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Official portrait of Rep. Fascell, Dante B. [D-FL-19]

Rep. Fascell, Dante B. [D-FL-19]

United States · Official source

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3,351 records where Rep. Fascell, Dante B. [D-FL-19] is listed as a sponsor, author, or other actor. Search with topics and years

Resolution· HCONRESH.Con.Res. 288 (99th)passed

A concurrent resolution authorizing printing of additional copies of the committee print entitled "U.N. Conference to Review and Appraise the U.N. Decade for Women: Report of Congressional Staff Advisors to the Nairobi Conference".

United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1986

Authorizes the printing, for the use of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, of additional copies of the committee print entitled "U.N. Conference to Review and Appraise the U.N. Decade for Women: Report of Congressional Staff Advisors to the Nairobi Conference."

Bill· HRH.R. 4155 (99th)open

Drug Abuse Education Act of 1986

United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1986

Drug Abuse Education Act of 1986 - Requires the Secretary of Education to establish a program of grants to States for drug abuse education in elementary and secondary schools. Lists the State and local educational agency uses of such funds. Restricts the amount States may use for administrative costs. Provides for: (1) the allotment of such grant funds to States; (2) State application for such grant funds; (3) allocations to local educational agencies; and (4) local application to State educational agencies. Provides for the equitable participation of children enrolled in private nonprofit elementary and secondary schools in such program. Requires the Secretary to: (1) collect and disseminate program-related information to State and local educational agencies; (2) provide technical assistance; and (3) identify research and development priorities. Authorizes appropriations for such activities. Provides that the use of such grant funds is to supplement and not supplant other Federal funds. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1987 through 1991.

Law· HRH.R. 4151 (99th)enacted

Omnibus Diplomatic Security and Antiterrorism Act of 1986

United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1986

Diplomatic Security Act - Title I: Diplomatic Security - Directs the Secretary of State (the Secretary) to develop and implement policies and programs to: (1) protect all civilian U.S. employees on official duty abroad and their dependents; (2) establish and operate security functions at all civilian U.S. missions abroad; (3) establish and operate security functions at all State Department facilities in the United States; and (4) protect foreign missions, international organizations, foreign officials, and other foreign persons in the United States. Requires other Federal agencies to cooperate with the State Department. Requires an Assistant Secretary of State to head the Bureau of Diplomatic Security of the State Department. Increases the number of Assistant Secretaries of State from 14 to 15. Requires the State Department's Diplomatic Security Service to be headed by a Director designated by the Secretary. Sets forth the qualifications for the Director of the Diplomatic Security Service and for other personnel of the Diplomatic Security Service. Title II: Performance and Accountability - Requires the Secretary to convene an Accountability Review Board whenever there is serious injury, loss of life, or significant destruction of property at or related to a U.S. mission abroad unless there are clearly no security or breach of duty issues involved. Sets forth administrative provisions relating to the Board. Requires the Board to determine whether: (1) there are reasonable grounds to believe the injury, loss of life, or property damage was security-related; and (2) there is reasonable cause to believe that a breach of duty by a U.S. employee contributed to such injury, loss of life, or destruction of property. Directs the Board to make recommendations to the Secretary on programs or operations subject to this Act which the Board has reviewed. Provides for disciplinary proceedings and certain agency actions with respect to U.S. employees who the Board finds reasonable cause to believe contributed to the injury, loss of life, or property destruction because of their breach of duty. Title III: Authorization of Appropriations - Authorizes appropriations to the State Department for FY 1986 through 1990 for: (1) the purposes of this Act; and (2) antiterrorism research and development. Requires the State Department Foreign Buildings Office to use American contractors to the maximum extent possible in implementing any foreign building program funded by this Act.

Bill· HRH.R. 4142 (99th)open

General Aviation Tort Reform Act of 1986

United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1986

General Aviation Tort Reform Act of 1986 - Amends the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to provide uniform rules for negligence and products liability claims arising from general aviation accidents. Allows any person claiming damages from such an accident to bring a products liability action against the general aviation manufacturer if: (1) the product was defective when it left the control of the manufacturer; (2) the defective condition was the proximate cause of the harm; (3) the condition would not have been corrected by actions described in directives issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or the manufacturer; and (4) the aircraft was being used for a purpose and in a manner for which it was manufactured. Provides an alternative method to establish manufacturer liability where the manufacturer failed to provide reasonable warnings (unless such warnings would not have affected the conduct of the product user). Provides a third method to establish manufacturer liability where: (1) the manufacturer made an express warranty with respect to the product; (2) the warranty related to that aspect of the product which caused the harm; (3) the product failed to conform to the warranty; and (4) such failure was the proximate cause of the harm. States that all actions for damages arising from a general aviation accident shall be governed by the principles of comparative responsibility. Provides that defendants in such actions are severally but not jointly liable for damages (except that manufacturers of airframes and systems or components of aircraft may be jointly and severally liable under certain circumstances). Provides a 12-year limitation on liability of manufacturers. States that express warranties running for a longer period of time and the duty to provide additional warnings shall not be affected by such limitations. Allows awards of punitive damages. Prescribes a statute of limitations for such actions. Preempts State laws to the extent that this Act establishes applicable rules or procedures. Grants Federal district courts (concurrently with State courts) original jurisdiction (without regard to the amount in controversy) in all civil actions for damages arising out of a general aviation accident. Allows the removal of State actions to an appropriate Federal district court by any defendant. Prescribes venue restrictions. Expresses the intent of the Congress that orders to pay reasonable expenses, including attorney's fees, be enforced.

Bill· HRH.R. 4153 (99th)referred

A bill to provide that a special gold medal be presented to Mary Lasker for her humanitarian contributions in the areas of medical research and education, urban beautification, and the fine arts.

