United States · United States Congress · 23 March 1987
Federal Credit Reform Act of 1987 - Establishes procedures for the budgetary treatment and financing of Federal direct loan and loan guarantee programs. Defines "subsidy" as: (1) the difference between the face value of a direct loan and the estimated proceeds from the sale of the loan in the investment securities markets; and (2) the estimated net cost to the Government to reinsure a loan guarantee with a private insurer. Makes any direct loan obligation of a Federal agency an obligation of the Federal Credit Revolving Fund. Requires each agency to include in its budget proposal for a fiscal year: (1) the planned level of new direct loan obligations; and (2) the estimated subsidy associated with such obligations. Prohibits an agency from making a direct loan obligation unless: (1) funds have been appropriated for the loan subsidy; or (2) the use of funds otherwise available to the agency for the subsidy has been limited. Provides that the subsidy amount shall constitute the obligation of the agency and the difference between such amount and the face value of the loan shall constitute the obligation of the Fund. Requires the subsidy to be paid as the loan is disbursed. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to sell direct loans to the private sector. Makes any loan guarantee commitment of a Federal agency a commitment of the Fund. Requires each agency to include in its budget proposal for a fiscal year: (1) the level of new loan guarantee commitments; and (2) the estimated subsidy associated with such commitments. Prohibits an agency from making a loan guarantee commitment unless: (1) funds have been appropriated for the guarantee subsidy; or (2) the use of funds otherwise available to the agency for the subsidy has been limited. Provides that the subsidy amount shall constitute the obligation of the agency. Requires the subsidy to be paid to the Fund when the underlying loan agreement is executed. Directs the Secretary to purchase reinsurance of loan guarantees from private insurers. Establishes the Fund within the Department of the Treasury to serve as a central revolving fund and financing mechanism for all new Federal direct loans and loan guarantees. Directs the Secretary to receive into the Fund: (1) subsidy payments from Federal agencies; (2) payments due the Government for direct loans; (3) proceeds from the sale of direct loans and from the sale of any collateral received as the result of defaults on direct or guaranteed loans; and (4) fees due the Government for loan guarantees. Sets forth the Secretary's duties in managing the Fund which include: (1) disbursing direct loans to borrowers according to agency loan agreements; (2) making claim payments for guaranteed loans in default that have not been reinsured; (3) identifying separately the credit activity of each agency; (4) requiring uniform reporting by agencies on loan performance, borrower characteristics, and debt collection efforts; and (5) estimating the subsidy amount for each direct loan and loan guarantee. Requires the head of each agency authorized to make or guarantee loans to: (1) request annual appropriations for the subsidized portions of agency loans; (2) conduct loan programs within the lower of appropriations limitations for such programs or annual appropriations available to cover subsidy costs; and (3) pay to the Fund all relevant loan collections. Provides for the budgetary treatment of direct loan and loan guarantee subsidies as agency obligations and of financing requirements of credit programs exceeding agency subsidies as Fund obligations. Authorizes the Secretary to use the proceeds of the sale of any securities issued under the Second Liberty Bond Act to: (1) finance direct loans to the extent not covered by agency subsidy payments and direct loan sales; and (2) pay claims resulting from federally-guaranteed loans, in excess of Fund reserves. Authorizes the appropriation of funds necessary to liquidate debt incurred by the Fund due to operating losses. Authorizes appropriations to agencies for subsidies associated with proposed direct loan obligations and proposed loan guarantee commitments. Includes as "deposit insurance agencies" the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation, the National Credit Union Administration, and the Securities and Exchange Commission. Provides that: (1) obligations of deposit insurance agencies to make direct loans to the public or to assume loan assets shall remain obligations of such agencies; and (2) commitments to guarantee loans shall remain commitments of such agencies. Requires each deposit insurance agency to include in its budget proposal the estimated subsidy costs associated with proposed direct loan obligations and loan guarantee commitments. Requires no appropriations or limitations on the use of funds otherwise available for subsidies. Makes technical and conforming amendments. Prohibits a Federal agency other than the Department of the Treasury from issuing, selling, or guaranteeing an obligation that is ordinarily financed in investment securities markets unless such obligation may be held by only the Secretary. Permits the Secretary to waive such prohibition under specified circumstances. Deems any obligations guaranteed by a Federal agency and financed by the Secretary to be a direct loan of the Fund. Provides that purchases by the Secretary of obligations issued by local public bodies and guaranteed by a Federal agency shall be upon such terms as necessary to avoid an increase in borrowing costs of such bodies. Authorizes such an agency to make payments to the Secretary to offset the Secretary's costs of purchasing such obligations.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1987
