United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1989
Resolution on a Plebiscite in Cuba - Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the Cuban people should be allowed to express their view on the country's political future by a secret ballot of approval or rejection of Fidel Castro's continued rule; (2) the Government of Cuba should allow opposition and human rights groups to organize publicly, grant opposition groups equal access to the national media, release all political prisoners, and invite a neutral, international commission to oversee the voting and ensure the legitimacy of the results; (3) should the rejection vote prevail, the regime should respect the will of the people and hold prompt national elections through which the Cuban people could freely choose their leaders; and (4) normalized relations between the Governments of the United States and Cuba should be restored if a democratic Cuban Government is elected by all the people.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 1989
Martin Luther King, Jr., Federal Holiday Commission Extension Act - Makes permanent the Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Holiday Commission. (Current law terminates the Commission on April 20, 1989.) Makes the term of Commission members one year, except for Coretta Scott King (life term) and members of the family surviving Martin Luther King, Jr. (at the discretion of the family). Amends existing requirements to make the Commission's report on its activities reflect the most recent observance of the holiday. Replaces provisions requiring all expenditures of the Commission to be from donated funds with provisions authorizing appropriations for each fiscal year. Makes payment of expenses for Commission members and staff salary subject to the availability of funds.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 1989
Eliminates post-1968 service in the National Guard as a prerequisite to civil service retirement credit for former National Guard technicians. Amends the National Guard Technicians Act of 1968 to eliminate post-1968 service as a prerequisite for National Guard technicians for receipt of credit in the determination of length of Federal civil service for purposes of leave, Federal employees' death and disability compensation, group life and health insurance, severance pay, tenure, and status. Sets forth rules for applying provisions of this Act to affected individuals.
United States · United States Congress · 9 March 1989
Precludes the Expanded East Coast Plan issued by the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) from becoming effective until the Administrator issues a detailed environmental impact statement and revises the Plan to resolve any problems identified in such statement. Requires the Administrator to issue a detailed environmental impact statement regarding proposed changes to air routes at or below an altitude of 19,000 feet. Amends the Clean Air Act to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to review and publish in the Federal Register how commercial air routes proposed by the FAA Administrator comply with certain noise control criteria. Amends the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to prohibit the FAA Administrator from designating a commercial air route unless it has been approved by the EPA Administrator. Prohibits the FAA Administrator from excluding air commerce operations from certain environmental requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 on the basis of altitude. Requires the FAA Administrator to report to the Congress the results of a commercial aircraft noise level study.
United States · United States Congress · 9 March 1989
Truth in Transportation Trust Funds Act - Excludes the receipts and disbursements allocable to the transportation-related operations of the Highway Trust Fund, the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, and the Inland Waterways Trust Fund from totals of the Federal budget as submitted by the President and from the congressional budget. Exempts the same amounts from any general statutory budget limitation on Government outlays. Amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to: (1) include these same amounts in fiscal year total revenues and outlays for deficit calculation purposes; and (2) adjust the maximum deficit amount to reflect this new treatment of the affected trust funds. Makes it out of order in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, in the context of the congressional budget process, to consider changes or recommendations with respect to these trust funds.
United States · United States Congress · 9 March 1989
Recognizes the National Fallen Firefighters' Memorial at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland, as the official national memorial to volunteer and career firefighters who die in the line of duty.
United States · United States Congress · 9 March 1989
Expresses disapproval of the refusal of the U.S.S.R. to recognize the sovereignty of the Baltic Republics. Designates June 14, 1989, as Baltic Freedom Day. Authorizes and requests the President to call upon the Soviet Union, the Federal Republic of Germany, and the Democratic Republic of Germany to renounce the acquisition or absorption of the Baltic Republics by the Soviet Union as a result of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1989
Nuclear Decommissioning Reserve Fund Act of 1989 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) decrease from 34 percent to 15 percent the rate of the tax imposed on the income of any Nuclear Decommissioning Reserve Fund; and (2) remove restrictions on permitted investments of Fund monies.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1989
Designates September 15, 1989, as National POW/MIA Recognition Day. Recognizes the National League of Families POW/MIA flag as the official symbol of the United States' commitment to resolving the fates of Americans still prisoner or missing in action in Southeast Asia.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1989
Illegal Dumping Prevention Act of 1989 - Amends the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 to authorize the seizure and forfeiture of vessels illegally dumping wastes into ocean waters.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1989
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to eliminate the age (55 or older) and dollar ($125,000) restrictions with respect to the one-time income tax exclusion of gain on the sale of a principal residence.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1989
Designates April 16, 1989, the 87th birthday of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, as Education Day, U.S.A. Calls on heads of state of the world to join the President of the United States in this tribute by signing scrolls of honor commemorating the 40th anniversary of Schneerson's leadership of the Lubavitch movement. Welcomes the cooperation of the Department of State in extending the good office of the U.S. missions to the Lubavitcher emissaries.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 1989
