United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1991
Desert Shield Burden-Sharing Act of 1991 - Directs the President to determine whether each foreign country that receives trade benefits from the United States is making a commensurate contribution to the multinational military mobilization carried out in response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Requires the President to impose an additional duty to dutiable products and a duty to duty-free products of countries that are found not to be contributing to the mobilization. Provides for the termination of such duties. Establishes the Desert Shield Reimbursement Fund to receive duties collected under this Act. Makes the Fund available solely to reimburse appropriations made to support U.S. participation in the mobilization.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1991
Petroleum Producers Burden Sharing Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reinstate the windfall profit tax on domestic crude oil. Terminates such tax: (1) after the expiration of the first four calendar quarters beginning after the date of enactment of this section; or (2) after the expiration of the first six such calendar quarters, if the President determines that a continuing energy price crisis exists. Establishes the Low Income Energy Support Trust Fund to fund the grant program under the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 and the weatherization program under the Energy Conservation in Existing Buildings Act of 1976. Transfers to such Fund 33 percent of the taxes received from the windfall profit tax on domestic crude oil.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1991
Amends the National Labor Relations Act and the Railway Labor Act to make it an unfair labor practice for an employer to offer or grant: (1) permanent replacement employee status during a labor dispute; or (2) any employment preference to an individual who worked or indicated a willingness to work during a labor dispute over an employee who exercised specified rights during such dispute and who is working for, or has unconditionally offered to return to work for, the employer.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1991
Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act - Makes it unlawful for any licensed importer, manufacturer, or dealer to sell, deliver, or transfer a handgun to an unlicensed individual unless: (1) after the most recent proposal of such transfer by the individual, the transferor has received a statement of eligibility from the individual, has notified the chief law enforcement officer for such individual's place of residence about the proposed transfer, and either has received a response indicating that such transfer is not prohibited by law or has not received a response indicating otherwise within seven days; (2) the individual has presented to the transferor a statement from the officer, issued in the past ten days, that the individual requires a handgun because of a threat to him or his family; (3) the individual has presented to the transferor a permit to possess a handgun that has been issued in the past five years by the State in which the transfer is to take place under a State law which requires law enforcement verification of the individual's legal qualification to possess a handgun; (4) State law either requires a waiting period of at least seven days or requires that an authorized government official verifies that the information available to such official does not indicate that possession of a handgun by the purchaser would be unlawful; or (5) the transferor has received a report from any system of felon identification established by the Attorney General under the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 that the individual's possession or receipt of the handgun would not violate Federal, State, or local law. Requires the statement of eligibility to include a statement that the individual: (1) is not under indictment for and has not been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year; (2) is not a fugitive; (3) is not an unlawful user of, or addicted to, a controlled substance; (4) has not been adjudicated as a mental defective or committed to a mental institution; (5) is not an alien who is illegally in the United States; (6) has not been dishonorably discharged from the armed forces; and (7) is not a person who has renounced U.S. citizenship. Requires any transferor who, after a transfer, receives a report from such officer that receipt or possession of the handgun by the individual violates the law, to: (1) furnish information about the transfer and the individual to the chief law enforcement officer of the transferor's place of business and the individual's place of residence; and (2) keep confidential any information received which is not otherwise available to the public, with exceptions. Requires a transferor to retain a copy of the individual's statement. Requires the law enforcement officer to destroy any copy of the individual's sworn statement and any record containing information derived from such statement within 30 days, unless such officer determines that the transaction would violate Federal, State, or local law.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1991
Airline Bankruptcy Passenger Protection Act of 1991 - Amends the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to direct the Secretary of Transportation to issue an order authorizing a covered air carrier to develop an air transportation plan which protects airline ticket holders in the event it becomes a debtor in bankruptcy proceedings after the ticket purchase date. Provides that if satisfactory plans have not been submitted by a specified deadline, the Secretary must promulgate regulations requiring all covered air carriers to provide air transportation for such ticket holders.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1991
Veterans' Compensation Amendments of 1991 - Increases the rates of: (1) veterans' disability compensation; (2) additional compensation for veterans' dependents; (3) the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans; (4) dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children; and (5) supplemental dependency and indemnity compensation for disabled adult children. Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to adjust administratively the rates of disability compensation payable to persons who are not in receipt of compensation for service-connected disability or death.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1991
