United States · United States Congress · 30 January 1990
Judicial Integrity and Independence Act of 1990 - Authorizes the Attorney General to petition the Chief Justice of the United States to appoint three judges within the Federal judiciary to determine whether a Federal judge (other than the Chief Justice or an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court) has engaged in conduct constituting a felony under U.S. law and should be removed from office for lack of good behavior. Requires the Chief Justice to make the requested appointments within 30 days after receipt of the petition. Authorizes the Attorney General, within 30 days after receiving notification of appointment of the three-judge court, to file a civil action to remove an accused judge. Specifies that a Federal judge is removable under this Act only by unanimous vote of such court and that such decision shall be final and unreviewable. Abates any civil removal action if the House of Representatives votes an article of impeachment against the accused judge. Makes the civil removal powers of this Act inapplicable to Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1990
Provides that no interest shall be imposed on any underpayment of tax for a taxable year beginning in 1987 that is attributable to an amendment made by the Technical and Miscellaneous Revenue Act of 1988 denying the deduction for personal exemptions under the alternative minimum tax.
United States · United States Congress · 21 November 1989
Amends Federal law to authorize and request the President to designate May as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month annually, beginning in 1990. (Current law designates a seven-day period beginning on May 4, 1979).
United States · United States Congress · 21 November 1989
Rehabilitation Act Drug Abuse Accountability Amendments of 1989 - Amends the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (the Act), with respect to nondiscrimination in employment under Federal contracts or in federally assisted programs, to exclude from the definition of "individual with handicaps": (1) (except in drug treatment programs) any current user of an illegal drug, when the discriminatory conduct involved is carried out against the individual on the basis of such use; (2) any alcoholic or user of a legal drug whose current use of alcohol or legal drugs either constitutes a direct threat to property or the safety of others or prevents the individual from meeting performance standards or eligibility requirements; (3) students who currently use or possess alcohol or any illegal drug (thus permitting local educational agencies to take disciplinary actions); and (4) any individual with a currently contagious disease or infection which either constitutes a direct threat to the health or safety of others or prevents the individual from meeting performance standards or eligibility requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 21 November 1989
Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to declare that contributions, gifts, or payments by union members or by officials or employees of national banks or corporations to a separate fund which is used for political purposes must be voluntary and unrelated to monies required as a condition of employment. Declares it to be unlawful to use monies paid to an organization as a condition of employment, or money or anything of value secured by force, job discrimination, or financial reprisal, for any type of election or campaign activity by such organization.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 1989
National Forest Hunter Safety and Protection Act of 1989 - Prescribes civil penalties for knowingly interfering with the conduct of a lawful hunt in a national forest or on lands affected with a Federal interest. Authorizes injunctive relief, the recovery of actual and punitive damages, and the awarding of attorney's fees. Grants hunting and sportsman's organizations standing under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 1989
Pornography Victims' Compensation Act of 1989 - Creates a cause of action against a producer, distributor, exhibitor, or seller of sexually explicit material by a victim of a rape, sexual assault, or sexual crime, or by the estate, guardian, or survivors of any such victim. Conditions the recovery of damages on proof by a preponderance of the evidence that: (1) the victim was a victim of a rape, sexual assault, or a sexual crime; (2) the material is obscene, in the case of sex crimes, is sexually explicit and violent, or in the case of sex crimes against minors, depicts minors participating in sexually explicit activity and was a proximate cause of the offense; and (3) the defendant is a producer or distributor of the material or exhibited or sold it to the sexual offender and should have known that the material was obscene, in the case of sex crimes, is sexually explicit and violent, or, in the case of sex crimes against minors, depicts minors participating in sexually explicit activity. Sets forth criteria by which the finder of fact may reasonably infer that such material was a proximate cause of the offense, including unusual similarities between the acts depicted and the actual offense, testimony of the offender, and testimony of experts who have examined the offender that such material influenced or incited the commission of the offense. Authorizes the award of damages for economic loss, compensation for pain and suffering, reasonable attorney's fees, and costs to prevailing plaintiffs. Sets a statute of limitations of six years from the date the right of action first accrued or, in the case of a legal disability, not later than three years after the termination of such disability.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 1989
Amends the Rail Passenger Service Act to repeal an exemption from specified communicable disease control requirements of the Public Health Service Act for waste disposal from railroads operating in intercity rail passenger service. Prohibits the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) from discharging waste from its trains except at servicing areas approved by the Commissioner of Food and Drugs. Requires Amtrak to impose a service charge on its passengers to cover costs incurred by it in complying with this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 19 November 1989
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the treatment of rental and nonrental real estate activities under the limitations on losses from passive activities.
