United States · United States Congress · 25 June 1987
Declares that the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam should: (1) immediately release all political prisoners; (2) fulfill its commitment to negotiate their humane resettlement abroad or to rejoin family members outside of Vietnam; and (3) immediately resume processing of family reunification cases under the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees' Orderly Departure Program.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 1987
Amends rule XXI of Rules of the House of Representatives to prohibit any appropriation from being reported in any joint resolution continuing appropriations, or from being in order as an amendment thereto, for any expenditure not previously authorized by law, except to continue appropriations for public works and objects which are already in progress. Prohibits any provision which changes existing laws from being reported in any joint resolution continuing appropriations except germane provisions which retrench expenditures by the reduction of money covered by the bill, which may include those recommended to the Committee on Appropriations by direction of any legislative committee having jurisdiction over the subject matter. Prohibits an amendment to a joint resolution continuing appropriations from being in order if changing existing law. Declares that, except as provided by this Act, no amendment shall be in order during consideration of a joint resolution continuing appropriations proposing a limitation not specifically contained or authorized in existing law for the period of the limitation. Sets forth floor procedure for consideration of an acceptable joint resolution continuing appropriations. Prohibits the House from considering any joint resolution continuing appropriations, or amendments thereto, which covers a period of more than 90 calendar days. Prohibits any item of appropriation set forth in any joint resolution continuing appropriations from exceeding the lesser of the amount set forth for such item in the House-passed or Senate-passed general appropriation bill for the fiscal year. Declares that if there is no House-passed or Senate-passed bill containing such item, then such item shall be at the rate at which it would have been assuming the continuation of current law. Prohibits the waiver of any provision of this resolution except by two-thirds vote of the Members present and voting. Declares this resolution applicable with respect to joint resolutions continuing appropriations for FY 1989 or any subsequent fiscal year.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 1987
Declares that the Congress joins with the President in challenging Soviet General Secretary Gorbachev to open the Brandenburg Gate and tear down the Berlin Wall.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 1987
Great Lakes Water Relief and Economic Protection Act of 1987 - Directs the Secretary of the Army to: (1) increase the rate of diversion of water from Lake Michigan at Chicago, Illinois, whenever the water level exceeds a specified elevation on a monthly average; (2) maximize the rate of flow of water through the Black Rock Lock; and (3) implement such other measures as are formally agreed to by the Governments of Canada and the United States. Declares that any adjustment in rates of diversion of water at Lake Michigan at Chicago shall: (1) be accomplished incrementally; (2) take into consideration the effects of the adjustment on the Illinois Waterway; (3) be implemented by the State of Illinois and the Metropolitan Sanitary District of Greater Chicago under the direct control and supervision of the Secretary of the Army; (4) not be included in the State of Illinois' accounting of diversion of water from Lake Michigan under any decree of the Supreme Court; (5) not result in a rate of diversion from Lake Michigan in excess of 10,000 cubic feet per second; and (6) be controlled and stopped or reduced as directed by the Secretary whenever bankful conditions at certain flood warning stations are predicted, and as necessary to maintain safe navigation conditions. Sets forth exceptions for the Secretary to reduce the rate of diversion of water below any rate required by this Act. Directs the Secretary to reimburse a State for any costs incurred in implementing water diversion adjustments. Requires the Secretary to establish a monitoring program to assess the impact of lake level control measures on receiving and discharging waterways. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should seek negotiations with Canada regarding matters relating to the maintenance of water levels of the Great Lakes. Declares that water diverted under this Act shall not be used for any permanent economic, resource, public, or private development except as expressly authorized under the Water Resources Development Act of 1986. Provides that neither such Act nor this Act shall limit the incidental use of diverted water.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1987
Federal Fiscal Procedures Improvement Act of 1987 - Title I: Two-Year Budget Cycle - Amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Act of 1974 to revise the Federal and congressional budget processes by establishing a two-year budgeting cycle. Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) to provide enforceable deficit targets for odd-numbered fiscal years. Defines a two-fiscal-year budget period as the period of two consecutive fiscal years beginning on October 1 of any odd-numbered year. Sets forth a revised timetable for a biennial budget. Requires the Congress, by September 30 of each odd-numbered year, to complete action on the concurrent resolution on the budget, all regular appropriation bills, and the reconciliation bill or resolution for the two-fiscal-year budget period beginning on October 1 of that year. Requires the President, by the following January 15th, to transmit to the Congress any revisions the President may desire in such budget. Requires the Director of the Congressional Budget Office, by the following March 31, to transmit to the Committees on the Budget of the House and the Senate, any revisions of the Office's fiscal policy report needed due to the President's revisions or changing economic conditions. Requires each Congress, by the last day of the second session, to complete action on bills and resolutions authorizing new budget authority for the two-fiscal-year budget period beginning on October 1 of the succeeding odd-numbered calendar year. Makes it out of order in the House or the Senate, unless waived or suspended by a three-fifths vote, to consider any regular appropriation bill for a budget period until the Committee on Appropriations of that House has reported all of the regular appropriation bills. Requires all