United States · United States Congress · 14 May 1986
Debars Morton Thiokol Inc. from contracting and subcontracting with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration until a determination is made by the Comptroller General with respect to actions allegedly taken by such Corporation against its employees because they gave certain information to the Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 1986
Rural Health Care Improvement Act of 1986 - Amends part A (General Provisions) of title XI of the Social Security Act to require that whenever the Secretary of Health and Human Services proposes a regulation or promulgates a final version of a regulation under titles XVIII (Medicare), XIX (Medicaid), or part B (Peer Review) of title XI of the Act which will have a substantial impact on small rural hospitals, the Secretary make a regulatory impact analysis available to the public. Amends the Medicare program to continue, beyond FY 1986, current law regarding Medicare payment to sole community hospitals for capital-related costs, treating such costs as distinct from operating costs of inpatient hospital services. Provides certain small sole community and rural hospitals with payment for extremely high cost cases (outlier payments) which represent five or six percent of the total payments made to such hospitals. Sets aside ten percent of amounts expended by the Secretary on certain experiments and demonstration projects for projects relating exclusively to rural health issues. Requires fiscal intermediaries to pay certain small rural hospitals for Medicare claims, at the latest, 30 days after receiving the request for such payment. Amends title VII (Administration) of the Act to establish an Office of Rural Health Policy in the Office of the Administrator of the Health Care Financing Administration to: (1) advise the Administrator regarding the effects of changes in the Medicare and Medicaid programs on rural health; and (2) oversee compliance with provisions of this Act requiring regulatory impact analysis and rural health demonstration projects.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 1986
Expresses the sense of the Congress that dairy cattle designated for slaughter under the dairy buyout program should be instead shipped to the Soviet Union and any European countries found to have been contaminated by the Chernobyl nuclear accident and to those countries not contaminated by the accident but which can provide food products to affected areas. Provides that feed grain from the Commodity Credit Corporation as well as dairy beef resulting from the buyout program's slaughtering activities should be made available to the stricken countries.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 1986
Torture Victim Protection Act of 1986 - 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 in which the conduct giving rise to the claim occurred.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 1986
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President and the Secretary of State should insist at the Vienna Review Meeting of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, and in discussions with Communist Party and Soviet leaders, that imprisoned and exiled members of the Ukrainian and other Helsinki Monitoring Groups be released and allowed to emigrate to the countries of their choice. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the Secretary of State should ensure that the U.S. consulate in Kiev reports on Soviet human rights violations in the Ukraine; and (2) such information should be included in reports on compliance with the Helsinki Final Act.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1986
Grain Quality Improvement Act of 1986 - Amends the Grain Standards Act of 1916 to authorize the rounding off of numbers relating to grain condition or quality. Requires that any rounding off shall be in a direction to understate the condition or quality of the grain. Authorizes the Administrator of the Federal Grain Inspection Service to refuse to certify an export crop of grain if he believes that such cargo will deteriorate significantly in quality enroute to a foreign destination. Requires a quality variation statement on all official grade certificates issued for export grain lots. Prohibits the recombination of dockage and foreign material with any grain intended for export when the result will be to reduce quality or spoilage resistance. Amends the Agricultural Act of 1956 to provide in-kind bonuses to producers and exporters of specified high-quality export corn. Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to make in-kind reimbursements for: (1) inventory loss of value; and (2) cleaning and blending equipment.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1986
Provides that, for taxable years beginning after 1984, rural letter carriers are permitted to compute the amount of their deduction for use of their automobiles in performance of such services: (1) by using a standard mileage rate for all such miles of such use equal to 150 percent of the basic standard rate; or (2) without applying the limitation on deductions rules where the business use of the automobile used in performing such services is not greater than 50 percent of the time. Prohibits the use of 150 percent of the basic standard mileage rate in determining the allowable deduction where the taxpayer claimed an investment tax credit or depreciation deduction for such automobile.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1986
States that the Congress: (1) commends the courage of the West Berliners in making that part of the city a showcase of Western values; and (2) condemns the existence of the Berlin Wall. Declares that the Congress reaffirms the U.S. commitment to Berlin and its people.