Law Enforcement Assistance Act of 1989 - Amends the Federal criminal code to bar the exclusion of otherwise admissible evidence obtained as a result of a search or seizure from a court of the United States if the search or seizure was undertaken in an objective, reasonable, good faith belief that it was in conformity with the fourth amendment to the Constitution. Specifies that evidence obtained pursuant to, and within the scope of, a warrant constitutes prima facie evidence of such a belief, unless obtained through intentional and material misrepresentation.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 1989
Lower Income Housing Fair Rent Act of 1988 - Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to exclude from the definition of income for purposes of rent and assistance payments all income earned by family members except the income of the two highest-earning family members.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 1989
Requires the Office of Personnel Management to include certain counties in New Jersey in the study of Federal employees locality pay and in any demonstration project resulting from such study.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 1989
Amends the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to prohibit takeoffs and landings at U.S. airports of subsonic aircraft exceeding certain noise levels. States that this prohibition applies only to an airport during the three-year period beginning on the effective date of this Act if the number of individuals residing within five miles of it exceeds 100,000.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 1989
Veterans Nurse Pay Act of 1989 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to restructure the current nurse grades of the Department of Veterans Affairs so as to provide four grade levels for nurses. (Current law provides for eight grade levels.) Specifies the relationship the new grade levels have with the current nurse grades and to pay grades under the General Schedule.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 1989
Federal Law Enforcement Officers Death Penalty Act of 1989 - Amends the Federal criminal code to subject any person who is found guilty of the first degree murder of a Federal law enforcement officer, or certain other Federal officials or employees, to the penalty of death. Establishes procedures for the imposition of the death penalty in such cases. Provides that no person who was less than 18 years of age at the time of the offense may be sentenced to death. Sets forth mitigating and aggravating factors to be considered by the jury in determining whether the death sentence will be imposed. Requires the Government to serve notice upon the defendant a reasonable time before trial or acceptance of a plea that it intends to seek the death penalty, as well as notice of the aggravating factors upon which it will rely. Provides that no presentence report shall be prepared in such cases. Requires a separate sentencing hearing before a jury or the court (upon motion by the defendant) when the defendant is convicted and the Government has filed notice that it intends to seek the death penalty. Allows the Government and the defendant to present any information relevant to a mitigating or aggravating factor without regard to the rules of evidence, but permits information to be excluded where its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of creating unfair prejudice, confusing the issues, or misleading the jury. Conditions imposition of the death penalty on a unanimous finding by the jury or, if there is no jury, the court, that: (1) the aggravating factors found to exist sufficiently outweigh any mitigating factor found to exist; or (2) in the absence of a mitigating factor, the aggravating factors alone are sufficient to justify a sentence of death. Specifies that: (1) the jury or the court, regardless of its findings with respect to aggravating and mitigating factors, is never required to impose a death sentence; and (2) the jury shall be so instructed. Requires the court to instruct the jury not to consider the race, color, national origin, creed, or sex of the defendant in its consideration of the death sentence. Directs the court to impose the death sentence upon a finding that such sentence is justified. Establishes procedures for appeal from a death sentence. Requires the court of appeals, upon consideration of the record and the information and procedures of the sentencing hearing, and any special finding, to affirm the decision if: (1) the sentence was not imposed under influence of passion, prejudice, or arbitrariness; and (2) the information supports the special finding of the existence of an aggravating factor. Requires the court to provide a written explanation of its determination. Establishes procedures for the implementation of the death sentence.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 1989
Imposes a civil penalty upon any person who mails to any individual or group of individuals at their place of residence: (1) any unsolicited sexually oriented advertisement; or (2) any unsolicited obscene, lewd, lascivious, indecent, filthy, or vile article, matter, thing, device, or substance.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 1989
Urban Homestead Act of 1989 - Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to make the tenant ownership program authority permanent. Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to provide financial assistance directly to resident management corporations for homeownership technical assistance. Expands resident management corporation authority to replace purchased public housing units.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 1989
Fairness for Adopting Families Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit an individual income tax deduction for qualified adoption expenses. Includes as deductible all reasonable and necessary expenses that do not violate a Federal or State law and that are directly related to a legal adoption of any child if the adoption has been arranged by a State, local, or other nonprofit agency, or through a private placement. Excludes the deduction from the two percent floor on miscellaneous itemized deductions. Excludes from an employee's gross income any amounts paid on behalf of the employee by an employer pursuant to a qualified adoption assistance program. Limits both the deduction and the exclusion to $5,000 ($7,000 in the case of an international adoption). Reduces the amount when the taxpayer's income exceeds $60,000. Permits an employer to treat an adoption assistance program as a statutory employee benefit plan, thus making the employer's contributions to such a program tax deductible as business expenses.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 1989
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 1992 the period during which qualified mortgage bonds and mortgage credit certificates may be issued. (Under current law, authority for these programs is due to expire as of 1990.)
