair such companies' ability to render adequate service to their customers. Provides for the transportation of natural gas on a non-discriminatory basis as to class of shipper or recipient.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 1986
Designates May 21, 1986, as National Andrei Sakharov Day. Authorizes and requests the President to urge the Soviet Union to permit Andrei Sakharov and Elena Bonner to freely choose their place of residence.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 1986
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the present three-year basis recovery rule on the taxation of retirement annuities for government employees should be maintained and provisions requiring the repeal of such treatment in certain tax reform legislation (H.R. 3838) should be deleted.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 1986
Amends the Animal Welfare Act to permit citizen suits to compel enforcement of such Act. Authorizes the court in such suits to award litigation expenses, including attorney fees to: (1) a prevailing plantiff; or (2) a prevailing defendant if such action is found to be frivolous, unreasonable, or without foundation.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 1986
Designates August 13, 1986, the 25th anniversary of the construction of the Berlin Wall, as Berlin Freedom Day. Urges the East German Government to dismantle the Berlin Wall.
United States · United States Congress · 8 April 1986
Establishes the Insurance Availability Crisis Commission of 1986 to: (1) coordinate the intergovernmental examination of the tort law system and its relationship with insurance availability and cost; (2) bring representatives of industry, government, and consumers together to perform an examination of the issue of insurance availability; (3) make recommendations for reform of the tort system and insurance industry practices; and (4) raise funds to cover the costs of the Commission's activities. Directs the Commission to report its findings and recommendations to the President, the Congress, and the executive officer of each State. Provides for the Commission's termination upon the transmission of such report. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 8 April 1986
Makes individuals who are not U.S. citizens or nationals and specified foreign-controlled interests ineligible for agricultural price supports, loans, crop insurance, and disaster payments. Exempts a foreign interest operating a single small- or medium-sized family farm from such prohibition.
United States · United States Congress · 8 April 1986
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to deny the tax exclusion for interest on industrial development bonds used to finance the acquisition of farm property by foreign persons. Defines a "foreign person" as: (1) any individual who is not a citizen or national of the United States; (2) any foreign corporation, foreign partnership, foreign trust, or foreign estate; (3) any domestic corporation more than ten percent of the value of the stock of which is held by one or more foreign persons; (4) any domestic partnership more than ten percent of the capital or profits interest in which is held by one or more foreign persons; or (5) any domestic trust more than ten percent of the beneficial interests in which is held by one or more foreign persons.
United States · United States Congress · 8 April 1986
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Secretary of Agriculture should take immediate steps to investigate alternative animal identification procedures in lieu of hot-iron cheek branding.
United States · United States Congress · 8 April 1986
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Farm Credit Administration and its associated agencies and institutions should take additional actions to alleviate the agricultural financial situation, including restructuring, rather than foreclosing, loans.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1986
Tort Liability Reform Act of 1986 - Title I: Federal Tort Liability Reform - Amends the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to provide certain limitations and procedures regarding civil damages in tort actions seeking recovery against the United States. Requires a pretrial hearing to be held within 30 to 60 days after the filing of an action. Directs the hearing official to make recommendations regarding: (1) the relative strength of the legal position of each party; and (2) expediting discovery proceedings. Requires the court to take certain actions to expedite matters where discovery has not been completed within one year. Requires that future damages awards exceeding $100,000 be made by periodic payments. Requires that damages awards be offset by any amount received as compensation for the same injury from other sources. Limits the amount of damages for noneconomic losses to $100,000. Makes any attorney whose conduct is calculated for delay, or is found to be in bad faith, subject to pecuniary sanctions by the court. Title II: State Tort Liability Reform - Provides certain limitations and procedures regarding civil damages in claims arising under State law alleging negligence, strict or product liability, intentionally tortious conduct, or malpractice. Requires a pretrial hearing to be held within 30 to 60 days after the filing of an action. Directs the hearing official to make recommendations regarding: (1) the relative strength of the legal position of each party; and (2) expediting discovery proceedings. Requires the court to take certain actions to expedite matters where discovery has not been completed within one year. Requires that future damages awards exceeding $100,000 be made by periodic payments. States that no interest shall be paid for any period preceding the date on which the action is commenced. Requires that damages awards be offset by any amount received as compensation for the same injury from other sources. Limits the amount of damages for noneconomic losses to $100,000. Permits the awarding of punitive damages only where the conduct of the defendant manifests a conscious disregard for safety. Provides that punitive damages awarded in any civil action to which this Act applies shall be paid to the clerk of the court and transmitted to the Treasurer of the United States or the treasurer of the State in which the court is located. Makes any attorney whose conduct is calculated for delay, or is found to be in bad faith, subject to pecuniary sanctions by the court. Preempts any inconsistent State law.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1986
