United States · United States Congress · 3 March 1988
Designates the week of June 26 through July 2, 1988, as National Safety Belt Use Week. Authorizes and requests the President to: (1) urge the people to wear safety belts and use child safety seats; and (2) encourage State and local governments and concerned organizations and officials to promote greater use of these safety devices.
United States · United States Congress · 18 February 1988
Establishes the National Park System Review Board to maintain a continuing review of National Park Service programs and of existing and proposed National Park System units. Requires the Board to transmit annually to the President and the Congress: (1) a report containing the results of such review, together with recommendations for the management of the National Park System or any proposed additions to such System; and (2) budget recommendations for the Service and the Board. Establishes a Director of the National Park Service within the Department of the Interior, to be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Sets forth the functions of the Director. Mandates a five-year term of office.
United States · United States Congress · 17 February 1988
Condemns the bombing of Korean Air Lines (KAL) flight 858 as an act of state-sponsored terrorism by North Korea. Rejects the December 1987 North Korean proposal to the Congress to enter into a dialogue on bilateral issues. Expresses congressional support for the sanctions imposed by the executive branch, including the addition of North Korea to the list, maintained under the Export Administration Act of 1979, of states supporting international terrorism. Calls upon other countries to implement sanctions against North Korea. Expresses support for South Korea's efforts to bring North Korea to account for the bombing in appropriate multilateral fora and for its restrained response. Reaffirms support for holding the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul and for taking steps to prevent terrorist acts. Commends the Governments of Bahrain and Japan for their cooperation in the investigation of the KAL bombing.
United States · United States Congress · 2 February 1988
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt from the gasoline excise tax any sale of gasoline to a State or local government (or to a purchaser for resale to such government) for its exclusive use.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 1988
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) it is U.S. policy to support the indefinite cessation of all commercial whaling adopted by the International Whaling Commission and to promote the protection of the world's whale populations; (2) all countries should adhere to the indefinite cessation of the commercial killing of whales; and (3) the United States should encourage other parties to the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling to impose sanctions on any country engaging in activities which diminish the effectiveness of the Convention.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 1988
Amends the Internal Revenue Code with respect to the excise tax on diesel and aviation fuels. Prohibits imposition of the tax on the sale of these fuels to any purchaser (or purchaser for resale to a second purchaser) for use on a farm for farming purposes or for any other use not as a fuel in a diesel-powered highway vehicle or train. (Although fuel sold for these purposes is tax-exempt under current law, provisions of the Revenue Act of 1987 require purchasers to pay the tax and subsequently apply for a refund based on nontaxable uses of the fuel.)
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 1988
Commends the President, Secretary of State, and Administrator of the Agency for International Development for their response to the drought and food emergency in Ethiopia and other nations of sub-Saharan Africa, and urges them to continue efforts to preclude the onset of famine and to ensure the timely delivery of medical and other emergency relief supplies. Declares that: (1) the Government response to these food emergencies should include initiatives to prevent the dislocation of large numbers of persons across national borders and/or into relief camps; and (2) the plight of the refugees or displaced should be addressed by emphasizing the provision of basic human needs, such as food, water, and shelter.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 1988
Amends the Internal Revenue Code with respect to the excise tax on diesel and aviation fuels. Prohibits imposition of the tax on the sale of these fuels to any purchaser (or purchaser for resale to a second purchaser) for use on a farm for farming purposes. (Although fuel sold for these purposes is tax-exempt under current law, provisions of the Revenue Act of 1987 require purchasers to pay the tax and subsequently apply for a refund based on nontaxable uses of the fuel.)
