United States · United States Congress · 4 February 1991
National Energy Efficiency Act of 1991 - Title I: Buildings - Amends the National Energy Conservation Policy Act (the Act) to require the Secretary of Energy (Secretary) to establish a program to provide technical assistance to States and localities to update energy efficiency codes and standards for residential and commercial buildings. Requires each State to certify to the Secretary that: (1) it has reviewed and updated its residential and commercial building codes affecting energy efficiency, including a demonstration that such codes meet or exceed the requirements of the Council of American Building Officials' Model Energy Code and the Department of Energy's Commercial Building Standards; and (2) at least 75 percent of the new residential and commercial buildings constructed in such State meet the updated code requirements. Requires the Secretary to establish a task force of representatives from the building construction industry and financial community to advise in the development of the program. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary to promulgate procedures to be used by States, local governments, and others to assign energy efficiency ratings to residential buildings. Requires the Secretary to provide technical assistance to any such entities using the energy efficiency rating systems. Directs the Secretary to report to the President and the Congress on such procedures and technical assistance. Authorizes appropriations. Title II: Federal Energy Management - Declares it is the purpose of the Act to promote the conservation and efficient use of energy and renewable energy sources by the Federal Government. Requires, to the maximum extent practicable, the installation of energy conservation measures with payback periods of less than ten years (currently, 25 years) in all Federal buildings no later than January 1, 2000. Sets forth specified Federal agency requirements with respect to such measures. Requires each agency to submit to the Secretary a plan describing how it intends to meet such requirements. Directs the Secretary to establish a Federal Energy Efficiency Fund to provide grants to agencies to enable them to meet the energy efficiency requirements. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes and encourages agencies to participate in programs for energy conservation or the management of electricity demand conducted by gas or electric utilities and available to customers of such utilities. Directs the Secretary to establish a financial bonus program to reward outstanding facility energy managers in such agencies. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the Secretary to study the monetary value of the environmental benefits resulting from energy efficiency improvements in Federal buildings. Directs the Secretary to establish a program to install in Federal buildings commercial energy efficiency technologies developed by entities receiving Federal financial assistance for research and development. Requires the Secretary to prepare and disseminate an evaluation of each energy efficiency technology included in such program, outlining its technical and economic effectiveness. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Administrator of the General Services Administration to conduct a detailed analysis of the energy consuming and conserving products in the Federal Supply Schedule and devise a method to highlight those products that are preferred energy efficient models. Requires the Administrator to: (1) issue guidelines to users of the Schedule to encourage the purchase of such models; and (2) identify manufacturers of energy efficient products not listed on the Schedule and provide such manufacturers with assistance to encourage the inclusion of their products on the Schedule. Authorizes appropriations. Amends the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act to require the President to promulgate rules prohibiting agencies from acquiring automobiles with fuel economies that are not greater than the average fuel economy for the previous year. Amends the Energy Conservation and Production Act to require each agency head to adopt, no later than two years after enactment of this Act, procedures to assure that the construction of new Federal buildings meet or exceed certain energy conservation performance standards. Title III: Electricity and Utilities - Amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to require rates charged by State-regulated electric utilities be such that prudent investments in conservation and energy efficiency resources are at least as profitable as investments in new generation facilities. Requires the Secretary to report to the President and the Congress: (1) a survey of State laws and policies under which State regulatory authorities require electric utilities to compare energy efficiency and generation investment opportunities to minimize life-cycle costs of electric services to electric customers (least-cost planning); (2) an evaluation of whether such least-cost planning will result in higher or lower electricity costs, enhanced or reduced reliability of electric service, and increased or decreased dependence on particular energy resources; and (3) an evaluation of whether ratemaking methodologies implementing such planning take into account the impact of such measures on electric utilities' costs, operations, and rate of return on investment. Requires unregulated electric utilities to use least-cost planning. Requires each unregulated utility to initiate or expand efforts to ensure that cost-effective energy efficiency and renewable energy resources are acquired by customer utilities. Title IV: Standards and Information - Directs the Secretary to provide financial assistance to support a voluntary, national window rating program to develop window energy ratings and labels. Mandates that such program be administered by the National Fenestration Rating Council which shall report periodically to the Congress and the Secretary regarding the program's status. Directs the Federal Trade Commission to prescribe labeling rules for windows and window systems. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary to develop a voluntary national program to devise standards for the proper levels of industrial insulation. Requires the Secretary to: (1) review the status of industrial energy auditing procedures; (2) conduct an educational and technical assistance program concerning the standards and auditing procedures; and (3) report to the Congress regarding such standards, auditing procedures, and educational and technical assistance, including the responsiveness of the industrial sector to the standards. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the Secretary to determine the feasibility of establishing energy conservation standards for the commercial application of lamps, appliance motors, and small package air conditioners. Provides for enforcement of any standards adopted. Title V: International - Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to revise the purposes of the interagency working group to require them to: (1) promote the export of renewable energy and energy technologies produced in the United States; (2) inform other countries of the benefits of such technologies; and (3) foster rural and urban economic development and energy self-sufficiency through their use. Requires such group to: (1) develop a data base and information dissemination system that will provide information on the energy technology needs of lesser-developed countries, the technical and economic competitiveness of various renewable energy and energy efficiency resource technologies, and the status of ongoing technology assistance programs; (2) make such information available to industry, Federal and multilateral lending agencies, nongovernmental organizations, host-country and donor-agency officials, and others; and (3) report to the Congress biennially on the full range of energy and environmental technologies necessary to meet the energy needs of developing countries while reducing the generation of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Authorizes the interagency working group to establish renewable energy and energy efficiency industry outreach offices in the Pacific Rim and in the Caribbean Basin. Authorizes the group to sponsor trade missions to help market renewable energy and energy efficient products in other countries. Title VI: Miscellaneous - Amends the Department of Energy Organization Act to require the Administrator of the Energy Information Administration to collect annually, on a State-by-State basis, information on renewable energy utilized within such States. Repeals the National Energy Extension Service Act (thus abolishing the Energy Extension Service).
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 1991
Authorizes the President to drawdown the Strategic Petroleum Reserve if it would assist in relieving severe economic problems related to a significant increase in the price of petroleum.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 1991
Natural Gas Enhancement Act of 1991 - Amends the Natural Gas Act to extend the time within which the Federal Power Commission must take final action with respect to applications for rehearing of Commission orders. Permits applicants who are required to prepare environmental impact statements with respect to the construction or extension of facilities for the transportation of natural gas to elect a contractor, consultant, or other person designated by the Commission to prepare such statement at the applicant's expense. Amends the Department of Energy Organization Act to authorize the Commission to utilize rulemaking procedures with respect to the establishment of rates and charges, or the issuance of a certificate of public convenience and necessity, including abandonment of natural gas facilities and services, and the establishment of physical connections under the Natural Gas Act. Amends the Natural Gas Act to declare that the replacement or repair of natural gas facilities for which a certificate of public convenience and necessity has been issued shall not be considered the construction or extension of such facilities unless such replaced or repaired facility has substantially more or less delivery capacity than the original certificated facility, or such replacement or repair results in a reduction or abandonment of service provided by the original certificated facility. Requires the Commission to file notice in the Federal Register of proposed certificates of public convenience and necessity as soon as all required information has been received by it. Deems such certificates to have been issued if no protest or objection has been filed in response to such notice within 60 days after publication of such notice. Amends the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 to authorize the Commission to approve any intrastate pipeline to transport natural gas and to construct and operate natural gas facilities of any size or capacity to be used solely for the transportation of natural gas. Requires rates and charges of interstate natural gas pipelines to be just and reasonable. Amends the Natural Gas Act to authorize the President to designate as a priority project the construction or expansion of natural gas facilities over a specific route, or from a specific gas producing area, or into a specific gas consuming market if it is in the national interest. Requires the Commission to issue a certificate of public convenience and necessity for the construction or expansion of such facilities if the President designates such facilities as a priority project. Declares that a certificate shall not be required for the construction or extension of natural gas facilities if such construction begins after enactment of this Act. Sets forth specified requirements with respect to such construction.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 1991