Employment Opportunities for Disabled Americans Act - Makes permanent provisions which provide benefits under title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) of the Social Security Act for individuals who perform substantial gainful activity despite a severe medical impairment. Removes SSI limitations for the first two months of an individual's stay in a health facility if such individual was eligible for the benefits made permanent by this Act during the month preceding admission to the facility. Requires the district offices of the Social Security Administration to each designate a staff member to implement the program providing benefits to individuals who perform substantial gainful activity despite severe medical impairment. Revises the eligibility requirements for such benefits. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish and implement procedures which provide that whenever an individual is formally notified of his or her SSI eligibility, such individual will also be notified of the availability of assistance under title XIX (Medicaid) of such Act. Directs the Secretary, when any individual receives SSI benefits on the basis of a disability, to notify such individual of his or her potential eligibility for the SSI benefits available for those performing substantial gainful activity despite a severe medical impairment. Directs the Comptroller General to conduct a study of the operation of the SSI section which provides benefits for individuals who perform substantial gainful activity despite a severe medical impairment, with the particular objective of evaluating the work incentive provisions of such section. Requires the Comptroller General to report to the Congress the findings of such study. Provides that when an individual becomes ineligible for SSI benefits upon entitlement to child's insurance benefits under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Act, such individual shall be treated for Medicaid purposes as continuing to receive SSI benefits so long as he or she would otherwise be eligible for such benefits. Authorizes the Secretary to conduct demonstration projects designed to assess the advantages and disadvantages of various work incentive programs under the OASDI and SSI programs. Sets forth reporting requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1986
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that Federal excise taxes and tariffs when incurred by business in the production of income should remain deductible for Federal income tax purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1986
Telephone Decency Act of 1986 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit any obscene or indecent telephone communication for commercial purposes to any person in the District of Columbia or in interstate or foreign communication. (Current law prohibits such communication to any person without his or her consent or to any person under 18 years of age.)
United States · United States Congress · 17 March 1986
Product Liability Uniform Standards Act - Sets forth uniform national standards for products liability cases. Preempts inconsistent State laws. Declares that the provisions of this Act shall be inapplicable in certain environmental actions. Makes negligence the sole test for all defective design and failure-to-warn product liability actions. Places the burden of proof on the claimant in such cases. Treats the product seller as the manufacturer (for the purposes of such actions) if: (1) the manufacturer is not subject to service of process; or (2) the court determines that the claimant would be unable to enforce a judgment against the manufacturer. Requires damages to be reduced by the amount of workers' compensation benefits paid. Makes a product manufacturer or seller who acted with reckless disregard for the consumers' safety liable for punitive damages. Lists factors for the trier of fact to consider when determining the amount of punitive damages. Directs the Judicial Conference of the United States to establish a Product Liability Damages Review Panel to conduct a study of damages in relation to the product liability litigation system. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 17 March 1986
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the provisions of H.R. 3838, or of any similar tax reform legislation, should not take effect before the date of the enactment of such legislation.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 1986
Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) to exempt cost-of-living increases in civil service retirement and disability programs, (including the Central Intelligence Agency retirement and disability system, the Comptrollers General retirement system, the Foreign Service retirement and disability system, the judicial survivors' annuities system, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration retirement system, the Coast Guard retirement system, the Public Health Service commissioned officers retirement system, and the Tax Court judges survivors' retirement system), military retirement benefits and certain railroad retirement benefits from reduction under the President's sequestration order. Makes this Act effective for fiscal years beginning after October 1, 1986.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1986
Withdraws and reserves for the Department of the Navy certain public lands within the Bravo-20 Bombing Range, Churchill County, Nevada, for use as a training and weapons testing area. Requires the Secretary of the Interior to manage the nonmilitary uses of such lands. Requires the Secretary and the Secretary of the Navy to develop a land use plan and management program for such lands within five years. Terminates the withdrawal of such lands after 25 years. Requires the Secretary of the Navy to give the Secretary of the Interior at least three years' notice of any continuing need for such lands. Requires the Secretary of the Navy to decontaminate such land of hazardous materials, if necessary. Permits the Secretary of the Interior to refuse such lands if decontamination is not possible, requiring a review of such determination every five years. Permits the Secretary of the Interior to revoke the withdrawal in the public interest, despite such lands' contamination.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1986