regular appropriation bills to be reported to the House by June 1 and passed by the House by June 15 of each odd-numbered year. Requires all regular appropriation bills to be reported by the Senate by June 30 and passed by the Senate by July 31 of each odd-numbered year. Permits a change in budget accounts of the President's budget or estimates of outlays and proposed budget authority only in consultation with the House and Senate Appropriations and Budget Committees and the committees having jurisdiction over the affected programs and activities. Sets forth technical and conforming amendments. Title II: Procedures for Expedited Rescissions - Sets forth procedures for the expedited consideration by the Congress of rescission bills submitted by the President. Title III: Budgetary Treatment of Credit Transactions of the United States Government - Establishes procedures for the budgetary treatment and financing of Federal direct loan and loan guarantee programs. Defines "subsidy" as: (1) the difference between the face value of a direct loan and the estimated proceeds from the sale of the loan in the investment securities markets; and (2) the estimated net cost to the Government to reinsure a loan guarantee with a private insurer. Makes any direct loan obligation of a Federal agency an obligation of the Federal Credit Revolving Fund. Requires each agency to include in its budget proposal for a fiscal year: (1) the planned level of new direct loan obligations; and (2) the estimated subsidy associated with such obligations. Prohibits an agency from making a direct loan obligation unless: (1) funds have been appropriated for the loan subsidy; or (2) the use of funds otherwise available to the agency for the subsidy has been limited. Provides that the subsidy amount shall constitute the obligation of the agency and the difference between such amount and the face value of the loan shall constitute the obligation of the Fund. Requires the subsidy to be paid as the loan is disbursed. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to sell direct loans to the private sector. Makes any loan guarantee commitment of a Federal agency a commitment of the Fund. Requires each agency to include in its budget proposal for a fiscal year: (1) the level of new loan guarantee commitments; and (2) the estimated subsidy associated with such commitments. Prohibits an agency from making a loan guarantee commitment unless: (1) funds have been appropriated for the guarantee subsidy; or (2) the use of funds otherwise available to the agency for the subsidy has been limited. Provides that the subsidy amount shall constitute the obligation of the agency. Requires the subsidy to be paid to the Fund when the underlying loan agreement is executed. Directs the Secretary to purchase reinsurance of loan guarantees from private insurers. Establishes the Fund within the Department of the Treasury to serve as a central revolving fund and financing mechanism for all new Federal direct loans and loan guarantees. Directs the Secretary to receive into the Fund: (1) subsidy payments from Federal agencies; (2) payments due the Government for direct loans; (3) proceeds from the sale of direct loans and from the sale of any collateral received as the result of defaults on direct or guaranteed loans; and (4) fees due the Government for loan guarantees. Sets forth the Secretary's duties in managing the Fund, which include: (1) disbursing direct loans to borrowers according to agency loan agreements; (2) making claim payments for guaranteed loans in default that have not been reinsured; (3) identifying separately the credit activity of each agency; (4) requiring uniform reporting by agencies on loan performance, borrower characteristics, and debt collection efforts; and (5) estimating the subsidy amount for each direct loan and loan guarantee. Requires the head of each agency authorized to make or guarantee loans to: (1) request annual appropriations for the subsidized portions of agency loans; (2) conduct loan programs within the lower of appropriations limitations for such programs or annual appropriations available to cover subsidy costs; and (3) pay to the Fund all relevant loan collections. Provides for the budgetary treatment of direct loan and loan guarantee subsidies as agency obligations and of financing requirements of credit programs exceeding agency subsidies as Fund obligations. Authorizes the Secretary to use the proceeds of the sale of any securities issued under the Second Liberty Bond Act to: (1) finance direct loans to the extent not covered by agency subsidy payments and direct loan sales; and (2) pay claims, resulting from federally-guaranteed loans, in excess of Fund reserves. Authorizes the appropriation of funds necessary to liquidate debt incurred by the Fund due to operating losses. Authorizes appropriations to agencies for subsidies associated with proposed direct loan obligations and proposed loan guarantee commitments. Includes as "deposit insurance agencies" the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation, the National Credit Union Administration, and the Securities and Exchange Commission. Provides that: (1) obligations of deposit insurance agencies to make direct loans to the public or to assume loan assets shall remain obligations of such agencies; and (2) commitments to guarantee loans shall remain commitments of such agencies. Requires each deposit insurance agency to include in its budget proposal the estimated subsidy costs associated with proposed direct loan obligations and loan guarantee commitments. Requires no appropriations or limitations on the use of funds otherwise available for subsidies. Makes technical and conforming amendments. Prohibits a Federal agency other than the Department of the Treasury from issuing, selling, or guaranteeing an obligation that is ordinarily financed in investment securities markets unless such obligation may be held by only the Secretary. Permits the Secretary to waive such prohibition under specified circumstances. Deems any obligation guaranteed by a Federal agency and financed by the Secretary to be a direct loan of the Fund. Provides that purchases by the Secretary of obligations issued by local public bodies and guaranteed by a Federal agency shall be upon such terms as necessary to avoid an increase in borrowing costs of such bodies. Authorizes such an agency to make payments to the Secretary to offset the Secretary's costs of purchasing such obligations. Title IV: Sequestration Procedures - Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) to revise sequestration procedures. Directs the Comptroller General to submit the General Accounting Office's (GAO) initial and revised sequestration reports for a fiscal year to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). (Current law