United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1987
Declares that the United States: (1) condemns the seven years of Soviet aggression against the Afghan people; and (2) urges the conclusion of a negotiated political settlement based on the complete withdrawal of foreign troops, restoration of the independent status of Afghanistan, self-determination for the Afghan people, and the safe return of the Afghan refugees.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1987
Establishes the Joint Committee on Intelligence. Declares that such committee has exclusive legislative jurisdiction with respect to any intelligence activity of the Federal Government and authorizations for appropriations for specified agencies and intelligence-related activities. Directs the joint committee to classify its information and records and to establish guidelines for their maintenance, use, and availability. Sets forth procedures for the disclosure of such information. Directs the joint committee to establish and carry out rules and procedures necessary to prevent the unauthorized disclosure of information. Makes conforming amendments to the National Security Act of 1947 and the Rules of the House of Representatives, including abolishing the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1987
Constitutional Amendment - Allows the President an item veto of appropriations bills. Requires the President, in signing such a bill, to designate the provisions disapproved and return the bill to the House in which it originated. Subjects such bills to the same proceedings as other bills disapproved by the President.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1987
Constitutional Amendment - Declares that equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State on account of sex.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1987
Gives special recognition to the achievements of wilderness ecologist Aldo Leopold. Urges Federal land management agencies to model their activities after the conservation ethic he inspired.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1987
Amends rule XV of the Rules of the House of Representatives to prohibit the House from passing or adopting any bill or joint resolution making appropriations or providing revenue except by a rollcall vote.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1987
States that the Congress: (1) commends the Czechoslovak human rights organization Charter 77, on the tenth anniversary of its establishment of the aims of the Helsinki Final Act; (2) calls upon the Government of Czechoslovakia to cease its persecution of those involved in Charter 77 and other human rights activities; and (3) commends the U.S. representatives to the Vienna Review Meeting of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe for raising the persecution issue with Czechoslovakian representatives.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1987
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Government of the Soviet Union should approve the emigration applications of Abe Stolar, his wife, Gita, their son, Michael, his wife, Julia, and Michael and Julia's daughter, Sara.
United States · United States Congress · 17 October 1986
Declares that the House of Representatives deplores the practice of phantom voting in elections and urges the States to take necessary action to purge voter registration lists of invalid names and addresses, and to use validated voter registration lists in future elections. Directs the Comptroller General to study the general election of 1984 to determine the extent of phantom voting and to report to the House within six months.
United States · United States Congress · 14 October 1986
Federalism Act of 1986 - Title I: Aid to Families with Dependent Children - Subtitle A: Benefits and Federal Participation - Amends part A (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) of title IV of the Social Security Act to set a minimum monthly AFDC benefit amount at a level which, when added to the value of any food stamp allotment to which the family or its household is entitled, is equal to a specified percentage (set at 50 percent in FY 1989, but increasing by two percent in each subsequent fiscal year until it reaches 62 percent in FY 1995) of the Federal poverty level. Reimburses States for 90 percent of their expenses in providing the minimum benefit. Requires States to make AFDC payments with respect to dependent children of unemployed parents in two-parent families. Subtitle B: Work-Related Requirements - Requires, with certain exceptions, AFDC applicants and recipients to register with a State agency for employment counseling, training, and assignment. Authorizes AFDC recipients to refuse employment which results in a net loss in their income. Directs such State agency to: (1) determine the appropriate employment-related activities for each registered AFDC applicant or recipient; and (2) arrange for their participation in one or more of the employment-related programs established under title IV of the Act or other Federal law, while coordinating such programs to enhance the availability and efficiency of services provided. Requires the State agency to provide AFDC applicants and recipients assigned to employment, training, or education programs with child care and transportation services. Sets the Federal contribution to education, training, and assignment costs at 90 percent in FY 1989 and a percentage in subsequent years which is determined by use of a specified formula which takes into account a State's compliance with performance standards to be developed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Provides that such standards shall measure a State's success in reducing welfare costs and helping AFDC recipients achieve self-sufficiency. Sets the Federal share of administrative costs at 50 percent and support service costs at 90 percent. Authorizes appropriations from FY 1988 through 1995 to carry out the activities under this title, allotting such funds among States on the basis of each State's share of AFDC recipients. Gives States the option, when a family's increased income renders them ineligible for AFDC, to: (1) continue to cover a family's child care, transportation, and other employment-related support service expenses for the year after such family's eligibility would otherwise end; and (2) require a family contribution for such services. Subtitle C: Hold Harmless - Reimburses States for all of their AFDC expenditures