United States · United States Congress · 23 April 1986
Processed Products Inspection Improvement Act of 1986 - Amends the Federal Meat Inspection Act to redescribe the manner and frequency of inspection of meat food products to include the requirement that the Secretary of Agriculture take into account for each establishment: (1) the nature and frequency of processing operations; (2) the adequacy and reliability of processing controls and sanitary procedures; and (3) the history of inspection compliance. Changes the requirement that condemned meat food products be destroyed for "food purposes," to a requirement that they be destroyed for "human food purposes." Provides that amendments made by this Act shall not be construed to authorize the Secretary to refuse to provide inspection solely because an establishment does not participate in a total plant quality-control program.
United States · United States Congress · 23 April 1986
Provides that any cost-of-living adjustment in military retirement and survivor benefit programs provided by law to take effect during FY 1987 shall be made in accordance with such law and not subject to any reduction, suspension, or contrary presidential order. Defines "military retirement and survivor benefit programs."
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 1986
Medicare Quality Protection Act of 1986 - Title I: Quality Assurance in Inpatient Hospital Settings - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop and submit to the Congress a legislative proposal to improve the prospective payment system established under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act so that it more accurately approximates the costs of inpatient hospital services and accounts for variations in case complexity. Amends the Medicare program to require a hospital to give Medicare beneficiaries, upon their admission to the hospital, a written statement explaining: (1) the individual's rights to benefits for inpatient hospital and post-hospital Medicare services; (2) the circumstances under which such individual will be liable for charges for a continued hospital stay; (3) the individual's right to appeal denials of continued hospital services; and (4) the individual's liability for payment for services if such a denial of benefits is upheld on appeal. Amends part B (Peer Review) of title XI of the Act to require peer review organizations receiving a hospital inpatient's request for review of a hospital's decision that the patient no longer needs inpatient care to inform the patient of its decision within two days of receiving the request. Prohibits hospitals from charging patients for inpatient hospital services provided while patients wait for a peer review organization to respond to their timely review requests. Imposes a civil money penalty on hospitals which make payments to physicians and on physicians who knowingly receive payments which constitute an inducement to curtail the stay of, or services provided to, an identifiable patient. Directs the Secretary to study the adequacy of standards used for hospital compliance with Medicare participation conditions in assuring the quality of hospital services. Requires the Secretary to study the adequacy with which the prospective payment system compensates hospitals, and distributes such compensation among hospitals, for costs attributable to patients' extended hospital stays necessitated by delays in patient placement in skilled nursing facilities. Title II: Access to Appropriate Post-Hospital Care - Amends part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of the Medicare program to require hospitals to implement a discharge planning process which meets guidelines and standards, to be established by the Secretary, ensuring patients a timely and smooth transition to the most appropriate type of, and setting for, post-hospital or rehabilitative care. Extends the limitations on beneficiary liability for disallowed Medicare claims to cover home health services provided to certain unqualified individuals. Provides that skilled nursing facilities and home health agencies which keep their services for which Medicare coverage is denied below specified percentages and comply with certain administrative requirements shall not subsequently be denied payment for care provided. Sets forth reporting requirements. Directs the Secretary to develop a uniform needs assessment instrument enabling health care providers and fiscal intermediaries to evaluate an individual's need and ability to pay for post-hospital extended care, home-health, and long-term care services. Requires the Secretary to develop procedures to expedite fiscal intermediaries' determinations as to whether provider claims for post-hospital extended care and home health services may be reimbursed under the Medicare program. Directs the Secretary to provide for prompt response (within 24 hours) to beneficiary requests as to whether the beneficiary's Medicare coverage for post-hospital extended care services has been exhausted. Authorizes providers to represent beneficiaries on appeals of benefit determinations. Permits beneficiary appeals of the Secretary's denials of claims for home health service benefits. Amends the Social Security Amendments of 1983 to extend, through 1989, the annual report on the impact of the prospective payment system and require the inclusion of information in such reports regarding the quality, and accessibility to Medicare beneficiaries, of post-hospital services. Title III: Improved Review of Quality by Peer Review Organizations - Amends part B (Peer Review) of title XI of the Act to require hospitals to submit data to peer review organizations on a monthly basis. Requires peer review organizations to review selected cases where individuals are readmitted to a hospital within 30 days of their most recent hospital discharge to determine if the previous inpatient hospital services and post-hospital services met professionally recognized health care standards. Directs each peer review organization to commit a reasonable proportion of its activities to review of the quality of services provided in cases and settings where potential quality problems have been identified. Requires the Secretary to identify methods facilitating the discovery of such cases. Requires each peer review organization to have at least one consumer representative on its board of directors. Directs such organizations to investigate all written beneficiary complaints about the quality of Medicare services which are filed with the organization. Requires peer review organizations to share data with organizations responsible for accrediting providers or State officials responsible for assuring quality care if such data reflects a substantial failure by providers or practitioners to provide quality care. Title IV: Study to Develop a Strategy for Quality Review and Assurance - Directs the Secretary to arrange a study which will serve as the basis for establishing a strategy for reviewing and assuring the quality of care provided under the Medicare program. