United States · United States Congress · 15 June 1988
Amends Federal law to authorize Federal employees who are separated from service (for other than gross misconduct) and individuals who cease to meet unmarried dependent child requirements to continue Federal health benefits coverage. Authorizes coverage for former employees up to 18 months and for unmarried dependents up to 36 months at their own cost. Authorizes the Office of Personnel Management to prescribe regulations for continued coverage for certain former spouses, legally separated individuals, and members of employee organization plans.
United States · United States Congress · 15 June 1988
Requires the President to provide the House of Representatives with specified documents (with respect to the assistance for Central America provided for in Public Law 100-276) concerning: (1) interpretations of such Act by the Legal Advisor of the Department of State or the Office of the General Counsel of the Agency for International Development (AID); (2) standards, procedures, and controls for the accountability of funds which have been adopted by AID pursuant to such Act; (3) the procurement outside of the United States, the receipt, and the end-use of any equipment, supplies, or other goods for the Nicaraguan democratic resistance using the funds made available by such Act; (4) funds made available by such Act for the Verification Commission established by the Sapoa Agreement of March 23, 1988; (5) the selection of, and agreements with, organizations to distribute assistance under such Act for children who are victims of the Nicaraguan civil strife; and (6) compliance with the requirements for the distribution to and use of such assistance by children.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 1988
Expresses the sense of the Congress urging Government agencies to avoid actions that would reduce amateur radio frequency allocations used for emergency communications and encouraging support for the Amateur Radio Service in its emergency communications efforts.
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 1988
EPA Law Enforcement Powers Act of 1988 - Amends the Federal criminal code to authorize law enforcement officers with responsibility for the investigation of criminal violations of a law administered by the Environmental Protection Agency to: (1) carry firearms; (2) execute and serve warrants; and (3) make arrests without a warrant for any offense against the United States committed in such officer's presence or any felony offense against the United States if such officer has probable cause to believe that the person to be arrested has committed or is committing such felony offense.
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 1988
Targeted Relief Disclosure Resolution of 1988 - Amends rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives to require each report accompanying each bill or joint resolution of a public character reported by the Committee on Ways and Means to identify: (1) each provision which is intended to provide special benefits with respect to five or fewer taxpayers, transactions, events, items of property, projects, or issuances of bonds; (2) each beneficiary of such provision; (3) the Member of Congress who sponsored the inclusion of each such beneficiary; and (4) an estimate by the Joint Committee on Taxation of the loss in revenues resulting from such provision with respect to each such beneficiary for the fiscal year for which such loss in revenues first occurs and each of the five fiscal years thereafter.
United States · United States Congress · 3 June 1988
Veterans' Compensation Amendments of 1988 - Increases the rates of compensation, dependency and indemnity compensation, and the clothing allowance payable to veterans with service-connected disabilities and their survivors. Authorizes the Administrator of Veterans Affairs to administratively adjust the rates of disability compensation payable to persons who are not in receipt of compensation for service-connected disability or death. Provides for the payment of benefits to the surviving spouse and to the children of a veteran who dies from causes other than the veteran's own willful misconduct, and who was in receipt of, entitled to receive, or but for the receipt of retired or retirement pay would have been entitled to receive, compensation at the time of death for a service-connected disability that was continuously rated totally disabling for: (1) ten years or more immediately preceding death; or (2) not less than five years from the date of such veteran's discharge or other release from active duty. Prohibits the payment of benefits to a surviving spouse under this Act unless: (1) the marriage to the veteran occurred before the expiration of 15 years after the veteran's discharge or other release from active duty; (2) the surviving spouse was married to the veteran for one year or more; or (3) a child was born of the marriage or was born to them before the marriage. Provides for a reduction of benefits to a surviving spouse or child receiving money or property pursuant to an award in a judicial proceeding based upon, or a settlement or compromise of, any cause of action for damages for the death of such veteran. Revises provisions providing for vocational rehabilitation for pension recipients to qualify for an eligibility evaluation any veteran who was awarded a pension before the beginning of the program period, and to remove the limitation on the number of veterans who may be given evaluations each year. Extends the program period through January 31, 1992. Provides for the continued operation of the Veterans Administration's regional office in the Philippines through September 30, 1991.