Employee Educational Assistance Act of 1987 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent the income tax exclusion for employee educational assistance programs. (Present law terminates such exclusion as of December 31, 1987.) Requires, for every taxable year beginning after 1988, an annual cost of living adjustment of the maximum excludable amount. Waives the maximum excludable amount for any educational assistance furnished by certain educational institutions to graduate students engaged in teaching or research activities for such organization.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1987
Establishes the Veterans Administration as an executive department redesignated as the Department of Veterans' Affairs. Makes technical and conforming changes, including the redesignation of the Administrator of Veterans Affairs as the Secretary of Veterans' Affairs.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1987
Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 with respect to preventing the circumvention of countervailing and antidumping duty orders and findings. Outlines considerations with respect to the applicability of such orders and findings for: (1) products completed or assembled in the United States with parts or components imported from a country covered by such an order or finding; (2) products completed or assembled in a third country prior to importation into the United States; (3) products altered to be removed from a particular tariff classification; and (4) determining whether a later-developed product is subject to an outstanding order or finding.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1987
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to make additional immigrant visas available to aliens of a country whose modified average number of U.S. entry visas during 1956 through 1965 exceeded FY 1985 levels. Allocates such additional visas under the current preference category system. Allocates any remaining unused visas: (1) first, to such preference categories without regard to numerical limits; and (2) second, to nonpreference aliens not to exceed 5,000 per fiscal year.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1987
Information Dissemination and Research Accountability Act - Establishes in the National Library of Medicine a National Center for Research Accountability to assist in eliminating duplication of effort in Federal research proposals involving live animals. Directs the President to appoint as members of the Center 20 experts in the biomedical information sciences who are currently employed by a Federal agency in a capacity which qualifies them to make determinations as to whether research proposals involving live animals are duplicative of other research efforts. Sets forth provisions for a Director of the Center. Prohibits Federal agencies from carrying out or funding any research proposal involving live animals unless the proposal is submitted to the Center following agency approval. Prohibits Federal funding of any such proposal which the Center determines would duplicate other research completed or in process. Authorizes the Center to contract with private entities to assist in the conduct of comprehensive full-text literature searches. Directs the President to establish rules to preclude any conflict of interest in the awarding of such contracts. Authorizes the President to appoint uncompensated advisors to the Members of the Center. Directs the Center to report annually to the President and the Congress. Provides for modernization of biomedical information storage and dissemination by the National Library of Medicine. Directs the Library to: (1) acquire, in full-text form, all biomedical information owned or available for use by Federal agencies (except information already in the Library or classified for national security reasons); (2) transcribe and store in full-text all such information acquired by the Library after January 1, 1960; (3) translate into English all foreign-language biomedical information owned or used by the Library; (4) make available through modern technologies, at cost, to medical libraries all full-text biomedical information in its collection; (5) support, by grants and contracts, the creation of new information for teaching and demonstrations, including audiovisual aids and computer graphics technologies; (6) make available, at cost, such new information to research and teaching institutions; and (7) increase the number of persons trained in modern methods of biomedical information storage and dissemination technologies by making available stipends, awards, and grants to persons engaged in such training. Provides that the cost to those requesting such biomedical or such teaching and demonstration information shall include the Federal expenses incurred in acquiring and making it available. Authorizes the Library to award contracts to the private-sector data recording industry to improve: (1) the development of technologies for storage and dissemination of full-text biomedical information; and (2) dissemination of such information to medical libraries for research use. Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to appoint uncompensated advisors to the Library for purposes of this Act. Requires the Library to report annually to the Congress on its progress. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1986 and thereafter.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1987
WIC Food for Life Resolution - Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) should receive increasing appropriations until all eligible persons are being served; and (2) an outreach program should be conducted to identify persons eligible for WIC assistance.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1987