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress regarding the study within two years of enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 1986
Amends the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 to allow an extension of time for the filing of claims for credit or refund of Federal income taxes for insolvent farmers who were exempted by such Act from the alternative minimum tax on capital gains realized on the transfer or sale of farmland under threat of foreclosure or in cancellation of indebtedness.
United States · United States Congress · 15 April 1986
International Debt, Trade, and Financial Stabilization Act - Title I: Measuring the Impact of the Debt Crisis on World Trade, Development, and Financial Stability - Sets forth congressional findings with respect to the impact of the debt crisis on world trade, development, and financial stability. Title II: Increasing World Bank Effectiveness - Requires the Secretary of the Treasury (the Secretary) to instruct the U.S. Executive Director of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank) to propose to the Bank's other directors that a temporary adjustment be made in current disbursement practices of such Bank that would permit, for at least four years, full release of committed loan funds to the central bank of the recipient country at the beginning of a project period to the extent that: (1) adequate accounting safeguards can be maintained to insure that the terms of the respective loan agreements are honored; and (2) the recipient country adequately describes how the accelerated disbursement will contribute to long-term economic growth. Requires the Secretary to instruct the U.S. Executive Directors of the multilateral development banks to propose to the other directors of such banks that each bank's share of any project loan already approved and awaiting disbursement should be immediately increased by the appropriate amount taking into account the current ability of the recipient country to provide matching local currency. Requires the Secretary, in order to promote the economic policy adjustments which are needed to help developing countries, to instruct the U.S. Executive Directors of the multilateral development banks to propose to the other directors of such banks that: (1) an increase be made in the amount of structural adjustment lending by each such bank and any percentage limitation on the number of structural adjustment loans in such bank's lending portfolio be removed (reflecting the U.S. policy of favoring the addition of structural adjustment lending to the bank's loan mix); (2) appropriate action be taken to ensure that the aims of such lending can be achieved; (3) the conditionality of structural adjustment lending should include innovative requirements designed to minimize any adverse impact of such lending on the lowest income groups in the developing countries; and (4) appropriate action be taken to ensure that such lending is consistent with environmentally sound and responsible development practices. Requires the Secretary to instruct the U.S. Director of the World Bank to enter into negotiations with other directors of such Bank and to propose the establishment of a fund within the World Bank that would make small-scale credit available to lower income groups in developing countries which have had no access to such credit. Requires the Secretary to report to specified congressional committees on the effectiveness of increased reliance on structural adjustment lending as a means of achieving economic reforms. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) transfers of capital from developing countries pose an important problem that must be solved before the international debt crisis can be resolved and economic growth in developing countries can be enhanced and sustained; and (2) the U.S. Executive Director of the World Bank should initiate discussions with other directors of the Bank to develop policy proposals to reduce the level of capital transfers from the developing countries and the impact of such capital flight on the economies of such countries and report any such proposal to the Secretary and the Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board. Requires the Secretary to instruct the U.S. Executive Directors of the multilateral development banks to propose to the other directors of their banks that each such bank should increase lending in order to reform the financial sectors of indebted developing countries with particular emphasis on increases in loans for activities which would enlarge the capital markets of such countries and encourage domestic savings in such countries. Requires the President to initiate negotiations with other member nations of the World Bank to: (1) provide for the establishment of a banking entity or affiliate which would be authorized to offer stock for public subscription and borrow money and issue bonds and notes; and (2) authorize such banking entity or affiliate to make or guarantee loans. Requires the Secretary to study the need for a general increase in the amount of capital of the World Bank. Requires the Secretary to report to specified congressional committees on the findings of such study. Title III: Increasing World Trade and Economic Growth - Expresses the sense of the