United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1992
Establishes the Commission on Environment and Development. Requires the Commission to: (1) monitor the actions of the signatories to documents of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) that reflect compliance with or violations of the goals of the Articles of Agenda 21 of UNCED, the Statement of Principles on the Maintenance, Conservation, and Development of All Forests, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the Convention on Biological Diversity; and (2) monitor and encourage the development of U.S. Government and private programs with a view toward advancing the objectives of UNCED. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1992
Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to give rental assistance priority to persons who are unable to return to their homes upon discharge from a hospital or nursing home because of physical or mental impairment.
United States · United States Congress · 16 June 1992
Honest Balanced Budget Act - Repeals provisions of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) with respect to: (1) emergency powers to eliminate deficits in excess of the maximum deficit amount; (2) budgetary treatment of social security trust funds; and (3) miscellaneous and related provisions. Prohibits, for FY 1994 and each fiscal year thereafter, the outlays of the operating segment of the United States budget from exceeding receipts. Requires, when such outlays exceed receipts, that the deficit be eliminated through revenue increases or spending reductions. Authorizes the waiver of such provisions in the case of war, recession, or natural disaster if the President requests such waiver and the Congress approves by a vote of three-fifths of the membership in both Houses. Requires that operating segment deficit spending subject to a waiver be paid for in full in the budget of the following fiscal year. Requires the budget, excluding trust funds, to be balanced by FY 1998 and each fiscal year thereafter. Requires the President and the Congress: (1) beginning in FY 1995 to develop and implement a plan to so balance the budget; and (2) after balancing the budget to pay down the debt to a reasonable level over a set period of time in order to reduce annual interest costs. Allows a waiver of such budget plan in the case of war, recession, or natural disaster if the President requests such waiver and the Congress approves by a vote of three-fifths of the membership in both Houses. Requires deficit spending subject to such waiver to be paid for in full in the budget of the following fiscal year. Requires the restoration of the statutory debt level within 24 months after the date of such waiver or suspension. Prohibits the Senate or the House of Representatives from considering any bill, resolution, amendment, or conference report that would: (1) cause outlays to exceed receipts; (2) change any provision of this Act; or (3) increase the statutory debt limit after December 31, 1998. Allows a waiver or suspension of such prohibitions in the Senate or the House only by an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members. Requires the President to submit a budget for FY 1994 to comply with the requirements of this Act. Requires the Congress to return a budget not in compliance to the President with a letter of reprimand and a request for a new budget. Declares it to be the policy of the United States that: (1) not later than December 31, 1993, the Congress amend the Internal Revenue Code to establish a special interest and debt retirement account dedicated to the reduction of interest and the public debt, to be activated by the President if necessary; (2) any revenues collected for interest and debt retirement be especially titled so that citizens may be aware of their purpose; (3) any revenues collected for interest and debt retirement be deposited in a separate trust fund account; (4) the trust fund be used only for the reduction of interest and the retirement of the public debt; (5) the Secretary of the Treasury administer such account with the advice of a bipartisan board; and (6) any special dedicated interest and debt retirement tax expire upon the elimination of the public debt to a specified target level.
United States · United States Congress · 16 June 1992
Designates August 1, 1992, as Helsinki Human Rights Day. Authorizes and requests the President to: (1) reassert American commitment to the Helsinki Accords; (2) raise the issue of noncompliance with such Accords with any signatory nation which may be in violation; (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; and (4) develop new proposals to advance the human rights objectives of the Helsinki process.