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should express to the Soviet Union the U.S. opposition to the Soviet Union's slave labor policies by all possible means, including refusing to permit imports of products made by such labor. Requests the President to end the delay in enforcing the restriction against importing goods produced by forced labor.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1987
Commission To Investigate Federal Involvement With the Immigration of Nazi Collaborators Act - Establishes the Commission To Investigate Federal Involvement With the Immigration of Nazi Collaborators. Requires the Commission to determine the extent to which Federal intelligence agencies used deception or violated laws in bringing Nazi war criminals and Axis collaborators into the United States. Sets forth operating and administrative provisions. Requires a report to the Congress within 18 months of the Commission's first meeting. Terminates the Commission 90 days after such report has been filed. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1987
Amends part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of title IV of the Social Security Act to require the withholding of child support payments from the non-custodial parent's wages upon the issuance or modification of a child support order. (Currently, such withholding need not occur until one month of nonpayment has elapsed.) Directs States to establish binding guidelines for child support award amounts. (Currently, such guidelines need not be binding.) Creates a rebuttable presumption that the child support award resulting from the application of such guidelines in a judicial or administrative child support proceeding is correct. Requires States to review and update all child support orders at least once every two years to ensure that they continue to comply with child support award guidelines. Gives the Federal Parent Locator Service and State child support enforcement agencies access to all employment security information in the possession or control of existing data networks. Conditions a State's eligibility for payments under titles IV or XIX (Medicaid) of the Act on its compliance with federally prescribed child support enforcement procedures.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1987
Defense Savings Act - Establishes the Bipartisan Commission on the Consolidation of Military Bases (the Commission) to: (1) review the military importance of all major military installations; and (2) identify which such installations can be closed or realigned without impairing the security of the United States. Outlines administrative procedures concerning membership, staff, meetings, and powers of the Commission. Directs the Commission, within 180 days after the enactment of this Act, to submit to the President, the Secretary of Defense, and each House of the Congress a final report on the findings and conclusions of the Commission. Terminates the Commission 30 days after the submission of such report. Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to take certain specified action with respect to the implementation of the Commission's recommendations.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1987
Competition Savings Act of 1987 - Amends the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act to require the Federal Government to contract with the private sector for the performance of a commercial activity when the cost is lower than the cost of the performance of such activity by the Government. Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to prescribe regulations for such cost comparisons. Requires the Director to publish a commercial activity inventory each fiscal year in the Federal Register. Provides that such inventory shall consist of a list of all commercial activities carried out by full-time Government employees, and the cost of such activities. Requires each executive agency to complete cost comparisons or award contracts for commercial activities which constitute 20 percent of the number of activities listed in the agency's inventory for each fiscal year, beginning with FY 1989. Specifies commercial activities which are exempt from cost comparisons and those eligible for expedited procedures. Sets forth performance deadlines after completion of cost comparisons. Requires the inclusion of cost comparison results in budget requests. Provides for judicial review of decisions resulting from cost comparisons. Makes greater reliance on private sector sources a part of Federal procurement policy.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1987
Defense Select Consolidations Act of 1986 - Title I: Consolidation and Administration of Depot Level Maintenance - Defines "depot level maintenance facility" as a Department of Defense (DOD) facility in which certain maintenance functions are performed and for which there is an extensive capital investment for the performance of such functions. Directs the Secretary of Defense, no later than 180 days after the enactment of this Act, to designate a single manager in DOD to be responsible for the administration of depot level maintenance facilities. Requires the manager, no later than two years after the enactment of this Act, to develop and implement a plan for the consolidation of: (1) depot level maintenance facilities; and (2) the performance of management functions related to such facilities. Requires such plans to be submitted to both the Secretary of Defense and the Inspector General of DOD. Requires the Inspector General to review such plan and make appropriate comments and recommendations to the Secretary. Directs the Secretary, no later than 90 days before the implementation of the plan commences, to submit the plan, together with the Inspector General's comments, to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees. Outlines the functions and control to be exercised by the manager. Directs the Secretaries of the military departments to consult with and make