requires such reports to be submitted to the President.) Requires the GAO reports to contain the Comptroller General's views concerning the estimates, determinations, and specifications contained in the report submitted by the Directors of OMB and the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). Requires the Director of OMB to issue to the President and the Congress: (1) on September 1 preceding the fiscal year, an initial sequestration report based on the initial GAO report, providing the same items of information as contained in the OMB-CBO report, and explaining any deviations between the estimates, determinations, and specifications included and the views of the Comptroller General in the GAO report; and (2) on October 15, a revised report as necessary in light of the revised GAO report. Requires such revised report to contain the same estimated amounts of budget authority, outlays, spending authority, revenues, obligation limitations, obligated balances, unobligated balances, loan guarantee commitments, and direct loan obligations as contained in the initial report unless a change is required because legislation is enacted, a final regulation is promulgated, or notice of a sale of assets is published after such initial report. Requires the President to issue any necessary initial sequestration order on September 3 (currently, September 1) and the final order on October 17 (currently, October 15). Requires the President's initial and final orders to be in accordance with the initial and revised OMB (currently, GAO) reports. Terminates procedures providing for sequestration from national defense accounts through the termination or modification of existing contracts. Requires the Directors of OMB and CBO and the Comptroller General, by July 25 preceding each fiscal year, to submit to the Temporary Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction a report proposing economic assumptions for specified items for use in preparing sequestration reports for each such fiscal year. Directs the Committee, before September 15, to report a joint resolution which: (1) specifies amounts for economic assumptions, within the range of amounts submitted by the Directors and the Comptroller, to be used by OMB, CBO, and GAO for sequestration reports for the upcoming fiscal year; and (2) directs the President to modify the most recent sequestration order for such fiscal year to implement the amount specified for each economic assumption. Requires each Director or the Comptroller General to use the amounts he or she proposed in preparing sequestration reports if such joint resolution is not enacted. Sets forth rules by which the Directors and the Comptroller General, in preparing sequestration reports for a fiscal year, shall calculate budget outlays resulting from specified items of budgetary resources for an account for purposes of determining budget outlays for non-defense programs for such fiscal year. Requires the Directors, in determining the amount of budget base outlays resulting from obligated balances for defense and non-defense programs for a fiscal year, to use the methodology they used in determining such outlays in the sequestration report for FY 1986. Requires the Directors and the Comptroller General, in preparing initial and final sequestration reports for a fiscal year, to assume that: (1) only those regulations which have been promulgated as final regulations by August 15 (with respect to initial reports) or October 5 (with respect to final reports) will be in effect during such fiscal year; and (2) only those sales of assets by the Government for which a notice has been published in the Federal Register by August 15 (for initial reports) or October 5 (for final reports) will occur during such fiscal year. Requires the Directors and the Comptroller General, in preparing sequestration reports, to: (1) include amounts of budget resources and budget outlays necessary to pay for any adjustments for Federal statutory pay systems or military pay enacted by law; and (2) assume that the percentage of the amounts of budget resources and budget outlays necessary to pay for such adjustments that will be absorbed by all Federal agencies will not exceed the average of the percentage of such amounts absorbed by all agencies for the three most recently completed pay adjustment absorption fiscal years. Requires the budget base, for purposes of determining sequestration reductions for a fiscal year, to be determined assuming the continuation of current law with respect to entitlements funded through annual appropriation Acts and with respect to the Food Stamp Act of 1977. Requires the Comptroller General's report to the Congress on the compliance of the President's sequestration order with sequestration procedures to include information on the compliance of OMB's sequestration reports with such procedures and any recommendations for improving such procedures. Exempts the budget account for Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority interest payments from reduction pursuant to a sequestration order. Restores the provisions of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 as in effect before enactment of this Act if provisions of law are enacted which: (1) establish the Comptroller General as an officer in the executive branch; or (2) establish an independent agency in the executive branch to carry out the functions of the Comptroller General. Requires an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the members of the Senate to sustain an appeal of the ruling of the Chair on a point of order raised under certain sequestration procedures in the Senate. Title V: Miscellaneous Fiscal Reforms - Amends the Congressional Budget Act to make it out of order in the House or the Senate, unless waived or suspended by a three-fifths' vote, to consider any bill or resolution that provides for budget outlays or new budget authority for nondefense discretionary spending in excess of the appropriate allocation of outlays or authority after the Congress has completed action on the concurrent resolution on the budget. Provides for automatic continuing appropriations where a regular appropriations bill does not become law prior to the beginning of two-fiscal-year budget cycle. Lists the categories of projects and activities to be funded under such automatic appropriations, which include: (1) the executive departments; (2) the legislative branch; (3) foreign assistance and related programs; and (4) the government of the District of Columbia. Expresses the sense of the Congress that a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution should be adopted by the Congress and ratified by the States.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1987