Congress that economic gains for developing countries and the recovery of U.S. economic strength can only be assured if world trade is expanded and market access for all trading partners is increased. Declares that it is U.S. policy that any aid provided to developing nations shall be consistent with and supportive of long-term trade liberalization in those countries and in worldwide markets. Requires the Secretary to instruct the U.S. Executive Directors of the multilateral development banks to: (1) propose to the other directors of their banks that all new loans or guarantees made by such banks shall be consistent with the removal of existing trade and investment barriers or of market access limitations of the recipient countries; (2) vote against any loan that would be inconsistent with the advancement of trade liberalization and increased market access within recipient countries; (3) propose to the other directors of their banks that the structural adjustment loans and the sectoral loans described in title II not be approved until an assessment is made of the extent to which the extension of such loans will promote trade liberalization and market access; (4) provide information and assistance to U.S. firms interested in bidding on projects in recipient countries and investigate complaints by U.S. bidders about the awarding of bank procurement contracts; (5) promote opportunities for export from the United States; and (6) ensure that project loans do not contribute to world market surpluses. Requires the Secretary to instruct the U.S. Director of the World Bank to propose to the other directors of the Bank that the Bank coordinate its actions more closely with the actions of the Contracting Parties to the General Agreements on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) so that GATT actions that liberalize trade are rewarded by appropriate additional World Bank capital. Requires the Secretary to instruct the U.S. Director of the World Bank to propose to the other directors of the Bank that the Bank seek GATT cooperation in acquiring information for and in preparing the bank's annual country-by-country review. Requires the Secretary to appoint a foreign commerce officer to serve with each of the U.S. Executive Directors of multilateral development banks. Requires the President and the Secretary to try to continue ongoing negotiations with West Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and Japan and to initiate negotiations with other countries in order to: (1) coordinate macroeconomic policies to promote economic growth and stable exchange rates; (2) achieve expansionist economic policies and agreements that are aimed at increasing the market for exports from the United States and developing countries; (3) promote growth-oriented economic policies; and (4) encourage all countries to base growth on a balance of foreign and domestic demand. Declares that a key U.S. objective in its participation in international economics or trade discussions is to obtain the agreement of the participants in such discussions to adopt expansionist economic policies and to take the actions necessary to increase the size of the market for exports from the United States and the developing countries. Requires the President and the Secretary to try to place such agreement on the agenda of any economic summit and to report to the Congress on the results of such efforts. Requires the Secretary to initiate consultations with countries that hold debt of developing countries in order to examine possible options for reducing the debt burden of developing countries that export oil. Requires the President to arrange for bartering surplus agricultural commodities for oil from debtor developing countries. Title IV: Insuring the Stability of the International Financial System - Requires the Secretary to explore the changes in the structure of U.S. capital markets and the regulation of private financial institutions which would be necessary to resolve the international debt crisis in a manner which is consistent with both increased growth in debtor nations and increased stability of the U.S. financial system. Sets forth certain proposals to be analyzed in such study. Requires the Secretary to report to specified congressional committees on such study. Requires the Secretary to instruct the U.S. Executive Director of the World Bank to propose to the other directors of the Bank that: (1) greater use of co-financing be made to encourage increased commercial bank participation in lending by such bank; and (2) steps be taken to increase the bank's role as an intermediary in generating new capital for the benefit of developing countries and to make credits available to satisfy the capital needs of small businesses owned by the very poorest individuals in the developing countries. Title V: Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency - Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency Act - Authorizes the President to accept membership for the United States in the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (a part of the World Bank). Provides for: (1) a U.S. Governor and Alternate Governor of the Agency; (2) application of certain sections of the Bretton Woods Agreements Act; (3) certain restrictions on U.S. financing of the Agency; and (4) Federal Reserve Banks acting as depositories of the Agency. Grants Federal courts jurisdiction over actions by or against the Agency. Title VI: Inter-American Development Bank - Amends the Inter-American Development Bank Act to authorize the U.S. Governor of the Inter-American Development Bank to agree to specified amendments to the Articles of Agreement.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 1986
Amends the Garn-St Germain Depository Institutions Act of 1982 to extend the Deposit Insurance Flexibility Act and the Net Worth Certificate Act until July 15, 1986.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 1986
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that Federal funds for the Department of Agriculture's Cooperative Extension Service should be maintained at a level sufficient to prevent the reduction of benefits provided by such Service.