budget requests through the manager for the performance of depot level maintenance functions. Title II: Consolidation of Wholesale Depot Facilities - Defines "wholesale depot facility" as a DOD facility that receives, stores, and issues bulk quantities of materials to the ultimate user of the material. Directs the Secretary of Defense, no later than 180 days after the enactment of this Act, to designate a single manager in DOD to be responsible for the administration and operation of wholesale depot facilities. Requires the manager, no later than two years after the enactment of this Act, to develop and implement a plan for the consolidation of: (1) wholesale depot facilities; and (2) the performance of management functions related to such facilities. Requires such plan to be submitted to both the Secretary of Defense and the Inspector General of DOD. Requires the Inspector General to review such plan and make appropriate comments and recommendations to the Secretary. Directs the Secretary, no later than 90 days before the implementation of the plan commences, to submit the plan, together with the Inspector General's comments, to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees. Title III: Consolidation of Base Support Operations - Defines "base support operations" as various services provided in connection with military bases and installations. Directs the military departments to participate in the Defense Retail Interservice Support Program of the Department of Defense (the Program). Directs the Secretary of Defense to: (1) encourage consolidation of base support operations under the Program in all geographic areas in which there are two or more military installations located within 50 miles of each other; (2) utilize the Program to develop other specified consolidation of base support operations; and (3) submit to the Congress each year, at the same time the President's budget is submitted, the cost of base support operations performed under contract and a summary of planned actions to consolidate and reduce the cost of such operations. Title IV: Unification of Traffic Management - Directs the Secretary of Defense, no later than one year after the enactment of this Act, to establish a unified traffic management command to assume all traffic management functions assigned to the Military Traffic Command, the Military Sealift Command, and the Military Airlift Command. Requires the Secretary, within 180 days after the enactment of this Act, to develop and transmit to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees a plan to establish the unified traffic management command. Repeals a provision of the Department of Defense Authorization Act, 1983 which prohibits the consolidation of the military transportation commands.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1987
Declares that the Congress: (1) extends its appreciation to President Virgillo Barco and the Colombian people for their courage in apprehending Carlos Lehder and extraditing him to the United States; (2) commends President Barco for his courage; (3) urges the Colombian Government to continue its efforts to extinguish the illicit production and trafficking of drugs in that nation; and (4) reaffirms its intention to work with the Colombian Government in combating drug trafficking and drug abuse in both countries.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 1987
Cancer Patients' Employment Rights Act - Makes it an unlawful employment practice for an employer, because of an individual's cancer history, to: (1) fail or refuse to hire or to discharge the individual, or to otherwise discriminate against the individual with respect to compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment; or (2) limit, segregate, or classify employees or applicants for employment in any way which would tend to deprive an individual of employment opportunities or otherwise adversely affect the individual's status as an employee. Makes it an unlawful employment practice for an employment agency to: (1) fail or refuse to refer for employment, or otherwise discriminate against, an individual because of the individual's cancer history; or (2) classify or refer for employment an individual on the basis of the individual's cancer history. Makes it an unlawful employment practice for a labor organization to: (1) exclude or to expel from its membership, or otherwise discriminate against, an individual because of the individual's cancer history; (2) limit, segregate, or classify its membership, or to classify or fail or refuse to refer an individual for employment because of the individual's cancer history; or (3) cause or attempt to cause an employer to discriminate against an individual. Makes it an unlawful employment practice for an employer, labor organization, or joint labor-management committee controlling an apprenticeship, training, or retraining program to discriminate against an individual because of the individual's cancer history in admission to, or employment in, such programs. Declares that it is not an unlawful employment practice to hire individuals on the basis of their cancer history in cases where cancer history is a bona fide occupational qualification. Declares it to be an unlawful employment practice for an employer to give and to act upon the results of a professionally developed ability test if such test is designed or used to discriminate because of cancer history. Provides that nothing in this Act shall be interpreted to require an employer, employment agency, labor organization, or joint labor-management committee to grant preferential treatment to an individual or group because of the individual's or group's cancer history for the purpose of certain numerical comparisons. Describes other unlawful employment practices with respect to individuals with a cancer history, including: (1) retaliation; (2) published job notices; (3) medical examinations and medical information; and (4) reasonable accommodations for such individuals. Requires all personnel actions in the following government entities to be made free from discrimination based on cancer history: (1) military departments; (2) executive agencies; (3) the United States Postal Service and Postal Rate Commission; (4) units of the District of Columbia government having positions in the competitive service; and (5) units of the judicial branch having positions in the competitive service. Empowers the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to enforce this Act and to make investigations and require recordkeeping as appropriate.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 1987
