United States · United States Congress · 29 March 1990
Expresses the sense of the Congress that foreign language instruction should begin at the elementary school level. Urges State and local educational agencies to initiate programs of foreign language instruction in elementary schools. Supports the statements of: (1) the National Governors' Association calling for such programs; and (2) the Follow-Up Committee to the Wingspread Consultation on Elementary School Foreign Languages, calling for establishment of a Blue Ribbon Commission to address the national agenda for foreign language instruction in elementary schools.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 1990
National Child Search Assistance Act of 1990 - Requires each Federal, State, and local law enforcement agency to report each case of a missing child under age 18 to the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) of the Department of Justice. Directs the Attorney General to establish guidelines for the collection of such reports and to publish an annual summary. Requires States reporting under this Act to: (1) ensure that no State law enforcement agency establishes a policy which requires a waiting period before accepting a missing child report; (2) provide that all information is entered into the State law enforcement system and the NCIC computer networks and forwarded to the Missing Children Information Clearinghouse (Clearinghouse) or other designated agency within the State; (3) require the Clearinghouse or designated agency to notify all other law enforcement agencies in the State, verify and update the original entry made into the State law enforcement system and NCIC computer networks, and institute or assist with appropriate search and investigative procedures; and (4) maintain close liaison with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children for the exchange of information and technical assistance in the missing children cases. Specifies that any State not complying with such reporting requirements shall be denied grants, cooperative agreements, or other assistance authorized by the Missing Children's Assistance Act.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 1990
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a tax on the income earned by a small business investment company from a disqualified investment in any small business concern whose amount of cash and aggregate adjusted tax bases of other property immediately after the investment (and taking into account the investment proceeds) exceeds $10,000,000. Disqualifies any other investment not permitted under the Small Business Investment Company Act of 1958. Describes the financial arrangements which determine a disqualified investment.
United States · United States Congress · 28 March 1990
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent the provisions permitting small issues of tax-exempt bonds to finance manufacturing facilities and farm property.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1990
Amends the Federal judicial code to make amounts from the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund available for grants to support trauma care services provided by local nonprofit hospitals. Specifies that the total amount of grants to a hospital shall bear the same ratio to the amount made available under this Act as the total amount of deposits in the Fund from property seized in localities served by the hospital bears to the total of deposits in the Fund.
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1990
Title I: Establishment of Clean Coastal Beaches Council and Guidelines for Clean Beaches - Beaches Environmental Assessment, Closure, and Health Act of 1990 - Directs the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere to establish a Clean Coastal Beaches Council to: (1) develop environmental quality criteria that establish guidelines for pathogens and floatables in coastal zone recreation waters; (2) develop uniform monitoring and testing protocols related to the environmental quality and safety of such waters; and (3) submit such criteria and protocols to coastal States. Directs the Council to develop and periodically update a study to determine the most effective indicators for assessing environmental quality of such waters. Requires the study to provide technical information and assistance to States. Title II: Coastal Beaches Plan: Amendments to State Coastal Zone Management Programs - Amends the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 to require States with approved management programs to submit plans to the Under Secretary that: (1) identify coastal zone recreation waters and the means by which the State assures that such waters comply with environmental quality criteria; (2) contain monitoring and testing procedures for such waters; (3) describe processes for closure and reopening of areas pursuant to environmental quality guidelines; and (4) assess penalties against persons whose activities result in beach closures. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1990
National Service Act of 1990 - Title I: School-Based and Higher Education Community Service - Part A: School Based Community Service - Schools and Service-Learning Act of 1990 - Subpart I: School-Based Service Learning - Authorizes the Secretary of Education (the Secretary, for purposes of this title) to make grants to States for state-wide school-based service learning programs involving local partnerships of local educational agencies (LEAs) and other organizations. Authorizes appropriations. Subpart 2: Youthbuild Projects - Authorizes the Director of the ACTION Agency to make grants for up to 90 percent of the cost of Youthbuild projects. Requires that eligible participants in Youthbuild projects be employed in construction, rehabilitation, or improvement of: (1) residential rental housing for homeless individuals and low-income families; (2) transitional housing for homeless individuals; or (3) facilities for providing health, education, and other social services to low-income families. Requires that participants be provided: (1) service opportunities on such construction or rehabilitation projects which are integrated with appropriate skills training and preapprenticeship or apprenticeship programs; (2) education services; (3) personal and peer supports; (4) leadership development; (5) preparation for an placement in unsubsidized employment; and (6) support services and need-based stipends to enable participation, and support services, for up to six months after completion of training, to assist in retaining employment. Conditions provision of service opportunities upon individual attendance and participation in educational services and activities. Bases participant eligibility, with certain exceptions, on the individual's being: (1) 16 to 24 years of age; (2) economically disadvantaged; and (3) a high school dropout with reading and mathematics skills at or below the eighth grade level. Limits an individual's full-time participation to between six and 18 months. Authorizes appropriations. Subpart 3: Other Federal Volunteer Service Programs - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to make grants and contracts for: (1) rural youth service demonstration projects; (2) model community service and service-learning programs; and (3) model service programs for dropouts and out-of-school youth. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Director of the ACTION Agency to make grants to State Governors for initiatives involving non-school-based voluntary service projects in their States. Sets forth provisions for authorized activities and allotments based on school-age population. Authorizes appropriations. Amends the Domestic Volunteer Service Act to authorize appropriations to increase the number of low-income individuals who provide services under the Foster Grandparent Program to children who participate in Head Start programs. Subpart 4: Activities of the Secretary of Education - Directs the Secretary of Education to: (1) widely disseminate information about programs under this part; (2) provide for program evaluation, including participant and community opinions; and (3) make such evaluations available to the public, and to congressional committees in the Secretary's annual report. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to or contracts with experienced public and private nonprofit agencies for national or regional clearinghouses for information on volunteer service with respect to subpart 1 programs. Authorizes appropriations. Subpart 5: Volunteer Service Activities of the President - Authorizes the President to make Presidential Awards for School-Based Service recognizing excellence in school-based service programs. Authorizes the President to create an interagency task force to: (1) create and monitor effective measures for coordinating the various parts of this Act; and (2) design a comprehensive Federal service strategy, including specified components. Authorizes appropriations. Subpart 6: General Provisions - Prohibits making grants under this part for any educational program, activity, or service related to sectarian instruction or religious worship, or provided by a school or department of divinity. Applies the General Education Provisions Act to the programs authorized by this part. Part B: Higher Education Community Service - Subpart 1: Innovative Projects for Community Service - Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to and contracts with higher education institutions, (and other public agencies and nonprofit organizations working in partnership with such institutions) to: (1) enable them to create or expand their student community service activities; (2) encourage student initiated and designed community service projects; and (3) help integrate community service into academic curricula and crediting. Directs the Secretary to make grants to colleges, universities, and other nonprofit organizations to train teachers (and those planning teaching careers), education personnel, and community leaders in skills for developing, supervising, and organizing community service activities. Limits the Federal share under this subpart to not more than 50 percent of the cost of the community service activities. Authorizes appropriations. Subpart 2: Campus-Based Community Work Learning Jobs - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to provide for additional reservations of certain funds for: (1) campus-based community work learning study jobs; and (2) work-study for community service-learning on behalf of low-income individuals and families. Subpart 3: Guaranteed Student Loans - Amends HEA to provide for up to three-year loan deferments under the guaranteed student loan (GSL) and the federally-insured student loan (FISL) program for: (1) certain full-time volunteer service; (2) full-time employment as a professional in drug counseling, prevention, intervention, treatment, or education by a public or nonprofit private agency; and (3) full-time volunteers providing Indian health services. Subpart 4: Direct Loans to Students in Institutions of Higher Education - Amends HEA to provide for certain rates of partial cancellation of loans and certain deferments of loan repayments under the national direct student loan (NDSL) program for: (1) certain full-time volunteer service; (2) full-time employment as a professional in drug counseling and treatment; and (3) full-time volunteers providing Indian health services. Subpart 5: Publication - Amends HEA to require that specified information on student loan deferments and cancellations for certain full-time voluntary service be included in institutional information for students, exit counseling for borrowers, and Department of Education information on student loans. Subpart 6: Student Literacy Corps - Amends HEA to require Student Literacy Corps programs to give priority to tutoring services to illiterate parents of educationally or economically disadvantaged elementary school students, with special emphasis on single-parent households. Authorizes increased appropriations for the Student Literacy Corps. Subpart 7: Student Tutorial Corps Initiative - Amends HEA to create a Student Tutorial Corps. Authorizes the Secretary to make demonstration grants to higher education institutions for student tutorial programs that: (1) encourage their students to tutor educationally disadvantaged students in schools assisted under chapter 1 of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965; (2) are conducted at such schools, at the request and with the direction of school personnel; and (3) do not displace any of such personnel. Authorizes appropriations. Part C: Peace Corps Volunteer Education Demonstration Program Act - Authorizes the Director of the Peace Corps (the Director) to carry out a training and educational benefits demonstration program. Makes eligible for such program participation any individual who: (1) has satisfactorily completed at least two years at a higher education institution, is enrolled in a bachelor's degree program of at least four years and will complete it within two years; (2) agrees to serve at least three years as a Peace Corps volunteer; and (3) is selected under a specified competitive process. Requires the