United States · United States Congress · 22 December 1987
Nuclear Waste Transportation Act of 1987 - Amends the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act to add a new Subtitle B: Transportation of High Level Radioactive Waste and Spent Nuclear Fuel, to provide that a package design shall be selected by the Secretary of Transportation only after the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has certified that physical tests on full scale models demonstrate the package design's compliance with the Commission's safety criteria. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress within one year of the date of enactment of this Act on whether foreign package design safety standards should be adopted in the United States. Directs the NRC to conduct public hearings on the adequacy of the design standards and tests for packages used in radioactive waste transportation. Requires the Secretary to: (1) promulgate regulations that encourage the transportation of high level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel by rail and discourage the transportation of such materials by truck; and (2) establish a licensing program for all persons involved in radioactive waste transportation. Prescribes application procedures, including a requirement for an emergency response and mitigation plan outlining procedures for the unintended release of radioactive waste. Requires the Secretary to prepare an environmental assessment prior to issuing a radioactive waste transportation license. Prohibits the Secretary from approving a radioactive waste transportation route through an area designated by the Bureau of the Census as an urbanized area if local officials of the affected area recommend a significantly safer route. Authorizes the States and Indian tribes to impose regulations regarding radioactive waste transportation through their jurisdictions. Prescribes deadlines for the Secretary's prompt response to license applications. States that funding for activities under this Act shall be derived from the Nuclear Waste Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 17 December 1987
Deplores the Soviet Government's active persecution of religious believers in the Ukraine and its forcible liquidation of the Ukrainian Orthodox and Ukrainian Catholic Churches. Sends greetings to the Ukrainian people on the Millennium of Christianity in the Ukraine. Urges the President, the Secretary of State, the U.S. delegation to the United Nations, and the U.S. delegation to the Vienna Review Meeting of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe to continue to speak out forcefully against violations of religious liberty everywhere and, specifically, in the Ukraine. Calls upon the Soviet Government to release all those imprisoned for their religious beliefs. Discourages U.S. officials from attending the commemoration of the Millennium in the Soviet Union so long as individuals remain imprisoned for their religious beliefs and the Ukrainian Catholic and Ukrainian Orthodox churches remain outlawed. Urges the U.S. Government to call on the Soviet Government to ban its prohibition of the Ukrainian Orthodox and Ukrainian Catholic Churches.
United States · United States Congress · 10 December 1987
Designates January 28, 1988, as National Challenger Center Day. (The Challenger Center is an institution offering children and teachers activities and information derived from American space research.)
United States · United States Congress · 8 December 1987
Expresses the sense of the Congress that, in celebration of the millennium of the Christianization of Kievan-Rus', the Soviet Union should: (1) comply with its international obligations and allow Christians to practice their faith without harassment; (2) grant a general amnesty for all Christians who have been imprisoned because of their religious beliefs; (3) allow religious believers to practice their faith freely; (4) permit unlimited publication, distribution, and importation of religious materials; and (5) allow closed churches to reopen, new churches to be built, and theological seminaries to open or expand.
United States · United States Congress · 3 December 1987
Directs the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to declare the recent North Carolina coast red tide contamination a disaster for purposes of providing disaster assistance under the Small Business Act. Prohibits making eligibility of individual applicants for assistance dependent on: (1) the number of disaster victims in any county or other political subdivision; or (2) whether or not an applicant who normally conducts operations in the area of such contamination is otherwise situated or located in such area.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 1987
International Health Corps Act - Amends title III (General Powers and Duties of Public Health Service) of the Public Health Service Act to establish the International Health Corps (Health Corps), to consist of the International Health Development Corps (Development Corps) and the International Health Emergency Corps (Emergency Corps). Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services, on request of a foreign government, to assign members of: (1) the Development Corps to serve in the country to assist the country in meeting the long-term basic health care needs of its people; and (2) the Emergency Corps to provide short-term assistance in the country with regard to an ongoing medical emergency. Directs the Secretary to disseminate information on the Health Corps and request health care professionals to provide services to the Corps without compensation. Directs the Secretary to establish the International Health Corps Loan Repayment Program. Authorizes the Secretary, for each year of obligated service an individual contracts to serve in the Health Corps, to pay, up to a specified amount, the principal, interest, and related expenses on government and commercial loans for tuition, reasonable educational expenses, and reasonable living expenses. Directs the establishment of a committee to advise the Secretary on policies concerning the activities of the Health Corps. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1988 through 1990.