in FY 1989 which exceed State AFDC expenditures in FY 1988 and are attributable to this Act's amendments. Title II: Medicaid - Extends Medicaid eligibility to pregnant women and children up to age 12 whose family income does not exceed the Federal poverty level. Requires the Secretary to establish uniform national standards regarding the types of Medicaid services provided to such individuals. Directs States to provide Medicaid coverage to individuals who are eligible for benefits under title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) of the Act or would be eligible for such benefits if they were not in a medical institution. Authorizes States to provide Medicaid coverage to individuals eligible for participation in certain other social security programs, but requires the State plan to include at least one group not covered under such programs. Raises the limit on the Medicaid Federal assistance percentage to 90 percent. Sets such percentage at 80 percent for FY 1988 and 90 percent thereafter for medical assistance provided to pregnant women and children pursuant to this Act. Provides for annual reductions in the State percentage. Reimburses States for all of their Medicaid expenditures in FY's 1988 and 1989 which exceed State Medicaid expenditures in FY 1987 and are attributable to this Act's amendments. Title III: Termination or Reduction of Certain Federal Programs - Abolishes certain programs providing Federal assistance for: (1) economically distressed areas; (2) urban mass transit systems; (3) community services and development; (4) education; (5) vocational education and manpower training; and (6) water pollution control. Requires the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee and the Committee on Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs of the House of Representatives to report legislation reducing the aggregate outlays for certain housing assistance programs by specified amounts from FY 1988 through 1995. Amends title XX (Block Grants to States for Social Services) of the Act to reduce authorized appropriations for FY 1988 and 1989 and terminate the program on October 1, 1990. Title IV: Fiscal Capacity Grants - Entitles State and local governments to grants from the General Fiscal Assistance Trust Fund established in the Treasury by this Act. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to determine grant allocations to be paid in quarterly installments for each of FY 1988 through 1994. Sets forth general grant qualification requirements. Authorizes the Secretary, after providing notice and an opportunity for corrective actions, to withhold grant payments for noncompliance with such requirements. Provides special entitlements for Indian tribes, Alaskan Native villages, and the District of Columbia. Sets forth the procedure by which the Secretary shall allocate grant amounts to: (1) each State (for subsequent allocation to local governments) based on each State's population, general tax effort factor, and relative fiscal capacity factor; and (2) each local government, from each State's amount, based on each government's population, general tax effort factor, and income factor. Requires each State which receives grant funds to establish a commission to: (1) investigate the public service needs and fiscal capacities of its local governments; and (2) recommend an alternative method of allocating grant funds to local governments which reduces the excess of the funds each government needs to provide public services over the fiscal capacity of such government. Directs the Secretary to use such method to allocate funds instead of the procedure prescribed by this Act if such method is enacted into State law. Sets forth the procedure by which the Secretary shall allocate grant amounts to each State government based on each State's population, general tax effort factor, and relative fiscal capacity factor. Requires the Secretary, in determining grant allocations, to use the most recent available information provided by the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of Labor, with specified exceptions. Requires a State government or local government expending payments under this title to: (1) hold at least one public hearing on the proposed use of the payment in relation to its total budget, unless publc participation is otherwise ensured in the budget process; and (2) disclose specified information on the proposed use of the payment within specified periods before such hearing and after the budget is adopted. Prohibits discrimination under any State or local government program or activity any part of which is paid for with funds received under this title. Sets forth provisions governing discrimination proceedings, the suspension and termination or resumption of payments in such proceedings, agreements by local governments to comply with discrimination prohibitions, the enforcement of such prohibitions by the Attorney General, administrative and civil actions by persons adversely affected by discriminatory practices, and judicial review of a decision to withhold, suspend, or terminate grant payments. Requires each State and local government that receives a payment under this Act in a fiscal year to conduct an audit for such year. Requires the Secretary to maintain regulations regarding the investigation of complaints of violations of this Act. Directs the Comptroller General to carry out necessary reviews for the Congress to evaluate compliance and operations under this Act. Requires annual reports by: (1) the Secretary to the Congress on the administration of, and operations under, this Act; and (2) State and local governments to the Secretary on the amounts and uses of grant payments. Title V: Block Grants to States for Long-Term Health Care Services - Amends the Medicaid program to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants (the amount of each grant being determined pursuant to a specified formula) to States in each fiscal year for the provision of long-term health care. Makes such grant program the exclusive source of Federal Medicaid payments for long-term health care. Directs each State receiving a grant to submit a report to the Secretary describing the categories of long-term care for which assistance will be provided as well as the eligility criteria to be used. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress within 180 days after this Act's enactment regarding the technical and conforming changes this Act made in the Medicaid program.