Director to provide a Peace Corps training program for the selectees as part of their course of study at their institution. Requires that selectees receive certain educational benefits to cover costs of their last two years of study. Requires repayment if the individual fails to complete the educational program or the service requirement. Authorizes the Secretary of Education to collect such repayments. Requires the Director and the Secretary to evaluate such demonstration program jointly and submit an interim and a final report to the President and the Congress. Authorizes appropriations. Title II: To Establish the American Conservation and Youth Service Corps - Part A: American Conservation Corps - Establishes the American Conservation Corps (ACC), to be administered by Federal agencies and through a State grant component. Directs the Secretaries of the Interior and of Agriculture to establish the Federal component of the ACC within their agencies to administer programs on Federal lands. Encourages Federal agencies to enter into program agreements with program agencies, local governments, and nonprofit organizations. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish a program of grants to States to administer the State component of the ACC involving work on non-Federal public lands and waters. Directs each Governor to designate a State program agency. Requires States carrying out such programs to provide mechanisms for participation by local governments and nonprofit organizations. Authorizes the ACC to carry out conservation, rehabilitation, and improvement projects relating to: (1) wildlife habitat, rangelands, parks, recreational areas; (2) urban revitalization and historical and cultural sites; (3) fish and fisheries; (4) roads and trails; (5) erosion, floods, droughts, and storm damage assistance and control; (6) streams, lakes, waterfront harbors, and ports; (7) wetlands protection and pollution control; (8) insect, disease, rodent, and fire prevention and control; (9) improvement of abandoned railroad beds and rights-of-way; (10) energy conservation, renewable resources, and biomass recovery; (11) reclamation and improvement of strip-mined land; and (12) forestry, nursery, and cultural operations. Limits such projects to those on public lands or Indian lands, except where the administering Secretary determines that a project involving other lands will provide a public benefit. Part B: Youth Service Corps - Requires the Director of the ACTION Agency to appoint an Assistant Director to make grants for youth service projects to eligible public and private nonprofit agencies, and to otherwise administer Youth Service Corps (YSC) programs under this part. Provides for designation of specific activities as eligible service categories if: (1) they are of substantial social benefit in meeting unmet human, social (especially poverty-related), or environmental needs in a community; (2) they will not interfere unreasonably with employment availability and terms of employees of sponsoring organizations; and (3) participants are qualified for such activities. Allows such service categories to include service in: (1) State, local, and regional governmental agencies; (2) nursing homes, hospices, senior centers, hospitals, local libraries, parks, recreational facilities, day care centers, and schools; (3) law enforcement, penal, and probation agencies; (4) private nonprofit social services organizations; (5) rehabilitation or improvement of public facilities or neighborhoods, literacy programs, weatherization and repair of low-income housing, energy conservation (including solar energy), removal of public facility architectural barriers to the handicapped, and conservation, maintenance, or restoration of natural resources on publicly held lands; and (6) any other nonpartisan civic activities and services determined appropriate by the Assistant Director. Prohibits such service categories from including any position in any: (1) business organized for profit; (2) labor union; (3) partisan political organization; (4) religious organization, unless the position does not involve any religious functions; or (5) domestic or personal service organization. Part C: Youth Skills Enhancement - Requires the administering Secretary or the Assistant Director (as the case may be) to provide guidance and assistance to States in securing certification of training skills or academic credit for competencies developed under this title. Directs each program agency to maintain or enhance, through programs and projects under this title, the educational skills of program enrollees. Directs appropriate State and local officials to certify standards and procedures (that meet specified Federal criteria) for awarding academic credit and certifying educational attainment in such programs. Part D: Administrative Provisions - Sets forth requirements for award of grants to eligible entities, including matching requirements and limitations on use of funds. Limits enrollment in the ACC and YSC to individuals who, at the time of enrollment, are: (1) 16 through 25 years old (15 through 21 for summer programs); and (2) U.S. citizens or nationals or lawful permanent resident aliens. Requires the State job training coordinating council to appoint an advisory board for oversight and review of ACC and YSC projects under this title. Authorizes appropriations. Part E: Youth Service Clearinghouses - Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior and the Director of the ACTION Agency to provide financial assistance to one or more national or regional clearinghouses on youth corps and youth service. Allows experienced public and private nonprofit agencies to apply for such assistance, and sets forth required clearinghouse functions.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1990
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 · 20 March 1990
Foreign Tax Equity Act of 1990 - Title I: Treatment of Certain Foreign-Owned Corporations - Applies the Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1989 amendments regarding information reporting requirements by certain foreign-owned corporations to taxable years beginning on or before July 10, 1989. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish information reporting requirements for foreign corporations engaged in business within the United States. Extends the statute of limitations for the assessment of any foreign-related deficiency by an additional period of not more than three years. Title II: Tax on Disposition of Stock in Domestic Corporations by 10-Percent Foreign Shareholders - Provides that if any nonresident alien or foreign corporation is a ten-percent shareholder in any domestic corporation, any gain or loss from the disposition of any stock in such domestic corporation shall be taken into account as if the taxpayer were effectively connected with U.S. trade or business. Requires a withholding agent to withhold ten percent of the tax realized on certain stock dispositions by such ten-percent shareholders.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1990