United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1986

Authorizes the President, on behalf of the Congress, to present a gold medal to Mary Lasker in recognition of her humanitarian contributions in medical research and education, urban beautification, and the fine arts. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to provide for the sale of bronze duplicates of the medal.

Resolution· HCONRESH.Con.Res. 285 (99th)referred

A concurrent resolution concerning the ongoing famine in Ethiopia and the Ethiopian Government's resettlement policy.

United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1986

Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the United States, in cooperation with other members of the international donor community, should call upon the Ethiopian Government to recognize that resources donated for famine relief should be used for that purpose and not diverted to resettlement efforts; (2) such forced resettlements by the Ethiopian Government should be halted and monitored by the United Nations (U.N.); (3) the Ethiopian Government should commit sufficient resources to move food and relief goods to meet the needs of its people; and (4) the U.N. should insist on free access to resettlement sites for international observers and the news media and report on conditions in the resettlement camps.

Resolution· HRESH.Res. 373 (99th)failed

A resolution to urge the Government of South Africa to indicate its willingness to engage in meaningful political negotiations with that country's black majority.

United States · United States Congress · 5 February 1986

Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the President should urge the Government of South Africa to indicate its willingness to negotiate with the black majority by: (1) granting unconditional freedom to Nelson Mandela; (2) recognizing the African National Congress; and (3) establishing a framework for political talks.

Resolution· HCONRESH.Con.Res. 277 (99th)referred

A concurrent resolution to encourage the President to request that the Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature of the International Astronomical Union designate three of the moons recently discovered near the planet Uranus by the names of the crew members of Apollo I.

United States · United States Congress · 3 February 1986

Encourages the President to request the Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature of the International Astronomical Union to designate three of the ten moons recently discovered near the planet Uranus by the names of the three crew members of Apollo I.

Bill· HRH.R. 4090 (99th)open

Big Cypress National Preserve Addition Act

United States · United States Congress · 30 January 1986

Big Cypress National Preserve Addition Act - Establishes the Big Cypress National Preserve Addition out of specified lands in Florida. Requires the Secretary of the Interior to administer such Addition as part of the National Park System. Requires the Secretary of the Interior to review the Addition for suitability for designation as a wilderness area. Sets forth land acquisition procedures. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress within one year on the existing Preserve and the Addition concerning their management and public use. Authorizes appropriations.