United States · United States Congress · 9 October 1986
Title I: Tariff Provisions - Declares that amendments to the Schedules refer to amendments to the Tariff Schedules of the United States. Subtitle A: Permanent Changes in Tariff Treatment - Amends the Tariff Schedules of the United States to reclassify and impose a duty on casein, caseinates, and milk protein concentrate for human food and animal feed use. Reduces the duty on salted and dried plums. Imposes a duty on natural unconcentrated, non-reconstituted grapefruit juice. Grants duty-free treatment to hatters' fur. Treats plywoods with tongued, grooved, lapped, or otherwise worked edges as plywood for tariff purposes. Provides that certain gloves (those without fourchettes and constructed of a textile fabric with rubber or plastics) shall be regarded as gloves of textile materials. Creates a new tariff classification to cover imports of certain woven fabrics of man-made fibers. Includes all forms of silicone in the term "synthetic plastics materials." Imposes a duty on silicone resins and materials. Creates a new tariff classification to cover the imports of motor fuel blending stocks. Imposes a duty on motor fuel blending stocks. Reclassifies a "slab" of iron or steel to be not less than two inches in thickness. Provides that television picture tubes imported in combination with, or incorporated into, other articles are to be classified as television picture tubes (subject to an increased duty) unless they are incorporated or put into kits for incorporation into complete television receivers or into certain other fully assembled units. Imposes an 11 percent duty on all imports on or before October 31, 1987, of television picture tubes which would be included in such assembled units but for this Act. Grants duty-free treatment to all imports on or before December 31, 1990, of certain small color television picture tubes. Excludes extracorporeal shock wave lithotripters with respect to the duty treatment of electro-surgical apparatus. Provides a duty on bicycle-type speedometers and parts. Excludes the dials of watches and clocks from the special marking requirements. Provides that certain information shall be legibly (currently "conspicuously") marked with specified information. Permits such marking to be done by mold-marking. Permits manufacturers to put certain information on watch bezels. Deletes the requirement of including information on watch adjustments. Repeals the prohibition against the importation into the United States of certain furskins from the Soviet Union. Subtitle B: Temporary Changes in Tariff Treatment - Suspends through December 31, 1990, the tariff on: (1) color couplers and coupler intermediates; (2) p-sulfobenzoic acid, potassium salt; (3) 2,2-oxamidobis-ethyl3(3,5-di-tertbuty14-hydroxy-penyl); dicyclohexylbenzothiazylsufenamide; (5) 2,4 dichloro-5-sulfamoyl benzoic acid; (6) derivatives of N-(4-2-hydroxy-3-phenoxypropoxy) phenyl) acetamide; (7) 1,2-dimethyl 1-3, 5 diphenyl-pyrazolium methyl sulfate; (8) dicofol; (9) methylene blue; (10) 3,5-dinitro-o-toluamide; (11) butyl chloride; (12) nonbenzenoid vinyl acetate-vinyl chloride-ethylene terpolymer; (13) tungsten ore; (14) certain stuffed toy figures; (15) wool carving and spinning machines; (16) generator lighting sets for bicycles, bicycle chains, and certain other bicycle parts; (17) 1-(3- sulfopropyl) pyridinium hydroxide; (18) d-6-Methoxy-a-methyl-2-naphthaleneactic acid and its sodium salt; (19) certain pesticides (dinocap, mixtures of dicofol and application adjuvants and mixtures of mancozeb and dinocap); (20) cholestyramine resin USP; (21) 3-amino-3-methyl-1-butyne; (22) maneb, zineb, mancozeb, and metiram; (23) nicotine resins; (24) certain hosiery knitting needles; (25) silk yarns; (26) 3-ethylamino-p-cresol; (27) 4-chloro-2-5-dimethoxy-aniline; (28) 2,2-bis(4-cyanatophenyl); (29) 3-nitrophenyl-4-beta-hydroxysulfone; (30) aminoethylphenylprazole; (31) 1,1-(4,1-dimethylethyl)phenyl, etc.; (32) butyl (R)-2-(4-(5-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pryidinyl)oxy)-phenoxyl (33) benzethonium chloride; (34) malononitrile; (35) 2-(1(ethoxyimino)butyl)-5-(2-(ethylthio)propyl)-3-hydro (sethoxydim); (36) metaldehyde; (37) cyclosporine; (38) paraldehyde; (39) jacquard cards; (40) certain parts of indirect process electrostatic copying machines; and (41) extracorporeal shock wave lithotripters (for use by nonprofit hospitals or educational institutions). Suspends the tariff on certain knitwear made in Guam until November 1, 1992. Suspends the tariff on the personal effects and equipment of participants and officials involved in the Pan American Games until September 30, 1987. Amends the Foreign Trade Zones Act to extend, through December 31, 1990, the exclusion of imported bicycle parts that are not subsequently re-exported from the exemption of the customs laws that is applicable to a foreign trade zone. Amends the Tariff Schedules of the United States to repeal the suspension of duty on double-headed latch needles. Suspends, through October 31, 1987, the duty on absorbent chemical material of one or more cross-linked sodium polyacrylate polymers. Lowers, through December 31, 1990, the: (1) duty on glass inners designed for vacuum flasks or for other vacuum vessels; and (2) column two duty rate on offset printing presses of the sheet-fed type. Extends the current suspension of duty until December 31, 1990, on: (1) mixtures of mashed or macerated hot red peppers and salt; (2) cantaloupes; (3) certain wools; (4) needlecraft display models; (5) triptenyl phosphate; (6) menthol feedstocks; (7) isometric mixtures of ethylbiphenyl; (8) sulfapyridine; (9) synthetic rutile; (10) certain clock radios; (11) machines designed for heat-set, stretchtexturing of continuous man-made fibers; (12) hosiery knitting machines; (13) certain small toys; (14) stuffed dolls, certain toy figures; and (15) crude feathers and down. Subtitle C: Effective Dates - Sets forth the effective dates for the implementation of the provisions of this Act. Title II: Customs Provisions - Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to allow watches to be designated as eligible articles for purposes of the generalized system of preferences. Requires the containers of imported preserved mushrooms to indicate in English the country in which the mushrooms were grown in order to comply with labeling laws relating to imports. Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to require the Secretary of the Treasury to establish standards for setting the terms and conditions for cancellation of bonds or charges. Provides for the duty-free entry of certain articles for use by a named organization in the construction of an optical telescope in Hawaii. Provides for the reliquidation, without liability of the importer of record for antidumping duties, of specified entries. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to reliquidate, as duty-free, four specified entries covering tubular tin products, if a certificate of actual use for the products is submitted to the U.S. Customs Service at the port of entry within 120 days of enactment of this Act. Requires the appropriate customs officer, upon the discovery or attempted importation into the United States or seizure of books or matter containing obscene material, to transmit such information to the appropriate U.S. attorney who shall institute proceedings for the forfeiture, confiscation, and destruction of such books or matter. Requires a court, upon motion of the United States, to stay such forfeiture proceedings pending the completion of any related criminal proceedings. Amends the International Coffee Agreement Act of 1980 to extend the effective period of such act until October 1, 1989. Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to allow, without regard to specified conditions, for a drawback (refund) of duties paid on raw cane sugar imported into the United States after October 31, 1977, and before April 1, 1985. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to study and report to specified congressional committees by February 1, 1987, with respect to circumvention of the U.S. sugar quota through the importation of refined sugar in the form of blended products. Makes unlawful the unauthorized importation or unauthorized sale within the United States after importation of articles that: (1) infringe a valid and enforceable U.S. patent or copyright; or (2) are made under, or by means of, a patented process. Makes it unlawful to import into or sell within the United States after importation articles that infringe a valid and enforceable U.S. trademark, if the manufacture or production of such article was unauthorized. Makes it unlawful to import a semiconductor chip product in a manner that constitutes infringement of a registered mask work. Declares that such prohibitions shall apply only if there is an existing or nascent U.S. industry relating to the articles or intellectual property. Authorizes the International Trade Commission (ITC) to terminate an investigation before determining whether there is a violation by issuing a consent order or on the basis of a settlement agreement. Requires the ITC to make a determination with regard to a petition alleging unfair import practices within 90 days (150 days in more complicated cases) of the publication of notice of the investigation. Authorizes the ITC to grant preliminary relief with respect to violations involving intellectual property to the same extent as authorized under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Authorizes the ITC to issue cease and desist orders in addition to exclusion orders. Increases the penalty for violations of such orders. Transfers from the President to the United States Trade Representative (USTR) the authority to overrule for policy reasons ITC determinations of unfair import practices. Provides for default judgments against nonrespondents in unfair import practice cases unless the ITC determines that specified circumstances preclude such judgments. Authorizes the ITC to promulgate rules that establish sanctions for abuse of discovery and abuse of process. Imposes the burden of proof on the petitioner in cases where the petitioner has previously been found in violation of the provision prohibiting unfair import practices and the petitioner is asking the ITC: (1) to find that the petitioner is no longer violating the section; or (2) for a modification or rescission of the penalty imposed on such petitioner. Sets forth the grounds for granting such relief. Prohibits disclosure (except to certain ITC and Customs Service employees) of confidential information submitted to the ITC during the course of an investigation without the consent of the petitioner. Requires the USTR to prepare a list annually of those foreign countries that maintain the most significant barriers to market access for U.S. persons that rely on intellectual property protection. Requires the USTR, in order to create such list, to: (1) identify and analyze the market barriers of a country to certain intellectual property that is exported or licensed by U.S. persons that rely on intellectual property protection; (2) estimate the trade-distorting impact on U.S. commerce of such country's acts, policies, or practices that are contained in the annual report on market barriers; (3) decide whether the potential market in that country is substantial; and (4) take into account certain other information submitted by persons who rely on intellectual property protection. Designates countries which have the largest potential markets or have the most onerous market barriers as priority countries for negotiating purposes. Authorizes the USTR to exempt a foreign country from such negotiations if negotiations would be detrimental to U.S. interests. Requires the President to direct the USTR to enter into negotiations and consultations with priority countries according to a specified timetable in order to seek trade agreements which reduce or eliminate market barriers for U.S. persons who rely on intellectual property protection. Authorizes the President, within five years of enactment of this Act, to enter into agreements which meet such objective. Authorizes the President to take certain other actions if the President is not able to enter into such an agreement with a priority country within a specified time. Requires the President to report to the Congress on a biennial basis on efforts to obtain market access in priority countries. Sets forth information to be included in such report. Requires the USTR to conduct with the appropriate congressional committees, Federal agencies, private persons, and certain advisory committees, Federal agencies, private persons, and certain advisory committees: (1) before identifying the market barriers, determining priority countries, and establishing the timetable; (2) in conducting negotiations; (3) in developing the report; and (4) in determining certain other actions. Requires the principal negotiating objectives with respect to intellectual property rights to be: (1) to seek enactment and effective enforcement by foreign countries of laws that protect intellectual property; and (2) to develop and strengthen international rules and dispute settlement procedures against trade-distorting practices arising from inadequate national protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights. Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to allow the President to: (1) enter into tariff agreements relating to specified Canadian imports; and (2) proclaim the modification or elimination of existing duties on such imports. Authorizes the President to grant such modifications if equivalent modifications are granted by Canada to U.S. imports into Canada. Title III: Implementation of Nairobi Protocol - Subtitle A: Short Title, Purpose, Reference, and Effective Date - Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Materials Importation Act of 1986 - Declares that it is the purpose of this subtitle to: (1) provide for the implementation of the Nairobi Protocol to the Agreement on the Importation of Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Materials (the Florence Agreement); (2) modify the duty-free treatment accorded under the Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Materials Importation Act of 1982 (the 1982 Act), under the Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Materials Importation Act of 1966 and under another Act, and (3) continue the safeguard provisions concerning certain imported articles provided for in the 1982 Act. Subtitle B: Amendments to Implement the Nairobi Protocol - Repeals the 1982 Act. Amends the Tariff Schedules of the United States (TSUS) to provide duty-free treatment for: (1) catalogs of visual and auditory material of an educational scientific, or cultural character; (2) architectural, engineering, industrial or commercial drawings and plans; (3) loose illustrations, reproduction proofs or reproduction films used for the production of books; (4) certain other articles in microfilm, microfiche, and similar film media; and (5) crossword puzzle books. Provides for duty-free treatment of certain other articles whether or not in the form of microfilm, microfiches, or similar film media. Prohibits granting duty-free treatment to developed photographic film unless either: (1) a Federal agency determines that such article is visual or auditory material of an educational, scientific, or cultural character within the meaning of the Agreement for Facilitating the International circulation of Visual and Auditory Materials of an Educational, Scientific, or Cultural Character, or (2) such article is imported by, or for the use of, an educational, scientific or cultural institution and is certified to be visual or auditory material of an educational, scientific, or cultural character or to have been produced by the United Nations or any of its specialized agencies. Provides duty-free treatment for articles determined to be visual or auditory materials in accordance with specified provisions. Provides duty-free treatment for: (1) tools specially designed to maintain or repair certain scientific instruments or apparatus; and (2) articles specially designed or adapted for the use or benefit of the blind or other physically or mentally handicapped persons. Subtitle C: Authority to Modify Certain Duty-Free Treatment Accorded Under this Subtitle - Authorizes the President to proclaim changes in the TSUS to narrow the scope of, place conditions on, or otherwise eliminate the duty-free treatment accorded the tools for scientific instruments and the articles for the blind or other handicapped persons under this Act if such duty-free treatment has significant adverse impact on a domestic industry. Authorizes the President to resume duty-free treatment of such articles under certain circumstances. Authorizes the President to proclaim changes to the TSUS to remove or modify any conditions and restrictions imposed by this Act on the importation of certain visual and auditory material in order to implement certain provisions of the Nairobi Protocol. Amends the TSUS to change the headnote relating to the method of applying for permission to import certain scientific instruments and apparatus. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury, in conjunction with the Secretary of Comerce, to obtain adequate statistical information on duty-free imports of articles for the blind and for other handicapped persons.
United States · United States Congress · 30 September 1986
Designates the Federal building and United States Courthouse located on North Robert Street, St. Paul, Minnesota, as the Warren E. Burger Federal Building and United States Courthouse.
United States · United States Congress · 29 September 1986
Declares that the President should use all appropriate powers to secure from Japan a reduction of that nation's tariff on chocolate to a level equal to that of the United States by April 1987.
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 1986
Declares that the President should use all appropriate powers to secure from Japan a reduction of that nation's tariff on chocolate to a level equal to that of the United States by April 1987.
United States · United States Congress · 17 September 1986
Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to provide that it shall not be in order for either House of Congress to consider any legislation which would impose any requirement on State or local governments which is likely to result in an annual cost to such governments of $50,000,000 or more for any particular program, project, or activity, except for legislation which complies with any sequestration order issued under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act). Requires the report of the Committee on the Budget of each House accompanying the concurrent resolution on the budget to identify changes in federal aid programs for State and local governments on a program-by-program basis.