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
Non-Smokers' Rights Act of 1986 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, within 180 days of enactment of this Act, to promulgate regulations designating the areas in which smoking shall be allowed within buildings or building sections occupied by the Government. Requires the conspicuous display of signs at building entrances and in areas where smoking is permitted. Directs the Secretary to solicit comments from labor organizations and local health organizations prior to promulgating regulations. Prohibits such regulations from superseding those which provide more stringent restrictions on smoking. Declares that nothing in this Act prevents more stringent regulations from being promulgated.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 1986
Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 with respect to antidumping and countervailing duty investigations to require the producers or growers of agricultural products to be considered part of the industry that produces processed agricultural products if such products are produced from the raw agricultural product through a single continuous line of production, and there is a substantial coincidence of economic interest between the producers of the raw agricultural product and the producers of the processed agricultural product based upon certain economic factors. Sets forth specified factors, for purposes of this Act, to be considered to determine: (1) when a processed agricultural product shall be deemed to be processed from a raw agricultural product through a single continuous line of production; and (2) questions of coincidence of economic interest. Defines "raw agricultural product." Requires the International Trade Commission, with respect to whether imports (or sales for importation) of both a raw agricultural product and a product processed from such raw agricultural product threaten material injury to a U.S. industry, to consider, in addition to other relevant economic factors, the likelihood that an affirmative determination by the Commission with respect to either products (but not both) would result in an increase in the imports of the other agricultural product to an injurious level. Includes U.S. manufacturers, producers, or wholesalers engaged in the production of processed agricultural products as "interested parties" with respect to antidumping and countervailing duty investigations involving such products.
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 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 · 8 April 1986
Expresses the sense of the Congress that Federal telecommunications policy should maintain universal telephone service, retain nationwide toll rate averaging for interstate long distance calls, and reduce regulatory and administrative burdens on small telephone systems. Provides that any Federal access charge plan should: (1) support rural telephone systems through a universal service fund designed to ensure affordable rural telephone rates; (2) allocate to interstate long distance service no less than the proportion of the local telephone system access costs currently allocated to such service; (3) retain the current arrangement for the pooling of such costs; and (4) avoid collecting all of such costs by means of flat rate access charges.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 1986
Title I: Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency - Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency Act - Authorizes the President to accept membership for the United States in the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (a part of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development). Provides for: (1) a U.S. Governor and Alternate Governor of the Agency; (2) application of certain sections of the Bretton Woods Agreements Act; (3) certain restrictions on U.S. financing of the Agency; and (4) Federal Reserve Banks acting as depositories of the Agency. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to subscribe to a specified number of shares of capital stock of the Agency. Authorizes appropriations. Grants Federal courts jurisdiction over actions by or against the Agency. Title II: Inter-American Development Bank - Amends the Inter-American Development Bank Act to authorize the U.S. Governor of the Inter-American Development Bank to agree to specified amendments to the Articles of Agreement.