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 1987
Antiterrorism and Arms Export Amendments Act of 1987 - Amends the Arms Export Control Act to prohibit the U.S. Government and U.S. persons from exporting or facilitating the export of any munitions item to any country which: (1) has repeatedly provided support for international terrorism; or (2) grants sanctuary from prosecution to any individual or group which has committed an act of international terrorism. Authorizes the President to waive such prohibition upon making specified certifications. Imposes criminal penalties for willful violations of such prohibition. Imposes civil penalties for violations of such prohibition and provides for enforcement of such civil penalties. Requires that the possibility of supporting international terrorism shall be a consideration in the issuance of arms export licenses or in arms sales. Amends the Export Administration Act of 1979 to provide that a validated license shall be required for the export of goods or technology to a country if the Secretary determines that: (1) such country grants sanctuary to or has repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism; and (2) such exports would contribute to the military potential of such country, would be destined to a military end-user or for military end use in such country, or would enhance the ability of such country to support acts of international terrorism. Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to prohibit the provision of any assistance under such Act, the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954, the Peace Corps Act, or the Export-Import Bank Act to any country which the Secretary determines: (1) has repeatedly provided support for international terrorism; or (2) grants sanctuary from prosecution to any individual or group which has committed an act of international terrorism. Authorizes the President to waive such prohibition upon making specified certifications. Prohibits rescinding a determination that a country supports international terrorism, unless the Secretary of State, at least 90 days before the rescission would take effect, certifies to the Congress that: (1) the country has not provided support for international terrorism for the preceding six months; and (2) the country has made explicit assurances that it will not support international terrorism in the future. Amends the Arms Export Control Act and the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to require the President to notify the Congress of third country transfers of items: (1) sold under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program; (2) exported pursuant to a munitions license; or (3) provided under the Military Assistance Program (MAP). Directs the President to include in required quarterly reports to the Congress concerning military exports a listing of all defense articles or defense services transferred by the Department of Defense to other agencies of the U.S. Government. Prohibits the transfer of any munitions item by the U.S. Government to any foreign country, group, or person under the authority of a presidential determination that such a transfer is important to the national security of the United States as a significant anticipated intelligence activity, unless the President notifies certain congressional committees of such a transfer in accordance with the procedures set forth in the National Security Act of 1947 for the reporting of any intelligence activities. Revises requirements for reporting the use of foreign assistance funds where it is inadvisable to specify the nature of the use of such funds to require that such a report be transmitted to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives rather than to the Speaker of the House. Amends the Hostage Act to specify that the President may not use any means otherwise prohibited by law in attempting to cause the release of U.S. citizens imprisoned by foreign governments. (Current law specifies that the President may not use any means amounting to acts of war.)
United States · United States Congress · 17 November 1987
Raoul Wallenberg Monument Resolution - Authorizes the Raoul Wallenberg Tribute Committee to establish a monument to honor Raoul Wallenberg on Federal land in the District of Columbia or its environs. Prohibits the United States from paying any expense of the establishment of the monument.
United States · United States Congress · 10 November 1987
Amends the Tariff Schedules of the United States to provide duty-free treatment of cameras capable of producing a three-dimensional effect on standard 35mm photographic film.
United States · United States Congress · 9 November 1987
Visually Impaired Voters Assistance Act of 1987 - Requires each State to make enlarged print voting aids and ballots available to visually impaired voters in Federal elections. Requires the chief election officer of each State to provide public notice, adapted to reach visually impaired voters, of the availability of materials under this Act. Directs the Federal Election Commission to report to the Congress, not later than one year after enactment of this Act, on the voting aids available to blind voters with respect to Federal elections in each State.
United States · United States Congress · 4 November 1987
Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to include the costs of securing and maintaining a guide, hearing, or service dog as allowable medical expenses for the purpose of income-related calculations to determine eligibility for the food stamp program. Amends Federal law to: (1) include as a benefit to certain veterans the provision of guide, hearing, or service dogs trained to assist disabled individuals; (2) permit guide, hearing, or service dogs accompanying a disabled individual to be admitted to public buildings and other properties owned by the United States; and (3) permit certain common carriers to continue to establish a special rate for transportation of a disabled individual and accompanying attendant when they are accompanied by a dog trained to assist the disabled individual. (Current law covers only seeing-eye dogs for the blind.)
