United States · United States Congress · 13 September 1989
Legislative Line Item Veto Act of 1989 - Amends the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to grant the President legislative line item veto rescission authority. Authorizes the President to rescind all or part of any budget authority if the President determines that such rescission: (1) would help balance the Federal budget, reduce the Federal budget deficit, or reduce the public debt; (2) will not impair any essential Government functions; and (3) will not harm the national interest. Requires the President to notify the Congress of such a rescission by: (1) special message not later than 20 calendar days after enactment of appropriations legislation; or (2) special message accompanying the budget when such rescissions have not been proposed previously for that fiscal year. Makes such a rescission effective unless the Congress, during a review period of 20 calendar days, enacts a rescission disapproval bill. Describes: (1) information to be included in the President's message; and (2) procedures to govern consideration of rescission disapproval legislation in the Senate and the House of Representatives.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1989
Amends the Federal judicial code to add a new judicial district in California to be comprised of Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties. Provides that court for the new Western District shall be held in Santa Ana. Provides that any district judge of the Central District of California whose official duty station is in Orange, Riverside, or San Bernardino County on the day before the effective date of this Act shall be a district judge of the Western District. Directs the President to appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, a U.S. attorney and a U.S. marshal for the Western District.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1989
Catastrophic Coverage Repeal Act of 1989 - Repeals Medicare (title XVIII of the Social Security Act) catastrophic health care coverage provided under the Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act of 1988. Makes transitional and conforming amendments.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1989
Expresses sorrow to the family of Lieutenant Colonel William Higgins over his reported murder and to the families of hostages of all nationalities being held in Lebanon. Recognizes that Iran is both directly and indirectly responsible for the captivity of the American hostages and the reported murder of Lt. Col. Higgins. Commends the President and the Secretary of State for doing everything in their power to deter further threats to the American hostages. Urges: (1) the President to express to the Government of Iran that the United States holds Iran responsible for Lt. Col. Higgins' death, the captivity of the remaining hostages, and all Hezbollah-sponsored terrorism; and (2) the President and the Secretary of State to continue exploring all possible channels for freeing the hostages and bringing those responsible for such acts to justice.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1989
HUD Reform Act of 1989 - Amends the Housing and Community Development Act to reduce the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development's discretionary housing fund. Requires the Secretary to approve housing assistance applications by means of competitive procedures. Requires the Secretary to: (1) compile and make available to the public information regarding Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) assistance allocation and application approval or denial; and (2) report such information to the House of Representatives and the Senate. Requires applicants to disclose consultant information. Prohibits the use of HUD funds to lobby the Congress by HUD officials with regard to housing assistance. Requires the Secretary to review lower income homeownership loans for possible refinancing.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1989
Urges: (1) the President to send one or more official observer missions for the 1990 national elections in Nicaragua, to be funded by the Department of State; (2) the Administrator of the Agency for International Development to fund one or more unofficial observer missions for those elections; and (3) all such observer missions to report their findings publicly after the elections are held. Specifies the funds that the Administrator is authorized to use to pay the expenses of unofficial observer missions.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1989
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that, in the event further talks are held with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO): (1) the top priority of the United States should be the prevention of terrorist and other violent activity by the PLO or its factions; and (2) the United States should obtain from the PLO a full accounting of specified violent activity which occurred after Yasser Arafat's commitment of December 14, 1988. Urges the Secretary of State to report to the House on such accounting.
United States · United States Congress · 28 July 1989
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the Secretary of the Army should investigate whether James L. Cadigan should be awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism in combat during World War II; and (2) if the Secretary recommends making such award, the Congress should consider appropriate legislation.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 1989
Commends the citizens of the Sioux City, Iowa, tri-State area for their heroism and volunteerism in providing assistance to the passengers and crew of crashed United Airlines Flight 232.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 1989
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) human rights violations in Cuba should be condemned; and (2) the President should award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Armando Valladares.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 1989
Establishes the Commission on the Goddess of Democracy Statue to erect a statue on Federal land in the District of Columbia resembling the statue displayed in June 1989 by prodemocracy demonstrators in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, China. Specifies the duties of the Commission, its membership, and sources of funding. Authorizes the President to offer such statue to the Chinese people to be displayed in China when the President determines that the Chinese Government will respect the democratic principles that led to the display of the original statue.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 1989
Requests: (1) the Soviet Union to release the prison records of Raoul Wallenberg and account for his whereabouts; and (2) the President to pursue such release and accounting through diplomatic actions with the Soviet Union.