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 · 12 March 1986
Terrorist Prosecution Act of 1985 - Amends the Federal criminal code to make it an offense to commit or attempt to commit murder or manslaughter against any U.S. national abroad, or conspire to do so. (Murder is punishable by capital punishment, a life sentence, or for any term of years and voluntary manslaughter is punishable by imprisonment up to ten years and involuntary manslaughter by imprisonment up to three years and/or a fine up to $1,000.) Makes it an offense to (or to attempt to) assault, wound, strike, imprison, endanger, or make any other violent attack upon the person or liberty of any U.S. national in any foreign country (or make violent attack on his or her business premises, private accommodation or means of transport). Provides for a fine of not more than $5,000 and/or imprisonment for not more than three years. Increases the fine to $10,000 and/or imprisonment to ten years if a deadly or dangerous weapon is used. Makes it an offense to conspire, outside the United States, to murder any U.S. national within the United States. Prohibits an indictment under this Act without the written approval of the Attorney General or his designee.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1986
Peace, Stability, and Reconciliation in Ireland and Northern Ireland Act of 1986 - Earmarks a specified amount of the funds authorized for the Economic Support Fund for FY 1986 through 1990 for a U.S. contribution to the International Fund (the Fund) established pursuant to the Anglo-Irish Agreement signed in November 1985. Authorizes providing assistance from other U.S. programs for Ireland and Northern Ireland in support of such Agreement. Permits using such contributions only to support economic and social reconstruction and redevelopment in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Requires the President to make every effort to ensure that there is U.S. representation on the Board of the Fund. Authorizes the United States to make contributions to the Fund only if the President each fiscal year makes a specified certification to the Congress relating to the Board of the Fund and to the disbursements from the Fund. Requires the President to report annually to the Congress on the degree to which: (1) the Fund has contributed to reconciliation between the communities in Northern Ireland; (2) the U.S. contribution to the Fund is meeting its objectives; and (3) the Fund has increased respect for the freedoms of all people in Northern Ireland. Imposes certain requirements relating to funds for international organizations and conferences.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1986
Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act of 1986 - Amends the Toxic Substances Control Act to direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to promulgate regulations for asbestos hazard abatement in the schools. Directs the Administrator to develop a model accreditation plan for States to give accreditation to individuals who inspect, manage, abate, and analyze asbestos problems. Makes the use of accredited personnel a condition for receiving financial assistance under the Asbestos School Hazard Abatement Act of 1984. Requires each State Governor to establish administrative procedures for the certification of school asbestos inspection and abatement programs and for asbestos management plans, all to be carried forward by the local educational agency. Requires warning labels on any asbestos still in routine maintenance areas of a school building. Makes any local educational agency which fails to comply with this Act liable for civil penalties, including injunctive action. Requires the Administrator or appropriate Governor to investigate citizen complaints Authorizes the Administrator or the appropriate State Governor to take necessary response measures where asbestos in a school building may be hazardous and adequate local measures have not been taken. Sets forth the relationship of pollution liability insurance risk retention groups to State law, including securities law. Establishes the Asbestos Trust Fund in the Treasury to carry out the Asbestos Hazards Abatement Assistance Program. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1987 through 1990.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 1986
Agricultural Lenders Capital Assistance Act of 1986 - Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to authorize the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to purchase net worth certificates of any qualified institution which recognizes a qualified loss on an agricultural loan, provided that the total amounts of net worth certificates shall not exceed: (1) the total qualified losses of the institution; or (2) five percent of the total assets of the institution. Prohibits a qualified institution from increasing the rate of pay or benefits provided to any officer or director during any period in which the institution has outstanding net worth certificates. Requires a qualified institution to reduce the amount of outstanding certificates by any portion of the principal amount of an agricultural loan with respect to which the institution recognized a qualified loss that is repaid by the borrower. Amends the Garn-St Germain Depository Institutions Act of 1982 to extend the Net Worth Certificate Act by three years.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 1986
Disapproves a proposed deferral (number D86-48) of $500,000,000 of budget authority for the community development block grant program, as set forth in the President's message to the Congress on February 5, 1986.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 1986
Expresses the support of the House of Representatives for the Haitian people as they try to rebuild their nation and make a peaceful transition to democracy.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1986
Authorizes and requests the President to present, on behalf of the Congress, gold medals to Anatoly and Avital Shcharansky in recognition of their supreme dedication and total commitment to human rights and freedoms. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to determine the design of the medals. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary to sell bronze duplicates of the medals.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1986
Authorizes the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution to plan, design, and construct facilities for the National Air and Space Museum at Washington Dulles International Airport for expansion of the Museum. Authorizes the Board of Regents to receive and use private donations for carrying out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1986
Farm Loan Assistance Act of 1986 - Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to require (current law merely authorizes) the Secretary of Agriculture to use his farm ownership and operating loan authority. Authorizes the Secretary to use specified funds available for FY 1987 and 1988 for FY 1986 operating loan guarantees. Directs the Secretary to use at least a specified amount of funds for the interest rate reduction program, including a specified amount for FY 1986.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1986
Full Credit Card Cost Disclosure Act - Amends the Truth in Lending Act to require that any credit card solicitation include information regarding finance charge conditions, interest rates, and other related charges and fees. Requires such information, as prescribed by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, to be prominently displayed and in table form.