Radio Broadcasting to Nicaragua Act - Requires the U.S. Information Agency (USIA) to provide for radio broadcasts to Nicaragua subject to Voice of America standards. Requires the Director of the USIA to establish within the Voice of America a Nicaragua Service that shall be responsible for such broadcasts.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1986
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Postmaster General should issue a postage stamp honoring American servicemen and civilians still unaccounted for as a result of the conflict in Indochina.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1986
Terrorist Prosecution Act of 1986 - Amends the Federal criminal code to create a Federal criminal offense for terrorist acts committed against U.S. nationals abroad. Makes it an offense for any person in an act of international terrorism to assault, strike, wound, imprison, or make other violent acts upon the person or liberty of any U.S. national. Specifies punishment for such persons found guilty of murder, manslaughter, attempted murder, or conspiracy. Establishes criteria for the imposition of the death penalty for certain Federal offenses. Requires the Government to: (1) serve notice upon the defendant when it seeks imposition of the death penalty; and (2) set forth the aggravating factors upon which it will rely. Requires a separate sentencing hearing before a jury, or the court upon motion by the defendant when the defendant is convicted of such an offense. Allows the defendant and the Government to present any relevant information, regardless of its admissibility under the rules of evidence. Permits such information to be excluded where its probative value is substantially outweighted by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of issues, or misleading of the jury. Specifies certain mitigating factors (including the defendant's age and inability to appreciate his or her conduct) and aggravating factors (including the intentional killing of the victim, previous convictions, and the nature of the offense) for jury consideration. Requires the court to instruct the jury not to consider the race, color, national origin, creed, or sex of the defendant when sentencing. States that the death penalty shall not be carried out on pregnant women. Establishes procedures for the appeal of a death sentence. Requires the court of appeals, upon consideration of the trial record, information submitted during the sentencing hearing, and the procedures of such hearing, to affirm the decision if: (1) the sentence was not imposed under the influence of passion, prejudice, or arbitrariness; and (2) the information supports the finding. Requires the court to provide a written explanation of its determination.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1986
Transport Regulatory Reform Act of 1986 - Establishes within the legislative branch of the Government the Transportation Regulatory Commissions Nominating Commission. Requires the President to notify the Chair of such Commission immediately if any vacancy occurs on the Interstate Commerce Commission, the Federal Maritime Commission, or the National Transportation Safety Board. Directs the Commission to: (1) submit to the President a list of qualified individuals to fill such vacancy; (2) certify to the President pro tempore of the Senate the first name on the Commission's list of nominees if the President has failed to nominate an individual to fill such vacancy within 60 days after submission of the list; (3) submit to the President of the Senate a report containing the list of nominees within 30 days after its submission to the President; and (4) report biannually to each House of the Congress on the efficiency of the nomination process and any recommendations for change.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1986
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that individuals who provide adult family foster care may elect to exclude from gross income any amounts received for such care. Limits such exclusion to amounts received for the care of up to ten qualified adults. Defines a "qualified adult" as any individual who: (1) has attained age 18; and (2) has been placed in an adult family home by a State or local agency or by a tax-exempt organization licensed as an adult family care-placing agency.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1986
Dwight David Eisenhower Centennial Commission Act - Establishes the Dwight David Eisenhower Centennial Commission to encourage, plan, and coordinate the centennial of the birth of former President Dwight David Eisenhower. Requires annual Commission reports to the Congress and the President. Requires the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to designate the date for a joint meeting of the Congress commemorating the centennial. Directs the U.S. Postal Service to issue a commemorative stamp on October 14, 1990, in honor of the 100th birthday of Dwight David Eisenhower. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1986
Provides that any requirement to substantiate a deduction under the Internal Revenue Code with respect to the business use of a vehicle must be based on regulations in effect before the Tax Reform Act of 1984.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 1986
Amends part B (Peer Review) of title IX of the Social Security Act to require peer review organizations receiving a Medicare beneficiary's request, while such beneficiary is still a hospital inpatient, for reconsideration of a determination denying payment for continuing inpatient hospital care to give the beneficiary notice of its reconsidered determination within two days of receiving the request.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 1986
Amends the Panama Canal Act of 1979 to exempt the Panama Canal Commission from any automatic budget cuts which are a result of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) insofar as a decreased budget to such Commission would result in increased net revenues, which are required to be paid to Panama in accordance with the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977.
![Official portrait of Rep. Bentley, Helen Delich [R-MD-2]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/b000392_200.jpg)