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 1987
Interim Indian Gaming Regulatory Act - Provides that class I gaming (social or traditional Indian gaming) on Indian lands is within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Indian tribes and shall not be subject to this Act. Places class II gaming (bingo or lotto) under the jurisdiction of the Indian tribes, except that the Secretary of the Interior shall license such gaming in conformance with existing law in the State where the Indian land is located. Prohibits class III gaming (all other forms). Authorizes the Secretary to audit class II gaming and requires the Attorney General to instruct the Federal Bureau of Investigation to assist the Secretary in conducting background investigations of all non-Indian individuals connected with such gaming. Requires the posting of a performance bond equivalent to at least 12 months agreed payments to the tribe or $1,000,000 whichever is greater, by any non-Indian manager who engages in any agreement with an Indian tribe to operate class II or class III gaming on Indian lands and to make payments to the tribe from such gaming. Requires the posting of a performance bond equivalent to the highest jackpot offered for each form of gaming or $500,000, whichever is greater, by any tribe or individual tribal member who engages in class II gaming. Authorizes the Secretary to use the reserve funds to satisfy claims for winnings that are unpaid for more than 90 days. Requires the Secretary to suspend any class II gaming operation not in compliance with performance bond requirements. Authorizes an Indian tribe to enter into a management contract for a class II gaming activity. Amends the Federal criminal code to provide that all State laws pertaining to the licensing, regulation, or prohibition of gambling shall apply on Indian lands to the same extent as such laws apply elsewhere in the State. Provides that any person who is guilty of any act or omission involving gambling on Indian lands which would be punishable under State laws governing the licensing, regulation, or prohibition of gambling shall be guilty of a like offense and subject to a like punishment. Limits the authorization period for this Act to ten years or less if the Congress passes a more comprehensive statute. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that the interest on bonds used to build, promote, maintain, or support any form of gaming activity which is owned or operated on Indian lands shall not be exempt from Federal income tax. Makes any form of gaming activity on Indian lands subject to certain withholding and reporting requirements. Authorizes the Internal Revenue Service to audit gaming activities on Indian lands at the discretion of the Secretary of the Treasury.
United States · United States Congress · 30 October 1987
Expresses the sense of the Congress that before November 18, 1987, the Secretary of State should inform the Soviet Government that the United States supports the right of the Latvian people to peacefully assemble to commemorate important dates in their history and should urge the Soviet Government to: (1) allow the Latvian people to publicly commemorate November 18, the anniversary of the founding of the independent Republic of Latvia, without reprisal; (2) allow the Western media access to Riga, Latvia, to report on that day's events; (3) halt harassment of Latvian human rights groups; and (4) release all Latvian prisoners of conscience, including human rights activists Linards Grantins and Gunars Astra, before such date. Urges the President to direct U.S. Government agencies to closely monitor the events of November 18, and to send an appropriate representative to observe that day's events. Urges the President and the Secretary to raise the issue of human rights and self-determination in the Baltic states during the next U.S.-Soviet summit.
United States · United States Congress · 29 October 1987
Directs the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National Park Service, to study and report to the Congress on national forest lands within the Smith River watershed region in Northern California and Southern Oregon and to recommend the means of permanent Federal protection for such resources. Requires that the study include a cost-benefits analysis of protecting such resources and enhancing the region's recreational potential. Prohibits timber sales on such lands until the Congress has had a fixed period in which to examine the study. Requires the Secretary of the Interior to compensate counties for lost timber sales during that period, subject to adjustment if the interim protection is extended.
United States · United States Congress · 21 October 1987
Recommends that the Government lend support to efforts to overturn United Nations General Assembly Resolution 3379 (XXX), which equates Zionism with racism.
![Official portrait of Rep. Bilbray, James H. [D-NV-1]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/b000462_200.jpg)