Bill· HRH.R. 4093 (99th)open

Trade Expansion Act of 1986

United States · United States Congress · 30 January 1986

Trade Expansion Act of 1986 - Title I: Opening of Foreign Markets - Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to require the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to make an estimate in the annual report on trade barriers of the increase in value of U.S. exports that would result in the following three years if certain market access barriers were eliminated. Requires the USTR, in making such estimate, to take into account the international competitiveness of the goods or services involved. Requires the USTR, within 90 days of submitting the annual report on trade barriers to the Congress, to establish export goals for the next three years for certain foreign countries which have trade barriers to a significant portion of possible U.S. exports and which deny market access to those U.S. exports that are less able to petition for relief. Requires the President, if the export goal for a country is not met, to take all necessary actions to reduce the exports of that country to the United States by a specified amount. Requires the President to report to the Congress annually on such actions. Transfers from the President to the USTR the authority to: (1) determine whether U.S. action is appropriate to enforce U.S. rights under a trade agreement or to respond to certain foreign trade practices; (2) determine the appropriate additional import relief in such cases; and (3) determine any additional restrictions on service sector access authorizations. Transfers from the President to the USTR the authority to take action on the USTR's own motion. Includes among the foreign trade practices that may trigger a U.S. response any act, policy, or practice that threatens to burden or restrict U.S. commerce. Sets forth a list of foreign acts, policies, and practices which burden U.S. commerce. Authorizes the USTR, in response to certain foreign trade practices, to: (1) enter into binding agreements that fully offset the burden on U.S. commerce of such practices; or (2) withdraw, or refrain from proclaiming, eligibility of a foreign country for preferential treatment under the Generalized System of Preferences. Includes within the meaning of unreasonable foreign trade acts, policies, or practices any combination of unfair foreign trade acts, policies, or practices and any such acts, practices, or procedures that deny: (1) market opportunities (including protection of an industry in its formative stages); (2) opportunities for the establishment of an enterprise; (3) protection of intellectual property rights; or (4) protection against anti-competitive practices. Includes within the definition of "service sector access authorization" any authorization that gives access to the U.S. market to a foreign supplier of goods related to a service. Directs the USTR, in determining whether to initiate an investigation of foreign trade practices, to consider the ability of the persons affected by such practices to prepare a petition for such an investigation. Directs the USTR to determine, within 90 days of the start of such an investigation, whether: (1) the United States is being denied its rights under any trade agreement; or (2) there is any unfair trade act, policy, or practice. Sets forth the actions to be taken by the USTR based on such determination. Requires an import relief action to terminate after seven years if it has existed continuously for seven years and no request to extend the action is made during the last 60 days of such seven-year period. Requires the USTR to review the effectiveness of such an import action if a request to extend the import relief is made. Authorizes the President, if such import relief involves raising tariffs or imposing import restrictions, to negotiate a trade agreement providing compensation, or to proclaim tariff changes to provide compensation for certain countries in order to meet U.S. international obligations. Title II: Support for United States Exports - Subtitle A: Export Financing - Amends the Trade and Development Enhancement Act of 1983 to declare that one of the purposes of such Act is to establish a temporary tied aid credit program to combat the predatory concessional credit programs of foreign governments. Directs the President to negotiate limits on partially untied aid credit. Changes the U.S. negotiating objectives to include references to partially untied aid credits. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to establish within the Department of the Treasury a program of tied aid credits for U.S. exports. Requires the program to be carried out in cooperation with the Export-Import Bank or with private financial institutions or entities. (Currently the program is established within the Export-Import Bank and carried out in cooperation with the Agency for International Development (AID).) Sets forth financing methods that may be included in such program. Sets forth factors the Secretary of the Treasury shall consider in determining whether to provide financing with respect to a particular country or firm. Authorizes appropriations through FY 1987. Repeals the provision that established a tied aid credit program in AID. Requires the Secretary to seek the advice of the National Advisory Council on International Monetary and Financial Policies before approving financing under the tied aid credit program. Terminates the tied aid credit program on September 30, 1987. Limits judicial review of actions by the Chairman of the Export-Import Bank and by the Secretary. Changes the definition of "tied aid credit." Defines "partially untied aid credit." Deletes references to government-mixed credits and public-private cofinancing. Subtitle B: Foreign Trade Practices - Amends the Export Administration Act of 1979 to make it unlawful for any U.S. person, in order to receive help in obtaining business with a foreign government or entity, corruptly to offer money or anything of value to a foreign official or a foreign political party, candidate, or party official. Prohibits a U.S. person from acting in the U.S. interstate or foreign commerce with knowledge that a third party will make such an offer for such a purpose. Exempts from such prohibitions: (1) any payment made to expedite, or secure the performance of, a routine governmental action, other than an action to award business to a U.S. person; or (2) any payment which is permitted under the law of the country involved. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to issue guidelines and procedures for compliance with this Act. Requires the Secretary of Commerce to establish a procedure to provide responses to specific inquiries concerning compliance with this subtitle. Sets forth penalties for violations of this subtitle. Requires the Secretary of Commerce to review and report to the President and to specified congressional committees on the impact of the amendments made by this Act on the export activities of U.S. businesses. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should pursue the negotiation of an international agreement governing payments made to foreign government or political party officials in order to receive help in obtaining business from that foreign government. Directs the President to report to the Congress within one year of enactment of this Act on those negotiations and other possible actions. Subtitle C: Miscellaneous Provisions - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to study and report to the Congress on: (1) U.S. laws that hamper the U.S. ability to export goods and services; and (2) an estimate of the increase in exports if each such law were amended to promote exports. Requires each Federal agency, before taking any major action that may affect international trade, to prepare and publish a report on the potential impact of such action on U.S. international trade and on the ability of U.S. firms to compete in foreign markets. Requires the Director of the Congressional Budget Office to monitor, and study the potential impact of, legislation which may affect U.S. international trade and the ability of U.S. firms to compete in foreign markets. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) each U.S. Executive Director of a multilateral development bank should take specified actions to promote procurement opportunities for U.S. firms; and (2) a Foreign Commercial Officer should be assigned to each such Director of help promote such opportunities. Requires the Export-Import Bank to negotiate agreements with State agencies that promote exports which will establish procedures to ensure consultation and coordination: (1) between the Export-Import Bank and such State agencies; and (2) among such State agencies. Requires the Export-Import Bank and the Secretary of Commerce to ensure that such State agencies have access to the trade information system developed under title IX of this Act. Directs the Secretaries of State and Commerce to review periodically the number of personnel assigned to U.S. missions abroad to determine whether an adequate number of such personnel are engaged in economic or commercial duties to aid U.S. exporters and businesses doing business outside the United States. Declares that the Secretaries should extend the length of assignment of such personnel in order to ensure greater continuity in promoting U.S. exports. Requires each chief of a U.S. mission to a country that is an important trading partner and which has significant potential for U.S. export sales to report annually to the President and the Congress on: (1) the strategy used by such mission to expand U.S. exports; and (2) the efforts of such mission to assist U.S. industries in expanding export sales and in improving their market position. Title III: Economic Growth and Trade Expansion - Directs the President to initiate negotiations with foreign countries in order to: (1) coordinate macroeconomic adjustments; (2) base their economic growth on a balance of foreign and domestic demand; and (3) ensure that such foreign countries pursue a pro-growth strategy to resolve the international debt crisis. Title IV: Maintenance and Development of Agricultural Export Markets - Authorizes appropriations for research that would enhance the long-term competitiveness in world markets of U.S. agricultural commodities. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to monitor research and trade practices carried out by foreign countries to promote the export of agricultural commodities and to report annually to the Congress concerning: (1) trends in the comparative position of U.S. and foreign exports of farm commodities; (2) new research developments that may affect the competitiveness of U.S. farm commodities; (3) the level of U.S. and foreign subsidies provided to promote agricultural exports; and (4) the marketing in nonmarket economies of U.S. farm commodities. Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to provide farm commodities acquired by the Commodity Credit Corporation to improve the quality of grain exported from the United States. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to report annually to the Congress on the impact of actions of the USTR on the export of U.S. farm commodities. Title V: Relief from Injury Caused by Import Competition - Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to allow one of the purposes of an import relief petition to be the desire to enhance competitiveness. Includes among the economic factors to be considered in determining whether increased imports constitute a serious injury to a domestic industry the inability of a significant number of firms to operate domestic production facilities at a reasonable profit. Adds to the factors to be considered in import relief investigations relating to whether increased imports are a threat of serious injury to a domestic industry: (1) any combination of coordinated government actions that are bestowed on a specified enterprise the effect of which is to increase the competitiveness of that enterprise and that cause or threaten to cause serious injury to the domestic industry concerned; (2) the existence of an affirmative antidumping or countervailing duty determination; (3) the extent to which firms in the domestic industry concerned are unable to maintain existing levels of research and development expenses; and (4) the extent to which the U.S. market is the focal point for diversion of exports because of a foreign country's market restraints. Requires the International Trade Commission (ITC), in determining what domestic industry is affected by imports, to treat as part of the domestic industry only the domestic production of a domestic producer who also imports. Prohibits considering imports of like or directly competitive articles by domestic producers as a factor indicating the absence of serious injury or threat of serious injury to a domestic industry. Requires the ITC, in an import relief investigation, to consider factors other than imports which may cause injury or threaten injury to a domestic industry and to report on such factors to the President. Permits the ITC to recommend both increases in import restrictions and adjustment assistance if the ITC finds that increased imports are causing a serious injury or threat of serious injury to a domestic industry. Requires the ITC to prepare for the President an estimate of the short-term and long-term effects of such increases in import duties or import restrictions on private and industrial consumers. Directs the President to impose provisional import relief if critical circumstances exist (circumstances caused by a significant increase in imports over a short period of time in which a delay in the imposition of relief would cause damage to the domestic industry that would be difficult to remedy under the usual import relief measures). Authorizes filing a petition with the Secretary of Agriculture for emergency import relief in addition to any petition filed with the ITC if the petition relates to imports of perishable products. Requires the Secretary to make a recommendation to the President within 14 days of receiving such petition on whether or not to take emergency action. Requires the Secretary to recommend emergency relief if the Secretary finds that emergency action is warranted and that increased imports of a perishable product are a substantial cause of serious injury or threat of serious injury to the competing domestic industry. Requires the President to decide, within seven days of receiving such recommendation, what, if any, import restrictions to impose on such imports. Provides for the termination of such emergency relief. Requires the ITC to evaluate the effectiveness of import relief actions and to report on such evaluation to the President and the Congress. Requires the USTR to establish a plan development group for an industry after the ITC begins an import relief investigation based upon a petition filed by firms, a union, or a group of workers that represent a significant portion of the domestic industry if the petitioners request the establishment of such a plan development group. Requires each such group (made up of government and private sector representatives) to prepare an assessment of current problems in the industry and a strategy to enhance its competitiveness. Sets forth information to be included in such assessment and strategy. Requires the assessment and strategy to be submitted, along with the opinions of the members of the plan development group on the viability of such strategy, to the petitioner within 120 days of the start of an ITC import relief investigation. Authorizes the petitioner, if the ITC finds that imports have caused serious injury to the domestic industry, to submit the assessment and strategy to the ITC on the day after the ITC makes such finding. Requires the USTR to present to the ITC some of the opinions of Federal agencies on the viability of such strategy. Requires the ITC, upon submission of such assessment and strategy to the petitioner and before the ITC evaluates what effect such a strategy will have on the domestic industry, to try to obtain confidential commitments from the individual members of the domestic industry on their future actions. Requires the ITC to transmit such commitments to certain members of the Government to enable them to evaluate the assessment and strategy. Requires the President under certain circumstances to consider such confidential commitments, assessment and strategy, and recommendations of the interagency trade organization. Sets forth the actions the ITC must take if the ITC finds that increased imports are a substantial cause of or constitute a threat of serious injury to a domestic industry and if an adjustment assessment and strategy have been submitted. Directs the President, in determining whether to provide import relief, to take into account the probable effectiveness of import relief as a means of promoting adjustment or modernization in order to improve competitive abilities. Directs the President, if the President has received an assessment and strategy in connection with an injured or threatened industry, to: (1) provide the import relief found necessary by the ITC; (2) provide substantially equivalent import relief; or (3) submit to the Congress a draft of a bill making certain waivers and containing provisions implementing the import relief, if any, that the President has decided to take. Provides for expedited congressional consideration of such a bill. Requires the President to implement the import relief found necessary by the ITC if after 90 days such bill is not enacted. Provides for publication of the assessment and strategy if import relief is provided. Requires a review committee to: (1) monitor actions taken by petitioners to improve the competitive position of the