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to ensure that rural hospitals which have no more than 50 beds and provide at least 70 percent of their inpatient hospital services to Medicare patients receive Medicare coverage of at least the reasonable costs of providing such services.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1987
Constitutional Amendment - Requires the Congress and the President, prior to each fiscal year, to agree, by enactment of a joint resolution, on an estimate of total receipts for that fiscal year. Prohibits outlays for that year from exceeding such estimated receipts unless the Congress, by a three-fifths rollcall vote of each House, provides for a specific excess of outlays over receipts. Requires the Congress, whenever actual outlays exceed actual receipts for any fiscal year, to provide by law for the repayment of such excess in the ensuing fiscal year. Requires a three-fifths rollcall vote of each House to increase the public debt. Directs the President to submit to the Congress a proposed budget for each fiscal year in which total outlays do not exceed total receipts. Requires the approval by a majority of the total membership of each House by rollcall vote before any bill to increase revenue may become law. Waives this article for any fiscal year in which a declaration of war is in effect. Declares that total receipts shall include all receipts of the United States, except those derived from borrowing, and total outlays shall include all outlays of the United States, except those for repayment of debt principal.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1987
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the President should express to the Soviets: (1) the U.S. opposition to the Soviet Union's treatment of certain individuals and the Soviets' refusal to permit these individuals, their families, and other families to emigrate to Israel; (2) the U.S. desire that the Soviet Union comply with specified human rights agreements by permitting such individuals to emigrate to Israel; and (3) the U.S. desire that the Soviet Union cease harassing Soviet Jews seeking to emigrate and denying human rights to Soviet Jews.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1987
Designates the two week period of July 13 through July 26, 1987, as United States Olympic Festival-1987 Celebration. Designates July 17, 1987, as United States Olympic Festival-1987 Day.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1987
Declares that the United States should enter into negotiations with countries which participate in a common defense alliance with the United States, particularly members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Japan, for the purpose of a more equitable apportionment of the burden of financial support for the alliance.
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 1987
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 1992 the period during which qualified mortgage bonds may be issued. (Under current law, authority to issue these bonds expires as of 1989.)
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 1987
Authorizes the Librarian of Congress to make grants to the Close Up Foundation to help carry out the Speaker's Civic Achievement Awards Program to recognize achievement in civic literacy by students, classes, and schools in grades five through eight. Provides that the program shall be conducted in cooperation with the National Association of Elementary School Principals. Establishes a National Advisory Committee on the Speaker's Civic Achievement Awards within the Library of Congress to advise the Librarian on the structure and administration of the programs. Sets forth audit requirements for grant applications, payments, and audits. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1988 through 1993.
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 1987
National Economic Commission Act of 1987 - Establishes the National Economic Commission. Directs the Commission to conduct a comprehensive study of: (1) the elements of domestic fiscal, monetary, and trade policies and their effect on various economic indicators; (2) the elements of the fiscal, monetary, and trade policies of major U.S. trading partners and their effect on the U.S. balance of trade in goods and services and U.S. employment; and (3) the debt burden of developing countries and its effect on the U.S. balance of trade in goods and services and U.S. employment. Requires the Commission to submit to the President and the Congress, by November 30, 1988, a final report on the study. Terminates the Commission 60 days after the Commission submits its final report. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 1987
Declares that the House of Representatives deplores the Soviet denial of religious liberty and other human rights in Lithuania and elsewhere. States that on the occasion of the 600th anniversary of Christianity in Lithuania the House of Representatives: (1) sends its greetings to the Lithuanian people; (2) supports those Lithuanians who are persecuted for attempting to exercise freedom of religion; (3) urges the President and other officials to speak out against violations of religious liberty everywhere and specifically in Lithuania; and (4) calls upon the Soviet Union to abide by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Human Rights, and the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, including the provisions on religious liberty.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 1987
Amends the Federal criminal code to allow the National Association of State Racing Commissioners, State racing commissions, and authorities that regulate parimutuel wagering to: (1) use the facilities of the National Crime Information Center to receive, share, store, and disseminate criminal identification records; and (2) submit fingerprints to the Attorney General for identification and a criminal history records check.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 1987
Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control, to make grants to the States to enable each State to develop and implement in public school systems: (1) a curriculum for educating students regarding prevention and control of acquired immune deficiency syndrome; and (2) a program for educating teachers with respect to teaching the curriculum. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1988.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 1987
Amends rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives to require each House committee that reports legislation requiring employers to provide new employee benefits to include in such report an analysis of the impact of the legislation on employers (especially small businesses), the economy (in terms of international competitiveness), and employees (in terms of lost jobs).