United States · United States Congress · 18 February 1986
Agricultural Bank Assistance Act of 1986 - Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to require Federal banking agencies to permit an agricultural bank to: (1) amortize over ten years any loss on a qualified agricultural loan that the bank would otherwise be required to show on an annual financial statement for 1985 through 1987; and (2) reappraise the value of any real estate or other real or personal property that the bank acquired coincident to making a qualified agricultural loan and that it owned on January 1, 1985, and any additional property that it acquired before January 1, 1988, and to amortize over ten years any loss resulting from such reappraisal that it would otherwise be required to show on its annual financial statements. Allows such amortization: (1) only if there is no evidence that fraud or criminal abuse by the bank led to such losses; and (2) unless the appropriate agency first determines that the bank is insolvent.
United States · United States Congress · 18 February 1986
States that the Congress agrees, and instructs its committees and conferees, that any provisions of tax reform legislation (including H.R. 3838) limiting net operating loss carrybacks under the Internal Revenue Code shall not apply with respect to agricultural banks.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1986
Diplomatic Security Act - Title I: Diplomatic Security - Directs the Secretary of State (the Secretary) to develop and implement policies and programs to: (1) protect all civilian U.S. employees on official duty abroad and their dependents; (2) establish and operate security functions at all civilian U.S. missions abroad; (3) establish and operate security functions at all State Department facilities in the United States; and (4) protect foreign missions, international organizations, foreign officials, and other foreign persons in the United States. Requires other Federal agencies to cooperate with the State Department. Requires an Assistant Secretary of State to head the Bureau of Diplomatic Security of the State Department. Increases the number of Assistant Secretaries of State from 14 to 15. Requires the State Department's Diplomatic Security Service to be headed by a Director designated by the Secretary. Sets forth the qualifications for the Director of the Diplomatic Security Service and for other personnel of the Diplomatic Security Service. Title II: Performance and Accountability - Requires the Secretary to convene an Accountability Review Board whenever there is serious injury, loss of life, or significant destruction of property at or related to a U.S. mission abroad unless there are clearly no security or breach of duty issues involved. Sets forth administrative provisions relating to the Board. Requires the Board to determine whether: (1) there are reasonable grounds to believe the injury, loss of life, or property damage was security-related; and (2) there is reasonable cause to believe that a breach of duty by a U.S. employee contributed to such injury, loss of life, or destruction of property. Directs the Board to make recommendations to the Secretary on programs or operations subject to this Act which the Board has reviewed. Provides for disciplinary proceedings and certain agency actions with respect to U.S. employees who the Board finds reasonable cause to believe contributed to the injury, loss of life, or property destruction because of their breach of duty. Title III: Authorization of Appropriations - Authorizes appropriations to the State Department for FY 1986 through 1990 for: (1) the purposes of this Act; and (2) antiterrorism research and development. Requires the State Department Foreign Buildings Office to use American contractors to the maximum extent possible in implementing any foreign building program funded by this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1986
General Aviation Tort Reform Act of 1986 - Amends the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to provide uniform rules for negligence and products liability claims arising from general aviation accidents. Allows any person claiming damages from such an accident to bring a products liability action against the general aviation manufacturer if: (1) the product was defective when it left the control of the manufacturer; (2) the defective condition was the proximate cause of the harm; (3) the condition would not have been corrected by actions described in directives issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or the manufacturer; and (4) the aircraft was being used for a purpose and in a manner for which it was manufactured. Provides an alternative method to establish manufacturer liability where the manufacturer failed to provide reasonable warnings (unless such warnings would not have affected the conduct of the product user). Provides a third method to establish manufacturer liability where: (1) the manufacturer made an express warranty with respect to the product; (2) the warranty related to that aspect of the product which caused the harm; (3) the product failed to conform to the warranty; and (4) such failure was the proximate cause of the harm. States that all actions for damages arising from a general aviation accident shall be governed by the principles of comparative responsibility. Provides that defendants in such actions are severally