Guam Commonwealth Act - Title I: Political Relationship - Creates the Commonwealth of Guam. Grants the people of Guam the right of full self-government through adoption of a Constitution, consistent with U.S. sovereignty over Guam and the supremacy of U.S. law applicable to Guam, and within specified guidelines. Recognizes the right of self-determination of the people of Guam. Directs the U.S. Government, through additional federally-funded programs, to promote preservation of the Chamorro culture, enhanced economic, social, and educational opportunities for Chamorros, and training of Chamorros for employment. Provides that nothing in this Act or the Constitution of Guam shall impair the U.S. citizenship of the residents of Guam or their descendants or their rights and privileges as U.S. citizens under the 14th amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Directs Guam to establish a land trust for the benefit of the indigenous Chamorro people and to establish residency requirements under the Constitution of Guam for voting and holding elective office. Allows this Act to be modified only with the mutual consent of the Governments of the United States and Guam. Title II: Applicability of Federal Law - Makes specified provisions of, and amendments to, the U.S. Constitution applicable to Guam, in addition to those portions which currently apply. Makes Federal laws, rules, or regulations passed after the date of this Act inapplicable unless mutually consented to by the Governments of the United States and Guam. Creates the Joint Commission on the Applicability of Federal Law. Specifies its duties, including: (1) participating in consultations between the Governments of the United States and Guam; (2) studying existing statutes and regulations affecting the U.S.-Guam relationship; (3) reviewing policies and procedures of Federal agencies relating to such relationship; (4) compiling data; (5) drafting modifications in existing laws, regulations, policies, and procedures and obtaining such modifications by negotiation and mediation concerning issues such as land claims and war claims; and (6) seeking to obtain maximum economic development and political autonomy for Guam, consistent with U.S. security interests. Provides that the United States will bear the cost of the work of the Commission. Authorizes the President or his designee to delegate to the Governor of Guam total or partial performance of functions now vested in Federal administrative agencies. Title III: Foreign Affairs and Defense - Grants the United States responsibility for authority with respect to matters relating to foreign affairs and defense that affect Guam. Provides for U.S. consultation with Guam in advance of negotiations toward any treaties or international or executive agreements affecting Guam, and with respect to proposals to increase or decrease Department of Defense activities within Guam. Prohibits the establishment of military security zones or the stationing of foreign military personnel on the Island of Guam without the approval of the Government of Guam except in time of declared war, or the establishment of military bases without consultation with the Governor. Provides for U.S. assistance to Guam in the establishment of offices in the United States and abroad, in becoming a member or participant in appropriate regional and international organizations, and in obtaining from other countries favorable treatment for exports. Prohibits the United States from using the Island of Guam or the water surrounding it for the dumping or storage of nuclear waste or hazardous chemicals. Provides for the clean up by the United States of chemical dump sites used by the military in the past. Requires the United States to compensate any person injured as a result of hazardous materials stored, used, or disposed of by the U.S. Government in Guam or its waters. Title IV: Courts - Specifies provisions governing the relations between U.S. courts and the local courts of Guam, the jurisdiction of the District Court of Guam, and the applicable district court rules. Provides for the appointment of a judge for the District Court of Guam, a U.S. attorney, and a U.S. marshal for Guam. Title V: Trade - Establishes a Guam-United States free trade area, under which neither party may impose duties, quotas, or other restrictions on each other's products, nor shall the United States treat products of Guam as having originated in any other country. Defines "products of Guam" to mean articles that contain at least 30 percent value added in Guam, and specifies costs included in value added. Authorizes Guam to impose, increase, reduce, or eliminate duties and other restrictions on: (1) products that originate outside the customs territory of the United States and that are imported into Guam; and (2) exports from Guam, whether or not products of Guam. Requires the Governor of Guam to certify that the origin of "products of Guam" is, in fact, Guam, and provides for customs inspections of products brought into the United States. Title VI: Taxation - Makes U.S. income tax laws applicable to Guam. Deems such laws to impose a separate tax, payable to the Government of Guam, to be known as the Guam Commonwealth income tax. Grants the Governor the same administrative and enforcement powers and remedies with regard to such tax (pursuant to the laws of Guam) as the Secretary of the Treasury and other executive branch officials have with respect to the U.S. income tax. Sets forth similar enforcement authority with respect to criminal violations, tax liens, and suits to recover erroneously or illegally assessed taxes. Grants the District Court of Guam exclusive jurisdiction over all judicial proceedings in Guam, both criminal and civil, with respect to such tax. Allows the Government of Guam to provide for the rebate or reduction of taxes in order to assist new industries or economic development. Grants Guam the power to determine the nature and amount of taxes imposed upon the income and property of persons within its jurisdiction. Repeals applicable U.S. tax laws one year after Guam has enacted a replacement comprehensive local income tax. Exempts all bonds or other obligations issued by Guam from taxation by