United States · United States Congress · 15 August 1986
White House Conference on Small Business Authorization Act - Calls upon the President to conduct a National White House Conference on Small Business once every four years to: (1) increase public awareness of the contributions of small business; (2) identify small business problems; (3) examine the status of minority and women small business owners; (4) assist small business in carrying out its role as the nation's job creator; (5) develop specific recommendations for executive and legislative action; and (6) review the status of recommendations adopted at the Conferences. Authorizes and directs Federal departments, agencies, and instrumentalities to provide support and assistance to the planning of such Conferences. Requires a final report of the Conference, within six months from the date a Conference is convened, to be submitted to the President and the Congress. Requires the Small Business Administration to report annually to the Congress for the next three years following the submission of the final report of the Conference. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 15 August 1986
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the member nations of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) should: (1) negotiate further reductions in tariffs and strengthen the rules governing nontariff barriers; (2) establish rules governing the use of safeguard actions (including voluntary restraint agreements and marketing arrangements) to ensure that such actions contribute to trade adjustment without shifting the burden to other trading countries; (3) develop rules governing agricultural trade (including the elimination of export subsidies and barriers to agricultural markets) and foreign investment; (4) establish enforceable mechanisms for the protection of intellectual property; and (5) strengthen and streamline the GATT dispute settlement procedures.
United States · United States Congress · 14 August 1986
Amends the Tariff Schedules of the United States to suspend, through June 30, 1991, the duty on certain nonwoven web sheets of polyester fibers used in water purification systems.
United States · United States Congress · 14 August 1986
Requests the entertainment industry to: (1) refrain from producing material which glamorizes or encourages the use of illegal drugs; and (2) develop material which encourages the rejection of illegal drug usage.
United States · United States Congress · 13 August 1986
International Drug Traffic Enforcement Act - Title I: Amendments to the Tariff Act of 1930 - Subtitle A: Reference to the Tariff Act of 1930 - Provides that amendments contained in this title refer to the Tariff Act of 1930. Subtitle B: General Provisions - Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to prohibit the importation of drug paraphernalia (except that drug paraphernalia imported for medical or scientific purposes) into the United States. Defines "drug paraphernalia." Requires the master of a vessel to report the arrival of such vessel at a U.S. port or port within the Virgin Islands to the nearest customs facility if the vessel is: (1) from a foreign port or place; (2) a foreign vessel from a domestic port; or (3) a U.S. vessel carrying bonded merchandise or foreign merchandise for which entry has not been made. Authorizes vehicles to arrive in the United States only at designated border crossing points. Requires the person in charge of such vehicle, immediately upon its arrival at the crossing point, to report the arrival and present the vehicle and all persons and merchandise on board for inspection to the customs officer at that crossing point. Requires the pilot of any aircraft arriving in the United States or the Virgin Islands from any foreign airport or place to comply with the advance notification, arrival reporting, and landing requirements as prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury (the Secretary). Prohibits a vessel or aircraft, after arriving in the United States or the Virgin Islands and prohibits a vehicle after arriving in the United States, from departing from the place of arrival or discharging any passenger or merchandise except in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary. Imposes penalties for violations of the arrival, reporting, and entry requirements. Increases the fine for unauthorized unloading of passengers. Requires individuals arriving in the United States other than by vessel, vehicle, or aircraft to: (1) enter only at a border crossing point; and (2) report their arrival and present themselves to the customs facility at that crossing point. Requires individuals arriving in the United States by reported conveyance to remain aboard the conveyance until authorized to depart and report to the customs facility by the appropriate customs officer. Requires individuals arriving in the United States by unreported conveyance to notify customs of their arrival and present their property for customs examination and inspection. Prohibits any person required to report to a customs facility under this paragraph from leaving that facility until authorized by a customs officer. Imposes penalties for violations of such reporting requirements. Repeals the current penalties for failure to report or file a manifest upon arrival in the United States. Authorizes the issuance of summonses to produce all relevent records in customs investigations. (Current law limits the types of records that are subject to summons.) Increases the penalties for filing a false manifest, failing to file a complete manifest, or carrying illegal drugs on board. Repeals the prepenalty procedures in such cases. Increases the penalties for unlawful unloading and transshipment. Makes it unlawful for the pilot of any aircraft to transport or for any individual on board any aircraft to possess merchandise knowing or intending that merchandise will be smuggled into the United States. Prohibits the transfer at sea of prohibited merchandise between a U.S. owned aircraft and a U.S. vessel. Prohibits a transfer at sea between aircraft and vessels, regardless of their nationality, with intent that such merchandise be smuggled into the United States. Imposes penalties, including seizure of the vessel or aircraft, for violations of such anti-smuggling provisions. Sets forth certain acts that, if engaged in within 250 miles of the U.S. territorial seas, shall be: (1) presumed to constitute