but not jointly liable for damages (except that manufacturers of airframes and systems or components of aircraft may be jointly and severally liable under certain circumstances). Provides a 12-year limitation on liability of manufacturers. States that express warranties running for a longer period of time and the duty to provide additional warnings shall not be affected by such limitations. Allows awards of punitive damages. Prescribes a statute of limitations for such actions. Preempts State laws to the extent that this Act establishes applicable rules or procedures. Grants Federal district courts (concurrently with State courts) original jurisdiction (without regard to the amount in controversy) in all civil actions for damages arising out of a general aviation accident. Allows the removal of State actions to an appropriate Federal district court by any defendant. Prescribes venue restrictions. Expresses the intent of the Congress that orders to pay reasonable expenses, including attorney's fees, be enforced.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1986
Declares that each standing committee of the House of Representatives may, within two days of adoption of this resolution, submit to the House Budget Committee alternatives to the President's sequestration order under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act), insofar as such order affects laws within the jurisdiction of the committee. Requires the Budget Committee, within four days of adoption of this resolution, to report a resolution containing instructions to committees sufficient to achieve the total level of deficit reduction contained in the President's sequestration order for FY 1986. Provides that such instructions shall require that each committee (and each subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations) achieve the same level of deficit reduction with respect to programs under its jurisdiction as would have been saved under the President's order. Requires committees to submit recommendations to the Budget Committee by February 21, 1986, sufficient to meet deficit reductions. Requires the Budget Committee to promptly report a reconciliation bill carrying out such recommendations. Authorizes the Budget Committee to include legislative language within the jurisdiction of any noncomplying committee. Requires such reconciliation bill to include a provision which states that if it is enacted on or before March 1, 1986, then the sequestration order for FY 1986 is null and void. Establishes procedures for floor consideration of such reconciliation bill, including limitation on debates and amendments.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1986
Declares that the Congress: (1) reaffirms its support for the Contadora initiatives and the resulting Document of Objectives, which sets forth a framework for negotiating peace in the region; (2) affirms its support for the Caraballeda Message; and (3) reaffirms its belief that the United States should provide such assistance as may be appropriate to reach final agreements based on the goals of the Document of Objectives and the Caraballeda Message.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1986
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the United States, in cooperation with other members of the international donor community, should call upon the Ethiopian Government to recognize that resources donated for famine relief should be used for that purpose and not diverted to resettlement efforts; (2) such forced resettlements by the Ethiopian Government should be halted and monitored by the United Nations (U.N.); (3) the Ethiopian Government should commit sufficient resources to move food and relief goods to meet the needs of its people; and (4) the U.N. should insist on free access to resettlement sites for international observers and the news media and report on conditions in the resettlement camps.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 1986
Requires the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to install a plaque on the first permanent manned space station in honor of the space shuttle Challenger's crew.
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 1986
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the President should award the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously to Michael J. Smith, Francis R. Scobee, Ronald E. McNair, Ellison S. Onizuka, Sharon Christa McAuliffe, Gregory B. Jarvis, and Judith A. Resnik, all of whom died in the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger.
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 1986
Farm Tax Relief Act of 1986 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from income any gain from the sale of farm property by insolvent farmers where substantially all of the proceeds from the sale or exchange are applied to the indebtedness of the taxpayer. Provides that gross income does not include any income resulting from a discharge of indebtedness of a farmer who: (1) has a debt to asset ratio in excess of 70 percent; and (2) earned 50 percent or more of his gross income in the preceding taxable year in the trade or business of farming. Prohibits any investment tax credit recapture on sales of farm property by insolvent farmers.
![Official portrait of Rep. Bereuter, Doug [R-NE-1]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/b000403_200.jpg)