Federal, State, or local governments of the United States. Title VII: Immigration - Applies the Immigration and Nationality Act and pertinent Federal regulations to Guam for two years from enactment of this Act. Directs Guam to enact a comprehensive law on immigration to become effective at the end of the two-year period. Provides that such law shall not impair the free movement of U.S. citizens to and from Guam, include the authority to naturalize aliens for U.S. citizenship, or alter the Governor's authority to issue U.S. passports. Authorizes U.S. consular officials to issue visas for travel only to Guam for any alien seeking to enter Guam as a non-immigrant in order to encourage investors and tourists to come to Guam. Title VIII: Labor - Grants preference to qualified residents of Guam in all Federal civil service vacancies occurring in Guam. Grants Guam the authority to enact and enforce all laws regulating or affecting employment in Guam. Provides that all pertinent U.S. laws regulating employment on Guam on the effective date of this Act shall remain applicable until replaced by duly enacted law of the Guam Legislature. Title IX: Transportation and Telecommunications - Precludes application of any U.S. law barring the U.S. registration and use of any foreign-built vessel within the waters around Guam for any purpose. Exempts from the coastwise laws of the United States any shipment of fish or fish products from Guam to any U.S. coastwise destination. Directs the Commission periodically to examine the applicability of such laws and to recommend termination of their applicability upon determining that such laws constrain Guam's economic development. Authorizes the Governor of Guam to sponsor any qualified air service carrier to come to Guam, subject to presidential consultation concerning U.S. foreign policy and security interests. Exempts Guam from all bilateral treaties between the United States and foreign states with respect to scheduling and technical specifications of aircraft, other than safety requirements. Provides that Guam shall remain an "eligible point" for purposes of being ensured essential air transportation to and from the United States. Defines Guam as "domestic" for Federal Communications Commission rate setting purposes. Title X: Land, Natural Resources and Utilities - Grants the Government of Guam the power of eminent domain. Grants Guam jurisdiction over all natural resources of the seabed, subsoil, tidelands, and adjacent territorial waters of the Island of Guam. Sets limits on U.S. acquisition of real property on Guam. Exempts Guam from Federal regulations governing the transfer or sale of excess Federal real property. Provides for the transfer of all excess Federal property to Guam, with specified exceptions. Provides for access and use by the residents of Guam of certain retained Federal property, subject to military security requirements. Authorizes the granting of easements on such property to the Government of Guam in specified circumstances. Directs the United States to transfer ownership of island utilities to Guam. Title XI: United States Financial Assistance - Provides for the return of U.S. revenues from taxes and fees collected in Guam or from its residents or products to the Government of Guam. Makes U.S. laws providing Federal benefits and financial assistance which are applicable to the States likewise applicable to Guam on an equal basis. Directs the Governor of Guam, in preparing an annual budget, to identify the costs and benefits to Guam brought about by its role as one of the principal U.S. military bases. Requires the Governor to submit such information to the Guam Legislature and the Office of Management and Budget for use in reviewing the Governor's request for appropriations for the annual Federal payment to Guam, which request the Governor shall submit to the President for transmission to the Congress each year. Provides for assistance to aid Guam's transition to a Commonwealth, including: (1) U.S. financing of the costs of institutional changes connected with the change in Guam's political relationship with the United States; (2) help in meeting the capital needs of Guam necessary for long-term, self-sustaining development; and (3) establishing an economic development fund to assist expansion of the private sector. Title XII: Technical Amendments and Interpretation - Makes technical and conforming amendments. Calls for this Act to be interpreted liberally to accomplish its purpose of providing for complete, internal self-government for Guam. Requires this Act to be submitted to the registered voters of Guam for ratification after being passed by the Congress. Repeals the Organic Act of Guam.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1991
Extends the time for performing certain tax-related acts by reason of service in a combat zone for those individuals performing Desert Shield services. Declares such extended time to be the period during which such individual performs such services and the next 60 days thereafter. Allows the payment of interest on any overpayments due such individuals, starting April 15. (Generally, interest will be paid only on refunds made more than 45 days after a return is filed.) Applies this Act for any period of continuous hospitalization outside the United States attributed to an injury incurred while performing Desert Shield services.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1991
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 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 · 3 January 1991
Provides that the United States shall continue to support multinational efforts to maintain economic sanctions against Iraq until all Iraqi forces and personnel are withdrawn from Kuwait. Bars the U.S. armed forces from engaging in offensive military action against nonmilitary or military targets or forces in Iraq or Kuwait for at least one year.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1991
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that neither the President nor the Congress should impose import fees on the importation of crude oil or refined petroleum products.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1991
Expresses the sense of the Congress that no offensive military action should be initiated by U.S. military forces against Iraq without affirmative congressional approval as required by the Constitution.