United States · United States Congress · 3 June 1987
Designates the week beginning October 18, 1987, as Financial Independence Week. Urges all citizens to pursue financial independence through sound planning and management of their individual resources.
United States · United States Congress · 2 June 1987
Pesticide Price Competition Act - Amends the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act to permit applicants to file abbreviated applications for registration of pesticides and new uses of pesticides if the pesticide is identical or substantially similar chemically to a previously registered pesticide, and if labeling requirements and other conditions are met.
United States · United States Congress · 28 May 1987
International Debt Recovery Act of 1987 - Amends the International Lending Supervision Act of 1983 to provide that in the establishment of capital adequacy levels for banking institutions, the appropriate Federal banking agencies shall require increased capital for such institutions exposed to country debt that has been classified by bank regulatory agencies in certain high risk categories, subject to specified conditions. Provides that the ultimate collectibility of debt shall be presumed, and increased capital shall not be required, in the case of countries that are demonstrating clear progress toward financial recovery and restored creditworthiness as indicated by specified factors. Provides that for countries not demonstrating such progress toward financial recovery and creditworthiness, the capital adequacy requirements shall be based on an evaluation of risk encompassing such factors as: (1) interruptions in debt servicing; (2) past and projected economic performance; and (3) secondary market valuation of the country's debt. Amends the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 to exempt from the prohibition on ownership or control by a bank holding company of voting shares of a nonbanking organization the acquisition of shares in a company which does no business in the United States except as an incident to its international or foreign business if: (1) the shares are acquired as a result of or in connection with a conversion or exchange of restructured obligations, principal, interest, or any other proceeds of any restructured obligations or obligations issued in exchange for any new money contributions, or any other obligation the repayment of which in nonlocal currency and immediately available funds is prohibited under local law; (2) the bank holding company has received prior approval by the Federal Reserve Board for transactions in excess of the smaller of $50,000,00 or two percent of capital or, for all other transactions, provided prior notice to the Board; and (3) the shares are not held for more than ten years or, if later, five years after the investment may be legally repatriated in its entirety subject to the Board's authority to extend such period for good cause. Requires the Federal bank regulatory agencies to report semiannually to the specified congressional committees concerning steps taken to implement this Act, including specified information concerning the category of debt of various countries and the exposure and capital and reserve position of the 24 largest U.S. banks.
United States · United States Congress · 27 May 1987
Title I: Establishes the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area along the Mississippi River in the St. Paul-Minneapolis Metropolitan Area, Minnesota. Establishes the Mississippi River Coordinating Commission to assist Government authorities in developing and implementing a management plan for such lands and waters. Requires the Commission to submit a plan, within three years, to the Governor of Minnesota and the Secretary of the Interior for review and approval. Requires the Secretary to monitor such Area in the interim. Terminates the Commission after ten years. Transfers Federal property within the Area to the Secretary, except for Army Engineer facilities for navigation and other buildings or structures currently in use. Requires Federal entities to notify and receive the approval of the Secretary before engaging in any activities in or affecting such Area. Authorizes the Secretary to acquire land and interests in such Area, as specified. Requires the Secretary to review local plans and ordinances and their enforcement to assure conformance to the plan. Permits the Secretary to acquire lands without the owner's consent after appropriate notice and opportunity to cure a nonconforming plan or ordinance. Permits owners of acquired improved residential property to retain the right to residential use for 25 years or the owner's death. Sets forth other terms and conditions for such use. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants for land acquisition and to provide technical assistance for programs. Authorizes appropriations. Title II: Tri-Rivers Management - Directs the Secretaries of the Army and the Interior to appoint representatives to a Tri-Rivers Management Board to coordinate development of the Mississippi, St. Croix, and Minnesota Rivers within the St. Paul-Minneapolis Metropolitan Area, Minnesota. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1987