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the United States should support the unified status of Jerusalem and continue to recognize that a unified Jerusalem is an integral part of the State of Israel; (2) efforts of the U.S. Government to achieve peace in the Middle East should take into account the close relationship between the United States and Israel, as well as Israel's legitimate security needs; and (3) efforts to advance the peace process must not call into question the status of Jerusalem.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1990
Requires the Secretary of Transportation to reduce by 25 percent the aggregate amount which a mass transit State may obligate for Federal-aid highways and highway safety construction programs for FY 1991 if by October 1, 1990, laws of such State do not authorize: (1) a general tax-based source of revenue to take effect by January 1, 1992, for paying the non-Federal share of projects for mass transportation eligible for assistance under the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964; or (2) the establishment of regional or local tax-based sources of revenues to pay such non-Federal share or to pay operating expenses of mass transit service which satisfy financial capacity standards. Authorizes the Secretary to restore any reductions in obligation authority made to a mass transit State in FY 1991 if such State complies with this Act by July 1, 1991.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 1990
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to cover colon cancer preventive screening examinations, an annual physical examination performed by a physician or nurse practitioner, and verbal and written mental health screening examinations if a demonstration project to be conducted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services proves such examinations to be cost-effective or of moderate cost but measurably health enhancing.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 1990
Medicare Rehabilitation and Long-Term Hospital Rebasing Act of 1990 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to adjust the base year applied in determining the amount of payments to be made to rehabilitation and long-term hospitals under part A (Hospital Insurance) of the Medicare program.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 1990
Declares that it is the sense of the Congress that the United States should: (1) promote maximum conservation and protection of the world's whales; (2) work to postpone further review of the International Whaling Commission moratorium on the commercial killing of whales and maintain zero catch limits for all whale stocks for at least another decade; (3) work to strengthen the Commission and encourage it to carry out long-term, nonlethal research for all whale stocks on a global basis; and (4) in promoting protection, make use of diplomatic channels, domestic and international law, and all other means.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 1990
State and Local Multiobjective River Corridor Assistance Act of 1989 - Amends the Outdoor Recreation Act of 1963 to direct the President to establish a Multiobjective River Corridor Council which shall: (1) review Federal policies and programs affecting rivers and river corridors and make recommendations to improve their effectiveness; and (2) develop Federal guidelines for multiobjective river corridor efforts in planning, coordination, and management. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the National Park Service's Rivers and Trails Technical Assistance Program, to provide matching grants and technical assistance to State, local, and regional government agencies and nonprofit organizations to develop comprehensive multiobjective plans for rivers and their adjacent lands. Specifies types of projects to be funded under this Act. Requires the Council to create a National River Register recognizing rivers which exemplify multiobjective river corridor values. Directs Federal agencies with membership in the Council to provide technical assistance to State and local governments and nonprofit organizations in the preparation of multiobjective river plans. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture, as part of the outdoor recreation component of the Resources Planning Act assessment, to collect information from demonstration projects funded under this Act and develop a geographic information system. Requires each member agency to consider the concerns of private landowners in implementing river corridor programs. Declares that the Congress shall consider recommendations of the Council to establish a national clearinghouse for multiobjective river corridor planning and management information. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 1990
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income the value of any subsidy provided by a public utility to a customer for the purchase or installation of energy or water conservation measures.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1990
Expresses the sense of the Congress that as of March 21, 1990, when Namibia becomes self-governing, the definition of South Africa under the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986 should no longer apply to Namibia.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1990