Strategic Petroleum Reserve Enhancement Act of 1991 - Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to direct the Secretary of Energy (the Secretary) to establish and implement during FY 1992 a minimum (Strategic Petroleum) Reserve fill rate of 200,000 barrels per day until the quantity of crude oil in storage in the Reserve is at least 1,500,000,000. Prescribes implementation guidelines. Requires the Secretary to assess and collect charges from each person who stores petroleum in the Reserve pursuant to such program.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 1991
Prevailing Wage Rate Adjustment Reform Act of 1991 - Requires that Federal prevailing rate employees receive full statutory wage adjustments based on annual local wage surveys of private industries in each wage grade area.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 1991
Extends the immediate retirement provisions applicable to Federal law enforcement officers to: (1) revenue officers for the Internal Revenue Service; (2) customs inspectors for the U.S. Customs Service; (3) customs canine enforcement officers for the U.S. Customs Service; and (4) inspectors for the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 1991
Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Tax Act of 1991 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an investment tax credit for renewable electricity which is generated and sold by a qualified taxpayer within the United States using solar, wind, or geothermal energy and which is not used by the taxpayer or a related person. Allows the use of such credit for a ten-year period. Excludes from gross income employer-provided transportation using a commuter highway vehicle (van pooling) and mass transit between the employee's residence and place of employment. Limits such exclusion to $75 per month. Excludes from gross income the amount or value of any subsidy provided by a public utility to a customer in connection with the purchase, installation, use, or maintenance of any energy or water conservation measure or for energy savings delivered by such measures. Disallows any other deduction or credit for such subsidy.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1991
Allows coverage under the Federal employee health insurance program of an unmarried dependent child between 22 and 23 years of age who is a student regularly pursuing a full-time course of study or training in residence in a junior college, college, university, or comparable recognized educational institution.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1991
Reproductive Health Equity Act - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act, the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, the Peace Corps Act, the District of Columbia Self-Government and Governmental Reorganization Act, and other Federal laws covering armed forces personnel and dependents, certain veterans, Federal employees' health benefits, and Federal penal and correctional institutions to provide that services related to abortion be made available to the same extent as are other pregnancy-related services under federally-funded programs. Repeals provisions of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act requiring submission of a resource allocation plan to the Congress by December 17, 1981.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1991
Amends title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI) of the Social Security Act to require States which supplement SSI benefits to pass along Federal cost of living adjustments in such benefits in order to be eligible to receive Federal funds under title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act.
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 1991
Fertility Clinic Success Rate and Certification Act - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a program for certification of embryo laboratories to assure effectiveness of laboratory procedures. Allows certification to be issued by the Secretary or by an accreditation organization which meets standards set by the Secretary under this Act. Makes certification valid for a maximum of two years. Mandates fees for issuance and renewal. Sets forth certification requirements. Provides for periodic announced and unannounced inspections. Directs the Secretary to approve accreditation organizations under criteria and procedures set by the Secretary. Prohibits an embryo laboratory from performing procedures without certification. Sets forth civil monetary penalties for violations.
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 1991
Biomedical and Behavioral Facilities Construction Act of 1990 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), through the Director of Research Resources (Director), to award grants to public or nonprofit private institutions, under provisions relating to biomedical and behavioral research facilities, to expand, remodel, renovate, or alter existing research facilities or construct new research facilities. Establishes in the Division of Research Resources of the NIH a Technical Review Board on Biomedical and Behavioral Research Facilities to: (1) advise the Director and the Advisory Council (established under existing law) on matters concerning the construction of facilities; and (2) conduct the peer review of applications under this title. Sets forth requirements for application and selection of grants. Limits the amount of any grant to 50 percent of the cost of construction or, in the case of a multipurpose facility, 50 percent of the cost of construction proportionate to the contemplated use. Allows the Director to waive these limitations for institutions of emerging excellence in biomedical or behavioral research. Provides for recapture of payments in certain circumstances for 20 years after completion of construction. Requires the Director to prescribe regulations with respect to the grants. Requires the Director to mandate peer review of applications for grants under these provisions in accordance with existing peer review provisions. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 1991
Kangaroo Protection Act - Provides that any administrative exception made under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 permitting the importation of kangaroos, their parts, and products shall not apply to kangaroos removed from the wild in accordance with an Australian management plan.