United States · United States Congress · 17 October 1990
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should declare November 2, 1990, a national day of prayer for: (1) members of American military forces and American citizens stationed or held hostage in the Middle East, and for their families; and (2) American and Iraqi authorities to bring about a just resolution of the Persian Gulf crisis.
United States · United States Congress · 16 October 1990
Salutes and congratulates the people of Poland as they commemorate the 200th anniversary of the adoption of the Polish Constitution on May 3, 1991. Directs the Library of Congress to commemorate the anniversary with appropriate ceremonies.
United States · United States Congress · 30 September 1990
Windfall Profit Tax and Deficit Reduction Act of 1990 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reinstate the windfall profit tax on domestic crude oil. Revises the inflation adjustment and declares the base price to be the average price per barrel of taxable crude oil during the four-month period ending on July 31, 1990, as determined by the Secretary of the Treasury. Repeals the phaseout of the tax, thus making the tax permanent law. Limits the category of newly discovered oil to oil from newly drilled wells. Declares the term taxable crude oil to include any futures contract on taxable crude oil and provides for its tax treatment. Establishes the Low Income Energy Support Trust Fund to fund the grant program under the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 and the weatherization program under the Energy Conservation in Existing Buildings Act of 1976. Transfers to such Fund 50 percent of the taxes received from the windfall profit tax on domestic crude oil. Requires the use of the first-in, first-out method of accounting for crude oil inventorying.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 1990
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to treat options held by certain tax-exempt qualified nonprofit organizations to acquire low-income housing in the same manner as options held by tenants of the housing. Limits such treatment to organizations actively engaged in fostering low-income housing for at least three years, with boards of directors made up largely of local residents.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1990
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the limitations on taxable years which may be elected by a partnership, S corporation, or personal service corporation. Provides that a change of taxable year shall not be treated as a termination of an election to have a taxable year other than the required taxable year unless such change is to a required taxable year. Provides that if such entities terminate such election, then they are not eligible to make another election before five taxable years have passed, without the consent of the Secretary of the Treasury. Sets forth circumstances for making such an election without the consent of the Secretary. Provides that any loss for the short period resulting from a change in election: (1) shall not be allowed as a carryback to any preceding taxable year (and shall not be taken into account by any partner of a partnership, or shareholder of an S corporation); and (2) shall be taken into account by the entity (or partner or shareholder) ratably over the first six taxable years beginning after the short period.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1990
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Congress should retain the current Federal tax deduction for State and local income and property taxes.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 1990
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that the exceptions to the disallowance of entertainment and other related expenses for sports events and club entertainment do not apply to activities held at a facility, or to the facility, if the facility or the organization which owns or operates it has any pattern or practice of discriminating against any person on the basis of race, color, sex, or religion. Prohibits tax-exempt social clubs from discriminating on the basis of sex.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 1990
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require the use of the 150 percent declining balance method of depreciation for computer equipment for alternative minimum tax purposes. Allows the use of the straight-line method for the first year for which such method will yield a higher allowance.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 1990
Lead Battery Recycling Incentives Act - Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to promulgate regulations for persons who generate, transport, store, recycle, or dispose of spent lead-acid batteries. Requires the Administrator, in developing such regulations, to conduct an analysis of the economic impact of the regulations on the recycling industry. Sets forth required elements of such regulations, including specific requirements for: (1) the storage and transfer of batteries by generators; (2) recordkeeping by battery generators, transporters, and recyclers; and (3) management practices of recyclers. Directs battery retailers to accept from customers used lead-acid batteries of the same type and quantity of the batteries sold. Requires transporters to acquire an identification number from the EPA or the State enforcing this Act. Directs the Administrator to implement education activities to inform the public about the environmental and safety hazards associated with improper handling and disposal of spent lead-acid batteries. Authorizes appropriations. Applies such requirements to batteries which are transported to or managed by a lead-acid battery recycling facility, a secondary lead smelter, or any facility that prepares batteries for recycling by means of exposing lead to the atmosphere. Requires producers or importers of lead-acid batteries to recycle, for the ten-year period beginning 24 months after this Act's enactment, an amount of spent lead equal to at least the amount