United States · United States Congress · 19 November 1989
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that payment under a life insurance contract to an insured who is terminally ill be treated as a death benefit, making such payment eligible for tax exclusion from gross income. Provides that any reference to life insurance shall be treated as referring to a qualified terminal illness rider. Provides for the tax treatment of such riders. Describes such a rider as one which provides for payments to an insured upon the insured's becoming terminally ill.
United States · United States Congress · 17 November 1989
Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to require the United States Trade Representative to impose practices that prohibit or limit the foreign investment in the United States on those foreign countries that have similar practices against U.S. investment.
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 1989
Amends the Federal bankruptcy code to prohibit a bankruptcy court from approving a debtor's bankruptcy plan unless it provides that any debts payable for restitution in a criminal case will be paid in accordance with the court order.
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 1989
Amends the Federal bankruptcy code to prohibit the bankruptcy court from granting the discharge of any debt constituting a fine or forfeiture payable to a governmental unit.
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 1989
Amends the Fair Housing Act to repeal the requirements that certain housing have special facilities and services to quality as housing for older persons under such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 14 November 1989
Newspaper Incentive Recycling Conservation Act of 1989 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to deny the use of the accelerated cost recovery system for determining the depreciation deduction for major newspapers that are not using the required percentage of recycled newsprint. Reduces the deduction for trade or business expenses for major newspapers that do not use such required percentage. Establishes an investment tax credit for recycling equipment.
United States · United States Congress · 13 November 1989
Amends the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 to require the Council on Environmental Quality to promulgate regulations governing the implementation of such Act by Federal agencies, to include requirements for notification procedures for, and public review and cost-effective preparation and dissemination of, environmental impact statements.
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1989
Declares that no person who is a retired regular officer of the U.S. armed forces shall be considered as holding a public office for purposes of provisions that require anyone who destroys public records to forfeit public office and be disqualified from holding office.
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1989
Directs the heads of Federal departments or agencies which hold or receive records and information which have or could possibly have been correlated to U.S. personnel listed as prisoners of war or missing in action in World War II and the Korean and Vietnam conflicts to publicly disclose such records and information, except where such disclosure would compromise national security. Requires the Department of Defense to publicly disclose a complete list of such personnel including those killed in action (body not returned) in such hostilities with each service member's current classification as well as any changes in such classification occurring during or after such hostilities.
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1989
Constitutional Amendment - Declares that nothing in the Constitution shall prohibit the inclusion of voluntary prayer in any public school program or activity. Provides that neither the United States nor any State shall prescribe the content of any such prayer.
United States · United States Congress · 2 November 1989
Benjamin Franklin Memorial Fire Service Bill of Rights Act - Title I: Minting of Benjamin Franklin National Memorial Commemorative Coin - Benjamin Franklin National Memorial Commemorative Coin Act - Provides for the sale of Benjamin Franklin commemorative coins at a surcharge of which 25 percent shall be paid to the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial and the remainder be distributed in specified percentages to the National Fire Center and Museum Account, the National Hero Scholarship Account, the Firefighter's Tuition Assistance Account, the Hazardous Materials Response Computer Account, the In Search of Excellence Research and Education Account, and the Burn Research Grant Account of the Firefighter Assistance Trust Fund (Fund). Prohibits the issuance of such coins from resulting in any net cost to the Federal government. Title II: Fire Service Bill of Rights - Fire Service Bill of Rights Act - Amends the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 to establish a fire service bill of rights. Establishes the National Fire Center and Museum in the District of Columbia to provide information about the fire service and safety to the public and fire services. Funds such museum exclusively through the Fund. Establishes a National Hero Scholarship to fund the higher education of the children or spouse of a deceased firefighter. Establishes a scholarship providing tuition assistance to firefighters for higher education in fire safety or protection. Authorizes the Administrator of the United States Fire Administration to use amounts in the In Search of Excellence Research and Education Account of the Fund to fund other specified programs under the Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974. Establishes the Firefighters Assistance Trust Fund. Places the National Academy for Fire Prevention and Control within the United States Fire Administration. Directs the Administrator to use funds from the Hazardous Materials Response Computer Account of the fund to procure computer equipment for fire services that want such equipment. Directs the Administrator to make a grant from the Burn Research Grant Account of the Fund to one national firefighter's burn foundation dedicated to reducing burn injuries. Requires the Administrator to prepare and make available to State fire marshals, upon request, a manual describing Federal procedures for disposing of surplus property and highlighting how fire services could obtain such property. Directs the Administrator to distribute to such marshals information on the infectious diseases to which firefighters are particularly vulnerable.
