United States · United States Congress · 1 June 1989
Amends the Federal criminal code to require a minimum sentence of five years' imprisonment, without an opportunity for parole, for the unlawful possession of a firearm by any person: (1) who has been convicted of a crime punishable by more than a year imprisonment; (2) who is a fugitive from justice; (3) who is an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance; (4) who has transported in interstate commerce any stolen firearm; or (5) who has received any stolen firearm. Increases from $5,000 to $10,000 and from five years to ten years the fine and term of imprisonment, respectively, for violation of Federal firearm laws. Increases the penalties for possession of a firearm in connection with a crime of violence or drug trafficking.
United States · United States Congress · 1 June 1989
Rural Development Investment Zone Act of 1989 - Title I: Designation of Rural Development Investment Zones - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to designate rural development investment zones for purposes of providing tax and regulatory relief and improving local services. Limits choices to areas nominated by States and local governments. Limits the total number of areas that may be designated, and the time period of the designation. Authorizes the Secretary to designate an investment zone only if the area meets certain locational, demographic, unemployment, and poverty criteria. Requires nominating local governments, as a condition of the Secretary's designation, to agree in writing to follow a course of action that may include reducing tax rates, improving local services, simplifying or streamlining regulation of business, and providing job training to area residents. Describes areas to which the Secretary must give preference in selecting areas for designation. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress every four years on the effects of such investment zones' designation in accomplishing the purposes of this Act. Title II: Federal Income Tax Incentives - Subtitle A: Credits for Employers - Allows employers located in investment zones a nonrefundable income tax credit for qualified increased employment expenditures. Subtitle B: Credits for Investment in Tangible Property in Rural Development Investment Zones - Allows businesses an additional investment tax credit for investments made in certain investment zone construction property. Limits the credit to ten percent for new property, including rental property. Requires the recapture of credit amounts upon the early disposition of the property. Title III: Establishment of Foreign-Trade Zones in Rural Development Investment Zones - Requires the Foreign-Trade Zone Board to consider on a priority basis and to expedite the processing of applications for the establishment of foreign-trade zones within investment zones. Requires the Secretary to give priority to, and expedite applications for, the establishment of ports of entry necessary to establish such zones. Title IV: Responsibilities of Federal Agencies in Rural Development Investment Zones; Regulatory Flexibility - Requires Federal agencies to seek to provide special assistance to designated rural development investment zones. Amends Federal law to revise "small entity" with regard to the analysis of regulatory functions to include qualified business, government, and nonprofit enterprises operating with investment zones. Authorizes Federal agencies, upon request by a designating government, to waive or modify rules and regulations pertaining to the implementation of projects or activities within an investment zone. Requires agencies to approve a request if the resulting benefits of job creation, community development, or economic revitalization outweigh the public interest in maintaining the rule unchanged. Disallows waiver or modification or a rule that would directly violate a statutory requirement or present a danger to the public health and safety.
United States · United States Congress · 25 May 1989
Preventive Health Measures Act of 1989 - Title I: Preventive Health Amendments to Public Health Service Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize appropriations from FY 1990 through 1992 for the provision of grants for preventive health services other than immunizations. Includes programs for the deterrence of smoking and substance abuse by children and adolescents among the preventive health service programs receiving grants. Authorizes appropriations from FY 1990 through 1992 for the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant program. Authorizes States to use grant amounts on demonstration projects for the inclusion of preventive health courses in the curriculum of schools that train health professionals. Title II: Preventive Health Amendment to Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant - Amends title V (Maternal and Child Health Services) of the Social Security Act to increase authorized appropriations under such title from FY 1990 through 1992. Title III: Preventive Health Amendments for the Elderly under Medicare and under Internal Revenue Code - Subtitle A: Medicare Coverage of Additional Preventive Services - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to cover a beneficiary's annual routine eye and hearing examination and a diabetic beneficiary's annual podiatric foot examination. Subtitle B: Medicare Coverage of Adult Day Care Services - Amends part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of the Medicare program to cover 125 days of adult day care per year provided to a clinically impaired individual who, but for the provision of such care, would require the level of care provided in a hospital or nursing facility. Requires that covered adult day care programs provide such care pursuant to a written plan of care which is established and periodically reviewed by the program's multidisciplinary team of personnel which includes at least: (1) a physician; (2) a registered professional nurse and a social worker; (3) a consultant with physical or occupational therapy or speech-language pathology skills; and (4) as needed, a dietitian. Sets forth additional program requirements. Imposes a coinsurance amount of five dollars per day of adult day care on beneficiaries, but no deductible. Provides for State participation in establishing adult day care program requirements and certifying the compliance of such programs with those requirements. Subtitle C: Medicare Coverage of Increased Home Care - Includes periodic chore services performed in the home of an aged, blind, or disabled adult when such individual is not able to perform such services and respite care services provided for no more than 52 days per year by persons who have successfully completed a homemaker/home health aide training program as covered home health care. Covers home health services provided in adult day care centers. Subtitle D: Income Tax Credit for Maintaining Households Which Include Dependents Who Have Attained Age 65 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide a $250 tax credit to individuals who maintain households which include dependents who have attained age 65. Title IV: Further Preventive Health Amendments to Internal Revenue Code - Allows a tax credit of ten percent of the expenses a taxpayer incurs for a weight reduction or exercise program or a program to stop smoking. Increases excise taxes on cigarettes. Establishes the Health Maintenance Trust Fund into which certain cigarette tax revenues shall be deposited for use in: (1) implementing the amendments made by title I of this Act; (2) covering the decrease in Treasury revenues resulting from this Act's health maintenance expense credit; and (3) implementing programs discouraging cigarette smoking as well as disease prevention and health promotion programs unrelated to smoking.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 1989
Student Loan Abuse Prevention Act of 1989 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (the Act) to authorize the Secretary of Education (the Secretary) to take emergency action to suspend disbursement of funds to an eligible institution under title IV (Student Assistance) of the Act, to prevent misuse of funds under specified circumstances. Directs the Secretary, whenever eligibility of an institution has been terminated, to: (1) carry out a program review of each affiliated and successor institution; and (2) if any such institution is committing similar violations, carry out a proceeding to limit, suspend, or terminate eligibility or take emergency action suspending disbursement of funds. Terminates the effectiveness of any program participation agreement with an institution after it undergoes a change of ownership resulting in a change of control, if the Secretary determines that the new owner, a member of the new owner's family, or a current business associate of the new owner was substantially involved in the ownership or administration of another institution that has: (1) been limited, suspended, or terminated by the Secretary; (2) declared bankruptcy; (3) failed to pay the Department of Education a liability for program management; or (4) failed to pay refunds owed to students or lenders on behalf of students. Requires that an institution be given the opportunity to demonstrate, by a preponderance of evidence, that it continues to be eligible for student assistance purposes, if the Secretary determines not to permit its eligibility to resume after the change of control. Prohibits institutions, under student aid program participation agreements, from using any independent contractor or anyone other than a salaried employee, except in specified circumstances, to conduct any canvassing, surveying, recruiting, or similar activities, or to make final determinations that an individual meets the institution's admissions or financial aid eligibility requirements. Authorizes the Secretary to prescribe regulations for civil penalties or the limitation, suspension (up to 60 days), or termination of eligibility of an institution on account of violations by an individual or organization having a contract to administer any aspect of such institution's student assistance program. Requires the Secretary to establish the National Student Loan Data System and to assure that such computerized System is operational by October 1, 1989. (Such system is currently authorized but not mandated.)