Child Care Act of 1987 - Sets forth congressional findings regarding the child care policies of the country. Title I: Voucher System for Child Care - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to each State which has an approved plan for making vouchers for child care available to individuals whose family income is less than 200 percent of the Federal proverty level and who require such services due to their employment, search for employment, or training for employment. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1988 through 1991. Requires child care providers which are not required by State law to be licensed or certified to register with the State in order to participate in the voucher program. Directs States to make voluntary certification available to child care providers not required to be licensed or certified under State law. Exempts family day care providers (child care providers caring for six or fewer children) which are not required by State law to be licensed or certified from registration requirements if the State demonstrates to the Secretary that not less than 80 percent of the children served by such providers are likely to be served by family day care providers whose names and addresses are recorded by the State. Requires the Secretary to establish criteria, standards, and a timetable for the implementation of these and other specified State voucher plan requirements. Directs the Secretary to reimburse a State for 75 percent of its costs under such plan. Provides for proportional allotments among States based upon the amount each State receives under title XX (Grants to States for Social Services) of the Social Security Act. Permits a State to use title XX funds for the voucher plan. Permits the Secretary to withhold this Act's grant payments from a noncompliant State. Excludes the amount of any voucher from determinations of income or resources for purposes of any Federal or State law. Requires each State to report biennially to the Secretary on the implementation of the plan, including the amounts used on vouchers from title XX funds. Requires the Secretary to submit an analysis of the State reports to the Congress. Title II: Changes in Dependent Care Tax Credit - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for proportionately greater reductions in the dependent care tax credit when a taxpayer's income exceeds $60,000 than when his or her income exceeds $10,000, except where such credit is for care provided to a handicapped individual. Adjusts such dollar figures annually to reflect changes in the cost-of-living. Disallows dependent care tax credits for care paid for with vouchers.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1987
Coal Pipeline Act of 1987 - Amends the Mineral Lands Leasing Act of 1920 to authorize a person who has secured specified water rights under applicable State law to apply to the Secretary of the Interior for certification that it is in the national interest to construct, operate, or extend a coal pipeline. Prescribes guidelines under which the Secretary will make such a certification, including the decision to grant rights-of-way across Federal lands upon such pipeline's request. Conditions such certification upon an applicant's reservation of a specified portion of total pipeline capacity for small, independent producers located in the geographic region served by such pipeline. Makes all Federal and State environmental laws applicable to the issuance or denial of such certification. Outlines the procedures for granting rights-of-way across Federal lands. Proscribes the granting of any right-of-way through lands: (1) designated as wilderness areas; (2) administered as part of the national park system; or (3) which are part of a historic site (unless there is no reasonable alternative and reasonable planning is made to minimize the harm of such site). Prohibits any person or entity (including the United States) from claiming any right or interest in water within any State for a coal pipeline unless such claim takes place under the law of the affected State. Delegates to the States all power regarding water rights for a coal pipeline in spite of any otherwise impermissible burden which may thereby be imposed upon interstate commerce. States that this Act does not: (1) impair the validity of any State law (or interstate compact) regarding any claim to water rights; (2) alter the rights of any State to its apportioned share of water under past or future allocation or interstate compact; (3) affect any Indian water rights; or (4) preempt or otherwise affect any State or Federal law or interstate compact regarding water quality or disposal. Prohibits any State acting under authority of this Act from restricting the movement through such State of water acquired in another State and within a coal pipeline. Authorizes certain persons who have received a certification from the Secretary that it is in the national interest to operate or extend a coal pipeline to acquire rights-of-way through private lands by the power of eminent domain. States this Act