Raises the minimum per annum rates of basic pay for entry level grades GS-3 through GS-10 for Federal law enforcement officers on a sliding scale with larger adjustments at the lower levels. Directs the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to prescribe regulations to: (1) readjust the rates of pay for such entry level grades every three years, based upon comparisons of State and local compensation for comparable work, in order to keep starting salaries of Federal law enforcement officers competitive with those paid to State and local law enforcement officers; and (2) establish a mechanism to adjust the rates of pay of Federal law enforcement officers serving in certain high cost-of-living areas in order to recruit and retain the best-qualified individuals. Sets forth procedures for identifying those regions for which higher pay rates are needed. Terminates a pay rate payable to Federal law enforcement officers that is based on a particular region if such an officer is transferred or reassigned to a place outside of such region. Requires pay rates established under this Act to be based on data compiled by the National Advisory Commission on Law Enforcement. Directs the Bureau of Labor Statistics to survey State and local law enforcement salaries every three years to compile the data needed to carry out this Act. Authorizes Federal agency heads, in order to retain highly qualified law enforcement officers who possess special skills or experience or whose continued services are particularly important due to factors associated with the geographic area to which they are assigned, to pay Federal law enforcement officers who are eligible for retirement an allowance of up to $10,000 per year provided the officers agree to complete at least one year of additional service in the agency involved. Makes Federal law enforcement officers who are transferred to an area within the United States having higher than average housing costs eligible for a relocation payment of up to $20,000 provided they agree to remain in Federal law enforcement for a specified period. Authorizes Federal agencies to offer rates of pay higher than the minimum rates for positions of GS-3 (currently, GS-11) or above if necessary to attract well qualified entry-candidates for Federal law enforcement service. Authorizes Federal agencies to pay law enforcement officers who possess and make substantial use of foreign language proficiency while performing their official duties a cash award of up to 25 percent of basic pay. Raises the mandatory age for Federal law enforcement officers to retire under the Civil Service and Federal Employees' Retirement Systems from 55 to 57. Changes the method of computing overtime for Federal law enforcement officers to one and one-half times the hourly rate of basic pay for work performed in excess of 40 hours per week. Limits the aggregate rate of pay (including premium pay) for Federal law enforcement officers in a calendar year to the pay rate for level V of the Executive Schedule. Prohibits application of other limitations on premium pay for administratively uncontrollable overtime. Excludes members of the U.S. Secret Service, Uniformed Division, Diplomatic Security Service special agents, postal inspectors, and pretrial services and probation officers from receiving premium pay except for night, Sunday, and holiday work.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1990
Consumer Credit Protection Amendments of 1990 - Title I: Fair Credit Reporting Amendments - Amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to place additional restrictions on the permissible purposes of consumer reports. Adds dwelling rental applications and check cashing privilege applications to the list of permissible uses. Prohibits, subject to exception, a consumer reporting agency (CRA) from furnishing certain reports in connection with any credit or business transaction which is not initiated by the consumer. Prohibits a CRA from reporting Chapter 13 bankruptcy information that is more than seven years old and other bankruptcy information that is more than ten years old. (Current law prohibits reporting any bankruptcy information, including Chapter 13, that is more than ten years old.) Provides for graduated periods of obsolescence for information relating to overdue payments. Repeals exemptions to obsolete information reporting prohibitions relating to credit, life insurance, or employment involving amounts over specified sums. Prohibits a CRA from prohibiting any report user from disclosing the contents of a report to the consumer. Requires a CRA to maintain certain records regarding: (1) accuracy assurance procedures; and (2) the certified purpose for which any information relating to any consumer is requested by any person. Requires any CRA, on request of any person, to disclose specified information about itself. Requires that: (1) certain disclosures by a CRA to a consumer required by current law be in writing; (2) all information in the consumer's file (currently, the nature and substance of all information) be disclosed to the consumer; (3) certain information be disclosed to the consumer regarding identification of any person who had access to any information in the consumer's file; and (4) any disclosure by a CRA to any consumer under specified provisions include a summary of all the consumer's rights and remedies under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Requires that such a summary be included in disclosures relating to: (1) investigative consumer reports; and (2) reports focusing on public record information for employment purposes. Requires reinvestigations in case of disputed accuracy to be completed within a reasonable time, not to exceed 30 days. (Current law requires completion within a reasonable time.) Requires CRAs to keep certain records regarding reinvestigation procedures. Sets forth requirements regarding: (1) notice upon a determination that a dispute is frivolous or irrelevant; (2) notice upon completion of a reinvestigation; and (3) reinvestigations which cannot be completed in 30 days. Eliminates the option for a CRA to include in a report a codification or summary of a consumer's statement regarding disputed accuracy rather than the statement itself. Requires that a CRA: (1) notify of a consumer dispute any person designated by the consumer who has received a non-employment report within the last year (currently, within the last six months); and (2) disclose to the consumer the recipients of any such report within the last year (currently, within the last six months). Sets a dollar limit on charges which may be imposed by a CRA for certain disclosures and makes other changes regarding when charges may be made. Requires a CRA which furnishes a consumer report for employment purposes to notify the consumer of the specific source of the information. Revises the duties of users of consumer reports, including requiring the user to provide: (1) the name and address of the three largest CRAs; and (2) the written summary of the consumer's rights and remedies prepared under specified provisions. Makes any person who furnishes information to any CRA (as well as CRAs and users of reports) civilly liable for willful noncompliance and for negligent noncompliance with the Act. Makes all functions and powers of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) under the Federal Trade Commission Act (FTCA) available to the FTC to enforce compliance. (Current law links enforcement to