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 1989
Older Americans' Freedom to Work Act of 1989 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to remove the limitation on the amount of outside income which beneficiaries who have attained retirement age may earn without incurring a reduction in benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 1989
Foreign Subsidiary Tax Equity Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to include as taxable income of U.S. shareholders in controlled foreign corporations the foreign base company manufacturing related income attributable to manufacturing operations in a tax holiday (tax haven) plant or in a runaway plant.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 1989
Foreign Assistance Accountability Act - Prohibits using U.S. foreign aid funds in any way that would result in corrupt personal financial gain for any person or for any purpose other than the purpose for which the assistance was provided. Directs the President to establish strict accounting procedures for U.S. foreign aid funds and to establish sanctions for misuse of such funds. Imposes criminal sanctions for misuse of such funds. Requires all foreign assistance agreements entered into more than 90 days after enactment of this Act to incorporate the procedures and sanctions established by this Act. Requires the President to report to the Congress on the steps taken to establish such procedures and sanctions.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 1989
Urges: (1) the Chinese Government to respect and affirm internationally recognized human rights and to repeal martial law; (2) protesting students to continue their fight in nonviolent ways; and (3) the Secretary of State to take appropriate action to protect protesting students' and workers' rights. Commends the protesting students' commitment to nonviolent principles of protest. Declares that any violent response by China could affect Sino-American relations.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 1989
Cable Competition Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to authorize a State or cable television franchising authority to regulate the rates that a cable operator may charge for the provision of lifeline television services for any franchising area which is not provided with cable service by two or more cable operators. Defines the "lifeline television service" as the provision of: (1) channels of the three major networks; (2) a public television channel; and (3) one channel carrying each independent local television station. Repeals a provision of such Act which prohibits a telephone company from providing video programming in its telephone service area. Allows a telephone company to: (1) provide video programming directly to subscribers; or (2) provide rental arrangements to any entity which is owned or controlled by, or under common control with, such telephone company for the provision of such video programming. Directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to prescribe regulations to ensure that: (1) the economic risks of video programming business of a telephone company are not borne by telephone service ratepayers in any way; and (2) a common carrier providing video services allocates costs in a manner which protects basic telephone ratepayers from subsidizing the provision of cable video programming. Prohibits a telephone company from providing video programming services if prohibited from doing so by Federal antitrust laws. Makes it unlawful for any person (including a common carrier) to purchase or otherwise acquire control of a cable system without the permission of the franchising authority for that cable system. Prohibits a franchising authority from granting such authority unless: (1) it determines that cable subscribers will benefit from such acquisition; (2) it determines that the number of channels, the signal quality, and the types of services will be expanded; and (3) the person acquiring the cable system agrees to include an obligation to achieve such expanded benefits and services for its customers. Requires a cable operator to: (1) provide cable system access to any program service, except under specified conditions; (2) provide cable system access to any unaffiliated program service under the same rates, terms, and conditions as provided to an affiliated program; and (3) comply with regulations prescribed by the FCC which ensure such access. States that any regulations prescribed by the FCC shall not relieve a common carrier who provides cable service from any regulations under the above Act or any other regulations concerning open network architecture plans and related requirements. Makes it unlawful for any person affiliated with a cable operator who provides programming to any cable operator to engage in any unjust or unreasonable discrimination in charges, practices, regulations, facilities, or services against any person seeking to obtain such programming for distribution over another capable system or over any other medium capable of making the programming available for private viewing. Empowers U.S. district courts with jurisdiction to enforce such prohibitions. Directs the FCC to initiate a proceeding to investigate: (1) the extent to which affiliated persons are engaged in producing and distributing video programming for carriage on cable television systems; and (2) the degree to which such operations result in higher rates for television service or unfair or anticompetitive acts or practices with respect to such programming. Requires the FCC to report immediately to the Attorney General or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) any acts or practices found during such investigation that appear to violate any law within the jurisdiction of the Attorney General or the FTC. Directs the FCC to report to the Congress on the results of such investigation within one year after the enactment of this Act. Directs the FCC to initiate a proceeding to investigate: (1) the extent to which video programming is being delivered to residents of rural areas by means of cable television systems and other media; and (2) methods which might be used to improve and extend the delivery of such programming by such media. Directs the FCC to report the results of such investigations to the Congress within one year after enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 1989
Pipeline-Hazardous Waste Anti-Dumping Act of 1989 - Amends the Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Act of 1979 to direct the Secretary of Transportation to prohibit, by regulation, with specified exceptions, the tending for transportation in crude oil pipeline facilities of any used oil, waste oil, solvent, salt, metal, chemical (including chlorinated or oxygenated hydrocarbons), or other substance determined to pose an unreasonable threat of damage or injury to pipeline facilities, human beings, or the environment.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 1989