circumstances indicating intent to smuggle; and (2) deemed prima facie evidence that an aircraft or vessel was used in aiding or facilitating such smuggling. Changes the procedures for seizure of conveyances used in smuggling. Requires the seizure, forfeiture and sale in accordance with the customs laws of any vessel, vehicle, or aircraft if the person in charge of such conveyance is subject to a penalty for violation of the customs laws. Exempts any conveyance used as a common carrier in the transaction of business as a common carrier from such seizure and forfeiture penalties for customs violations relating to merchandise contained on the person, in passenger baggage or cargo listed accurately on the cargo manifest unless the person in charge of the conveyance participated in, or had knowledge of, the violation or was grossly negligent in preventing or discovering the violation. Permits a common carrier conveyance to be seized and forfeited if the prohibited merchandise is found to have been: (1) in packages that are not manifested or in packages whose marks do not agree with the manifest; or (2) concealed in or on the conveyance but not in the cargo. Prohibits such seizure and forfeiture if none of the persons in charge of the conveyance nor any other employee responsible for maintaining and insuring the accuracy of the cargo manifest knew or by the exercise of the highest degree of care and diligence could have known that such merchandise was on board. Authorizes the issuance of search warrants of places suspected of containing: (1) any property which is subject to forfeiture under the customs laws; or (2) any article which is evidence of a customs violation. Authorizes the seizure and forfeiture of any smuggled merchandise. Requires that any deposits made in lieu of forfeiture of property seized under customs laws shall be treated in the same manner as the proceeds of sale of a forfeited item. Requires that the expenses of a forfeiture proceeding shall be a priority claim in the same manner as the court costs. Provides that compensation for informers shall not exceed 25 percent of the net amount recovered. (Current law requires such compensation to equal 25 percent of such amount.) Requires the compensation to be paid out of the net amount recovered before such net amount is deposited in the Treasury or the Customs Forfeiture Fund. Limits to $100,000 the amount to be awarded to any informer who discovers and reports to an appropriate official information concerning a violation or plan to violate any customs law or navigation law. Declares that an action to recover a pecuniary penalty is considered to have been commenced when the penalty notice is issued. Authorizes the Secretary to require the production of landing certificates in order to comply with international obligations. Permits the Secretary to authorize customs officials to exchange information or documents with foreign customs or law enforcement agencies under certain circumstances. Authorizes the Secretary, when authorized by treaty or executive agreement, to station customs officers in foreign countries in order to examine persons and merchandise before their arrival in the United States. Authorizes the customs officers stationed abroad to exercise such functions and perform such duties as permitted by the treaty, agreement, or law of the host country. Permits the Secretary to require compliance with U.S. customs laws in a foreign country (thereby causing the foreign station to be treated as a port of entry in the United States). Provides that merchandise seized at a foreign station may be transported to the United States for customs proceedings. Authorizes the stationing of foreign customs officers in the United States pursuant to a treaty. Provides certain protections for such foreign customs officials. Imposes penalties for making fraudulent statements to such foreign customs officials. Grants the Secretary certain investigatory powers in relation to: (1) certain reporting requirements on monetary instruments transactions; or (2) the enforcement of the Bank Secrecy Act. Authorizes the Commissioner of Customs to establish and conduct commercial entities as commercial covers to support customs investigations. Sets forth provisions governing the nature of such commercial covers, the treatment of funds used to conduct such commercial covers, and the termination of the commercial covers. Subtitle C: Customs Forfeiture Fund - Extends the authority of the Customs Forfeiture Fund through FY 1991. Authorizes using the Fund to pay: (1) the expenses of investigations related to customs seizures; (2) for equipping for law enforcement functions of any (currently only forfeited) vessel, vehicle, or aircraft available for official use by the Customs Service; and (3) for reimbursing private citizens for the expenses incurred in cooperating with the Customs Service in investigations and undercover law enforcement operations; and (4) publicizing the availability of awards for persons who provide information about customs violations. Limits the amount authorized to be appropriated from the Fund for each fiscal year to $20,000,000. Requires any amount in the Fund in excess of $20,000,000 at the end of each of FY 1987, 1988, 1989, and 1990 to be deposited in the Treasury. Requires any amount remaining in the Fund at the end of FY 1991 to be deposited in the Treasury. Terminates the Fund at the end of FY 1991. Title II: Customs Service Authorizations, Miscellaneous Customs Provisions, and Amendments to the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act - Subtitle A: Customs Service Authorizations - Amends the Customs Procedural Reform and Simplification Act of 1978 to authorize appropriations for FY 1987 for the Customs Services for salaries and expenses and for the air interdiction program. Prohibits any of the funds appropriated under such authorization from being used to close any port of entry at which, druing FY 1986: (1) not less than 2,500 merchandise entries were made; and (2) not less than $1,500,000 in customs revenues were assessed. Subtitle B: Miscellaneous Customs Amendments - Imposes certain reporting requirements on vessels (hovering vessels) that have received merchandise while in the customs waters beyond the territorial sea or while on the high seas. Requires all recreational vessels to comply with customs requirements for reporting arrival. Makes all passengers on such vessels subject to applicable customs