United States · United States Congress · 15 June 1992
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to provide that a monthly benefit shall be paid to the recipient's surviving spouse for the month in which the recipient dies, subject to a reduction of 50 percent in the last monthly payment if the recipient dies during the first 15 days of such month.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1992
Deposit Insurance Disclosure Act of 1992 - Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the Federal Credit Union Act to require insured depository institutions to include a notice regarding the $100,000 limitation on deposit insurance coverage in periodic account statements provided to accountholders.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1992
Turbo Enterprise Zone Act - Provides for the waiver of Federal income, employment, self-employment, and excise taxes and State, county, and local jurisdiction taxes on qualified residents and qualified businesses in Los Angeles turbo enterprise zones during a five-year period. Describes such zones as any area in the County of Los Angeles designated as being: (1) significantly and adversely affected by the rioting which occurred on or about May 1, 1992; (2) afflicted with unemployment estimated to exceed 30 percent; (3) subject to severe economic blight as measured by per capita income and the number of persons below the Federal poverty level; and (4) nonproductive of material tax revenues to the city, county, State, or Federal governments. Provides for an extension of such period if necessary. Limits any extension to six years. Expresses the sense of the Congress that California, the County of Los Angeles, and local governments within the County having jurisdiction over areas significantly and adversely affected by unemployment, gang violence, riots, and looting should take immediate steps to eliminate all taxes on qualified residents and qualified businesses for such five-year period. Authorizes other geographic areas to apply for such five-year waiver. Suspends the treatment of any deduction, credit, or capital loss carryover during such period. Allows a turbo enterprise zone employment credit equal to the applicable percentage of qualified first-year wages to a qualified productive business that: (1) is engaged in the manufacture or production of any tangible personal property in a turbo enterprise zone for use outside such a zone; or (2) is providing services performed outside such a zone by a qualified residents. Limits such credit to $1,000 for the first-year wages paid to an employee. Makes such credit applicable to qualified residents of a turbo enterprise zone who are hired during the five-year period. Make such credit a part of the general business credit.
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 1992
International Refugee Protection Act of 1992 - States that: (1) the Congress affirms that U.S. obligations under certain international refugee agreements have applied to U.S. actions with respect to persons outside U.S. territorial boundaries; and (2) the United States shall refrain from the involuntary return of refugees to their home country from boundaries outside the United States or from the territorial waters of such home country, with specified exceptions.
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 1992
Declares that the Congress acknowledges and appreciates the commitment, devotion, and sacrifices of present and former military families. Designates November 23, 1992, as National Military Families Recognition Day.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 1992
Cuban Democracy Act of 1992 - Sets forth U.S. policy with respect to Cuba. Declares that the President should encourage countries that conduct trade with Cuba to restrict their trade and credit regulations with Cuba in a manner consistent with this Act. Authorizes the President to impose the following sanctions against countries that provide assistance to Cuba: (1) ineligibility for assistance under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 or the Arms Export Control Act; (2) a prohibition on agreements with the United States for the establishment of free trade areas; and (3) ineligibility for forgiveness or reduction of debt owed to the U.S. Government. Terminates such sanctions if the President reports to the Congress that Cuba has met conditions established under this Act concerning democracy, human rights, and a free market economy. Prohibits restrictions on the export to Cuba of medicines, subject to specified conditions and inspection requirements. Permits telecommunications services between the United States and Cuba. Requires the U.S. Postal Service to provide direct mail service to and from Cuba. Authorizes the President to provide assistance to promote nonviolent democratic change in Cuba. Prohibits the issuance of licenses for certain transactions between U.S.