Amends the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act to require the Administrator of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy to provide leadership and coordination with respect to policies affecting procurement programs for rural areas. Directs the Administrator to: (1) coordinate with and advise State and local officials with regard to Federal efforts to encourage procurement in rural areas with the aim of fostering economic development in such areas; (2) establish specific rural area procurement targets for executive agencies consistent with awards or contracts for small business concerns; and (3) encourage the use of set asides or other appropriate methods for meeting procurement targets for rural areas. Requires executive agencies to provide assistance in carrying out the Administrator's responsibilities for rural area programs.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 1989
Emergency Community Water Assistance Act - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish an emergency water assistance grant program for specified communities adversely affected by drought in 1988 or 1989. Authorizes FY 1990 appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 1989
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act Amendment of 1989 - Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish loan rates for rural health care and related facilities based solely on the income of the area to be served.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 1989
Rural Development Data Base Act of 1989 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to: (1) develop and make available to the public within the Department of Agriculture a Federal rural development programs data base; and (2) submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees. Authorizes the Secretary to appoint a related advisory panel.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 1989
Rural Development Reorganization Act of 1989 - Title I: Reorganization of the Department of Agriculture - Renames the Department of Agriculture the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development to establish and maintain a revitalized nationwide rural development program as set forth in the Rural Development Act of 1972, the Rural Development Policy Act of 1980, and this Act. Establishes in such Department a Rural Development Administration. Directs the Secretary to transfer to the Rural Development Administration those agencies, offices, or entities in the Department performing rural development functions. Authorizes the transfer of rural housing offices. Amends the Agriculture and Food Act of 1981 to expand the number of designated assistance areas from 225 to 450. Establishes within the Rural Development Administration an Office of Advocacy for Rural Development. Directs the Secretary to report, by geographical areas of the United States, to the Congress: (1) within six months after enactment of this Act on the extent to which rural development offices and activities of the Federal Government were located or relocated to rural areas during FY 1981 through 1986; and (2) within six months after the end of each fiscal year beginning with FY 1989 on the extent to which Federal offices and activities were located or relocated to rural areas. Amends the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to target specified private fund economic development investments made by Rural Electrification Administration borrowers. Title II: State Cooperative Agreements and Plans - Authorizes the Administrator, Rural Development Administration, to enter into cooperative agreements with States: (1) to delegate to any State the authority to cooperate in carrying out the provisions of this Act; and (2) to assist States in the development and administration of Federal programs that provide educational opportunities, job training, health services, business expansion, and other specified benefits to rural residents. Conditions any agreement or financial assistance under this Act upon a State's submission for approval of a comprehensive plan for a State rural development program. Permits the Secretary and other Federal agency heads to enter into agreements with State and local governments to provide educational training, job training, health services, and other benefits to rural residents. Directs the Administrator in cooperation with the Secretary to use the Cooperative State Extension Service to inform rural residents about such programs. Authorizes the Secretary to guarantee certain financial institution loans made for specified rural development purposes. Title III: Rural Technology Grants - Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to direct the Secretary to make grants to nonprofit institutions to establish rural technology development centers. Gives priority to projects that will serve depressed rural areas. Authorizes FY 1990 through 1992 appropriations. Title IV: Miscellaneous Amendments - Makes conforming amendments to the Community Economic Development Act of 1981 and other Federal law. Title V: Administrative Provisions - Sets forth administrative provisions.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 1989
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the President should revoke Executive Order 12072; and (2) the Secretary of Agriculture should utilize criteria in full compliance with the Rural Development Act of 1972 when selecting Federal facility locations.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 1989
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) extend for three years, through 1992, the investment tax credit in connection with depreciable solar energy property and geothermal property; and (2) permit this credit against the taxpayer's entire regular tax liability and minimum tax liability.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 1989
Amends the Federal judicial code to prohibit States from: (1) imposing a higher tax assessment ratio upon natural gas transmission property than is imposed upon other commercial and industrial property; (2) collecting an ad valorem property tax on natural gas transmission property at a tax rate that exceeds the rate applicable to commercial and industrial property in the same assessment jurisdiction; and (3) imposing any other tax that discriminates against a natural gas company subject to the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, with an exception for fees charged gas companies for safety, environmental, or land use purposes. Grants Federal district courts concurrent jurisdiction (without regard to the amount in controversy or the citizenship of the parties) to enjoin, suspend, restrain, or set aside such discriminatory tax treatment. Permits relief only if the ratio of assessed value to true market value of natural gas transmission property exceeds by at least five percent that of other commercial and industrial property in the taxing jurisdiction.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 1989