determined by multiplying the amount of lead in the batteries produced or imported by such persons by the recycling percentage established by the Administrator. Authorizes compliance with such requirement by: (1) reclaiming lead from such batteries and using it in the production of new batteries; (2) purchasing reclaimed lead from secondary lead smelters for purposes of producing new batteries or shielding; or (3) purchasing recycling credits. Directs producers or importers to report annually to the Administrator on the amount of virgin and secondary lead used in new lead-acid batteries produced or imported by such persons. Requires the Administrator to establish a recycling percentage that is two points higher than the existing recycling rate for spent lead in used lead-acid batteries. Increases such percentage by two points annually. Authorizes the Administrator to reduce or waive the two percent increase if the rate exceeds 95 percent. Directs the Administrator to promulgate regulations to allow: (1) producers or importers of lead-acid batteries to create credits for recycling an amount of batteries greater than required; and (2) producers or importers of new batteries to purchase such credits for purposes of complying with this Act. Sets forth minimum requirements for the credit system. Applies battery recycling requirements to persons who produce or import more than 10,000 pounds of new lead-acid batteries annually. Sets the recycling percentage at 90 percent if the Administrator fails to promulgate recycling regulations.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 1990
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase to $25,000 (currently $15,000) the amount of a home improvement loan which may be financed with tax-exempt bonds. Provides a cost-of-living adjustment for such amount in calendar years after 1991.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 1990
Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to declare that the Congress recognizes that prompt U.S. assistance is necessary to alleviate the emergency in Lithuania caused by the Soviet blockade. Directs the Administrator of the Agency for International Development to: (1) furnish humanitarian assistance to Lithuania during such emergency; and (2) solicit donations of humanitarian assistance for Lithuania and cooperate with private relief agencies attempting to provide such assistance. Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to provide all necessary airlift and sealift to transport such assistance as soon as an agreement between the United States and the nations surrounding Lithuania has been concluded. Urges the President to begin negotiations with the nations surrounding Lithuania regarding the importation of critical humanitarian assistance. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 1990
Designates September 16 through 22, 1990, as National Rehabilitation Week. Urges each State Governor and local government chief executive to issue proclamations calling upon their citizens to observe such week with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 1990
Phases in, by FY 1992, an update to the area wage index used in determining Medicare (title XVIII of the Social Security Act) payments to hospitals for wage-related costs in different areas. Requires the next survey of hospital wage-related costs to be conducted by FY 1993.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 1990
Older Women's Breast Cancer Prevention Act of 1990 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to cover screening mammographies for Medicare-eligible women whose last screening mammographies were performed more than 11 months previously. Determines the payment amount for such service pursuant to a fee schedule.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 1990
Korean War Veterans Memorial Thirty-Eighth Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act - Expresses the sense of the Congress that the United States should recognize the 38th anniversary of the Korean War by minting and issuing a silver dollar coin. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to issue one-dollar silver coins to commemorate the 38th anniversary of the ending of the Korean War. Terminates such authority after December 31, 1991. Mandates that surcharges from the sale of such coins be used for the Korean War Veterans Memorial.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 1990
Fair and Reasonable Payment Limitations Act of 1990 - Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 with regard to assistance limitations and the Agricultural Act of 1949 with regard to emergency livestock assistance limitations to attribute payments to natural persons in proportion to their ownership interest in a corporation, partnership, or other specified entity. Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to set forth specified payment limitations for the 1991 through 1995 crops.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 1990
Designates as South African Freedom Week the week in 1990 coinciding with the first visit of Nelson Mandela to the United States after his release from prison in South Africa.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 1990
Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to declare that if the President proposes to extend in 1991 for a 12-month period (July 3, 1991, to July 3, 1992) the waiver of human rights and emigration requirements for nondiscriminatory treatment (most-favored-nation treatment) for China, such continuation shall be conditioned on progress made regarding human rights, termination of martial law (in Tibet and elsewhere), termination of assistance to the Khmer Rouge, and engagement in negotiations to settle the conflict in Cambodia. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should propose the withdrawal of China's observer status in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade if such nondiscriminatory treatment is withdrawn.
![Official portrait of Rep. Donnelly, Brian J. [D-MA-11]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/d000416_200.jpg)