United States · United States Congress · 3 June 1988
Homeownership Assistance Act of 1988 - Amends the National Housing Act to create a special mortgage insurance program for first-time homebuyers. Authorizes insurance for up to 97 percent of the home's value. Defines "first-time homebuyer" as an individual who or whose spouse has not owned a principal residence during the 18 months prior to a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) insured home purchase. Authorizes FHA to insure a mortgage loan up to 97 percent of appraised value for the first $50,000 (currently $25,000) of a home's value. Authorizes an FHA demonstration program to insure 100 percent of a home's value for a first-time homebuyer provided that the downpayment will be paid within three years by an additional monthly payment. Requires participants to receive financial counseling. Authorizes FHA to insure adjustable rate mortgages with annual interest rate increases of up to two percent (currently one percent). Repeals the aggregate annual limit on such insured loans. Requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to submit annual program reports to the Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 26 May 1988
Homeownership Assistance Act of 1988 - Amends the National Housing Act to create a special mortgage insurance program for first-time homebuyers. Authorizes insurance for up to 97 percent of the home's value. Authorizes the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) to insure a mortgage loan of up to 97 percent of appraised value for the first $50,000 (currently $25,000) of a home's value. Repeals the current dollar cap on FHA insured mortgages in high cost areas. Authorizes FHA to insure adjustable rate mortgages with annual interest rate increases of up to two percent (currently one percent). Repeals the aggregate annual limit on such insured loans. Defines "first-time homebuyer" as an individual who or whose spouse has not owned a principal residence during the 18 months prior to an FHA insured home purchase. Authorizes an FHA demonstration program to insure mortgages for first-time homebuyer downpayments where the purchase is primarily financed or assisted by tax-exempt or other government assistance. Limits the downpayment loan to $7,500. Requires participants to receive financial counseling. Sets a maximum ten year loan maturity period. Amends the Federal National Mortgage Association Charter Act to authorize the Government National Mortgage Association to create a secondary market for first-time homebuyer downpayment loans. Authorizes an FHA demonstration program to insure 100 percent of a home's value for a first-time homebuyer provided that the donwnpayment will be paid within three years by an additional monthly payment. Requires participants to receive financial counseling. Amends the Deficit Reduction Act of 1984 to empower the Internal Revenue Service to confiscate defaulting taxpayers' tax refunds. Requires the Secretary to submit program reports to the Congress within one year of enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 25 May 1988
Social Security Work Incentives Act of 1988 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to reduce monthly disability benefits by 50 percent of a beneficiary's monthly earnings in excess of $85. Limits the total amount by which an individual's OASDI disability benefits may be reduced if such individual is also eligible for benefits provided under title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI) of the Act to individuals who perform substantial gainful activity despite severe medical impairment. Prohibits deductions from disability-based child insurance benefits for the recovery of prior overpayments resulting from a failure to reduce such benefits on the basis of earnings. Extends to current OASDI disability beneficiaries the rule preventing reductions in the primary insurance amount for prior recipients. Continues an individual's entitlement to disability benefits while such individual is under disabled and working status, meaning that such individual is earning enough to be considered engaged in substantial gainful activity, but would otherwise continue to satisfy eligibility requirements. Sets a four-year limit on the Medicare hospital insurance eligibility (under part A of title XVIII of the Act) of individuals who owe their eligibility to their disabled and working status under the OASDI program. Amends the Medicare program to authorize such individuals to enroll for hospital insurance benefits upon the termination of such four-year limit. Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Act to cover Medicare cost-sharing amounts for individuals of disabled and working status who are entitled to enroll for Medicare hospital insurance benefits and whose income and resources do not exceed 300 percent of the Federal poverty level and the SSI resource eligibility limit, respectively. Requires States to collect a coinsurance percentage from such individuals pursuant to a sliding scale which increases such percentage from 0 to 100 percent in reasonable increments as incomes move from 150 to 300 percent of the Federal poverty level. Extends to all recipients of disability-based child's insurance benefits the rule permitting continued entitlement to Medicaid benefits of individuals who would remain eligible for SSI benefits but for their receipt of such child's insurance benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 1988
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend the low-income housing credit through 1990. (Under current law the credit is due to expire on December 31, 1989.)