industry; (2) make recommendations for administrative actions to achieve the objectives of the assessment and strategy; and (3) submit to the Congress legislative recommendations. Provides for expedited consideration of legislative recommendations. Requires the review committee to consult with members of the plan development group and with members of the domestic industry if the objectives and actions specified in the assessment and strategy are not being implemented or if the confidential commitments are not being kept. Authorizes the President to terminate or modify the import relief if, after the consultations, the review committee determines that such failure to implement the strategy or commitments is not justified by changed circumstances and has adversely affected overall implementation of the objectives set forth in the assessment and strategy. Directs the President, before deciding whether to grant import relief, to consult with the interagency trade organization established pursuant to the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 and consider the recommendations of such organization. Changes the import relief actions available to the President. Authorizes the President to proclaim a change in any "auctioned quantitative restriction" on imports of an article. (Current law refers to a "quantitative restriction" of imports.) Deletes the provision authorizing the President to negotiate orderly marketing agreements with foreign countries in order to provide import relief. Includes among the import relief actions available to the President the right to: (1) initiate on an accelerated basis an antidumping or countervailing duty investigation; or (2) enter into multilateral negotiations to address problems not susceptible to unilateral solution. Permits an import relief investigation into imports of an article that received import relief less than two years before the start of the new investigation if good cause is shown. Sets forth the procedure for an antidumping or countervailing duty investigation which the President orders as a form of import relief. Directs the President to impose import restrictions or increase import duties if multilateral negotiations ordered by the President as a form of import relief fail to provide relief from serious injury or the threat of serious injury within one year. Provides for expedited consideration of legislation implementing such import restrictions or import duty increases. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to issue import licenses in order to enforce certain quantitative limitations on imports. Requires such licenses to be auctioned to the highest bidder. Requires the ITC to review an injury determination and its recommendations relating to the determination if: (1) the ITC has made a unanimous affirmative injury determination; (2) the President declined between January 1, 1984, and October 1, 1985, to prevent or remedy the injury or threat of injury found by the ITC; and (3) a petition for review is filed within one year of enactment of this Act. Requires the ITC, within 60 days of receiving such petition, to: (1) determine whether the injury should be reaffirmed or revoked; and (2) if the injury determination is reaffirmed, report such determination to the President and set forth the increase in import duty or the import restriction necessary to prevent the injury or threat of injury. Requires the ITC to publish such report. Requires the President to decide whether to impose such import relief within 30 days of receiving such report. Title VI: Resistance to Predatory Trade Practices - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to develop criteria for identifying foreign industries that are engaging in predatory competition against U.S. industries. Requires the Secretary of Commerce to monitor and report to the Congress semiannually on: (1) the identity of each such foreign industry; and (2) the aggregate volume of, and rate of, U.S. sales of each such foreign industry. Requires the Secretary of Commerce to submit to the Congress notice of excessive increase in the sales of a product of a predatory foreign industry. Defines excessive increase in sales to mean an increase more than ten percent greater than the sales rate that would be expected based on the product's sales rate during the preceding three years. Provides for expedited congressional consideration of legislation to impose or increase the duty on such a product. Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to declare that the unauthorized importation (or sale) of articles into the United States that infringe a valid U.S. patent, copyright, trademark, U.S. maskwork, or trade secret is unfair and has the effect of destroying or substantially injuring a U.S. industry or impairing the establishment of such industry. Permits any person to petition the ITC for the issuance of an order to exclude such articles, during its investigation, from entry into the United States. Sets forth: (1) civil penalties for violations under this Act; and (2) procedures for the modification or recission of an ITC order under this Act. Repeals a specified section of the Tariff Act of 1930 relating to the importation of products produced under a process covered by claims of unexpired patent. Process Patent Amendment of 1986 - Amends the patent laws to make it an infringement of patent to use, sell, or import into the United States without authority a product produced by a patented process. Directs the Department of Commerce to report to the Congress annually for five years on the effect such restriction has on the importation of ingredients for U.S. manufacturing. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the amount of funds appropriated to the Customs Service should be sufficient to provided enough personnel to enforce the customs laws. Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to include in the definition of "subsidy" (for antidumping and countervailing duty purposes) any resource input subsidy. States that a "resource input subsidy" is found to exist if: (1) (a) a product is provided or sold by a government-regulated or controlled entity within a country for input use within such country at a domestic price that is lower than the fair market value of the input product and is not freely available to U.S. producers; and (b) a product would, if sold at the fair market value, constitute a significant portion of the total cost of the manufacture or production of the merchandise in or for which the input product is used; or (2) under specified circumstances, the right to remove or extract such product is provided or sold by a government or a government-regulated or controlled entity within a country. Sets forth the method of calculation for the amount of a resource input subsidy. Defines "fair market value" and "input use." Requires injury determinations by the ITC to be made in all countervailing duty investigations relating to the existence of resource input subsidies. Title VII: International Trade Negotiations - Directs the USTR to request the contracting parties to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) to join the United States in ministerial sessions preparatory to a new round of negotiations. Sets forth the goals of such sessions, including: (1) strengthening GATT articles in certain areas and strengthening the GATT as an institution; and (2) tightening GATT enforcement measures. Title VIII: International Debt Crisis - Requires the Secretary of the Treasury, the USTR, and the Federal Reserve Board to study and report to the Congress on the options for improving the international debt crisis and on the consequences of flexibility in repayment of international debt under certain conditions. Expresses the sense of the Congress that a satisfactory resolution of the debt crisis and a resumption of economic growth in the developing world require that: (1) the products of debtor countries have reasonable access to the markets of industrialized countries; and (2) industrialized countries benefitting from U.S. defense provide greater financial commitment to the international organizations aiding debtor countries. Directs the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary of Agriculture to study the feasibility of implementing a Cooley Loan Program and to develop a list of those less developed countries in which Cooley Loan Program activities might be conducted. Sets forth the requirements for a Cooley Loan Program. Title IX: Trade Information - Directs the Secretary of Commerce, through the International Trade Administration, to develop and maintain an effective system to collect and disseminate information on international trade to U.S. exporters and State agencies that promote exports. Sets forth information to be included in such system. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish a program to provide international trade advice and assistance to U.S. businesses.