shall not be construed to permit any person (including the United States) to acquire any water rights through the power of eminent domain. Prohibits the acquisition of any right-of-way through the power of eminent domain if such right-of-way is upon land which is part of a historic site of national, State, or local significance, unless there is no prudent alternative and reasonable planning is made to minimize harm to such site. Provides for an antitrust review of applications for certification by the Attorney General. Sets forth certification guidelines under which the Secretary shall determine whether construction, operation, or extension of a coal pipeline is in the national interest. Requires each pipeline carrier for which a certification has been issued to provide service on reasonable request. Prohibits such carriers from unreasonably discriminating or refusing to enter into contracts with coal shippers under similar conditions in a contemporaneous period. Requires the Secretary to publish notice of coal pipeline certifications in the Federal Register. States that this Act shall not be construed to modify or preempt the ratemaking authority of any State utility regulatory agency. Requires the Secretary to establish uniform Federal standards for coal pipeline safety. Establishes penalties for failure to comply with such safety standards.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1987
Title I: General Provisions - Homeless Housing Assistance Act of 1985 - Defines specified terms for purposes of this Act. Title II: Emergency Food and Shelter Program - Requires the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), as soon as practicable after September 30, 1987, to constitute an emergency food and shelter program national board of volunteer agencies. Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to constitute a similar board by March 30, 1988. Transfers, as of such date, the personnel, property, records, and undistributed program funds of the FEMA board to such board. States that such boards shall distribute program funds to localities (which shall constitute local boards) with the greatest need for emergency food and housing assistance. Requires the local board to submit to the national board an annual local homeless housing assistance plan. Limits administrative costs to not more than three percent of appropriations. Authorizes FY 1988 through 1990 appropriations. Title III: Transition to Independence Demonstration Project - Directs the Secretary to make grants for demonstration projects to assist the homeless in the transition to independent living. Limits Federal participation to up to 75 percent of project costs. Requires interim and final reports to the Congress. Authorizes FY 1988 through 1990 appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1987
Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to provide that certain assisted housing fair market rental and voucher payment calculations for Westchester County in the State of New York shall be the same as those for Nassau and Suffolk Counties in such State.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1987
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow the use of distributions from individual retirement accounts and individual retirement annuities for the purchase of a principal home by a first-time homebuyer.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1987
Omnibus Family Decency Protection Act of 1987 - Amends the Federal criminal code to provide criminal penalties for the distribution of obscene matter. Subjects such obscene material, and any property derived from such material, to forfeiture. Provides criminal penalties for obscene television broadcasts. Requires any person who produces, distributes, or sells any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct to maintain records containing proof of ages of the persons depicted and consent forms from such persons. Provides criminal penalties for violations of such recordkeeping requirements. Provides criminal penalties for producing a visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct using performers between the ages of 18 and 21. Provides criminal penalties for using a computer network to exchange information concerning visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to provide criminal penalties for making an obscene or indecent telephone communication for commercial purposes. (Current law provides such criminal penalties if made to a minor or to a person without his or her consent.) Amends the National Labor Relations Act to make the employment of any person to participate in a commercial sexual performance an unfair labor practice. Amends the Mann Act to make certain offenses gender neutral.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1987
Merchant Marine Decorations and Medals Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to award decorations and medals for individual acts or service in the U.S. merchant marine. Permits the Secretary of Transportation to award: (1) a Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal for outstanding acts beyond the line of duty; (2) a Merchant Marine Meritorious Service Medal for meritorious acts, but lacking the outstanding character required for the Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal; (3) a decoration or medal for service during a war or operations outside the United States under conditions of danger to life; and (4) a decoration or medal to an individual for acts of conspicuous gallantry. Permits the Secretary of Transportation to issue a Gallant Ship Award for actions during marine disasters aimed at saving lives or property. Requires consultation with the Secretary of State before issuance of an award or citation to a foreign-flag vessel. Prohibits the Secretary of Transportation from awarding more than one of any type of decoration or medal to an individual. Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to provide at cost or authorize for manufacture and sale at reasonable prices: (1) decorations an medals for individual acts or service in the merchant marine; and (2) replacements for decorations and medals issued under a prior law. Permits the Secretary of Transportation to issue without cost a U.S. flag and a grave marker to the family of a deceased individual who served in the merchant marine in World War II or in support of the armed forces in subsequent wars or national emergencies. Establishes a civil penalty of $2,000 for unauthorized display, manufacture, possession, or sale of a decoration or medal. Repeals the Merchant Marine Medals Act.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1987