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 1989
Student Financial Aid Improvement Act of 1989 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to revise needs analysis provisions for Pell Grants and for student aid programs generally, with respect to the following: (1) independent students; (2) prevention of double counting of income in asset computations; (3) exclusion of non-liquid assets (family home, farm, or small business); (4) treatment of award year earnings; (5) financial aid administrator discretion; and (6) restriction of parents not enrolled in a degree or certificate program.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 1989
Motor Vehicle Insurance Consumer Protection Act of 1989 - Amends the McCarran-Ferguson Act to limit the antitrust exemption with respect to the business of personal motor vehicle insurance. Provides that this Act shall not be construed to prohibit any State from establishing or approving a residual market mechanism to provide personal motor vehicle insurance.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 1989
Commends the Board of Immigration Appeals for its decision to allow Joseph Patrick Doherty to apply for U.S. asylum. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Attorney General should approve Joseph Patrick Doherty's asylum application and release him on bond pending the application's review.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1989
Amends the National Trails System Act to designate as components of the National Trails System: (1) the California National Historic Trail, extending from Independence and Saint Joseph, Missouri, and Council Bluffs, Iowa, to various points in California and Oregon; and (2) the Pony Express National Historic Trail, extending from Saint Joseph, Missouri, through Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, and Nevada to Sacramento, California.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1989
Amends Federal law to prohibit any State from considering out-of-State income when determining the State income tax liability of any individual who is not a resident or domiciliary of the taxing State.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1989
Amends Federal law to prohibit any State from considering out-of-State income when determining the State income tax liability of any individual who is not a resident or domiciliary of the taxing State.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1989
Directs the General Accounting Office (GAO) to transmit to the Congress an evaluation of the recommendations of the Commission on Base Realignment and Closure made to the Secretary of Defense in December 1988. Amends the Defense Authorization Amendments and Base Closure and Realignment Act to prohibit the Secretary from carrying out any base closures or realignments within the 20-day period beginning on the date on which the GAO transmits its evaluation. Prohibits any resolution from the joint committee assembled to consider the Commission's recommendations from being discharged or considered earlier than the end of the ten-day period beginning on the date on which the GAO transmits its evaluation.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1989
Family Living Wage Act - Amends Internal Revenue Code provisions governing the earned income tax credit to: (1) increase from $5,714 to $7,000 the amount of earned income subject to the credit; (2) increase the basic credit from 14 percent to 15 percent; and (3) permit an additional credit (to apply to not more than four children) of five percent for each dependent school age child between age six and age 16 and ten percent for each preschool age child. Reduces the amount of the credit for taxpayers with adjusted gross income over $40,000. Indexes amounts relating to the credit beginning in 1992. Disallows application of the nonrefundable dependent care income tax credit with respect to a taxpayer's dependents under age 13, unless the child is physically or mentally incapable of self-care. Permits the credit with respect to handicapped children under age 15 only if the taxpayer elects not to include the child within the framework of the earned income credit. Repeals provisions of the Family Support Act of 1988 that revise the way in which the earned income credit is treated in the context of needs analysis for purposes of State plans for aid and services to needy families with children under title IV of the Social Security Act.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1989
Sugar Supply Stabilization Act of 1989 - Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to reduce sugar support price levels beginning in 1989. Increases sugar import levels for 1990 through 1993. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to: (1) endeavor to reduce the difference between the sugar support price and the market stabilization price by using alternative methods to determine transportation differentials and regional loan rates; and (2) report to the appropriate congressional committees.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1989
RICO Reform Act of 1989 - Amends the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) to include additional predicate offenses within the definition of "racketeering activity," such as prostitution involving minors, computer fraud, and certain activity relating to terrorist acts abroad. Modifies civil remedies provisions of RICO to require U.S. district courts to find proof by a preponderance of the evidence before restraining violations. Authorizes: (1) specified governmental entities whose business or property is injured by conduct in violation of RICO to recover threefold the actual damages to such business or property, plus costs; (2) persons whose business or property is injured by such conduct to recover actual damages, plus costs (and punitive damages of up to twice the actual damages where the plaintiff proves by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant's actions were consciously malicious, or so egregious and deliberate that malice may be implied); (3) such persons to recover threefold the actual damages if any defendant has been convicted of specified Federal or State offenses; and (4) natural persons who suffer serious bodily injury by reason of specified crimes of violence to recover actual damages to such person's business or property, damages sustained by such individual as allowed under State law (excluding pain and suffering), and costs (and, upon proof by clear and convincing evidence that defendant's actions were malicious, up to twice the actual damages). (Current law allows recovery of threefold the damages, plus costs, for persons whose business or property is injured.) Sets forth: (1) statutes of limitation; and (2) procedures for considering affirmative defenses. Permits international service of process. (Current law restricts such service to specified judicial districts within the United States.) Provides for exclusive Federal jurisdiction to hear criminal or civil RICO proceedings. Authorizes recovery beyond actual damages to a person's business or property, where such person would not otherwise be eligible to recover costs under this Act, under specified conditions, including where the judge determines that a limitation of recovery would clearly be unjust.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1989
Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to authorize the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to commence an administrative enforcement action under such Act against any Federal entity or employee responsible for the disposal or management of solid waste.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1989
Provides for all Federal civilian and military retirees to receive the full cost-of-living adjustment in annuities payable under Federal retirement systems for FY 1990. (Includes benefits payable under the Civil Service Retirement and Disability System, military retirement and survivor benefit programs, the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability System, the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System, and railroad retirement programs.)