Bill· HRH.R. 4096 (99th)referred

Consumer Rail Equity Act

United States · United States Congress · 30 January 1986

Consumer Rail Equity Act - Reaffirms the intent of the Congress that the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976 and the Staggers Rail Act of 1980 be implemented in a manner which provides both greater competitive alternatives and adequate railroad revenues. Establishes a rebuttable presumption of rail market dominance if a person challenging a transportation rate shows that the railroad charging such rate does not face effective transportation competition. Shifts the burden of proof regarding transportation rate reasonableness from the shipper to the rail carrier establishing the challenged rate. Declares that it is Federal policy to encourage and promote competitive transportation rates for domestically produced coal and other commodities in order to increase their competitive position in domestic and export markets. Directs the Commission to establish a rail cost adjustment factor which includes changes in railroad productivity, volume, and output mix. Provides that certain rail carrier rates shall be reduced to the extent of any subsequent decreases in rail cost adjustment factors. Includes within the standards used to determine railroad revenue adequacy: (1) identification of revenues, expenses, and investment base reasonably related to rail transportation service; (2) straight-line depreciation of assets reasonably related to rail transportation service, minus deferred tax reserves resulting from accelerated depreciation; and (3) actual cost of debt capital and reasonable estimates of the current cost of equity capital. Requires the Commission, when making revenue adequacy determinations, to consider specified indicators of a rail carrier's financial status. Requires the Commission to determine, on an annual basis, which rail carriers are earning adequate or inadequate revenues and to determine for each rail carrier the revenues required to achieve or maintain revenue adequacy. Allows (current law requires) the Commission to exempt persons from application of this Act when: (1) such application is not necessary to implement Federal transportation policy; and (2) the Commission finds there is no market dominance involved in the affected transaction. Requires any rail carrier providing service under certain line rates to participate in competitive joint rail rates through practicable interchange connections (or publish a competitive proportional rate) if requested to do so by a rail carrier (or shipper or receiver) who has an actual or practicable interchange connection. Directs the Commission, upon petition of any interested party, to require certain terminal facilities owned by a rail carrier in interstate or foreign commerce to be used by another rail carrier if the Commission finds: (1) it is in the public interest to do so; and (2) that the owner of such terminal facility will not suffer substantial impairment of its own business interests. Directs the Commission to require, upon petition by an interested party, that rail carriers enter into reciprocal switching agreements if such an agreement is in the public interest or necessary to provide alternative competitive rail service. Directs the Commission to establish reciprocal switching compensation at a level not to exceed the current percentage of the actual variable costs for such service (unless the carrier demonstrates that a higher level is reasonable and necessary). Revises railroad line abandonment procedures to provide that a rail carrier must wait one year before resubmitting a previously denied abandonment application, unless a substantial change in circumstances can be shown. Requires the Commission to hold hearings in communities affected by a proposed railroad line abandonment if requested to do so by community protestants. Requires the Commission to base its abandonment determination upon financial data regarding the facility proposed to be abandoned rather than upon financial data regarding industry-wide averages. Subjects to Commission review any State decision regarding intrastate rates, rules, and practices if a party to such State proceedings petitions for Commission review. Requires the Commission to take action on such petition within 120 days of its receipt. Authorizes the Commission to vacate a State decision found inconsistent with this Act.

Bill· HJRESH.J.Res. 508 (99th)referred

A joint resolution to request, on behalf of the American people, that the Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature of the International Astronomical Union designate seven moons recently discovered orbiting the planet Uranus in the names of the crew members of the space shuttle Challenger.

United States · United States Congress · 30 January 1986

Requests the Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature of the International Astronomical Union to officially designate seven of the ten moons recently discovered by the Voyager-2 spacecraft near the planet Uranus in the names of the seven astronauts who died in the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger.

Resolution· HRESH.Res. 369 (99th)open

A resolution expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the President should award the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously to Michael J. Smith, Francis R. Scobee, Ronald E. McNair, Ellison S. Onizuka, Sharon Christa McAuliffe, Gregory B. Jarvis, and Judith A. Resnick, all of whom died in the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger.

United States · United States Congress · 30 January 1986

Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the President should award the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously to Michael J. Smith, Francis R. Scobee, Ronald E. McNair, Ellison S. Onizuka, Sharon Christa McAuliffe, Gregory B. Jarvis, and Judith A. Resnik, all of whom died in the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger.

Bill· HRH.R. 4045 (99th)referred

A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 to extend the residential and business energy credits with respect to solar property until August 1, 1986, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1986

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend the termination date of the residential energy tax credit for solar property from December 31, 1985, to July 31, 1986. Sets forth definitions and special rules for solar property during such extension period. Extends the energy investment tax credit for solar energy property from December 31, 1985, to July 31, 1986. Sets forth special rules for solar property eligible for such credit during such extension period.

Bill· HJRESH.J.Res. 500 (99th)open

A joint resolution designating June 14, 1986, as "Baltic Freedom Day".

United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1986

Expresses disapproval of the refusal of the U.S.S.R. to recognize the sovereignty of the Baltic Republics. Designates the 14th day of June 1986 as Baltic Freedom Day. Authorizes and requests the President to submit the issue of Baltic self-determination to the United Nations.

Bill· HRH.R. 3936 (99th)open

Drug Enforcement Amendments Act of 1985

United States · United States Congress · 12 December 1985

Drug Enforcement Amendments Act of 1985 - Amends the Controlled Substances Act to establish criminal penalties for using an individual under the age of 18 to distribute controlled substances. Provides that any individual convicted of such an offense shall not be eligible for parole until the minimum sentence has been served. Establishes criminal penalties for the manufacture, distribution, or possession of an unregulated drug which has a chemical structure or effect which is substantially similar to that of a controlled substance. Directs the Attorney General to study and recommend methods to control the diversion of legitimate precursor and essential chemicals to the production of illegal drugs. Requires the Attorney General to report all findings to the Congress.

Bill· HRH.R. 3924 (99th)referred

A bill to authorize and direct the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the United States to determine inheritance claims of United States nationals against Romania.

United States · United States Congress · 12 December 1985

Requires the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission to receive and determine the validity of claims of U.S. nationals against Romania for losses sustained because of the failure or refusal of Romania to allow such nationals to exercise their valid inheritance rights in or to property located in Romania, to transfer such property from Romania, or to compensate such nationals for the nationalization, expropriation, or other taking of such inherited property. Sets forth the requirements for the Commission to use in determining the validity and amount of any such claim. Provides for publication of the necessity of filing claims. Requires the Commission to adjudicate a claim within 180 days of the date of its filing. Requires the Secretary of State to deliver copies of such decisions to Romania. Requires the Commission to file an interim report (by July 15, 1986) and a final report (within 30 days of certification of all awards to the Secretary of State) with the President and specified congressional committees concerning the claims and awards against Romania. Authorizes appropriations.