-controlled firms in third countries and Cuba. Bars domestic concerns from receiving a tax deduction for the portion of the deductible expenses of such concerns which are allocated or apportioned to income derived from Cuba. Prohibits vessels which enter Cuba to engage in trade from loading or unloading any freight in the United States within 180 days after departure from Cuba. Prohibits: (1) vessels carrying goods or passengers to or from Cuba or carrying goods in which a Cuban national has an interest from entering a U.S. port, except as authorized by the Secretary of the Treasury; and (2) specified commodities authorized to be exported under a general license from being exported under such a license to any such vessels. Directs the President to establish strict limits on remittances to Cuba by U.S. persons for purposes of financing the travel of Cubans to the United States to assure that such remittances are not used by the Cuban Government as a means of gaining access to U.S. currency. Declares that food, medicine, and medical supplies for humanitarian purposes should be made available to Cuba under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 if the President certifies to the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that the Government of Cuba: (1) has made a commitment to hold free and fair elections for a new government within six months and is proceeding to implement that decision; (2) has made a commitment to respect and is respecting human rights and basic democratic freedoms; and (3) is not providing weapons or funds to any group in any other country that seeks the violent overthrow of the government of such country. Waives sanctions against Cuba under this Act if the President reports to the Congress that Cuba: (1) has held free and fair elections conducted under internationally recognized observers; (2) has permitted opposition parties ample time to campaign for such elections and has permitted full access to the media to all candidates; (3) is showing respect for basic civil liberties and human rights; (4) is moving toward establishing a free market economic system; and (5) has committed itself to constitutional change that would ensure regular free and fair elections. Requires the President, if he makes such report, to take the following actions with respect to a freely-elected Cuban Government: (1) encourage the admission of such government to international organizations and financial institutions; (2) provide emergency relief during Cuba's transition to a viable economic system; (3) take steps to end the U.S. trade embargo of Cuba; and (4) enter into negotiations for a trade agreement with Cuba. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to exercise the authorities of the Trading With the Enemy Act in enforcing this Act. Authorizes appropriations. Amends the Trading With the Enemy Act to authorize the Secretary to impose a civil penalty on violators of such Act. Provides for forfeiture of any property or vessel that is the subject of a violation. Requires the Department of the Treasury to establish a branch of the Office of Foreign Assets Control in Miami, Florida.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 1992
Environmental Justice Act of 1992 - Title I: Identification of Environmental High Impact Areas - Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to publish a list, in rank order, of the total weight of toxic chemicals present in each county in the most recent five-year period for which data are available. Designates the 100 counties with the highest total weight as Environmental High Impact Areas. Requires the Administrator to: (1) publish the methods to be used to calculate the total weight of toxic chemicals in waste, process, or other materials for public comment; and (2) revise and republish the list at least every five years. Title II: Enforcement Initiatives - Directs the Administrator and the Assistant Secretary of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to conduct compliance inspections or reviews of all toxic chemical facilities in such Areas at least every two years. Title III: Community Participation - Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make a grant to individuals who may be affected by a release from any toxic chemical facility in an Environmental High Impact Area. Requires grants to be: (1) designed to facilitate access by representatives of such Areas to the public participation provisions of this and other Acts; and (2) used to obtain technical assistance relating to inspections, reviews, and studies. Limits the amount of grants and sets forth cost-sharing requirements. Directs the Administrator to establish a system of user fees or assessments on toxic chemical facilities in such Areas to substitute for appropriations as the funding mechanism for the grant program. Title IV: Identification and Prevention of Health Impacts - Requires the Secretary to issue for public comment a report identifying the nature and extent of acute and chronic impacts on human health in such Areas as compared to other counties. Requires the President, if the report identifies significant adverse impacts of environmental pollution on human health in such Areas as a group, to report proposed legislation to the Congress to remedy and prevent such impacts. Includes within such legislation: (1) expansion of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act of 1986 to include additional facilities or chemicals or reduced quantities of chemicals triggering reporting obligations; (2) a means to redress regulatory loopholes (such as wastes exempt from or subject to lessened regulatory requirements); and (3) taxes on emissions or restrictions on releases within such Areas to induce source reduction. Establishes a moratorium on the siting or permitting of any toxic chemical facility in such Areas that may emit toxic chemicals in quantities that cause adverse health impacts if the report identifies adverse health impacts of environmental pollution. Authorizes the siting or permitting of such a facility during this period only if: (1) the need for the activity is demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Secretary; and (2) the facility demonstrates that it will minimize uncontrolled releases into the environment. Continues the moratorium until certain health-based levels have been attained in the Area.