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 1991
Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide reduced rates of interest under the Guaranteed Student Loan (Stafford Loan) program to individuals who enter the teaching profession.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 1991
Authorizes the Secretary of Education to enter into a contract with the National Writing Project (a nonprofit educational organization) to support costs of programs of teacher training and classroom research to improve the teaching of writing and the quality of student writing and learning. Directs the Project to establish a National Advisory Board. Directs the Secretary, through the Office of Educational Research and Improvement, to make grants to individuals and higher education institutions for research on the teaching of writing. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1991 through 1995.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 1991
Allows executive agency employees to take up to five days of leave each year without a reduction in pay or leave to which otherwise entitled in order to donate bone marrow.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend the tax exemption for qualified small issue industrial bonds (bonds issued to finance manufacturing facilities and farm property) through 1996.
United States · United States Congress · 22 January 1991
Rape and Incest Victims' Choice Resolution - Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that Federal Medicaid (title XIX of the Social Security Act) funding should be available for the abortion of pregnancies resulting from rape or incest if such acts, considering the physical and mental state of the women involved, are reported promptly.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1991
National Biological Diversity Conservation and Environmental Research Act - States that the conservation of biological diversity is a national priority. Requires Federal actions to be consistent with such goal. Directs the Council on Environmental Quality to: (1) issue regulations to require agencies to assess the impacts of Federal actions on biological diversity in preparing environmental impact statements under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969; and (2) identify those biotic communities, species, and populations that appear to be in decline, in imminent danger of loss of viability, or otherwise of special concern. Requires Federal agencies to review their programs for consistency with the conservation of biological diversity pursuant to this Act and to report the results of such reviews to the President, the Council, and the Congress. Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, in reviewing environmental impact statements, to take into account the impacts of proposed actions on biological diversity. Establishes an Interagency Working Committee on Biological Diversity to be responsible for developing a coordinated Federal strategy for conservation of biological diversity. Dissolves the Committee after the submission to the Congress of the strategy. Sets forth the required contents of such strategy and reporting requirements. Establishes a National Center for Biological Diversity and Conservation Research within the Smithsonian Institution to: (1) set research priorities; and (2) coordinate the understanding and promotion of knowledge of the biota and make such knowledge accessible to the public. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the Council to retain the National Academy of Sciences to: (1) provide scientific and technical advice and counsel in the preparation of the Federal strategy; and (2) provide a general reference and scientific and technical advisory source for the Nation in matters relating to the conservation of biological diversity.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1991
Overseas Teachers Act - Amends the Defense Department Overseas Teachers Pay and Personnel Practices Act with respect to teacher recruitment, leave, compensation, conditions of employment, and entry into competitive service.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1991
Military Personnel Pay and Benefits Act of 1991 - Title I: Military Personnel and Compensation Matters - Repeals current provisions prohibiting the payment of imminent danger pay and a family separation allowance during times of war or national emergency declared by the Congress. Establishes a monthly family separation allowance of $100 in lieu of $60. Authorizes the payment of such allowance to either spouse when both are members of the armed forces and have no other dependents. Requires the payment of a basic allowance for quarters to reserve members without dependents called to active duty who are unable to occupy their primary residence owned or rented by such members because of such active duty. Expands eligibility for the payment of foreign duty special pay to include both officers and enlisted personnel (currently, only enlisted personnel) and specifies the amount of such special monthly pay, which increases for each higher enlisted or officer pay grade. Makes survivors eligible for the payment of all accrued leave of members who die while on active duty. Provides that a retired member ordered to active duty and who serves such active duty in a grade higher than his retired grade is entitled, upon release from such new duty, to be advanced on the retired list to the highest grade satisfactorily served on active duty for not less than three years, as determined by the Secretary concerned. Authorizes the President to waive such three-year requirement in individual cases. Removes the ceiling on savings deposits for servicemembers carried in a missing person status during the Persian Gulf conflict. Establishes a standard death gratuity rate of $6,000 for members of all grades. Requires foreign language proficiency pay for members assigned to duty in connection with operations in the Persian Gulf who meet all eligibility criteria for such pay except that they have not been certified by the Secretary concerned to be proficient in a foreign language necessary for national defense purposes. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should request the Government of Germany to contribute medical care to persons living in Germany who are dependents of members of U.S. armed forces in order to replace military medical personnel and equipment deployed to the Persian Gulf region to treat casualties resulting from military operations there. Title II: Internal Revenue Matters - Extends the time allowed for performing certain acts relating to income tax liability under the Internal Revenue Code by reason of service in a combat zone for individuals who performed Desert Shield or Desert Storm services. Includes as such service: (1) any period of hospitalization outside the United States for an injury received during the Persian Gulf conflict; and (2) the period during which an individual so entitled to such extension is in a missing status. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow, as part of the permitted time allowed before tax liability is recognized on the rollover of gain from a principal residence, an additional one-year period from the time in which a reserve member of the armed forces is released from active duty pursuant to a call or order. Title III: Student Loan Deferments - Makes eligible for repayment deferment of certain student loans granted under the Higher Education Act of 1965 a member of the armed forces called or ordered to active duty in connection with operations in the Persian Gulf. States that such period of deferment shall not be counted against the grace period normally available to individuals with respect to such loans.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1991
Amends Federal law to declare that the Tax Reform Act of 1986 shall be applied and administered as if the three-year basis recovery rule applicable to government employees' annuities had not been repealed.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend the targeted jobs credit permanently. Increases the maximum age requirement for economically disadvantaged youth from 23 to 25.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1991
Condemns Iraq's unprovoked attack on Israel. Expresses sympathy for the loss of life, casualties, and destruction. Declares solidarity with the people of Israel. Commends the citizens of Israel for their perserverance and the Government of Israel for its restraint. Recognizes Israel's right to defend itself. Reaffirms America's continued commitment to provide Israel with the means to maintain her freedom and security.
United States · United States Congress · 16 January 1991
Establishes the Manzanar National Historic Site in California to protect historical and cultural resources associated with the relocation of Japanese-Americans during World War II. Establishes the Manzanar National Historic Site Advisory Commission to consult with the Secretary of the Interior on matters relating to the development, management, and interpretation of the site. Terminates the Commission within ten years after the enactment of this Act. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 16 January 1991
Adolescent Nutritional Equity Act - Amends the National School Lunch Act to restore eligibility for food supplement benefits under the dependent care food program to adolescent youth 18 years of age or under. Makes children with disabilities eligible for such benefits at any age.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1991
Amends Federal law to change the name of the Boys' Clubs of America to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. Updates the board members of the organization.
United States · United States Congress · 12 January 1991
Finds that the Constitution vests all power to declare war in the Congress. Declares that any offensive action against Iraq must be explicitly approved in advance by the Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 11 January 1991
Christopher Columbus Coin and Fellowship Act - Title I: Christopher Columbus Quincentenary Coins - Christopher Columbus Quincentenary Coin Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue not more than a specified number of five-dollar gold coins, one-dollar silver coins, and half-dollar clad coins emblematic of the quincentenary of the discovery of America. Sets forth certain features of such coins and provides for their design, issuance, and sale. Terminates the minting of such coins after June 30, 1993. Requires the Secretary to deposit surcharges from the sale of such coins in the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Fund for use by the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation. Declares that no law governing procurement or public contracts shall be applicable to the procurement of goods and services necessary for carrying out this Act, except that this provision shall not relieve any person from complying with any law relating to equal employment opportunity. Mandates that all amounts received from coin sales be deposited in the coinage profit fund. Title II: Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation - Christopher Columbus Fellowship Act - Establishes the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation to award fellowships to outstanding individuals to encourage new discoveries in all fields of endeavor for the benefit of mankind. Establishes the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Fund. Directs the Foundation to report to the President and to the Congress annually on its operations.