United States · United States Congress · 29 June 1989
Directs the American Battle Monuments Commission to establish a memorial on Federal land in the District of Columbia or its immediate area to honor World War II veterans and to commemorate U.S. participation in that conflict. Directs the Commission to plan, design, construct, and oversee the operation of the memorial. Specifies that such design shall provide for accessibility by, and accommodations for, the physically handicapped. Establishes the World War II Memorial Advisory Board to: (1) promote the establishment of the memorial and encourage the donation of private funds for construction maintenance; (2) assist and cooperate with the Commission in the selection of the site and design for the memorial; and (3) transmit annual reports on its activities to the Congress. Authorizes the Commission to solicit private contributions for such memorial. Establishes a fund in the Treasury which shall be made available to the Commission to carry out this Act. Authorizes Federal funding, in addition to such private funds, for site preparation, design, planning, establishment, construction, maintenance, and operation of the memorial. Authorizes assistance from specified Federal departments and agencies, including the Library of Congress. Authorizes Federal property to be transferred to the Commission. Authorizes the Commission to purchase suitable property within the District of Columbia for the establishment of such memorial. Urges the Government to encourage 50th anniversary commemorations of the U.S. role in World War II. Urges the Smithsonian Institution and other Federal museums to develop commemorative exhibitions to be shared with academic institutions.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1989
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that individuals throughout the United States should observe Independence Day, July 4, 1989, as Take Pride in the Flag Day to celebrate the 213th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the 201st anniversary of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 1989
Treats Hong Kong as a separate foreign state rather than a colony or dependent area for U.S. immigration purposes, beginning in FY 1990 (thereby increasing the number of visas chargeable to Hong Kong).
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 1989
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) the reasoning in the Supreme Court decision in Texas v. Johnson was incorrect; (2) the U.S. flag is unique and deserves to be treated with respect; and (3) it is a misinterpretation of the Constitution to suggest that the Congress or the States do not have the power to prohibit the desecration of the U.S. flag.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 1989
Emergency Chinese Adjustment of Status Facilitation Act of 1989 - Waives the two-year home country residence requirement for nationals of the People's Republic of China in the United States on a student (J) visa. Continues the legal status of nonimmigrant nationals of the People's Republic of China in the United States for adjustment or change of status purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 1989
Spending Control Enhancement Act of 1989 - Adds a title to the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to authorize the President to rescind all or part of any budget authority provided in an appropriations bill by notifying the Congress of the rescission by a special message within ten calendar days after enactment of the Act in question. Makes such rescission effective unless the Congress, within ten days after receiving the special message, completes action on a bill disapproving the proposal. Describes: (1) information to be included in the President's message; and (2) procedures to govern consideration of rescission disapproval legislation in the Senate and the House of Representatives.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 1989
Product Liability Reform Act of 1989 - Declares that this Act governs any product liability action brought in any State or Federal court against a manufacturer or product seller, on any theory, for harm. States that a civil action brought against a manufacturer or product seller for commercial loss shall be governed by applicable commercial or contract law. Supersedes any inconsistent State law regarding recovery in such actions. Lists specific laws not superseded, including: (1) defense of sovereign immunity asserted by any State or by the United States; (2) any Federal law (except the Federal Employees Compensation Act and the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act); (3) the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976; (4) State choice-of-law rules; (5) the right of any court to transfer venue or to apply the law of a foreign nation or to dismiss a claim of a foreign nation or citizen on the ground of inconvenient forum; and (6) any statutory or common law cause of action which is not an action for harm caused by a product or an action to abate a nuisance and which is for civil damages or civil penalties, clean up costs, injunctions, restitution, cost recovery, punitive damages, or any other form of relief from contamination or pollution of the environment or the threat of it. Makes this Act (except provisions relating to workers' compensation offset) inapplicable to any product liability action brought in State or Federal court, on any theory, for harm caused by asbestos or asbestos products. Provides that, with respect to civil actions brought for vaccine-related injury or death, if specified provisions of the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) take effect and establish a Federal rule of law or defense applicable to such actions, then this Act does not affect the application of such rule of law or defense and any conflicting rule or defense prescribed by this Act shall not apply to such an action. Provides that if there is an aspect of such an action for which a PHSA rule or defense does not apply, then this Act or otherwise applicable law will apply to such aspect. Establishes a standard of