United States · United States Congress · 2 November 1989
Makes the official expenses allowance of each Member of the House of Representatives available for the testing of such Member and his or her clerk hire employees for abuse of controlled substances.
United States · United States Congress · 1 November 1989
Expresses the sense of the Congress that railroad retirement benefits are exempt from reduction under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) and that supplemental annuities payable under the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 and sequestered under a specified presidential order should be restored.
United States · United States Congress · 19 October 1989
Amends the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to prohibit the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration from refusing to issue or renew an airman's certificate, or terminate the employment of an airman, solely by reason of the airman's age if such person is under the age of 65.
United States · United States Congress · 19 October 1989
Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance and Prevention Formula Grant Amendments Act of 1989 - Amends the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act to establish a formula grant program for homeless housing assistance to eligible States, metropolitan cities, or urban counties.
United States · United States Congress · 19 October 1989
Small Business Access Improvement Act of 1989 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for small businesses for the expense of providing public accommodations access to the disabled. Reduces the tax deduction for expenditures to remove architectural and transportation barriers to the handicapped and elderly.
United States · United States Congress · 19 October 1989
Declares it is in the interests of the United States to support efforts to protect South Pacific marine resources (including albacore tuna, porpoises, whales, seals and other marine mammals, birds, sea turtles, and fish) from the slaughter of driftnet fishing. Supports the Tarawa Declaration and the South Pacific Commission resolution calling for an immediate ban on driftnet fishing in the South Pacific. Urges the Secretary of State to work toward an international convention banning driftnet fishing in the South Pacific. Urges Japan and Taiwan to immediately cease the use of driftnets in international South Pacific waters.
United States · United States Congress · 18 October 1989
Amends the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to prohibit discrimination against any individual with respect to entrance to wilderness areas because of disability. Allows a wheelchair to be used in wilderness areas, notwithstanding provisions of the Wilderness Act prohibiting the use of mechanical transport in such areas.
United States · United States Congress · 18 October 1989
Long-Term Care Insurance for the Elderly Act of 1989 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow tax-free distributions from an individual retirement account or an individual retirement annuity for the purchase of long-term care insurance coverage when: (1) the entire amount received is used to buy such insurance for the individual or individual's spouse within 90 days of its receipt; and (2) the individual or individual's spouse has reached age 59 and one-half by the date of the distribution. Describes the method, based on the taxpayer's adjusted gross income for the taxable year, for determining the applicable percentage of the distribution or payment amount to which tax-free treatment will be accorded. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to submit to the Congress, within one year after this Act's enactment, a proposal for the regulation of long-term care insurance policies, including minimum standards and an evaluation of the various catastrophic and long-term care policies currently available.