United States · United States Congress · 11 January 1991
Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to require television advertisements authorized by candidates for Federal office that solicit contributions for, or advocate the election or defeat of, a clearly identified candidate to contain a readily identifiable image of the candidate who authorized such advertisement. Requires the image to appear for at least four seconds on at least one-third of the television screen accompanied by statements identifying the political committee or the other person paying for the advertisement and the candidate responsible for its content. Requires television advertisements that have not been authorized by a candidate to present statements: (1) naming the person paying for the advertisement and any connected organization; and (2) indicating that the advertisement has not been authorized by any candidate. Requires authorized and unauthorized radio advertisements to contain such appropriate statements. Prescribes color contrast and character height standards for statements in advertisements in publications disclosing who authorized and paid for the advertisement. Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit a licensee from using a broadcasting station for a communication not in compliance with the guidelines established by this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 11 January 1991
Youthbuild Act of 1990 - Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to provide grants for Youthbuild projects which shall employ economically and educationally disadvantaged youth to help construct or rehabilitate rental and transitional housing for homeless persons and low-income families. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 11 January 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to change from mandatory to discretionary the authority to deny unemployment benefits between academic terms to employees serving educational institutions in nonprofessional positions.
United States · United States Congress · 10 January 1991
Employee Educational Assistance Act of 1991 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent the income tax exclusion of amounts paid under employee educational assistance programs. (Under current law the exclusion expires for taxable years beginning after December 31, 1991.)
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1991
Truth in Savings Act - Requires each advertisement, announcement, or solicitation by a depository institution which refers to a specific interest rate, yield, or rate of earnings on amounts deposited in a demand or interest-bearing account to state the following information clearly and conspicuously: (1) the annual percentage yield and the period such yield is in effect; (2) all minimum initial deposit, minimum balance, and time requirements for earning such yield; (3) the annual rates of simple interest; (4) fees or other conditions that could reduce the yield; (5) any interest penalty for early withdrawal; and (6) the effective percentage yield on the maturity date of any account maturing in less than one year. Authorizes the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to exempt advertisements, announcements, or solicitations made by any broadcast or electronic medium or outdoor advertising displays not on the premises of a depository institution from the disclosure requirements relating to initial deposit requirements, rates of simple interest, or fees if such disclosure would be unnecessarily burdensome. Prohibits any depository institution from advertising an account as a free or no-cost account if: (1) there are minimum balance or limited transaction requirements to avoid fees; or (2) there is any service fee, transaction fee, or similar charge imposed for such account. Prohibits any institution from making any advertisement, announcement, or solicitation that is inaccurate or misleading or that misrepresents its deposit contracts. Requires each depository institution to maintain a schedule, written in clear and plain language, of fees, charges, interest rates, and terms and conditions such as minimum balance and time requirements applicable to each class of accounts offered. Requires that such schedule be disclosed to potential customers and requesting individuals and mailed to account holders. Requires that account holders receive 30 days' advance notice of any change to be made in any term or condition required to be disclosed in the schedule if the change might reduce the yield or adversely affect any account holder. Directs the Board to require modified disclosure requirements concerning the annual yield on variable rate accounts, multiple rate accounts, guaranteed-rate accounts that mature in less than one year, and accounts for which the interest rate is not guaranteed. Directs the Board to provide for public notice and comment on, and to publish, model forms and clauses for common disclosures required by this Act. Provides for the enforcement of this Act and the civil liability of a depository institution that fails to comply with requirements of this Act. Sets forth limitations on such liability and factors to be considered by the court in determining class action awards. Provides that an institution may not be held liable for a violation if the institution demonstrates that the violation was not intentional and resulted from a bona fide error. Establishes U.S. district court jurisdiction and a one-year statute of limitations for actions brought under this Act. Directs the National Credit Union Administration to provide for the similar regulation of credit unions.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1991