manufacturer liability in product liability actions for proximate causes of harm, established by a preponderance of the evidence, which fall under the categories of: (1) negligence; (2) strict product liability; or (3) intentional wrongdoing. Provides that negligence shall be in terms of a manufacturer's failure to act as a reasonably prudent person would with respect to product design, construction, warnings, or instructions. Provides that strict liability shall be with respect to a product's being in an unreasonably dangerous defective condition in: (1) deviation from standards; (2) nonconformance with an express warranty; (3) failure to contain adequate warnings or instructions; or (4) design (in which case State law governs with respect to establishment of a prima facie case). Provides that a manufacturer's intentional wrongdoing shall be determined under applicable State law. Sets forth a defense to manufacturer liability based on a product's inherent characteristics. Provides that a product shall not be considered to be in an unreasonably dangerous defective condition if the product aspect which allegedly caused the harm cannot be made safe and is not dangerous to an extent beyond that which would be contemplated by the ordinary person who uses or consumes the product with the knowledge common to the community as to its characteristics. Provides that such defense does not limit a manufacturer's liability solely because the risk of harm is patent, open, or obvious. Provides that a manufacturer shall not be relieved of liability on the grounds that the product that allegedly caused the harm was unavoidably unsafe, unless the product is a drug or medical device. Provides that in product liability actions involving an improperly designed and unavoidably unsafe drug or medical device, the manufacturer's liability shall be determined under State law (and the state-of-the-art defense under this Act shall not apply). Sets forth a state-of-the-art defense. Provides that the manufacturer shall not be liable for the design of the product if the manufacturer establishes by a preponderance of the evidence that at the time the product left its control: (1) the manufacturer did not and could not know that the product was in an unreasonably dangerous defective condition because of its design in light of knowledge reasonably available to experts; or (2) there was not a feasible alternative design that would have prevented the harm without substantially impairing the reasonably anticipated or intended function of the product (considering specified factors). Makes the state-of-the-art defense inapplicable if the court finds, on its own or on a party's motion, that a claimant has established by a preponderance of the evidence that the product is so unsafe compared to its usefulness that it should not have been marketed. Sets forth standards for product warnings and instructions. Provides that a product is in an unreasonably dangerous defective condition because it failed to contain adequate warnings and instructions if reasonably prudent, adequate warnings or instructions, in the light of knowledge reasonably available to experts, on the aspect (including a design aspect) which caused the harm: (1) did not accompany the product at the time it left the manufacturer's control; or (2) were not given on a timely basis by the manufacturer before the harm. Requires that specified factors be considered. Establishes, in addition to the general standard of manufacturer's liability, a presumption of liability applicable to manufacturers of fire fighting equipment or protective clothing for harm suffered by any fire fighter performing interior structural firefighting if: (1) the harm was the result of the use of such equipment or clothing which left the manufacturer's control after the enactment of this Act; and (2) the equipment or clothing did not comply with the OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Act) fire brigade occupational safety and health standards or a more stringent State standard. Establishes a standard of product seller liability in product liability actions for proximate causes of harm, established by a preponderance of the evidence, which fall under the categories of: (1) negligence; (2) express warranty; or (3) intentional wrongdoing. Provides that such negligence shall be in terms of a product seller's failure to exercise reasonable care with respect to the product. Provides that it shall not be such a failure based on an alleged failure to inspect a product where there was no reasonable opportunity to inspect it in a manner which would or should, in the exercise of reasonable care, have revealed the aspect which allegedly caused the harm. Provides that such product seller's express warranty must be independent of any express warranty of the manufacturer. Provides that a product seller's intentional wrongdoing shall be determined under applicable State law. Establishes an additional product seller liability as a manufacturer. Makes the product seller liable as if it were the manufacturer if: (1) the manufacturer is not subject to service of process under the laws of the State in which the claimant brings the action; or (2) the court determines that the claimant would be unable to enforce a judgment against the manufacturer. Sets forth a defense based on a claimant's being, as a result of the influence of intoxicating alcohol or any non-over-the-counter drug which has not been prescribed for the claimant by a physician, more than 50 percent at fault for the harm. Reduces the manufacturer's or product seller's liability for damages by the percentage of responsibility for the harm attributable to misuse or alteration of a product. Allows punitive damages to be awarded, to the extent provided by applicable State law, if the claimant establishes by clear and convincing evidence that the manufacturer or product seller engaged in conduct giving rise to punitive damages under applicable State law, with the following exception. Provides that a failure to exercise reasonable care in selecting among alternative product designs, formulations, instructions, or warnings