Sulfur and Nitrogen Emissions Tax Act of 1987 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose an excise tax, at a rate based on the amount of pollutant emitted, on emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides from certain fossil fuel-burning boilers. Provides that such tax: (1) be phased in over a two-year period; and (2) be adjusted annually for inflation after 1990. Fixes the liability for the tax on the person owning or operating the taxable boiler. Exempts certain boilers from the tax. Sets forth the methodology for determining the amount of pollutants emitted, generally to be measured by a qualified continuous emissions monitoring device. Permits: (1) a quarterly credit against the emissions tax for costs of the taxpayer's qualified pollution equipment, based on ratable depreciation over ten years; and (2) an income tax deduction for emissions tax payments. Establishes in the Treasury the Sulfur and Nitrogen Emissions Trust Fund (SANE Trust Fund) to receive emissions excise tax revenue. Permits expenditures from this fund to: (1) assist taxpayers subject to the emissions tax in reducing their taxable emissions; and (2) pay administrative costs related to the emissions tax. Authorizes repayable advances to the SANE Fund. Sets limits and conditions to govern such borrowing.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1987
Sulfur and Nitrogen Emissions Tax Act of 1987 - Title I: Excise Tax on Emissions from Certain Boilers and Trust Fund for Revenues Therefrom - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose an excise tax, at a rate based on the amount of pollutant emitted, on emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides from certain fossil fuel-burning boilers. Provides that such tax: (1) be phased in over a two-year period; and (2) be adjusted annually for inflation after 1990. Fixes the liability for the tax on the person owning or operating the taxable boiler. Exempts certain boilers from the tax. Sets forth the methodology for determining the amount of pollutants emitted, generally to be measured by a qualified continuous emissions monitoring device. Permits: (1) a quarterly credit against the emissions tax for costs of the taxpayer's qualified pollution equipment, based on ratable depreciation over ten years; and (2) an income tax deduction for emissions tax payments. Establishes in the Treasury the Sulfur and Nitrogen Emissions Trust Fund (SANE Trust Fund) to receive emissions excise tax revenue. Permits expenditures from this fund to: (1) carry out the acid deposition control assistance program under this Act; and (2) pay specified administrative costs. Authorizes repayable advances to the SANE Fund. Sets limits and conditions to govern such borrowing. Title II: Acid Deposition Control Assistance Program - Amends the Clean Air Act to authorize the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (Administrator) to make loans, from funds available in the SANE Fund, to qualified persons to either: (1) construct a new electric power generating unit to replace an existing fossil-fuel fired unit; or (2) purchase and install pollution abatement equipment at a fossil-fuel fired unit. Sets forth: (1) factors to be considered in selecting loan recipients; (2) limitations and conditions applicable to loans for both pollution abatement and new plants; and (3) the circumstances under which the Administrator is authorized to cancel a portion of either type of loan. Directs the Administrator and the Secretary of the Treasury to: (1) complete a study of the effectiveness of the pollutant emissions tax in reducing the targeted emissions; (2) make recommendations concerning emission control and economic growth; and (3) report to the Congress within five years of this Act's enactment. Directs the Administrator to study the tax disincentive approach to pollution control and to report the results to the Congress within five years of this Act's enactment. Authorizes appropriations, for the next fiscal year, of monies remaining in the SANE Fund after loan expenditures. Permits such excess funds to be used for specified purposes, including: (1) research projects relating to clean coal technology, alternative energy, or the environmental effects of pollutant emissions; (2) job retraining programs for workers displaced by the effects of this Act; and (3) programs to mitigate certain environmental damages. Prohibits the authorization of such appropriations of excess funds if the Administrator fails to submit when due the reports required by this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1987
Provides that, upon retirement from service as the Librarian of Congress, Daniel J. Boorstin may be known as the Librarian of Congress Emeritus. States that such honorary designation shall not constitute an appointment in the civil service under specified Federal law. Provides that as Librarian of Congress Emeritus, Dr. Boorstin may receive incidental administrative and clerical support through the Library of Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 1987
Declares that the Congress recognizes and supports efforts to develop the National Purple Heart Museum in Enfield, Connecticut, and encourages the people of the United States to participate in the development of such museum.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 1987
Designates August 1, 1987, as Helsinki Human Rights Day. Requests the President to: (1) reassert American commitment to the Helsinki Accords; (2) raise the issue of noncompliance with such Accords with the Soviet Union, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, the German Democratic Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Romania; (3) convey to all signatories of such Accords that respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms is vital to progress in the ongoing Helsinki process; (4) convey to U.S. allies the necessity of unity regarding such Accords; (5) continue his efforts to achieve the release of political prisoners of the Soviet Union, increase in Soviet emigration, resolution of family reunification cases, and cessation of radio transmission jamming; (6) seek the inclusion, in any concluding document agreed to in Vienna, of a mechanism to sustain human rights progress after the Vienna Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe; and (7) convey to signatory states the desire of the United States for a result at Vienna that will not favor military security at the expense of human rights.