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 1988
Federal Asset Disposition Association Dissolution Act - Amends the National Housing Act to specify that the purpose of the establishment of new savings and loan associations in connection with a liquidation is to make insured accounts available to association members. Specifies that provisions of the National Housing Act shall not be construed as authorizing the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation (FSLIC) to organize a new Federal association for the purpose of managing or disposing of any assets: (1) of an insured institution for which the FSLIC has been appointed receiver; or (2) acquired by the FSLIC in order to prevent a default. Authorizes the FSLIC to delegate such liquidation functions to an appropriate regional office. Prohibits the Federal Asset Disposition Association (FADA) from engaging in any new activities after the date of the enactment of this Act. Directs the FSLIC to require FADA to assign all its rights and obligations under any contract to the FSLIC. Requires the FSLIC, within 60 days after the enactment of this Act, to revoke the charter of FADA and assume its assets and liabilities. Specifies that this Act shall not be construed as any recognition or ratification by the Congress of: (1) any authority of the FSLIC to charter FADA; or (2) any authority of FADA to act on behalf of the FSLIC. Requires the FSLIC to prepare and submit to the Congress a report describing: (1) the manner in which the dissolution of FADA was implemented; (2) the results of such dissolution; and (3) FSLIC's actions as the receiver of FADA. Specifies certain information to be included in such report. Requires the FSLIC to take such action as may be necessary to ensure that the FSLIC and all officers and employees of the FSLIC maintain full compliance with the competitive procurement requirements of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949. Requires the FSLIC to liquidate the assets of insolvent savings and loan associations in a manner which: (1) minimizes the cost to the FSLIC; (2) maximizes the return which the FSLIC realizes on the assets; and (3) encourages the use of services of persons in the private sector in managing and disposing of such assets to the maximum extent possible. Requires the FSLIC to ensure that no individuals are employed by the FSLIC under personal service contracts except to the extent that such employment: (1) does not exceed 60 days in any one-year period; or (2) is determined to be necessary because of unusual circumstances which do not allow the position involved to be filled by a civil service employee. Provides that the number of asset liquidation personnel employed by the FSLIC shall not be subject to any limitation imposed by any officer of the executive branch who is not an officer of the FSLIC. Imposes a statutory limit on the number of asset liquidation employees that may be employed at any time by the FSLIC. Requires the FSLIC to establish an employment grade structure for asset liquidation employees which is comparable to the grade structure for employees of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation who manage or dispose of assets. Requires representatives of specified Government agencies and the private sector to conduct a multiagency study on options for reducing the duplication, overlap, and inconsistency among Federal agencies and instrumentalities and for making better use of private sector resources in managing and disposing of assets. Requires that a report concerning the results of such study be submitted to the Congress within one year after the enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 1988
Older Americans Child Care Employment Amendments of 1988 - Amends the Older Americans Community Service Employment Act to require the Secretary of Labor to enter into agreements with public or private nonprofit agencies or organizations for the conduct of no more than 100 experimental projects employing individuals who are age 55 or older in providing day care to children. Requires that such agencies or organizations: (1) receive one-third of their funding from non-Federal sources; (2) charge families a day care fee which is proportional to their financial resources; (3) provide day care in facilities other than private residences; and (4) be subject to the most comprehensive State licensing requirements or regulatory standards applicable to similar day care providers in the State. Prohibits the making of grants pursuant to this Act to more than two agencies or organizations in each State in any fiscal year. Authorizes appropriations for such projects.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 1988
Designates the period of July 25 through July 31, 1988, as National Week of Recognition and Remembrance for Those Who Served in the Korean War. Authorizes and requests the President to urge that the American flag be flown at half staff on July 27, 1988, in honor of those Americans who died as a result of their service in Korea.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 1988
Declares that the Congress recognizes the heroic acts of civilian construction workers who participated in the defense of Wake Island during its invasion by Japan between December 8 and December 23, 1941.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 1988
Directs the Secretary of the Interior to: (1) conduct and report to the President and specified congressional committees on a study of existing Revolutionary War fortifications; and (2) prepare and publish a study of the life and career of Thaddeus Kosciuszko, a Revolutionary War hero. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 5 May 1988
Local Rail Service Reauthorizing Act - Amends the Department of Transportation Act regarding local rail service assistance to authorize appropriations for FY 1989 through 1993. Decreases the Federal share of rail service assistance program costs from 70 percent to 50 percent. Provides that the Federal share of costs to rehabilitate rail properties for the purpose of facilitating rail freight service shall be 70 percent.
United States · United States Congress · 4 May 1988
Designates specified land as the Manassas National Battlefield Addition. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to acquire land within the boundaries of the Addition and to administer such lands as part of the Manassas National Battlefield Park, Virginia. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 4 May 1988
Designates the outpatient clinic of the Veterans Administration located in Brick Township, New Jersey, as the James J. Howard Veterans' Outpatient Clinic.