Women's Business Equity Act - Amends the Small Business Act to establish the Office of Women Business Enterprise (the Office) to promote executive branch programs which facilitate women's business enterprises. Authorizes the Office to develop comprehensive interagency plans and specific program goals for women's business enterprises. Sets forth certification guidelines for such enterprises. Adds to existing goals for participation of small business concerns in Federal procurement contracts the participation of small business concerns owned and controlled by women. Requires the head of each Federal agency to report to the Small Business Administration (SBA) on the extent that small business concerns owned and controlled by women participate in procurement contracts and subcontracts. Declares it to be the policy of the United States that small business concerns owned and controlled by women shall have the maximum opportunity to participate in the performance of contracts and subcontracts let by any Federal agency. Precludes the award of any contract unless the procurement authority determines that the offeror's plan includes the maximum opportunity for participation of small business concerns owned and controlled by women. Requires the SBA to report annually to certain congressional committees on subcontracting plans found acceptable by any Federal agency which the SBA determines do not contain maximum opportunities for small business concerns owned and controlled by women. Requires each Federal agency having procurement powers to: (1) affirmatively solicit offers from small business concerns owned and controlled by women and socially and economically disadvantaged individuals; and (2) include at least one bid from a women-owned business enterprise for specified small purchases of such agency. Imposes penalties for the misrepresentation of a business concern as one owned or controlled by women.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 1989
Head Start Expansion Amendments of 1989 - Title I: Amendments to the Head Start Act - Amends the Head Start Act to define "full-working-day" as at least ten hours per day. Authorizes Head Start programs to provide child care services. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1990 through 1994: (1) Head Start services other than child care services; and (2) if the appropriation for such other services equals or exceeds such authorization, a new program of child care services. Authorizes the use of a portion of a State's allotment to enable Head Start programs to provide child care services Monday through Friday throughout the year so that eligible children receive full-day Head Start services (including child care), if such child care is necessary for parents to work or attend a job training or educational program. Title II: Amendments to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for a one-year delay in indexing (for inflation) income tax rates and personal exemptions.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 1989
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow farmers' cooperatives to elect to treat as ordinary income or loss certain capital gains and losses from the disposition of assets used in conducting business with or for patrons.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 1989
Worker's Option Act of 1989 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to eliminate the limitation on the amount of outside income which beneficiaries who have attained retirement age may earn without incurring a reduction in benefits. Increases the delayed retirement credit rate for individuals who work beyond retirement age. Eliminates the recomputation of an individual's primary insurance amount when such individual has wages or self-employment income after entitlement to old-age or disability insurance benefits. Charges off an individual's excess earnings by eliminating such individual's entitlement to retroactive OASDI benefits for months preceding such individual's attainment of retirement age. Authorizes the appropriation of revenues received by reason of this Act's amendments to the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund from 1990 through 1994.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 1989
Expresses the sense of the Congress that legislation should be considered as soon as practicable that would equalize payments under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to rural and urban hospitals.
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 1989
Rural Medical Assistance Facilities Act of 1989 - Directs the Administrator of the Health Care Financing Administration to make ten to 15 four-year grants to no more than six States covering 90 percent of the costs of transforming a rural hospital into a medical assistance facility. Amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 to use funds authorized for the rural health care transition grant program for rural hospital transformation grants. Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to cover services provided by medical assistance facilities. Requires that such facilities: (1) be located in rural areas at least 30 miles from a hospital; (2) provide emergency care, stabilization care, and basic inpatient care for stays not exceeding four days; (3) provide ambulatory care in accordance with standards to be established by the Secretary; (4) receive quality assurance and utilization review services; (5) agree to participate in the Medicaid program (title XIX of the Act); and (6) have transfer and discharge planning agreements with referral hospitals. Authorizes such facilities to provide obstetric services and outpatient surgical care pursuant to protocols to be established by the Secretary. Makes Medicare rural hospital staffing requirements applicable to medical assistance facilities, but authorizes facility care to be provided by nurse practitioners or physician assistants pursuant to protocols developed by the Secretary so that such facilities have flexibility in meeting physician "on call" requirements. Exempts such facilities from hospital 24-hour service requirements. Authorizes the Secretary to develop a methodology for reimbursing medical assistance facilities which differs from that used in reimbursing hospitals. Amends the Medicaid program to cover services provided by medical assistance facilities. Sets forth reporting requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 1989
Constitutional Amendment - Requires the Congress and the President, prior to each fiscal year, to agree on an estimate of total receipts (except those derived from borrowing) for that fiscal year by enactment of a joint single subject resolution. Prohibits outlays for that year (except those for repayment of debt principal) from exceeding this amount unless the Congress, by a three-fifths roll call vote of each House, authorizes a specific excess of outlays over receipts. Requires a three-fifths roll call vote of each House to increase the public debt. Directs the President to submit a balanced budget to the Congress. Requires the approval of a majority of the total membership of each House by roll call vote before any bill to increase revenue may become law. Waives these provisions when a declaration of war is in effect.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 1989
Amends titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to repeal the requirement that before a nursing facility uses a nurse aide for over four months such aide must complete a State-approved training and/or competency evaluation program.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 1989