United States · United States Congress · 3 June 1992
United States - China Act of 1992 - Prohibits the President from recommending for a 12-month period in 1993 continuation of a waiver of human rights and emigration requirements for nondiscriminatory treatment (most-favored-nation treatment) for China under the Trade Act of 1974 unless a specified report is submitted to the Congress stating that China has accounted for and released prisoners who dissented in Tiananmen Square and in other parts of China on June 3 and 4, 1989, and made progress in: (1) preventing gross violations of internationally recognized human rights, including workers' rights, in China and Tibet; (2) preventing exports of products made by prison labor, and allowing U.S. officials and international organizations to inspect such places of detention; (3) terminating religious persecution in China and Tibet and releasing religious leaders incarcerated as a result of the expression of their religious beliefs; (4) removing restrictions in China and Tibet on freedom of the press and on broadcasts by the Voice of America; (5) terminating harassment of Chinese citizens in the United States (including refusal to return or renew passports as retribution for prodemocracy activities); (6) ensuring access to prisoners of international human rights monitoring groups; (7) ensuring freedom from torture and in humane prison conditions; (8) terminating prohibitions on peaceful assembly imposed after June 3, 1989; (9) committing to engage in high-level discussions on human rights issues; (10) adhering to the Joint Declaration on Hong Kong; (11) providing adequate protection of U.S. patents, copyrights, and other intellectual property rights, and implementing the Memorandum of Understanding Between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the United States of America on the Protection of Intellectual Property; (12) providing U.S. exporters access to Chinese markets, including lowering tariffs, removing nontariff barriers, and increasing the purchase of U.S. goods and services; (13) ceasing unfair trade practices which burden or restrict U.S. Commerce; (14) adopting a national policy which adheres to the Missile Technology Control Regime and the controls of the Nuclear Suppliers Group and the Australia Group on chemical and biological arms proliferation; and (15) assuring that it is not assisting any nonnuclear weapons state in acquiring nuclear explosive devices. Requires the President, if he recommends such extension, to include in a specified document submitted to the Congress a report on China's progress in meeting the above-mentioned objectives. Requires such report also to include, but not be limited to, progress made by China and Tibet with regard to specified human rights. Grants nondiscriminatory treatment to products of nonstate-owned enterprises in China.
United States · United States Congress · 3 June 1992
Defense Workers Economic Reinvestment Act - Title I: Economic Reinvestment Council - Establishes the Economic Reinvestment Council to: (1) administer the National Technology Infrastructure Goals Improvement and Consortia Creation program and the Fast Response State Technological Competitiveness Grant program, both established under this Act; and (2) be empowered to examine and approve or disapprove all other project and program selections made under this Act and funding decisions under this Act exceeding $500,000. Requires reviews of funding requests to be completed within 60 days. Directs the Council to advise the Secretary of Defense and the heads of other Federal agencies on the progress and success of the economic reinvestment programs established under this Act and under the Defense Economic Adjustment, Diversification, Conversion, and Stabilization Act of 1990 in alleviating the adverse economic and social effects of reductions in defense spending. Requires the Council to consult on a regular basis with Governors of States involved in reinvestment activities. Directs the Council: (1) upon receiving notification of the annual defense budget proposal of the Secretary, to commence a preliminary study of the potential adverse economic effects the proposal may have on qualified defense contractors and communities; and (2) to prepare and distribute an economic reinvestment progress report on an annual basis. Requires the latter report to be distributed to State governors, the heads of Federal departments and agencies, and any other interested persons. Authorizes appropriations. Title II: National Technology Infrastructure Goals Improvement and Consortia Creation - Directs the President, in order to exploit the potential of critical technologies that would benefit national infrastructure and create export opportunities, to develop and carry out a program to assist advanced technology projects. Includes the following areas within appropriate investments in advanced technology projects which are in the national interest: space exploration, transportation, environmental restoration, telecommunications, energy efficiency, health care, education, and ocean technology. Directs the Council to solicit, review, prioritize, and select advanced technology projects to benefit the national technology infrastructure. Requires the Council to prepare and disseminate guidelines for qualifying project proposals. Requires specified Federal department and agency heads to submit to the