Resolution· HCONRESH.Con.Res. 239 (99th)passed

A concurrent resolution commending the Government of Ireland and the Government of the United Kingdom for reaching agreement on measures which will lay the foundation for a just, durable, and peaceful solution to the problems of Northern Ireland.

United States · United States Congress · 5 December 1985

Declares that the Congress commends the Government of Ireland and the Government of the United Kingdom for their achievement for peace in Northern Ireland. Declares Congress' willingness to work with the President in supporting the Anglo-Irish agreement through U.S. economic support and in promoting economic and social development in both parts of Ireland.

Bill· HRH.R. 3833 (99th)referred

National Conference on Cities and Towns Act

United States · United States Congress · 2 December 1985

National Conference on Cities and Towns Act - Directs the President to conduct a National Conference on Cities and Towns not earlier than December 1, 1986, and not later than December 1, 1987. Sets forth the purposes of such Conference concerning: (1) relations between cities and towns and the Federal system; and (2) present and future problems facing cities and towns. Encourages each State Governor to conduct a State-level conference to prepare for the National Conference. Sets forth the method of selecting delegates to such Conference. Requires all departments, agencies, and instrumentalities to provide assistance as necessary to facilitate the planning of the Conference. Requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to provide assistance as necessary for the organization and conduct of State conferences. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into contracts to carry out the purposes of this Act. Requires the Directors of the Congressional Research Service and the Congressional Budget Office to provide background materials for the use of participants in the National Conference and State conferences. Prohibits the use of funds under this Act to reimburse the expenses of participants to the National Conference. Authorizes the President to appoint an executive director and other directors and personnel as necessary for the Conference. Authorizes the detailing of Federal and military personnel in planning and administering such Conference. Requires a final report of findings and recommendations to the President and the Congress within six months after the date the Conference is convened. Requires that such report be distributed to delegates, alternates, and State Governors and be available for sale to the public. Authorizes appropriations.

Bill· HRH.R. 3800 (99th)open

Telecommunications Equipment and Information Services Act of 1985

United States · United States Congress · 20 November 1985

Telecommunications Equipment and Information Services Act of 1985 - Authorizes the Bell operating companies to provide information services (excluding electronic publishing) and to manufacture telecommunications equipment, subject to such regulations as the Federal Communications Commission may prescribe. Conditions such authority on the Commission's determination that no Bell operating company could impede competition in the information services or telecommunications equipment manufacturing businesses. Requires the Commission to include in its annual report to the Congress an assessment, providing for public comment, of the impact of this Act on employment in such businesses.

Bill· HRH.R. 3799 (99th)referred

Campaign Finance Reform Act of 1985

United States · United States Congress · 20 November 1985

Campaign Finance Reform Act of 1985 - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to: (1) increase dollar limits on personal contributions to candidates and their authorized political committees; and (2) decrease the amount one multicandidate political committee may contribute to any other political committee. Limits to $100,000 ($125,000 where two or more candidates qualify for the ballot) the aggregate amount which all multicandidate political committees may contribute to a candidate for the House of Representatives in a general or special election, including any primary election, convention, or caucus relating to such general or special election. Limits to $25,000 the aggregate amount allowed for multicandidate political committee contributions in a runoff election for the office of Representative. Establishes a formula for multicandidate political committee contributions to candidates for the Senate based upon State populations and limited to an aggregate total of $750,000. Requires multicandidate political committees which make independent expenditures for advertisements connected with a candidate's campaign to disclose such information within the advertisement. Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require any station licensee which allows a person to broadcast material endorsing or opposing a candidate to provide the candidate opposing the endorsed candidate, or to the candidate opposed by the material, the opportunity to use the same amount of broadcasting time, without charge, during the same period of the day.

Bill· HJRESH.J.Res. 462 (99th)open

A joint resolution to designate May 25, 1986, as "Hands Across America Day", for the purpose of helping people to help themselves, and commending United Support of Artists for Africa for their efforts toward combatting domestic hunger with a nationwide linkup coast-to-coast human chain 4000 miles long.

United States · United States Congress · 20 November 1985

Designates May 25, 1986, as Hands Across America Day. Authorizes and requests the President to commend: (1) United Support of Artists for Africa for their Hands Across America project; and (2) the American people for their commitment to helping people help themselves.

Bill· HRH.R. 3780 (99th)referred

Small Contribution Tax Credit Reform Act of 1985

United States · United States Congress · 19 November 1985

Small Contribution Tax Credit Reform Act of 1985 - Amends the the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the income tax credit for contributions to presidential, state, and local candidates, political action committees, and newsletter fund contributions. Allows an income tax credit for congressional candidate contributions. Limits the amount of such credit to $100 for a taxable year ($200 in the case of a joint return).

Law· HJRESH.J.Res. 459 (99th)enacted

A joint resolution reaffirming the friendship of the people of the United States with the people of Colombia following the devastating volcanic eruption of November 13, 1985.

United States · United States Congress · 19 November 1985

Extends the sympathy of the United States to Colombia with respect to the tragedy resulting from the volcanic eruption. Declares that: (1) the Congress encourages the President to provide relief and rehabilitation assistance to Colombia; and (2) the United States is prepared to cooperate with Colombia in long-term efforts to help it recover from such disaster.

Resolution· HRESH.Res. 316 (99th)referred

A resolution expressing the support of the House of Representatives for the President as he prepares to meet with Soviet General Secretary Gorbachev in Geneva, Switzerland, and expressing its hope that this summit meeting will provide a basis for a freer, more stable, and more peaceful world.

United States · United States Congress · 12 November 1985

Declares that the House of Representatives offers its support for the President as he prepares to meet with Soviet General Secretary Gorbachev (at the Geneva Summit), and expresses its hope that this summit will provide for a more peaceful world.