Amends titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to make training requirements imposed on nurse aides employed at nursing facilities inapplicable to individuals employed as nurse aides before July 1, 1989.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 1989
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1989 - Title I: General Prohibition Against Discrimination - Declares that it shall be discriminatory, on the basis of disability, to deny opportunities or to afford them unequally, to provide opportunities less effectively (or differently or separately, unless necessary for effectiveness), to assist an organization or individual that discriminates, or to otherwise limit opportunities enjoyed by others. Prohibits the use of standards, criteria, or administrative methods that have the purpose or effect of discrimination or perpetuate discrimination. Declares it discriminatory to deny equal opportunities because of the relationship or association of an individual with another individual with a disability. Allows as a defense to a charge of discrimination that an application of standards or criteria has been demonstrated to be both necessary and substantially related to the ability of an individual to take advantage of the essential components of the opportunity, and that the taking advantage cannot be accomplished by reasonable accommodations, modifications, or the provision of auxiliary aids or services. Title II: Employment - Prohibits discrimination by any employer, employment agency, labor organization, or joint labor-management committee against any qualified individual with a disability in job application procedures, hiring or discharge, compensation, advancement, training, and other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment. Lists types of actions construed to be discrimination. Makes the remedies set forth in specified provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other specified Federal law available to any individual who believes that he or she is being or is about to be subjected to discrimination in violation of this Act. Title III: Public Services - Declares that no qualified individual with a disability shall be excluded from the participation in, denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination by a State, or by an agency, political subdivision, or other instrumentality of a State. Lists types of actions deemed, for purposes of this Act and specified provisions of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, to be discrimination with regard to public transportation. Makes the remedies and rights set forth in specified provisions of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 available to any individual who believes that he or she is being or is about to be subjected to discrimination in violation of this Act. Title IV: Public Accommodations and Services Operated by Private Entities - Prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in the enjoyment of any place of public accommodation. Lists types of actions construed to be discrimination. Prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in public transportation services provided by a private entity that is primarily engaged in transporting people, but that is not in the principal business of air transportation. Lists types of actions construed to be discrimination. Makes specified provisions of the Fair Housing Act relating to enforcement available, subject to exception, to any aggrieved individual. Title V: Telecommunications Relay Services - Defines "telecommunications relay services" to mean services that enable simultaneous communication between individuals who use telecommunications devices for the deaf (TDDs) or other nonvoice terminal devices and individuals who do not use such devices. Declares it discriminatory for any common carrier that offers telephone services to the public to fail to provide interstate or intrastate telecommunication relay services that are equal to those provided to their customers who are able to use voice services, except in any State in which services are provided through an entity designated by the State. Declares it discrimination by a State that makes such a designation if the State fails to provide interstate or intrastate relay services that are equal to those provided to their voice customers. Makes specified provisions of the Fair Housing Act relating to enforcement available, subject to exception, to any aggrieved individual. Requires the Federal Communications Commission to enforce this title. Makes specified provisions of the Communications Act of 1934 apply with respect to the enforcement of this title. Provides for cease and desist orders by the Commission and for monetary penalties. Title VI: Miscellaneous Provisions - Prohibits retaliatory discrimination against any individual because of actions related to this Act. Declares that a State shall not be immune under the 11th Amendment to the Constitution from an action in Federal court for a violation of this Act. Requires the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board to issue minimum guidelines to supplement the existing Minimum Guidelines and Requirements for Accessible Design. Allows the awarding of reasonable attorney's fees, in certain circumstances, in any action or proceeding under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 1989
Farm Crop Acreage Base Flexibility Act of 1989 - Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to make mandatory the current discretionary authority of the Secretary of Agriculture to make upward crop base adjustments. Increases the maximum acreage percentage of such adjustment.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 1989
Infectious Disease Control Act of 1989 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a National Program for Tropical Medicine to achieve optimal prevention of human infectious diseases originating in the tropics and to plan and coordinate governmental and non-governmental activities. Requires the Program to be administered by a Director selected by the Secretary. Sets forth Program responsibilities of the Director and requires the Director to prepare a plan for the implementation of those responsibilities. Establishes the National Committee on Tropical Medicine to advise the Director. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1990 through 1992.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 1989
Alternative Fuels Incentive Act of 1989 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit an income tax credit for investments in qualified clean-burning (natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, or alcohol) motor vehicle fuel property. Permits a 20 percent credit from 1990 through 1999, phasing out the credit in five percent increments annually thereafter to reach zero percent at the end of 2002. Applies the credit to depreciable property that is: (1) equipment designed either to modify a motor vehicle so that it will be propelled only be a clean-burning fuel or to assist in delivering such fuel into such vehicles; or (2) a motor vehicle propelled by clean-burning fuel. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to make credit-equivalent payments to States and to local governments in connection with qualified property.