United States · United States Congress · 12 October 1989
California Desert Conservation Act of 1989 - Title I: Wilderness Additions - Designates 81 wilderness areas in California as additions to the National Wilderness Preservation System. Releases certain non-designated areas administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) within the California Desert District and the Yuma District from otherwise applicable restrictions. Prohibits the Secretary of the Interior from conducting any future wilderness studies of land released from wilderness review unless authorized by the Congress. Title II: Preservation of California Desert Back Country Trails - Establishes the California Desert Back Country Trails System. Designates the following trails as components of such trail system: (1) the Mojave Trail/Old Government Road; (2) the Heritage Trail; (3) the Tonapah and Tidewater Railroad Right-of-Way Route; (4) the Bradshaw Trail; (5) the de Anza Trail; (6) the Butterfield Stage Route; (7) the Yuma to Picacho Road; and (8) the Old Spanish Road. Title III: Withdrawal of Military Lands - Withdraws from appropriation under public land laws, but not the mineral and geothermal leasing laws, and reserves for military use by the Department of the Navy specified lands in California known as the China Lake Naval Weapons Center in Inyo, Kern, and San Bernardino Counties and Chocolate Mountain in Imperial County. Requires the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary), every five years, to determine which such lands are suitable for opening to the operation of mining and mineral leasing laws. Opens such lands to such operation. Requires the Secretary to close such lands for purposes of national security. Provides that patents issued for locatable minerals shall convey title to such minerals only and shall reserve to the United States the surface of all patented lands and all nonlocatable minerals. Requires the Secretary to manage nonmilitary uses of, and to be responsible for, all easements, leases, permits, and rights-of-way over, the lands withdrawn and reserved under this Act. Authorizes the Secretary and the Secretary of the Navy to continue cooperative management practices over such lands. Requires the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the Secretary of the Navy, to develop a land use plan and management program for Chocolate Mountain and China Lake within five years after this Act's enactment. Requires the Secretary of the Navy to report annually on the natural resource status of China Lake's lands to the Secretary. Provides that the Secretary of the Navy shall have the authority to control the military use of the lands withdrawn and reserved under this Act. Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to close roads and trails for military operations or safety or security purposes. Requires the Secretary of the Navy to prevent and suppress brush and range fires with reimbursable assistance from the Bureau of Land Management. Makes the Secretary of the Navy responsible for the management of wild horses and burros on China Lake and allows the Secretary of the Navy to utilize mineral resources for construction needs. Requires the Secretaries to enter into a memorandum of understanding to implement the plan and program developed for Chocolate Mountain. Declares that land withdrawals are not intended to: (1) withdraw any water for specified defense related uses; (2) affect future appropriation of water on such lands; and (3) affect water rights acquired by the Department of Defense prior to the enactment of this Act for use in military operations at China Lake and Chocolate Mountain. Terminates land withdrawals under this Act 25 years after this Act's enactment. Requires the Secretary of the Navy to maintain a decontamination program for such lands during their withdrawal. Requires the Secretary of the Navy to report annually to the appropriate congressional committees on such decontamination efforts. Requires the Secretary of the Navy to notify the Secretary, at least three years before the termination of the withdrawal, whether an extension is going to be requested and, if not, to what extent such lands are contaminated with hazardous materials. Requires the Secretary of the Navy to decontaminate relinquished lands, but if such decontamination is not practicable or economically feasible, authorizes the Secretary to refuse to accept such lands. Requires the Secretary of the Navy to then: (1) warn the public of risks of entry; (2) conduct only decontamination activities on such lands after the expiration of the withdrawal; and (3) report to the Secretary and the Congress on the status of such lands. Directs the Secretary to publish the acceptance of withdrawn lands, indicating when such lands will be open and under what conditions. Exempts the United States from liability for injuries or damages resulting from nonmilitary activity on withdrawn lands. Amends the Military Lands Withdrawal Act of 1986 to correct "Barry M. Goldwater Air Force Base" to read "Luke Air Force Base" as a depository for certain maps and legal descriptions of public lands withdrawn for military purposes. Authorizes an extension of the Navy's use of the El Centro Ranges in Imperial County, California, through 1989, subject to resource protection requirements. Directs the Secretary to complete land exchanges between the Nature Conservancy and the Bureau of Land Management concerning the Coachella Valley Preserve. Continues the status of the U.S. Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center in the Toiyabe National Forest, California, as both a training center and as part of such Forest, subject to resource protection requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 5 October 1989
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to permit the Secretary of Health and Human Services to reimburse fiscal intermediaries and carriers for administrative costs on other than a reasonable charge basis.
United States · United States Congress · 4 October 1989
Global Environmental Standards Reporting Act - Directs the Environmental Protection Agency to report annually to the Congress on: (1) environmental laws in major trading countries, including members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Brazil, Mexico, South Korea, and Taiwan; (2) progress in compliance with such laws in such countries and the United States; and (3) governmental financial assistance, including tax incentives, grants, and low interest loans to industry to achieve compliance with such laws.
United States · United States Congress · 3 October 1989
Denounces the action taken on October 2, 1989, by the European Community (EC) Council of Ministers in adopting a broadcasting directive that is trade restrictive and in violation of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). Urges the President and the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to take appropriate steps, including possible action under the Trade Act of 1974, to protect and maintain U.S. access to the EC broadcasting market. Requests the USTR to consult regularly with the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives on the status of the dispute and any action which it is considering with respect to such dispute.
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 1989
Amends the Rail Passenger Service Act to repeal an exemption from specified communicable disease control requirements of the Public Health Service Act for waste disposal from railroads operating in intercity rail passenger service.