Council proposals for such projects. Allows other Federal departments and agencies to submit proposals. Provides that, once a project is selected, the Council shall review project plans and schedules, provide funds to the project through the Department of Defense (DOD), and oversee implementation of the project. Encourages joint ventures in such projects with combinations of industry, academic, and State and Federal Government partners. Authorizes appropriations to fund such project for FY 1993 through 1996. Directs the Council to coordinate and oversee the creation of one consortium matched to each project, focusing on the basic and applied research for such project. Requires at least 50 percent of the funding for a consortium to derive from non-Federal sources. Limits Federal funding for a consortium to $5,000,000 annually for a period of four years. Requires small business to receive a minimum of 20 percent of the consortium research funding. Requires the Council to solicit and evaluate other proposals for critical technology consortia and to select at least three proposals annually. Places identical limits on the length and amounts of Federal funding for such consortia. Requires activities conducted by such a consortium to include a significant defense component. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1993 through 1996. Directs the Secretary to reexamine existing procurement contracts to determine whether overly restrictive specifications on systems, supplies, and services that are also available commercially have been made. Directs the Secretary, for contracts exceeding $100,000 where DOD specifications preclude the purchase of commercial sector products, to justify the necessity for developing a different specification and the unsuitability of commercial specifications. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress detailing such justifications for each contract. Requires each defense contract solicitation to include provisions which encourage the use of commercially available systems, supplies, and services. Title III: Relieving Labor Shortages in Selected Civilian Applications - Directs the Secretary to establish an Office of Training Oversight and Administration to coordinate and oversee retraining, placement, and other transition assistance activities for full-time employees of at least three years of a qualified defense contractor (a contractor deriving 30 percent of its annual income from, or using 30 percent of its work force on, defense contracts) who: (1) are directly involved with a DOD funded project which is canceled or which receives at least a 25 percent reduction in Federal funds; and (2) are terminated or likely to be terminated within one year as the result of such cancellation or reduction. Directs the Office to disseminate information concerning such retraining and placement assistance to all qualified contractors and eligible DOD employees. Directs the Office to maintain statistics on the effectiveness of the transition assistance program in order to aid the Council in required activities. Authorizes the Office, in cooperation with other Federal agencies, to enter into agreements for the provision to eligible DOD employees of such transition assistance in skills identified to be in short supply in the area in which the retraining program operates. Authorizes the Office to award one- and two-year scholarships to educational institutions, giving a priority in such scholarships to eligible employees who seek vocational training and for scholarships in certain critical occupations as determined by the Office. Limits the Federal contribution to a training program to 50 percent of its costs. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1993 through 1995. Requires a qualified defense contractor to make a good faith effort to identify as early as possible employees who meet the eligibility requirements of the program, to advise them on options, and to allow them to participate in retraining and other transition assistance programs. Allows certain employees previously terminated under similar conditions within one year before the enactment of this Act to be eligible for such program. Title IV: Commercialization Opportunities - Directs the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary, for purposes of this title) to establish a program to assist U.S. businesses in creating and applying the generic technology and research results necessary to commercialize significant new discoveries and technologies. Requires the program selection board to be modeled after the Advanced Technology Program of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Directs the Secretary to inform the Council of the status of funded projects and on new selections for the Council's approval as required under title I. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with U.S. businesses for commercialization projects to demonstrate the feasibility of a particular technology or process up to the prototype stage, limiting the Federal funds to 33 percent of the project's costs, and limiting a single project to $1,000,000. Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary for FY 993 through 1996. Authorizes the Secretary to make loans to U.S. businesses of up to $3,000,000 for any one commercialization project. Prohibits more than three loans from being made to any single company or joint venture. Provides loan conditions and criteria. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1993. Directs the Secretary of Defense to: (1) encourage the creation of industrial parks or technology incubator centers to transfer and spin off technology from qualified defense contractors to small businesses; (2) use royalties earned from the licensing of certain patents to assist local technology transfer activities; and (3) create and administer an awards program (modeled after an awards program under the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980) to foster and encourage innovation and redirection efforts by qualified defense contractors in the area of commercialization. Title V: Fast Response State Technological Competitiveness Grants - States as the purpose of this title to provide Federal assistance directly to States for defense reinvestment programs. Directs the Secretary to allocate amounts authorized for appropriation under this title under a specified funding formula as technological competitiveness grants to States whose defense reinvestment programs meet certain requirements. Directs the Council to develop and disseminate guidelines on State eligibility for such grants. Requires a State, prior to receiving such a grant, to provide the Council information about its defense reinvestment program. Directs each State to report annually to the Council on progress under its reinvestment program, as well as any other data analysis required by the Council for its duties. Directs the Secretary to withhold grant funds from a State if the Council concludes that such State's reinvestment program or its progress is unsatisfactory relative to the published guidelines. Allows a 90-day appeal period during which the State shall be permitted to submit a revised program for Council review. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1993 through 1995 for such grants.
United States · United States Congress · 3 June 1992
Bankruptcy Amendments of 1992 - Amends Federal bankruptcy law to raise to $1 million the ceiling on debts for eligibility to file as a chapter 13 debtor (bankrupt consumer repayment of debt under court supervision). (Currently the ceiling is $100,000 for unsecured debts, or $350,000 for certain secured debts.) Modifies the guidelines for: (1) chapter 13 bankruptcies; (2) automatic stays; (3) exemptions; (4) discharges; and (5) preferences. Directs the Administrative Office of the United States Courts to compile and make available to the public statistical information regarding bankruptcy cases.
United States · United States Congress · 2 June 1992
Removes the annual and total limits on the number of Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) units that may be maintained at public and private secondary educational institutions. Includes, as a condition to establishing a JROTC unit at such institution, that the institution agrees to such establishment and maintenance for no less than five academic years.
United States · United States Congress · 28 May 1992
Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to exclude construction and fire equipment from the definition of "excess defense articles" for purposes of restricting the transfer of such equipment to foreign countries.
United States · United States Congress · 28 May 1992
Animal Medicinal Drug Use Clarification Act of 1992 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to allow, on order of a veterinarian: (1) a new animal drug approved for one use to be used for a different purpose, provided the use does not result in residues in food in violation of established safe levels for the drug; and (2) a new drug approved for human use to be used in non-food producing animals.
United States · United States Congress · 28 May 1992
Prohibits, unless a certification under this Act is in effect: (1) U.S. economic assistance to the Government of Russia; and (2) the U.S. Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) from consenting to an increase in the U.S. quota in the IMF. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury, unless such certification is in effect, to instruct the U.S. Executive Directors of the IMF and other international financial institution to oppose any loan to the Government of Russia. Describes such certification as a certification by the President to the Congress that: (1) progress has been achieved toward removal of Russian armed forces from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania; (2) additional Russian armed forces have not been brought into such countries for any purpose without their permission; (3) artillery exercises or training operations are not being conducted by Russian armed forces on the territory of such countries without their permission; (4) Russian military installations in such countries are open to inspection by the governments of such countries; (5) Russian air and naval forces are not interfering with traffic in the air space or territorial waters of such countries; and (6) the Russian Government is keeping such governments informed regarding the number and location of Russian armed forces in such countries. Makes such certifications effective for six months and authorizes the President to make recertifications for additional six-month periods. Terminates the restrictions under this Act if the President certifies that all Russian armed forces have been withdrawn from such countries.