United States · United States Congress · 4 May 1989
Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to require the Commissioner on Aging to give special consideration to funding demonstration projects providing older individuals with the opportunity to serve as volunteers furnishing long-term care services to nursing home residents.
United States · United States Congress · 4 May 1989
State and Local Government Alien Assistance Reimbursement Act of 1989 - Provides reimbursement to States and local governments for expenses associated with the provision of certain public assistance to aliens. Requires: (1) recipient State or local entities to report annually to the Attorney General; and (2) the Attorney General to report annually to the Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 4 May 1989
Rural Health Improvement Act of 1989 - Title I: Medicare Program Changes - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to update Medicare payments for inpatient hospital services for FY 1990 by the percentage recommended by the Prospective Payment Assessment Commission with respect to all hospitals located in the respective type of area and by the market basket percentage increase for hospitals in all areas thereafter. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to report recommendations to the Congress, within one year of this Act's enactment: (1) for adjusting Medicare payments for inpatient hospital services so that they reflect differences in the severity of illnesses that are classified within the same diagnosis-related group; (2) to modify hospital area wage factors to reflect, in the case of rural hospitals, wages for professional personnel on a regional, rather than strictly rural, basis and take into account the differential impact of contract labor costs and non-contract labor costs on rural hospitals; and (3) to recalculate standardized Medicare payments for inpatient hospital services using the most current information on hospital costs. Requires the Secretary to annually update area wage factors used in determining what portion of a hospital's costs are attributable to wages. Directs the Secretary to study and report to the Congress, within six months of this Act's enactment, on alternative Medicare reimbursement systems for small rural hospitals. Requires the Prospective Payment Assessment Commission to submit a written review of the preceding reports to the Congress within 60 days of their transmittal to the Congress. Provides additional payments to Medicare-dependent, small rural hospitals up to FY 1992 (when the transition to a single average standardized Medicare payment rate is required to begin), ensuring the coverage of such hospitals' reasonable operating costs for Medicare inpatient hospital services. Requires the recomputation of Medicare sole community hospital payment rates using the most recent information on hospital-specific costs per case and, if greater, national rather than regional prospective payment rates. Includes, in the Secretary's determination as to whether a hospital is a sole community hospital, consideration of the travel time to the nearest alternative source of inpatient care and the number of patients who seek health services which are unavailable in the hospital's area. Establishes the Medicare Geographical Classification Review Board to decide on a rural hospital's application for classification as an urban hospital for Medicare payment purposes. Amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 to require that the Secretary give special attention to grants for demonstration projects establishing new cooperative models for rural health care delivery as part of the grant program assisting small rural hospitals and their communities to adjust to changes in the need for their services. Extends the regional referral center classification of hospitals so classified as of September 30, 1989, and the payment rates applicable to such hospitals under the Medicare program, through FY 1991. Amends title VII (Administration) of the Act to place the Office of Rural Health Care in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health in the Department of Health and Human Services. Requires the Director of the Office of Rural Health Care to establish a program to set policy and make grants with respect to agricultural health and safety. Requires such Director and the Administrator of the Health Care Financing Administration to establish a liaison to coordinate policies concerning rural health under the Social Security Act and under the Public Health Service Act. Title II: Public Health Service Act Programs - Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary to give special emphasis to the health manpower needs of rural areas when assigning National Health Service Corps members to health manpower shortage areas. Requires the Secretary to set aside at least 50 percent of the amounts appropriated for National Health Service Corps scholarship and loan repayment programs for individuals attending nurse practitioner education programs and agreeing to serve in a nurse practitioner health manpower shortage area. Deems the shortage of nurse practitioners to be a sufficient criterion for designating an area, facility, or population group as a health manpower shortage area. Directs the Secretary to establish an agricultural health and safety education and training program. Requires the Secretary to study and report to the Congress, within six months of this Act's enactment, on a model State law providing health insurance to individuals who lack adequate health insurance.