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 1989
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to restrict the partial exclusion from income of interest on loans used to acquire employer securities to cases where the employee stock ownership plan owns at least 20 percent of: (1) each class of outstanding stock of the issuing corporation; or (2) the total value of all outstanding stock of the corporation. Limits securities acquisition loans to terms of 15 years. Limits the partial exclusion to loans of $100,000,000 or less except for employee stock ownership plans that own at least 50 percent the corporation's stock. Imposes an excise tax on: (1) the disposition of employer securities within three years of acquisition; and (2) any disposition of such securities before allocation to participant accounts, where the proceeds of disposition are not allocated to such accounts either.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 1989
Directs the Federal Open Market Committee of the Federal Reserve System to pursue monetary policies to: (1) gradually reduce inflation in order to eliminate it within five years from the date of enactment of this Act; and (2) maintain price stability. States that inflation will be deemed to be eliminated when the expected rate of price changes ceases to be a factor in individual and business decisionmaking. Directs the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to explain in its semiannual report to the Congress the relationship of its monetary policy plans to the maintenance of price stability.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 1989
Larkin I. Smith Narcotic Committee Reorganization Resolution - Amends rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives to establish the Committee on Narcotics Abuse and Control.
United States · United States Congress · 21 September 1989
Prohibits the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from enforcing, during the 12-month period following the enactment of this Act, its underground petroleum storage tank financial responsibility regulations promulgated pursuant to the Solid Waste Disposal Act with respect to certain underground tank owners. Permits enforcement after such period if the Administrator of the EPA determines that such enforcement would not impose an unjust economic burden on the owners. Requires the Administrator to conduct a study for the purpose of identifying the principal economic difficulties associated with compliance by underground tank owners with EPA technical standards for such tanks. Directs the Administrator to report the results of such study to specified congressional committees. Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to: (1) delete the requirement that regulations under such Act include provisions for compensation of third parties for injury and property damage caused by accidental releases from underground storage tanks; and (2) reduce financial responsibility requirements for specified underground petroleum storage tanks.
United States · United States Congress · 21 September 1989
Assault Weapon Crime Act of 1989 - Provides for enhanced penalties for the possession or use of certain semiautomatic center fire firearms with ammunition clip capacity of eight or more rounds or pump action or semiautomatic short-barrelled shotguns during a crime of violence or a drug trafficking crime.
United States · United States Congress · 21 September 1989
Amends rule XXII of the Rules of the House of Representatives to provide that no bill or resolution, and no amendment to any bill or resolution, establishing or expressing any special interest commemoration may be received or considered in the House.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 1989
Congressional and Judicial Equal Employment Opportunity Act of 1989 - Amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to require that personnel actions affecting employees or applicants in the legislative and judicial branches of the Government be free from any discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, handicap, or age. Allows Members of Congress to take into consideration an individual's domicile and political affiliation. Establishes within the judicial branch an Employment Review Board. Provides that members of the Board be appointed from the retired judges of the Supreme Court and Courts of Appeals. Authorizes an aggrieved individual to file a written complaint with the Board. Establishes procedures for the Board to investigate, settle, hear, and determine the claims alleged. Provides that if a violation is found an order for relief may compel the defendant to: (1) employ or reinstate such individual on such terms and conditions as may be appropriate, except that the Board may not compel any committee or Member of Congress to employ or reinstate, or modify the terms and conditions of employment of, any individual; (2) pay compensatory damages; and (3) pay fees and allowances of witnesses and reasonable attorneys' fees. Authorizes the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to review, enjoin, set aside, suspend, modify, or enforce orders of the Board. Requires members of the Board to submit written reports to the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of the House of Representatives and the Senate Select Committee on Ethics describing complaints during the reporting period.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 1989
Expresses the sense of the Congress that illegal aliens should not be counted in the 1990 decennial census for purposes of congressional reapportionment.
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 · 12 September 1989
Designates October 27, 1989, as National Hostage Awareness Day in recognition of the 42d birthday of Terry Anderson and his fifth year in captivity. States that efforts should be made to have such date declared International Hostage Day by the United Nations. States that all Federal and international agencies should increase efforts to secure the release of the remaining hostages in Lebanon. Calls for prayer on such date for the release of all U.S. and foreign hostages in Lebanon.
![Official portrait of Rep. Dannemeyer, William E. [R-CA-39]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/d000044_200.jpg)