specified provisions of the FTCA.) Makes persons who furnish information to CRAs subject to certain administrative enforcement provisions, as enforced by bodies other than the FTC. Requires any person who regularly furnishes information to a CRA to give notice of such fact in writing to the consumer before providing information about the consumer to the CRA. Requires any person, when that person, in the course of conducting business, furnishes information about any consumer to a CRA, to follow reasonable procedures to assure the accuracy of the information. Title II: Credit Repair Organizations - Credit Repair Organizations Act - Amends the Consumer Credit Protection Act to prohibit any credit repair organization (any person who provides a service for the purpose of improving a consumer's credit record) from: (1) charging or receiving any money prior to the completion of its services (unless it has obtained a $50,000 surety bond); (2) charging or receiving money solely for the referral of a customer to a retailer if the credit which may be extended to the buyer is upon substantially the same terms as those available to the general public; (3) advising any client to make an untrue or misleading statement; or (4) using any untrue or misleading statement. Requires the organization to provide the consumer with a written disclosure statement which includes a description of: (1) the consumer's rights; (2) the services to be provided by the organization; and (3) the total amount the consumer will be charged. Sets forth contract requirements and the rights of the consumer with regard to cancellation of such contract. Subjects any organization which fails to comply with any provision of this Act to Federal civil liability. Provides for the administrative enforcement of this Act by the Federal Trade Commission, as provided in the Federal Trade Commission Act.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1990
Expresses the sense of the Congress that foreign language instruction should begin at the elementary school level. Urges State and local educational agencies to initiate programs of foreign language instruction in elementary schools. Supports the statements of: (1) the National Governors' Association calling for such programs; and (2) the Follow-Up Committee to the Wingspread Consultation on Elementary School Foreign Languages, calling for establishment of a Blue Ribbon Commission to address the national agenda for foreign language instruction in elementary schools.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1990
Amends the Federal judicial code to allow Federal judges who have attained the age of 62 and completed 25 years of service to retire on salary from regular active service.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1990
Condemns the recent violence against unarmed civilians in Nimba County, Liberia. Calls upon all parties to the conflict to comply with provisions of the Geneva Convention which establish the right of noncombatants to humane treatment. Urges the President to: (1) convey to the Government of Liberia U.S. concerns about human rights abuses in Liberia since 1980; (2) urge such Government to quickly resolve the conflict in a manner which permits Liberian refugees to return to their homes; (3) support efforts to meet humanitarian needs of such refugees in neighboring countries; (4) bar U.S. military advisors from accompanying Liberian troops in fighting the insurgency in Nimba County; and (5) consider recent events in such County in making the assessment related to human rights required under the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1990. Sets forth conditions for resumption of military assistance to Liberia in the event that the suspension of foreign assistance is no longer required under provisions restricting assistance to countries in default on foreign assistance loans. Calls on the Liberian Government to honor its commitment to hold scheduled elections in 1991 and to ensure a free and fair election process.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1990
Designates April 6, 1990, the 88th birthday of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, as Education Day, U.S.A. Calls on heads of state of the world to join the President of the United States in this tribute by signing scrolls of honor commemorating the 40th anniversary of Schneerson's leadership of the Lubavitch movement. Welcomes the cooperation of the Department of State in extending the good office of the U.S. missions to the Lubavitcher emissaries.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 1990
Requires the preparation of a volume entitled "Columbus in the Capitol," describing works of art honoring Christopher Columbus which are displayed in the Capitol, in observance of the 500th anniversary of the discovery of America. Directs the Architect of the Capitol to carry out special exhibit programs of art honoring Christopher Columbus during FY 1992.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 1990
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the 25th anniversary of the enactment of the Older Americans Act of 1965 and its successful implementation should be recognized; (2) contributions at all levels of the aging network should be acknowledged and commended; and (3) support for the Act and its primary goal should be reaffirmed.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 1990
Global Elementary Education Act of 1990 - Authorizes the Secretary of Education (the Secretary) to make matching grants to States, through their State educational agencies, for foreign language institutes for professional development and retraining of elementary and secondary school teachers for elementary school teaching of foreign languages and cultures, geography, and international studies. Requires such institutes to allow teachers from other fields to retrain as foreign language teachers. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to institutions of higher education to develop innovative and model program in preservice elementary teacher education in the areas of foreign language and culture, geography, and international studies. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary to make competitive grants to State and local educational agencies, institutions of higher education, nonprofit international exchange organizations, nonprofit educational associations, or consortia thereof, for reciprocal elementary teacher exchange programs. Requires that preference be given to nontraditional language study sites and to programs providing exchanges for teachers who have never been abroad. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary to assign to the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education responsibility for: (1) coordinating development and dissemination of foreign language and culture instructional material; and (2) expanding use of technology in teaching foreign languages and culture in elementary school. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary to prescribe regulations under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 1990