United States · United States Congress · 3 May 1989
Retirement Payment Delivery Assurance Act of 1989 - Amends the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974, the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, the Foreign Service Act of 1980, the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement Act of 1964 for Certain Employees, and other Federal law to provide that if the day designated for the delivery of benefit payments occurs on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal public holiday, then the following retirement benefit checks shall be mailed a day earlier than usual: (1) railroad retirement annuities; (2) military retired and retainer pay and annuities based on such pay; (3) Federal employee retirement annuities; (4) black lung benefits; (5) foreign service retirement benefits; and (6) benefits under the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System.
United States · United States Congress · 3 May 1989
Head Start Improvement Amendments of 1989 - Expresses the sense of the Congress that all Head Start programs should provide, as authorized by the Head Start Act, more than one year of Head Start services to children from age three to the age of compulsory school attendance in the State where the program is located. Amends the Head Start Act to define "full-working-day" as at least six hours per day. Requires each Head Start agency to provide full-working-day Head Start services throughout the year (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and applicable legal public holidays). Authorizes appropriations under the Head Start Act from FY 1990 through 1994.
United States · United States Congress · 3 May 1989
Railroad Retirement Medicare Equity Act of 1989 - Amends part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to set the same limitation on annual increases in Medicare part B premium deductions from monthly annuities under the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 as currently applies to such premium deductions from monthly benefits under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Act, so that such increases cannot exceed cost of living increases in the annuities.
United States · United States Congress · 3 May 1989
Designates the Labor Day weekend beginning on September 2, 1989, as National Drive for Life Weekend. Calls on people to observe that weekend with a pledge to not drink and drive.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 1989
Requires a certain percentage of Federal fleets of passenger automobiles and light-duty trucks to be alternative fuel vehicles by specified deadlines if such vehicles are being operated in an area designated under the Clean Air Act as an area of serious health endangerment for ozone and/or carbon monoxide. Requires the Administrator of General Services and the Secretary of Defense, with the concurrence of the Secretary of Energy, to issue regulations ensuring that such vehicles shall: (1) be supplied with alcohol, natural gas, other gaseous hydrocarbons, or electricity in the primary area of operation; and (2) be operated exclusively on such fuel (except when it is impracticable to obtain it). Requires funds appropriated to implement this Act to be expended first in those areas determined by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (the Administrator) to have the most severe air pollution problems. Prescribes circumstances under which such alternative fuels shall be offered for sale to the public. Mandates that the funds appropriated for alternative fuel vehicle acquisition apply only to the portion of costs which exceeds the cost for comparable conventional fuel vehicles. Directs the Secretary of Energy to ensure that the cost to any Federal agency receiving an alternative fuel vehicle under this Act not exceed the cost to such agency of a comparable conventional fueled vehicle. Mandates that gasoline powered Federal vehicles, with specified exceptions, which are operated in an area designated as seriously endangering health for carbon monoxide, and which are not dual energy (or natural gas dual energy), be operated exclusively with fuel which blends oxygenates with gasoline at their primary fueling facility. Requires underground fuel storage equipment installed or replaced at designated Federal facilities to be capable of safely storing alcohol. Requires the Administrator to report to the Congress the results of a comprehensive analysis regarding the public health risk associated with the use of significant amounts of alcohol, natural gas, or other gaseous hydrocarbons as transportation fuels as compared to diesel and gasoline fuels. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1991. Sets forth criteria for alternative fuel vehicles. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1993 through 1996.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 1989
Designates September 8, 1989, as National Pledge of Allegiance Day. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Christopher Columbus Quincentenary Jubilee Commission should include the centennial observance of the Pledge of Allegiance in its commemorative activities.
![Official portrait of Rep. Chapman, Jim [D-TX-1]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/c000312_200.jpg)