shall not, by itself, constitute conduct that may give rise to punitive damages. Requires separate proceedings for punitive damages if such separate proceedings are requested by the defendant. Makes evidence in such separate proceedings which is relevant only to the claim of punitive damages inadmissible in any proceeding for compensatory damages. Directs the trier of fact, in determining the amount of punitive damages, to consider all relevant evidence, including specified factors. Prohibits punitive damages against a manufacturer of a drug or medical device unless the claimant establishes by clear and convincing evidence that the manufacturer or product seller engaged in conduct giving rise to punitive damages under applicable State law and unless the manufacturer engaged in: (1) intentional and wrongful withholding or misrepresentation of information, material and relevant to the harm, which either was required to be submitted before the approval of the drug or device or was related to the safety and efficacy of the drug or device after its approval, under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) or the Public Health Service Act; or (2) a violation of the FFDCA which was material and relevant to the harm and was committed with the intent to defraud or mislead, as determined by the court and proven by clear and convincing evidence. Prohibits punitive damages against a drug manufacturer where the harm is alleged to relate to the adequacy of the packaging or labeling of a drug required to have tamper-resistant packaging (and related labeling), unless the drug is found by clear and convincing evidence to be substantially out of compliance with Federal regulations. Makes findings with respect to punitive damages relating to drugs and medical devices inadmissible in any criminal proceeding. Requires that civil actions subject to this Act be brought within two years from the time the individual discovered or should have discovered the harm and its cause, with the following exception. Bars actions for harm caused by a product which is a capital good unless the complaint is served and filed within 25 years of the date of delivery of the product to its first purchaser or lessee who was not engaged in the business of selling or leasing it or using it as a component in the manufacture of another product. Applies this capital goods rule only if: (1) the court determines that the claimant has received or would be eligible to receive State or Federal workers' compensation for the harm; and (2) the harm did not include chronic illness. Reduces any damages awarded under this Act by the amount paid in workers' compensation benefits which the claimant-employee is or would be entitled to receive. Provides for such reduction only where the employer or the employer's workers' compensation insurance carrier does not have a lien against the claimant's recovery in a product liability action against a claimant or product seller. Provides that determinations under this Act of workers' compensation benefits shall have no binding effect on, and shall not be used as evidence in, any other proceeding. Allows the claimant to stay product liability actions under this Act until the workers' compensation benefits have been determined. Provides that the employer and its insurance carrier shall have no right of subrogation, contribution, or implied indemnity against an award made under this Act, unless the employer establishes, and the trier of fact determines, that the harm was not caused in any way by fault of the employer or a co-employee. Prohibits any third-party tortfeasor from maintaining any action for implied indemnity or contributions against the employer, any co-employee, or the exclusive representative of the injured party. Provides that nothing in this Act shall affect any provision of State or Federal workers' compensation law which: (1) prohibits a person who is or would have been entitled to receive compensation under such law, or any derivative claim, from recovering in any other action against an employer, employer's insurer, co-employee, or exclusive representative; or (2) permits recovery based on an intentional tort by the employer or co-employee. Declares that this Act's restrictions on third-party claim tortfeasors shall not apply and applicable State law shall control if the employer or its insurer, in a product liability action subject to this Act, asserts or attempts to assert, because of provisions relating to its lack of fault under this Act, a right of subrogation, contribution, or implied indemnity against the manufacturer or product seller or a lien against the claimant's recovery from them. Sets forth standards, procedures, and sanctions relating to frivolous pleadings under this Act. Provides for the availability of information under this Act. Provides that U.S. district courts shall not have jurisdiction over any civil action arising under this Act. Requires the court in which any action is brought under this Act, upon the application of any party to the action, to refer the action to mediation, unless the court determines that the action involves novel or unsettled issues of law or is otherwise unsuitable for mediation. Allows the court to impose fees to cover the costs of the mediation. Makes mediation statements, briefs, and summaries inadmissable in any court or any other evidentiary proceeding. Requires the evaluation by the mediation panel to include a separate award for each claim, crossclaim, counterclaim, or third-party claim. Requires each party to file an acceptance or rejection of the panel's award, with special procedures for multiple parties. Requires that the action proceed to trial with respect to any claim for which any party rejects the mediation award. Makes the findings, evaluations, and awards of the panel and the parties' acceptance or rejection inadmissable at trial. Requires the rejecting party to pay the opposing party's costs, upon request, unless the verdict is more favorable to the rejecting party than the mediation award. Requires each State Attorney General and the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts to report to the Attorney General, and the Attorney General to report to the Congress regarding implementation of the mediation provisions of this Act. Sets forth definitions under this Act. Excludes commercial loss from the definition of harm. Defines harm as any of the following caused by a product: (1) personal physical illness, injury, or death; (2) mental anguish or emotional harm caused by or causing personal physical illness or injury; or (3) physical damage to property other than the product itself. Directs the Secretary of Commerce (the Secretary) to report to the Congress on the effect of the implementation of this Act upon the cost and availability of product liability insurance. Sets forth requirements relating to the information on which such report is based. Requires such a report annually for ten years, after which the Secretary shall report on the costs and benefits of continuing such reports and continue them only if so requested by a majority of specified congressional committees. Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress on what information is needed to enable the Congress to measure the effect of product liability reforms on product liability actions. Requires consultation with specified entities in making such report. Requires specified information to be included in such report. Requires the report to be submitted within 18 months after the enactment of this Act. Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress on the effect of this Act upon product liability actions, product manufacturers, and product sellers (including small businesses), claimants, and Federal and State courts. Requires such report to assess specified factors. Requires such a report to be made biennially five times, after which the Secretary shall report on the costs and benefits of continuing such reports and continue them only if so requested by a majority of specified congressional committees. Directs the Secretary, upon determining that sufficient data does not exist to measure the effect of product liability reform on litigation, to report on what information is needed to enable the Congress to measure the effect of product liability reforms on product liability actions. Requires consultation with specified entities in making such report. Requires specified information to be included in such report. Requires the report to be submitted within 18 months after enactment of this Act. Declares that this Act shall not apply to any product liability cause of action arising from the use of a product before the date of enactment of this Act against a person who is a debtor in a case commenced on a specified date under bankruptcy provisions of Federal law.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 1989
Prohibits the Secretary of the Navy from entering into any agreement that would provide for civil aircraft to use the Marine Corps Air Station at El Toro, California, with Navy or Marine Corps aircraft.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 1989
Democracy, Liberty, and Justice in the People's Republic of China Act of 1989 - Imposes the following sanctions against the Government of the People's Republic of China unless and until the President determines and submits a notification to the Congress that such Government has: (1) abandoned its campaign of violence against unarmed civilians; (2) lifted martial law; and (3) made significant progress in providing for democracy, liberty, and justice in Tibet and China. Prohibits: (1) any Government agency from extending any loan, credit, credit guarantee, or insurance to China; and (2) any funds from being made available for activities of the Trade Development Program with respect to China. Urges the Secretary of State to encourage U.S. allies to suspend any of their programs providing similar support to China. Prohibits nondiscriminatory treatment of Chinese products. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. Executive Directors to specified multilateral financial institutions to: (1) oppose any loan, grant, or other form of economic or technical assistance to China; (2) propose and support downgrading China's membership status to that of an observer; and (3) urge other democratic countries to support such actions. Directs the U.S. Trade Representative to instruct the U.S. Representatives to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) to support the suspension of observer status for China at GATT. Bans Government funding for any commercial agreement with China and for U.S. participation in the U.S.-China Joint Committee on Commerce and Trade and the U.S.-China Commission on Trade. Suspends all licenses currently issued for export to China of items on the U.S. Munitions Control List or Commercial Control List. Prohibits the expenditure of Federal funds for the processing or issuance of licenses required to export such items. Directs the Secretary of State to instruct the U.S. Representative to the Coordinating Committee on Multilateral Export Controls (COCOM) to oppose the export of any COCOM-controlled items by any COCOM participating country to China. Urges the Secretary to encourage U.S. allies to join U.S. efforts to oppose such exports and suspend the export of other military items and advanced technology. Authorizes the President to limit the importation of any product or service of a foreign country to the extent to which such country benefits from, or otherwise takes commercial advantage of, any sanction or prohibition imposed under this Act. Prohibits: (1) U.S.-Chinese military cooperation; and (2) funding for U.S. participation under any U.S.-China agreement or protocol on scientific cooperation. Directs the Attorney General to treat sympathetically requests by students from Tibet and China studying in the United States for Extended Voluntary Departure status.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 1989
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Committees on Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means should review the Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act of 1988 and hold hearings in the process of such review.