Twenty-First Century Teachers Act - Title I: Loans Incentives for Teaching - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to establish a separate fund for teachers under the National Direct Student Loan (NDSL) program. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1991 through 1995 for the Secretary of Education (the Secretary) to make separate capital contributions to NDSL student loan funds. Requires a student, in order to receive a loan from the special account, to: (1) have completed two undergraduate years; (2) intend to pursue a teaching career; and (3) agree to certain repayment conditions if the student either does not enter full-time teaching within a certain period or ceases such teaching before the end of the five-year service period required for loan cancellation. Gives priority for such loans to minority students, or those otherwise underrepresented in the teaching profession or curricula areas, and to individuals who qualify and need such a loan and who demonstrate high academic achievement and potential for success in teaching. Provides for an expedited loan cancellation option for teaching at certain types of schools. Title II: Financial Assistance for Institutional Recruitment and Retention of Individuals Preparing to Enter the Teaching Force - Directs the Secretary to allocate funds under this title to State educational agencies (SEAs) for grants to institutions of higher education for programs to recruit and retain students, particularly minority students, preparing to enter the teaching profession. Authorizes appropriations. Title III: Professional Development Academies - Directs the Secretary to allocate 80 percent of funds for this title among SEAs, on the basis of number of disadvantaged children, to distribute such funds to consortia of local educational agencies (LEAs) for various activities relating to teacher training. Directs the Secretary, from the remaining 20 percent of funds under this title, to award to specified consortia grants to establish professional development academies to provide interstate, international, or other exemplary programs. Limits such grants to five years, with renewal for one additional five-year period. Authorizes appropriations. Title IV: Teacher Recognition - Teacher of the Year Recognition Act - Directs the Secretary to design and implement a program for teachers designated by the Council of Chief State School Officers as teacher of the year and the national teacher of the year. Directs the Secretary to designate and procure medals to honor such teachers of the year, which shall be presented by the President or a designee. Authorizes the Secretary to work with States, local governments, SEAs, LEAs, and others to encourage development of State and local recognition programs for teachers and other educators.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 1990
Designates the week of June 24 through June 30, 1990, as National Sheriffs' Week in honor of the 50th anniversary of the National Sheriffs' Association.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 1990
Job Corps for Homeless Families Act of 1990 - Amends the Job Training Partnership Act to direct the Secretary of Labor to provide services and facilities to eligible homeless individuals and their families at existing or special Job Corps centers.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 1990
Mickey Leland Memorial Domestic Hunger Relief Act - Title I: Reducing Childhood Hunger - Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to revise and increase the excess shelter expense deduction for each fiscal year from FY 1991 through FY 1993. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to adjust the basic benefit level upwards by specified increments at the beginning of each fiscal year from FY 1991 through FY 1995 until it reaches 105 percent of the cost of the thrifty food plan. Directs the Secretary by regulation to provide for emergency allotments to eligible households to replace food lost in a disaster. Excludes from the computation of household income any State allowance (provided at least annually) for obtaining school clothes for children in school or child care. Provides for allotment increases to cover State or local sales taxes for participants in demonstration projects. Requires alternative systems for delivery or use of food stamp benefits to meet standards issued by the Secretary and, where household participation is not optional, to involve retail food stores serving minority populations, but only if necessary special equipment is operational at all registers. Provides food stamp coverage for prepared meals for homeless households. Permits State agencies to develop standard estimates of the shelter and related expenses which homeless households may reasonably be expected to incur in order to certify such households based on reported expenses not exceeding such an estimate. Title II: Promoting Self-Sufficiency - Excludes the first $50 a month received as child support from consideration as income in determining the food stamp allotments of households also receiving Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) benefits. Increases from $4,500 to $5,500 from January 1 through September 30, 1991, with annual cost-of-living adjustments to follow, the limit on the fair market value of vehicles that food stamp recipients may own. Directs the Secretary to conduct a sufficient number of demonstration projects to evaluate the effects of excluding from such vehicle calculation the value of: (1) any licensed vehicle used for certain income-producing, transportation, or shelter purposes; and (2) one licensed vehicle used for job-related or job-seeking purposes (including commuting), for pursuing education or training, or for securing food or food stamp benefits. Allows States to use their own agency-designed forms instead of forms approved by the Secretary. Directs State agencies to allow a household to select an adult parent of children in the household as its head where all adult household members agree to do so. Allows four States to give priority in the provision of services to voluntary participants (including both exempt and