Irrigation Subsidy Reform Act of 1987 - Amends the Reclamation Projects Act of 1939 to require the Secretary of the Interior to charge full cost for the delivery of water used in the production of any surplus agricultural commodity.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1987
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the promotion of unrestricted family visits between related people of the United States and the Soviet Union is an essential part of American policy toward the Soviet Union; and (2) the President, the Secretary of State, and other administration members should raise the issue of family visitation at all appropriate opportunities in discussions with leaders of the Communist Party and the Government of the Soviet Union.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1987
Expresses the sense of the Congress that each State should develop a curriculum for instructing school children in the history of the Nazi rise to power in Germany, the social and economic forces which were the foundations of Nazism, and the resulting horrors which were perpetrated against humanity by the Nazis.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1987
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the United Nations, and in particular the Human Rights Commission, should include among its highest priorities of its human rights agenda consideration of the question of human rights in Cuba.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1987
Military Whistleblowers Protection Act - Amends Federal armed forces provisions relating to communications with a Member of Congress to also prohibit any person from restricting a member of the armed forces in communicating with an Inspector General, except for communications that are prohibited by statute. Prohibits retaliatory personnel actions against a member for making or preparing to make such a communication. Directs the Inspector General of the Department of Defense (or of the Department of Transportation, with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy) to promptly investigate any allegation that a prohibited personnel action has taken place or been threatened with respect to any communication to a Member of Congress or Inspector General complaining or disclosing information reasonably believed to evidence a violation of law, mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety. Requires the Inspector General, within ten days after completing such an investigation, to report the results to the Secretary of Defense. Allows a member, within 30 days after receipt of a copy of such investigative report, to petition the appropriate military board for correction of his or her military record concerning the matter. Entitles members to legal assistance by a judge advocate in any such matter before a military corrections board. Provides administrative procedures for the hearing of such petitions, together with appropriate corrective and disciplinary action to be taken. Provides for judicial review of any order resulting from such hearing, if petitioned for within 60 days after notice of the hearing's result. Provides a statute of limitations for the bringing of any such action by a member of the armed forces.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1987
Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to increase the sums authorized to be appropriated for drug law enforcement programs. Provides additional limitations on the allocation of funds for discretionary grants under such programs.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 1987
Equitable Automobile Transportation Act of 1987 - Directs a person shipping foreign vehicles from Japan or South Korea into the United States to transport an equal number of such vehicles on U.S. vehicle carriers that the person ships on foreign vessels. Requires shippers to file a bill of lading with the Secretary of Transportation for every shipment of foreign vehicles brought into the United States. Directs the Secretary to prescribe regulations to enforce this Act. Authorizes the Secretary to reduce such required equal percentage for a temporary period, under certain conditions. Provides penalties for the violation of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 1987