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1989
Amends Federal law to extend the immediate retirement provisions applicable to Federal law enforcement officers to: (1) revenue officers for the Internal Revenue Service; (2) customs inspectors for the U.S. Customs Service; (3) customs canine enforcement officers for the U.S. Customs Service; and (4) inspectors for the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 1989
Tongass Timber Reform Act - Title I: Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act Amendments - Repeals specified provisions of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (the Act) relating to: (1) the authorization of appropriations for the maintenance of the timber supply from the Tongass National Forest in Alaska to dependent industry; (2) the identification of Forest lands unsuitable for timber production; and (3) a specified report to certain congressional committees by the Secretary of Agriculture on the timber supply and demand in southeastern Alaska. Amends the Act to include in a specified report to the Congress the impact of timber management on subsistence resources, wildlife, and fisheries habitats in the Forest. Requires the Secretary to terminate, not later than 90 days after enactment of this Act, specified timber sale contracts between the United States and the Alaska Pulp Corporation and the Ketchikan Pulp Company, respectively. Title II: Wilderness - Amends the Act to designate the following lands within the Tongass National Forest as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System: (1) Anan Creek Wilderness; (2) Berners Bay Wilderness; (3) Calder-Holbrook Wilderness; (4) Chichagof Wilderness; (5) Chuck River Wilderness; (6) Kadashan Wilderness; (7) Karta River Wilderness; (8) Kegan Lake Wilderness; (9) Naha River Wilderness; (10) Nutkwa Wilderness; (11) Outside Islands Wilderness; (12) Pleasant Island-Lemesurier Islands Wilderness; (13) Pt. Adolphus-Mud Bay Wilderness; (14) Pt. Houghton-Sandborn Canal Wilderness; (15) Rocky Pass Wilderness; (16) Sarkar Lakes Wilderness; (17) South Etolin Island Wilderness; (18) South Kuiu Wilderness; (19) Sullivan Island Wilderness; (20) Trap Bay Wilderness; (21) West Duncan Canal Wilderness; (22) Yakutat Forelands Wilderness; and (23) Young Lake Wilderness.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 1989
Congressional Scholarships for Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Act - Instructs the Director of the National Science Foundation to establish and implement a merit-based competitive program for awarding a four-year Congressional Scholarship for Science, Mathematics, and Engineering to one female and one male from each U.S. congressional district. Requires the Director: (1) annually to notify secondary schools and colleges of the program; and (2) to establish nominating committees for each congressional district. Limits each scholarship to $5,000 per year, to be used solely for tuition, fees, and room and board expenses. Requires the NSF Director to ensure that both students and nominating committees are selected on a nondiscriminatory basis. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1990 through 1993.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 1989
Family Planning Reauthorization Act of 1989 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize appropriations for FY 1990 through 1993 for projects, training, and information and materials related to family planning.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 1989
Postal Reorganization Act Amendments of 1989 - Declares that the receipts and disbursements of the Postal Service Fund: (1) shall not be included in the totals of the Federal budget or the congressional budget; (2) shall be exempt from Federal budget limitations on expenditures and net lending; and (3) shall be exempt from any sequestration order under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) and shall not be counted for purposes of calculating the Federal deficit.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 1989
Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to approve projects within urbanized areas with populations of 50,000 or more for expanding the capacity of open-to-traffic routes on the Interstate Highway System, including construction of noise barriers, acquisition of right-of-ways for future construction of mass transit facilities, and acquisition of land for construction of parking lots. Sets forth a formula for apportionment of highway funds for such projects. Specifies: (1) the period of availability of funds apportioned to a State for Interstate System capacity expansion; (2) conditions that must be met in order to use lapsed funds for discretionary projects; and (3) the Federal share (80 percent) of any such expansion projects. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1993 through 1996.
![Official portrait of Rep. Courter, Jim [R-NJ-12]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/c000809_200.jpg)