nonexempt), so long as performance standards are maintained. Authorizes an employment and training program to contain programs designed to increase the self-sufficiency of recipients through self-employment. Excludes from the computation of household financial resources any nonliquid resources necessary to allow the household to carry out an approved plan for self-sufficiency. Increases from $25 to $75 the limit for reimbursements to recipients for costs incurred in employment and training activities. Permits otherwise eligible persons who attend an institution of higher learning to receive food stamp benefits if he or she: (1) attends the institution as part of an employment and training program; or (2) is over 50, registered for employment, and subject to employment or training requirements. Revises the exclusion of educational expenses from the computation of household incomes. Excludes from the computation of household incomes housing assistance payments made to a third party on behalf of a household residing in transitional housing for the homeless. Title III: Simplifying Program Administration - Requires parents and children (regardless of age) who live together to apply for food stamps as a single household. Directs the Secretary to conduct five demonstration projects, in both rural and urban areas, under which households in which each member receives AFDC benefits shall receive monthly food stamp allotments following AFDC rules and procedures, without regard to the eligibility, benefit, and administrative rules of the food stamp program. Requires the Secretary to issue rules under which State agencies must develop standards for identifying (for exclusion as inaccessible resources) those kinds of resources the household is unlikely to sell for any significant return because its interest is so slight or the cost of selling would be so great. Provides that a food stamp office need not consider any resources that the AFDC or supplemental security income benefit programs have already determined to be exempt. Directs State agencies to require only one adult representative of a household to sign all declarations required in the application process on behalf of the household. Makes recipients of State or local general assistance programs categorically eligible for food stamps. Reduces from 30 to ten days the deadline for households convicted of food stamp fraud to decide how to repay their over issuances. Establishes a Commission on the Coordination of Family Support and Food Stamp Policies to report to the President and the Congress on AFDC and food stamp program policies, recommending how to eliminate barriers to participation in both programs. Authorizes appropriations. Title IV: Hunger in Rural America - Requires State agencies to designate rural project areas where low-income persons face substantial difficulties in getting transportation. Requires issuance of coupons by mail in such areas, except where households experience mail losses exceeding certain levels. Allows States to assist households with the food stamp application process. Directs the Secretary to exclude from financial resources the value of a vehicle a household depends upon to carry heating fuel or water for home use where it has no other access to fuel or water. Title V: Promoting Access for the Elderly and Disabled - Declares that State agencies, with respect to the excess medical deduction for the elderly and the disabled, shall not require further verification of a change in medical expenses if the change has been anticipated for the verification period. Requires annual adjustments to the value of the minimum food stamp benefit. Permits State agencies to establish a procedure allowing households whose regular food stamp benefits do not exceed $20 per month to receive up to $60 worth for intervals of up to three months. Requires that any applicant for or recipient of supplemental security income benefits be informed of the availability of food stamp benefits. Title VI: Program Administration by State Agencies - Prohibits the application of disallowances for erroneous issuances or similar actions to any State for a fiscal year before FY 1991. Directs the Secretary, by specified deadlines, to develop standards for initial approval of automated data processing and information retrieval systems for State agencies, as well as written procedures and standards for initial and continued approval reviews. Sets alternative deadlines for full operation of such systems, the later being September 30, 1993. Provides for waivers of ADC system requirements where their application would not significantly improve the efficiency of a State agency's administration. Title VII: Reauthorization of Programs - Reauthorizes through FY 1995: (1) the food stamp program; (2) the nutrition assistance program for Puerto Rico; (3) the temporary emergency food assistance program under the Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983; (4) the soup kitchen and food bank programs under the Hunger Prevention Act of 1988; (5) the commodity distribution and supplemental food programs under the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973; (6) the distribution of surplus commodities to special nutrition projects under the Agriculture and Food Act of 1981; and (7) the nutrition education program under the Food Security Act of 1985. Title VIII - Amends the Commodity Distribution Reform Act and WIC Amendments of 1987 to require biennial reports to the Congress on food bank projects. Amends the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 to establish a Commodity Supplemental Food Program for the Elderly. Amends the Hunger Prevention Act of 1988 to set forth the National Gleaning Clearinghouse Act of 1990. Establishes a National Gleaning Clearinghouse to share information on available, unused food that could be distributed through the emergency feeding network. Title IX: Effective Dates - Sets forth the effective dates of provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 1990
Declares it to be U.S. policy that there should be: (1) recognition and commemoration of the 25th anniversary of Federal aid to elementary and secondary education; (2) a renewed, sustained commitment to Federal aid to educating children who are disadvantaged members of special populations, with limited English proficiency, or with handicaps, and illiterate adults; and (3) a specified annual increase in funding for the program for disadvantaged children under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
![Official portrait of Rep. Foglietta, Thomas M. [D-PA-1]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/f000235_200.jpg)