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 1989
Workers' Political Rights Act of 1989 - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to include political committees among those entities to which contributions by national banks, corporations, or labor organizations are restricted. Provides that communications to its members and their families and the establishment of, and solicitation of contributions for, a separate segregated political fund by a labor organization shall not be considered to be prohibited political contributions or expenditures only if such organization provides to employees it represents written notification of the following information: (1) that no employee is required to join the labor organization, and if the collective bargaining agreement purports to require membership in, or the payment of any amounts to, such organization, the employee instead may pay an agency fee to such organization; (2) the amount of the agency fee for the current year and the amount of union membership dues, initiation fees, and assessments for the current year; (3) that employees who choose to join the union will be subject to the labor organization's reasonable internal rules, regulations, and discipline; (4) that employees who resign from such organization may do so without being subject to internal union discipline for any post-resignation conduct; (5) that the amount of the agency fee for the current year is limited to the employee's pro rata cost of the labor organization's exclusive representation services to the collective bargaining unit; (6) that a procedure is in place to determine those costs which are chargeable to agency fee payors and such procedures are fully explained; and (7) that due regard is given to the fact that the labor organization holds a fiduciary position of trust with respect to the employees it represents and that the rights of employees to associate freely are not infringed any more than necessary for such organization to defray its reasonable costs of providing exclusive representation services. Requires a labor organization which does not provide employees with such notification to finance those political activities which are not considered contributions or expenditures with funds collected for its separate, segregated political fund.
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 1989
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to enter into an agreement for the transfer of specified monkeys used in research at the Institute for Behavioral Research in Silver Spring, Maryland, to Primarily Primates, Inc., an animal sanctuary in San Antonio, Texas, the teaching zoo known as Moorpark College in Moorpark, California, or the San Diego Zoo in San Diego, California.
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 1989
Expresses the sense of the Congress regarding admissions of minority students to institutions of higher education, especially with respect to illegal exclusion and illegal racial discrimination against Asian-Americans and other groups.
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 · 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 · 17 May 1989
Prohibits the President from relinquishing or transferring to any country any land, U.S. territory, exclusive economic zone, fishery conservation zone, or any U.S. claim to such areas unless provided for in a treaty between the United States and such country. Declares that a boundary between the United States and any other country may be established only by treaty.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 1989
Directs the U.S. Postal Service to establish procedures to provide that, upon a written request of the head of any unit of general local government, ZIP code boundaries do not cross the boundaries of such general local government unit. Declares that ZIP code areas having the same first five digits shall be considered to have the same ZIP code in order to apply this Act to areas using more than five digits.
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 · 4 May 1989
Davis-Bacon Reform Act of 1989 - Amends the Davis-Bacon Act to increase from $2,000 to $250,000 the threshold amount subjecting certain contracts to such Act and requiring them to specify the minimum wages to be paid to laborers and mechanics. Directs the Secretary of Labor to establish as the prevailing wage for a class of laborers or mechanics the entire range of wages being paid to a corresponding class of such workers in the particular urban or rural subdivision of the State in which the work is to be performed. Sets out the means for determining such prevailing wage in cases when more than a single wage is being paid to corresponding classes of workers. Excludes from the computation of wages the basic hourly rates of pay for workers on local Federal projects. Establishes a separate classification for helpers of laborers or mechanics, with their prevailing wages to be determined on the basis of the corresponding class of helpers. Prohibits the division of contracts into units of $250,000 or less for purposes of avoiding wage computation under such Act. Provides for administrative enforcement of such prohibition. Applies the increased contract amount threshold for coverage provided in this Act to other related Federal laws which use the Davis-Bacon Act prevailing wage rate determination requirements. Provides that wages found to be due to laborers and mechanics pursuant to the Davis-Bacon Act shall be paid to them directly from accrued payments withheld under the contract, in accordance with specified regulations issued by the Secretary of Labor. (Currently the Comptroller General makes such payments.) Directs the Administrator of General Services (rather than the Comptroller General) to distribute a list to all Federal agencies giving the names of persons or firms that the Secretary of Labor (rather than the Comptroller General) has found to have disregarded their obligations to employees and subcontractors. Amends the Copeland Act to require certain contractors or subcontractors to furnish compliance statements concerning weekly wages at the beginning, midpoint, and conclusion of the period covered by the contract, instead of every week as the wages are paid. Requires such statements at least every three months. Directs the Secretary of Labor and the Comptroller General to submit to the Congress annual reports describing the effects of the Davis-Bacon Act, the Copeland Act, and this Act on local wages and on local and national economies.
United States · United States Congress · 4 May 1989
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the Soviet Union should be held responsible for any use of chemical warfare by the Afghan regime against the mujahideen and should remove the potential for chemical warfare in Afghanistan; and (2) any such use may be cause for the United States to reduce or terminate diplomatic initiatives and economic cooperation with the Soviet Union.
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. Cox, Christopher [R-CA-48]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/c000830_200.jpg)