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 1987
Amends the Tariff Schedules of the United States to lower the tariff on: (1) non-woven disposal apparel designed for use in hospitals, clinics, laboratories, or contaminated areas; and (2) coveralls, overalls, jumpsuits, certain types of women's dresses, swimming suits, infants' sets, and parts of trousers, slacks, and shorts. Makes permanent the tariff on certain types of surgical gowns and drapes.
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 1987
Diplomatic Reciprocity and Security Act - Title I: Soviet Embassy in the United States and United States Embassy in the Soviet Union - Declares that the United States withdraws from the agreement with the Soviet Union concerning embassies in Moscow and Washington. Authorizes the President to waive such withdrawal if he determines, and reports to the Congress, that: (1) it is vital to the national security of the United States not to withdraw from the embassy agreement; (2) the U.S. Embassy in Moscow can be safely and securely occupied by the United States and used for its intended purposes; and (3) steps have been or will be taken to eliminate, no later than October 1, 1989, the damage to U.S. national security due to electronic surveillance from Soviet facilities at the Mount Alto site in Washington, D.C., and from other Soviet facilities in the United States. Provides that if the withdrawal from the embassy agreement takes effect the Mount Alto site may not be available for use by a foreign mission for any purpose. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the current arbitration process between the United States and the Soviet Union should be expanded to include Soviet reimbursement of the full costs incurred by the United States as a result of the intelligence activities of the Soviet Union directed at the new United States Embassy in Moscow. Requires the Secretary of State to achieve, by October 1, 1989, reciprocity in certain matters for U.S. diplomatic and consular posts in the Soviet Union. Specifies such matters as: (1) the payment of fair market value for goods and services in the Soviet Union; (2) full access to goods and services in the Soviet Union, including utilities; and (3) obtaining real property in the Soviet Union which is equivalent in terms of quantity and quality to the real property used by diplomatic and consular posts of the Soviet mission to the United States. Authorizes the Secretary to take certain measures, including the closing of Soviet diplomatic or consular offices, in order to achieve reciprocal treatment concerning real property. Requires the Secretary to report annually to the Congress concerning actions taken or planned to achieve such objectives. Requires the Secretary to submit to the Congress a report discussing whether the number of personnel of Soviet state trading enterprises in the United States should be reduced. Title II: Improving State Department Personnel Practices and Organization to Counter Hostile Intelligence Threats - Requires the Secretary of State to require periodic counterintelligence scope polygraph interviews of the Diplomatic Security Service. Requires the Secretary to develop and implement a special personnel security program for personnel of the Department of State assigned to U.S. diplomatic and consular posts in high intelligence threat countries who are responsible for security at those posts and for any individuals performing guard functions at those posts. Requires the Secretary to convene an Accountability Review Board in any case of a serious breach of security involving intelligence activities of a foreign government directed at a U.S. mission abroad. Prohibits, after September 30, 1989, employment of any national of a Communist country as a foreign national employee at U.S. diplomatic and consular missions in any Communist country. Exempts from such prohibition any foreign national employee who is not permitted access to: (1) U.S. Embassy or consulate grounds, vehicles, or buildings located in the compound of the Embassy or consulate; and (2) the residence, wherever located, of the chief of mission or the deputy chief of mission. Expresses the willingness of the Congress to provide additional funds to the Department of State for the expenses of employing U.S. citizens to replace foreign nationals dismissed as a result of such prohibition. Requires the Secretary to terminate the retirement benefits of foreign national employees who the Secretary reasonably believes engaged in intelligence activities directed against the United States. Allows the Secretary to waive such requirement on a case-by-case basis if he determines that it is vital to U.S. national security to do so and reports such waiver in advance to the appropriate committees of the Congress. Requires the Secretary to submit to the Congress a report discussing the advisability of employing foreign nationals at foreign service posts abroad. Establishes within the Department of State the position of Under Secretary of State for Security, Communications, Construction, and Missions. Provides that such Under Secretary shall be responsible for: (1) the Bureau of Diplomatic Security; (2) the Office of Communications; (3) the Office of Foreign Buildings; and (4) the Office of Foreign Missions. Replaces the current position of Director of the Office of Foreign Missions with the position of Assistant Secretary of State for Foreign Missions. Title III: Additional Measures to Protect Against Hostile Intelligence Threats - Authorizes additional appropriations for the Department of State to carry out the diplomatic security program. Requires the Secretary of State to conduct periodic surveys to determine the weaknesses in the programs, practices, and procedures for protecting classified information at U.S. diplomatic and consular posts, giving priority attention to posts in Communist countries. Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to prohibit the acquisition of real property by or on behalf of the foreign mission of an unfriendly country if: (1) in the judgment of the Secretary of Defense, the acquisition of that property might improve the capability of that country to intercept communications involving U.S. diplomatic, military, or intelligence matters; or (2) if in the judgment of the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the acquisition of that property might improve the capability of that country to engage in intelligence activities directed against the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 1987
Higher Education Prepayment Tax Act of 1987 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide an income tax exclusion for the value of any benefits covering tuition and related expenses and reasonable living expenses while away from home when such benefits are provided in accordance with a qualified prepaid college education contract, except for payments by an employer under such a contract. Defines eligible contracts as those between a payor and either a State or one or more institutions of higher education under which: (1) educational benefits are provided to eligible beneficiaries enrolled in certain undergraduate or vocational courses in pursuit of a degree or certificate; and (2) all payments made by the payor must be deposited into a prepaid college education trust created by a State or by one or more qualified institutions of higher education for the exclusive purpose of funding benefits under such contracts.