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 1988
States that the payment of certain annuities under the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 and the appropriation of funds to the Dual Benefits Payments Account shall: (1) be considered a mandatory Federal obligation (rather than a discretionary activity); (2) not be subject to sequestration or reduction under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act); and (3) have the same status for Federal budgetary and accounting purposes as benefits paid under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act (thus ensuring that certain railroad retirement benefits paid out of the Dual Benefits Account are not reduced). Appropriates funds to the Dual Benefits Payments Account for FY 1988.
United States · United States Congress · 20 April 1988
Immigration Nursing Crisis Relief Act of 1988 - Provides for a one-year visa (H-1) extension for alien nurses who have completed five years of nursing in the United States. Permits adjustment to permanent resident status for an alien nurse who: (1) has completed such six years' service; (2) has performed any of such service in a nursing crisis area; and (3) meets the applicable requirements set forth under this Act. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make an annual determination of whether a national nursing shortage exists and, if so, to determine: (1) the number of nursing visas necessary; and (2) areas in the United States which are nursing crisis areas. Authorizes the issuance of such additional visas. Subjects an alien to deportation for failure to maintain nursing employment for 60 months.
United States · United States Congress · 20 April 1988
Directs the Secretary of Commerce to study methods of enhancing interstate and foreign commerce in New York City and northern New Jersey. Requires the Secretary to submit to the Congress a report summarizing the study and containing recommendations for promoting such commerce.
United States · United States Congress · 19 April 1988
Declares that the Congress acknowledges and appreciates the commitment, devotion, and sacrifices of present and former military families. Designates November 21, 1988, as National Military Families Recognition Day.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 1988
Truth in Social Security Accounting Act of 1988 - Amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to exclude, beginning with FY 1990, Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund receipts and outlays in the Federal deficit determinations for purposes of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act).
United States · United States Congress · 12 April 1988
Civil Service Annuity Prompt Payment Act - Requires civil service retirement annuity payments and survivor annuity payments to begin 90 days after the later of: (1) the annuity's commencement date; or (2) the date on which the Office of Personnel Management receives a completed application. Requires the payment of interest on the initial underpayment of annuity if no monthly payment is made within the 90-day period, or if one or more monthly annuity payments are made within such period but the amount of payment is deficient.
United States · United States Congress · 12 April 1988
Salvadoran Foreign Assistance Reform Resolution - Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the U.S. foreign assistance program for El Salvador should be revised to promote a negotiated settlement and a reduction of human suffering; (2) the ratio of assistance should be reversed in FY 1989 so that the amount spent on the war effort is only one-third of the amount spent for reform and development activities; (3) such assistance should not be distributed in a manner which would promote the interests of any particular political party; (4) such assistance should be distributed through church-related and other nongovernmental organizations and international organizations selected by the Agency for International Development; and (5) the President should report quarterly to the Congress on the restructuring of such assistance, the economic results of such restructuring, and any reports of corruption in its distribution.
United States · United States Congress · 31 March 1988
Amends the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 to prohibit any person from dumping sewage sludge into the ocean without having obtained from the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency a permit imposing a special disposal fee for each dry ton dumped. Requires permittees to: (1) deposit 75 percent of such fees in a trust account for subsequent use on projects to eliminate ocean dumping after 1992; (2) pay 15 percent of such fees to the Administrator for sludge disposal research, reporting, and permit activities; and (3) pay ten percent of such fees to the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating for use by the Coast Guard in enforcing sewage sludge ocean dumping laws. Authorizes the Administrator to waive the fee requirement for permittees who have entered into a compliance agreement with the Administrator which phases out and terminates ocean dumping of sewage sludge by 1993 and sets forth a schedule for the implementation of an alternate sludge disposal system. Directs the Administrator to report to the Congress at six-month intervals on land-based disposal options for sewage sludge and the progress made by permittees toward the cessation of ocean dumping of such sludge. Outlaws the ocean dumping of municipal sludge after 1992. Imposes a civil fine for each dry ton of sludge dumped in violation of this Act's requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 1988
Provides that restrictions may be applied to information, counseling, or services provided by family planning entities abroad that receive U.S. assistance under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 only to the extent that the same restrictions apply to domestic family planning entities receiving funds under the Public Health Service Act.
![Official portrait of Rep. Florio, James J. [D-NJ-1]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/dfda094a48c87dccd97fd47288d44ac3_200.jpg)