Resolution· HCONRESH.Con.Res. 232 (99th)passed

A concurrent resolution expressing the sense of the Congress with respect to the restoration of democracy in the Philippines.

United States · United States Congress · 12 November 1985

Declares that the Congress: (1) notes the pledge of President Marcos for free and fair elections in the Philippines; and (2) believes that in order to provide for an honest election that will be deemed credible to the Philippine people, it is important that they determine the timing of such election in accordance with the Philippine Constitution, appoint an impartial Commission on Elections, and provide accreditation of the election, access to the media for both sides, and neutral conduct by the Philippine military.

Resolution· HRESH.Res. 314 (99th)passed

A resolution expressing the sense of the United States House of Representatives that Miroslav Medvid should not be allowed to be removed from the United States until a complete investigation can determine whether he has been accorded all rights due him as a possible defector, and until he is accorded those rights.

United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1985

Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the President should: (1) protect the human rights of Miroslav Medvid by not allowing his removal from the United States until a complete investigation can determine whether he has been accorded all rights due him as a possible defector, and until he is accorded such rights; (2) Mr. Medvid is afforded an interview on U.S. soil, with an interpreter fluent in Ukrainian, in an environment free of intimidation and without the presence of Soviet authorities so that he may freely decide whether to restate and have granted his initial asylum request; and (3) pursue an active and impartial investigation into the Medvid case in order to avoid a similar situation in the future.

Resolution· HCONRESH.Con.Res. 228 (99th)passed

A concurrent resolution condemning all acts of terrorism (including the hijacking of the ACHILLE LAURO and the murder of Leon Klinghoffer) and calling for the creation of an international coordinating committee on terrorism and for proposals to protect Americans abroad, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 6 November 1985

Declares that the Congress: (1) condemns all acts of terrorism (specifically the hijacking of the Achille Lauro and the murder of Leon Klinghoffer); (2) commends the President and members of the U.S. armed forces who apprehended such hijackers and murderers; and (3) calls on all governments who have jurisdiction over such incident to insure that such perpetrators are prosecuted and punished. Declares that the Congress recommends that the President review the options and authorities under existing law for combating terrorism. Provides that, in order to increase the effectiveness of the U.S. counterterrorism efforts, the President should establish a unified policy to combat terrorism. Declares that the Congress urges the President: (1) to raise international public awareness with respect to terrorism by proposing to place this matter on the agenda of the Geneva Summit between the President and Mikhail Gorbachev, the 40th U.N. General Assembly, the International Maritime Organization, and other subsequent international meetings; and (2) to seek the acceptance by all governments that terrorism is an international crime. Urges the President to seek to establish an international coordinating committee on terrorism. Sets forth what such committee should be charged with in regard to handling such terrorism. Urges the President to propose to the Congress ways (including those proposed by the Inman Advisory Panel on Overseas Security) to improve the security of U.S. citizens abroad.

Resolution· HCONRESH.Con.Res. 225 (99th)referred

A concurrent resolution to express the sense of the Congress that the Postmaster General should issue a postage stamp commemorating the 100th Congress.

United States · United States Congress · 31 October 1985

Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the Postmaster General should issue a stamp, before October 1, 1986, commemorating the 100th Congress; and (2) the U.S. Postal Service should conduct a public competition for the design of the stamp.

Bill· HRH.R. 3654 (99th)referred

A bill to amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to require that support by the Agency for International Development for family planning service programs be based on the fundamental principles of voluntarism and informed choice.

United States · United States Congress · 30 October 1985

Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to provide that funds made available for family planning programs may only be used for programs: (1) in which there is not any element of coercion of individuals to practice family planning or to accept any particular method of contraception; (2) which include an accurate description of the effectiveness and risks of all major methods of family planning; and (3) which include an agreement to provide either other family planning methods if requested or referral to programs offering other methods as appropriate.

Bill· HJRESH.J.Res. 431 (99th)open

A joint resolution to commend the people and the sovereign confederation of the neutral nation of Switzerland for their contributions to freedom, international peace, and understanding on the occasion of the meeting between the leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union in Geneva, Switzerland, on November 19 and 20, 1985.

United States · United States Congress · 29 October 1985

States that the people and nation of Switzerland are to be commended for what they have done throughout this century in the search for freedom, international peace, and understanding.

Bill· HRH.R. 3627 (99th)referred

A bill granting the consent of Congress to the Southern States Energy Compact, and for related purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 24 October 1985

Interstate Compact - Grants the consent of the Congress to the Southern States Energy Compact regarding coordination among specified States for the development, production, and use of energy. Declares the following States eligible parties to such compact: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Declares any State contiguous to the foregoing States an eligible party to the Compact. Repeals the Act of July 31, 1962 granting the consent of the Congress to the Southern Interstate Nuclear Compact.

Bill· HJRESH.J.Res. 428 (99th)open

A joint resolution to prohibit the sales of certain advanced weapons to Jordan.

United States · United States Congress · 24 October 1985

Expresses the sense of the Senate that the United States: (1) should not sell advanced weapons to Jordan; (2) should ensure that Israel retains its qualitative military edge in the Middle East; and (3) should focus its efforts on bringing Jordan into direct peace negotiations with Israel.

Bill· HRH.R. 3555 (99th)open

A bill to amend the "Joint Resolution to provide for accepting, ratifying and confirming the cessions of certain islands of the Samoan group to the United States, and for other purposes".

United States · United States Congress · 10 October 1985

States that a person shall be considered an American national if such person completes 15 years of lawful continuous residence in the United States or American Samoa, and one of his or her parents was a national of the United States and a resident of the United States or American Samoa at the time of that person's birth.