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 1987
Foster Care and Adoption Assistance Amendments of 1987 - Amends part E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of title IV of the Social Security Act to alter the formula for determining the Federal share of personnel training and administrative costs. Extends indefinitely: (1) the conditional ceiling on Federal financial participation in foster care; and (2) the provision which permits a State to use, under part B (Child Welfare Services) of title IV, funds made available to it under the conditional ceiling that are not needed under part E. Repeals the independent living program designed to prepare participants to live independently upon leaving foster care. Sets a one-year limit on filing payment claims for expenditures under part E of title IV. (Currently, there is a two-year limit on filing such claims.) Amends the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980 to extend indefinitely the provision permitting Federal financial participation in foster care for certain children voluntarily placed in such care.
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 1987
Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to exempt from preemption any provision of law of the State of Minnesota which requires employers to provide health coverage for employees and which is not inconsistent with the requirements of such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 1987
Provides that each item of any joint resolution making continuing appropriations that is agreed to in the same form by both Houses of the Congress shall be enrolled as a separate bill or joint resolution for presentation to the President (line-item veto).
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 1987
Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to establish statutory guidelines for the regulation of duty-free sales enterprises. Authorizes such enterprises to sell and deliver for export from the customs territory of the United States duty-free merchandise in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury. Sets forth restrictions on the location, deliveries, and operations of such an enterprise, including requirements that such an enterprise: (1) provide reasonable assurances that merchandise sold will be exported; (2) limit the merchandise sold to any individual to quantities appropriate for personal use; and (3) post notice that merchandise is subject to Federal duty and tax if brought back into the United States. Provides that this Act does not prohibit a duty-free sales enterprise from offering for sale and delivering to individuals departing from the customs territory merchandise other than duty-free merchandise. Declares that merchandise purchased in a duty-free sales enterprise is not exempt from duty under the Tariff Schedules of the United States if such merchandise is brought back to the customs territory. Requires the establishment of a separate class of bonded warehouses for duty-free sales enterprises.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 1987
Honors the late Portuguese diplomat, Dr. Aristides de Sousa Mendes do Amarel e Abranches, for his extraordinary acts of mercy and justice during World War II.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 1987
Establishes congressional procedures for consideration of special messages submitted by the President proposing to rescind all or part of any item of appropriation provided in an approved appropriation bill.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 1987
Davis-Bacon Reform Act of 1987 - Amends the Davis-Bacon Act to increase from $2,000 to $250,000 the threshold amount subjecting certain contracts to such Act and requiring them to specify the minimum wages to be paid to laborers and mechanics. Directs the Secretary of Labor to establish as the prevailing wage for a class of laborers or mechanics the entire range of wages being paid to a corresponding class of such workers in the particular urban or rural subdivision of the State in which the work is to be performed. Sets out the means for determining such prevailing wage in cases when more than a single wage is being paid to corresponding classes of workers. Excludes from the computation of wages the basic hourly rates of pay for workers on local Federal projects. Establishes a separate classification for helpers of laborers or mechanics, with their prevailing wages to be determined on the basis of the corresponding class of helpers. Prohibits the division of contracts into units of $250,000 or less for purposes of avoiding wage computation under such Act. Directs the Secretary of Labor and the U.S. Comptroller General to submit to the Congress annual reports describing the effects of the Davis-Bacon Act, the Copeland Act, and this Act on local wages and on local and national economies. Amends the Copeland Act to require certain contractors or subcontractors to furnish compliance statements concerning weekly wages at the beginning, midpoint, and conclusion of the period covered by the contract, instead of every week as the wages are paid.
![Official portrait of Rep. Frenzel, Bill [R-MN-3]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/f000380_200.jpg)