Professional Medical Liability Reform Act of 1987 - Establishes within the Department of Justice a program to fund the creation and operation of State medical liability arbitration panels. Confers upon such panels original and exclusive jurisdiction to hear all claims of medical malpractice that are not against the United States. Catalogs the powers of the panels. Sets forth standards applicable to panel decisions, including provisions relating to choice of law, timetable to govern decisionmaking, criteria relating to expert witnesses, and guidelines for the transmission of a written decision to the parties. Permits admission of evidence of collateral sources of compensation for injuries and requires a mandatory offset of amounts from such sources against damage awards. Authorizes panels to dismiss frivolous claims. Directs panels to determine the amount of damages owed to the plaintiff by a defendant found to be professionally negligent. Permits States to provide judicial enforcement of such damage awards if not promptly paid. Limits recovery for noneconomic loss to a maximum of $250,000, with provision for a cost of living adjustment every three years. Authorizes periodic payment of awards under certain circumstances. Prescribes procedures and standards to govern judicial review of a panel decision. Requires the panel to report to the State insurance commissioner and to the appropriate licensing or certification body within 30 days in cases when a defendant has been found guilty of professional negligence or when a settlement agreement is reached. Requires that the appropriate board make such report available for public inspection and that the commissioner promptly notify each liability insurance provider in the State concerning findings of negligence and the terms of any settlement agreement. Permits the State to authorize liability insurance providers to adjust their rates for persons found liable by a panel or who have entered into certain settlement agreements. Establishes a schedule of attorney fees in professional negligence actions. Provides for installment payment of such fees according to a formula specified in this Act. Subjects an attorney violating fee provisions to civil liability, with jurisdiction over such actions granted to Federal district courts. Requires each State to establish programs to: (1) study the causes of professional negligence in the interest of developing means to prevent or reduce its incidence; (2) review the authority and operations of State medical liability claims plans, risk management bodies, and appropriate health care professional licensing or certification entities; and (3) develop educational materials relating to professional negligence and standards of health care practice. Directs the State health commissioner to develop programs to identify, investigate, and report on incidents of professional negligence and to encourage facilities to take action to prevent future negligence. Fixes a statute of limitations for professional negligence actions. Encourages States to permit parties to a claim filed with a panel to enter into a settlement agreement at any time prior to a panel decision. Subjects such a settlement to the same attorney fee schedule that governs panel decisions. Directs the Attorney General to make specified payments to States eligible for medical liability panel funds according to a specified timetable and schedule. Requires the Governor of a recipient State to report to the Attorney General within one year after receipt of payment concerning the use of such payment. Authorizes the Attorney General to determine the allocation of funds to qualifying States and prescribes guidelines for such determinations. Empowers the Attorney General to make decisions concerning compliance with this Act, termination of allocations and repayment of funds in the event of noncompliance, and reallocation of funds according to guidelines in this Act. Sets forth procedures, a timetable, and standards to govern application by the Governor of any State for the certification of programs to qualify a State for funding under this Act. Makes decisions by the Attorney General concerning noncompliance, the termination of allocations, State repayment of funds, and the reallocation of funds final and not subject to judicial review. Directs the Attorney General to promulgate regulations to implement the provisions of this Act. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a national data base and computer tracking system to monitor health professionals sanctioned for disciplinary reasons. Requires State health professions licensing or certification boards to report instances of disciplinary action to the Secretary within 30 days after such action. Authorizes appropriations beginning in FY 1988.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 1987
Federal Hospital System Sharing Act of 1987 - Amends Federal veterans' benefits provisions to allow, under a health care sharing agreement, an individual who is eligible to receive direct health care in a facility of one agency (either the Veterans Administration or the Department of Defense) to be furnished such care at the facility of the other agency. Revises the definition of the term "beneficiary" for purposes of eligibility for such benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 1987
Assimilative Crimes Act Amendments of 1987 - Amends the Federal criminal code to provide that the criminal penalty for operating a motor vehicle under the influence of a drug or alcohol in a special maritime or territorial jurisdiction of the United States shall be the punishment provided under the law of that State, territory, possession, or district. States that whoever operates a motor vehicle in such a jurisdiction consents to certain tests if arrested for driving under the influence of a drug or alcohol. States that any person refusing to submit to such tests shall be denied the privilege of operating a motor vehicle for one year.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 1987
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a deduction for expenses related to preparation of withholding certificates. Requires that a person who filed such certificate knew it to be false or fraudulent before the imposition of civil penalties. Establishes a transition period for imposition of such penalties.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 1987
Amends the Federal criminal code to provide a mandatory life sentence (except when the death penalty is invoked) for any person convicted of gathering or delivering defense information to a foreign government.