Systematic Approach for Value Engineering Act - Directs Federal executive agency heads to mandate value engineering reviews for Federal contracts for: (1) construction or architectural or engineering services for projects over $2,000,000; and (2) major systems procurement and any subcontract of such a procurement contract for over 20 percent of the total procurement contract amount. Directs heads of executive and military departments and wholly owned Government corporations administering programs that provide grants to State and local governments to enable them to enter into such contracts or subcontracts to require such governments to obtain value engineering reviews as a condition for obtaining program grants. Provides for voluntary value engineering reviews. Provides that the activities and expenses of certain subcontractors shall be included in such a review if the reviewer considers it appropriate. Requires the heads of contracting executive agencies to periodically conduct, or provide for the conduct of, value engineering reviews of their agencies. Requires such Federal officials to establish a system within the agency to ensure that value engineering requirements are conscientiously and effectively implemented. Directs the Inspectors General of each executive agency to submit to the Congress and to each executive agency head a report on the implementation of the value engineering requirements of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1991
Amends the Reclamation States Drought Assistance Act of 1988 to extend: (1) through March 1, 1993, the period for completion of studies to augment, make use of, or conserve water supplies available to Federal reclamation projects and Indian water resources development; and (2) through 1992, authorized construction, management, and conservation activities to mitigate damages resulting from drought conditions. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to purchase water from willing sellers and to make such water available to reclamation project and nonproject water users at rates sufficient to repay the Secretary for the cost of such water. Extends, through 1992, the general and contract authority of the Secretary to make available water or canal capacity at existing Federal reclamation projects to water users and others on a temporary basis to mitigate damages due to drought conditions. Requires that the cost of water made available by the Secretary to protect fish and wildlife resources, even during drought conditions, be nonreimbursable. Authorizes the Secretary to store and convey nonproject water utilizing Federal reclamation project facilities for purposes other than irrigation and for use outside the authorized project service area at a rate sufficient to repay the cost of storing and conveying such water. Extends through 1992 the authority of the Secretary to make emergency loans for mitigating drought damages. Authorizes the Secretary to defer without penalty the payment of any charge as the Secretary deems necessary because of financial hardship caused by drought. Provides that actions taken under such Act in response to emergency conditions shall not be subject to provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and the Federal Paperwork Reduction Act. Extends through 1992 the emergency drought program. Increases the total amount authorized to be appropriated to carry out the Reclamation States Drought Assistance Act of 1988.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1991
Permits retired members of the armed forces to be paid retirement pay concurrently with compensation for any service-connected disability if the person's entitlement to such retirement pay is based solely on: (1) age; (2) length of service; or (3) both. Reduces the amount of retirement pay, in the case of individuals receiving both types of pay, by a specified percentage of the disability compensation which decreases as the disability rating increases. Prohibits any reduction in the retirement pay of a disabled person when the disability rating is total. Expresses the sense of the Congress that, once the Federal budget deficit has been reduced, the Congress should reexamine and eliminate any offset of retired pay by a veteran's disability compensation.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1991
Amends the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 to modify the ban on honoraria to allow Federal officers and employees, other than Representatives in, or Delegates or Resident Commissioners to, the Congress, presidential appointees, and commissioned officers of the Uniformed Services whose pay grade equals or exceeds grade 0-7, to receive an honorarium for an article in a bona fide publication, a speech, or an appearance if: (1) the subject of the article, speech, or appearance and the reason for which the honorarium is paid is unrelated to the recipient's official duties or status; and (2) the party offering the honorarium has no interests that may be substantially affected by the performance or nonperformance of the recipient's official duties. Prohibits the amount of such honorarium accepted from exceeding the usual and customary fee for the services for which the honorarium is paid, up to $2,000. Subjects the acceptance of any honorarium to financial disclosure under the Ethics in Government Act of 1978.
![Official portrait of Rep. Fazio, Vic [D-CA-3]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/f000053_200.jpg)