regulations. Authorizes customs officers who need assistance in making a lawful arrest, search, or seizure and who identify themselves as customs officers to demand the assistance of any person. Imposes a fine for failure to render such assistance without reasonable excuse. Subtitle C: Amendments to the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act - Amends the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act to prohibit any U.S. citizen on board an aircraft or any person on board a U.S. aircraft to manufacture or distribute or possess with intent to manufacture or distribute a controlled substance. Amends the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act to penalize persons who import or export specified amounts (qualifying such persons as major traffickers) of heroin, cocaine, other narcotic drugs, cocaine freebase, controlled substance analogue, PCP, or LSD by imprisonment for not less than ten nor more than 30 years, a fine of not more than $2,0000,000, or both (a fine of not more than $5,000,000 for offenders other than individuals). Makes repeat offenders subject to imprisonment for 20 years to life, a fine of not more than $4,000,000 or both (a fine of not more than $10,000,000 for offenders other than individuals). Makes persons who import or export specified amounts (qualifying such persons as serious traffickers) of heroin, cocaine, other narcotic drugs, cocaine freebase, controlled substance analogue, PCP, or LSD subject to imprisonment for not less than five and not more than 20 years, a fine of not more than $2,000,000 or both (a fine of $5,000,000 for offenders other than individuals). Makes repeat offenders subject to imprisonment for ten to 40 years, a fine of not more than $4,000,000 or both (a fine of not more than $10,000,000 for offenders other than individuals). Prohibits suspension of sentence, probation, or parole for persons convicted of such offenses. Imposes a special parole term of at least four years in addition to the term of imprisonment for first offenders (at least eight years for repeat offenders). Increases the fine for importing or exporting controlled substances in schedule I or II to $500,000 ($2,000,000 for offenders other than individuals). Increases the fine for importing or exporting specified quantities of marihuana, hashish, hashish oil, or controlled substances in schedule III, IV or V to $250,000 ($1,000,000 for offenders other than individuals). Increases the fine for intentional transshipment and in-transit shipment of controlled substances to $100,000 ($500,000 for offenders other than individuals). Imposes a mandatory prison term of 20 years to life for persons convicted of certain drug offenses involving the exportation or importation of drugs resulting in death or serious bodily injury. Title III: Denial of Trade Benefits to Uncooperative Drug Source Nations - Narcotics Control Trade Act - Directs the President to make an annual determination of whether any foreign country: (1) is a source of drugs and other controlled substances that is significantly affecting the United States; and (2) has not cooperated with the United States in preventing such drugs and substances from significantly affecting the United States. Sets forth factors to be considered in making such determination. Requires the President to submit to the Congress an annual list, based on such determination, of countries that are uncooperative drug source nations. Denies to uncooperative drug source nations preferential tariff treatment. Imposes additional duties on all dutiable products of such country or on all duty-free products of such country or on all duty-free products of such country. Permits the imposition of any combination of the penalties listed in this paragraph. Requires the President to include in the annual report to the Congress on foreign aid programs a report on the progress each major drug source nation has made in achieving specified objectives limiting the narcotics trade. Terminates the penalties against a country designated as an uncooperative drug source nation if the President considers that such country has made significant progress and will continue to make progress in changing its narcotics control programs.
United States · United States Congress · 13 August 1986
Amends the Tariff Schedules of the United States to suspend, through December 31, 1989, the duty on certain mixtures of cross-linked sodium polyacrylate polymers.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 1986
Designates the 1987 United States Capitol Historical Society "We The People" calendar as the congressional calendar for the Bicentennial of the United States Constitution.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 1986
Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Reaffirmation Act of 1986 - 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 Director to issue to the President and the Congress: (1) by September 1 preceding the fiscal year, an initial sequestration report based on the initial GAO report, providing the same items of information and explaining any differences in such reports; and (2) by October 15, a revised version as necessary in light of the revised GAO 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.
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 1986
Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to remove the authority for certain Members of Congress to use excess campaign funds for personal purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 1986
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income any expense reimbursement allowances received by a State police officer. Limits the amount of such exclusion to a maximum of six dollars per day. Defines "expense reimbursement allowance" to mean any statutory allowance (or allowance negotiated in accordance with State law) to reimburse a State police officer for specified expenses incurred in connection with the performance of his duties (including the cost of meals purchased while on duty). Prohibits the deduction for expenses for which the taxpayer has received such allowance.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 1986
Amends the Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 to require that excess cheese held by the Commodity Credit Corporation be made available, at the request of the chief executive officer of a State, upon a showing of need, and without charge, for distribution by eligible agencies in the State.