United States · United States Congress · 28 May 1992
Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a pilot program at the Philadelphia Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the Tucson Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Tucson, Arizona, to demonstrate the feasibility of installing telephones for use by patients in Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress on an evaluation of such pilot program.
United States · United States Congress · 28 May 1992
Every Fifth Child Appropriations Act - Appropriates funds to carry out the special supplemental food program for women, infants, and children (WIC program) authorized in specified provisions of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966. Declares that, in order to achieve full funding for the program, there should be specified amounts appropriated in certain fiscal years. Appropriates funds to carry out the Head Start programs authorized in specified provisions of the Head Start Act. Declares that, in order to achieve full funding for the programs, there should be specified amounts appropriated in certain fiscal years. Appropriates funds to carry out the Job Corps program authorized in specified provisions of the Job Training Partnership Act. Declares that, in order to establish a minimum number of additional centers, serve a minimum additional number of youths, and achieve full funding for the program, there should be specified amounts appropriated in certain fiscal years.
United States · United States Congress · 28 May 1992
Constitutional Amendment - Requires the President, prior to each fiscal year, to propose to the Congress a budget in which total expenditures do not exceed total receipts, unless that budget is accompanied by a Presidential Declaration of National Urgency. Prohibits the Congress from approving total expenditures in excess of total receipts unless it has approved by majority rollcall vote in each House a Presidential Declaration of National Urgency. Prohibits the Congress from approving a budget which is estimated to result in a higher amount of total expenditures than those recommended by the President. Declares that total expenditures do not include debt redemption and disbursements of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund, or any successor funds. Declares that total receipts do not include net borrowing and receipts of such trust funds or successor funds.
United States · United States Congress · 27 May 1992
Title I: Targeting Habitual Repeat and Violent Criminal Offenders - Subtitle A: Expanding the Capacity of State Correctional Facilities - Authorizes the Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance (the Director) to make grants to States to construct additional correctional facilities for the purpose of increasing prison capacity to make habitual and violent criminal offenders serve the full term of their sentences. Specifies that such construction should aim to provide sufficient capacity to incarcerate such offenders who exhibit a high risk for continued or violent criminal activity for such terms, including individuals: (1) with three or more arrests by age 18; (2) with a history of violent criminal offenses; and (3) exhibiting a pattern of crimes of premeditation and deliberation for whom a prison stay may have a significant deterrent value. Sets forth application requirements. Directs that each State application include a comprehensive plan containing: (1) a description of the correctional facility needs in the State, including relevant supporting data; (2) a description of the resources available to build additional correctional facility capacity, together with an account of the expenses involved that cannot be met with existing resources at the State and local levels; (3) an explanation of how the State will be able to sustain the increased operation and maintenance costs of expanded correctional facility capacity without Federal assistance in the long term; and (4) an evaluation component, including quantifiable data, that measures progress toward meeting the prison capacity goals under this subtitle. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) fund allocation; (2) grant renewal and limitations; and (3) grant approval and disapproval procedures. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle B: Major Offenders Programs - Authorizes the Director to make grants to States, for use by the States and units of local government, for purposes of developing and increasing the capacity and the effectiveness of major offenders programs that prioritize the arrest and prosecution of habitual and violent criminal offenders. Specifies that such programs shall include: (1) establishment or expansion of specialized major offender units in law enforcement and criminal prosecutor offices to identify, monitor, arrest, and prosecute major offenders; (2) establishment or expansion of a State crime information center computer database to include the complete arrest histories of major offenders and other relevant information for use by law enforcement officers and criminal prosecutors; and (3) create programs and pilot programs that foster cooperation between law enforcement and criminal prosecution offices in arresting and prosecuting major offenders. Sets forth application requirements. Directs that each State application include a comprehensive plan containing: (1) a description, with supporting data, of the crime problems attributable to major offenders that improved law enforcement and prosecution programs may be able to decrease; (2) a description of the resources available to implement or expand major offenders programs; and (3) an evaluation component. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) local applications; (2) fund allocation; (3) grant renewal and limitations; and (4) grant approval and disapproval procedures. Authorizes appropriations. Title II: Reducing Criminal Recidivism - Subtitle A: Alternative Sentencing Program Grants: Targeting Nonviolent and Nonrepeat Criminal Offenders - Authorizes the Director to make grants to States, for use by States and units of local government, to develop and increase the capacity and the effectiveness of alternative programs that target the reform of nonviolent and nonrepeat criminal offenders. Directs that alternative methods ensure the certainty of punishment for such offenders who, in the assessment of the State and local courts, can be punished more effectively in an environment other than a traditional correctional facility, including: (1) correctional options, such as community-based incarceration, weekend incarceration, and electronic monitoring of offenders; (2) community service programs that provide work service placement for young offenders; and (3) innovative methods and pilot projects that address the problems of young offenders convicted of serious substance abuse and gang-related offenses, including technical assistance and training to counsel and treat such offenders. Sets forth application requirements. Directs each State application to include a comprehensive plan containing: (1) a description of the alternative programs needed to combat recividism and reduce prison overcrowing, as well as an assessment of the expected decrease in area crime problems due to the availability of alternative sentences, including relevant supporting data; (2) a description of the resources available to implement such programs; and (3) an evaluation component. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) fund allocation; (2) grant renewal and limitations; and (3) grant approval and disapproval procedures. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle B: Parole System Fortification - Authorizes the Director to make grants to States, for use by States and units of local government, to increase the capacity and effectiveness of parolee monitoring and drug testing. Specifies that grant applications should ensure the improved effectiveness of supervisory release programs in reducing recidivism, including programs that: (1) increase the number of parole officers, reducing the ratio of officers to parolees; (2) establishing or expanding a parolee release and information computer network; (3) establishing or expanding drug treatment, rehabilitation, and testing programs for parolees with a history of drug abuse and serious criminal activity; and (4) innovative methods or pilot projects that use parole officers as agents in the prevention of parolee recidivism and that increase cooperation between police and parole officers. Sets forth application requirements. Directs each State application to include a comprehensive plan containing: (1) a description of the parole system needs, and local crime problems attributable to the release of parolees, including relevant supporting data; (2) a description of the resources available to address parolee needs; and (3) an evaluation component. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) local applications; (2) fund allocation; (3) grant renewal and limitations; and (4) grant approval and disapproval procedures. Authorizes appropriations. Title III: Ending the Double Victimization of Society - Subtitle A: Denial of Federal Benefits - Makes any individual who is convicted of three Federal or State felony offenses ineligible for any Federal benefits. Requires: (1) State and Federal courts to send information, as determined necessary by the Director of the Office of Justice Assistance, regarding the conviction of third-time felons to such Office in a timely manner; (2) such Office to maintain a computer listing of individuals convicted of a third Federal or State felony offense and update such list in a timely manner; (3) such Office to transfer the names of such individuals to the General Services Administration for inclusion in the publication "Lists of Parties Excluded from Federal Procurement or Nonprocurement Programs"; and (4) representatives of a Government agency that is responsible for the distribution of a Federal benefit to consult such publication before granting such benefit. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle B: Prison Work Programs - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to require a State, in order to avoid a reduction of available funds by 25 percent (for redistribution to other participating States), to implement or continue a prison workfare program that requires an inmate who is physically able (as determined by the State Director of Corrections) to work a portion of each day. Title IV: Community Policing Programs - Subtitle A: Community Policing - Authorizes the Director to make grants to States, for use by States and community groups, to develop or expand community policing and crime prevention programs. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) State and local application requirements; and (2) grant renewal and limitations. Permits community group grant recipients to use such funds for the recruitment of new members, administrative expenses, equipment acquisitions, and community education programs. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle B: Trust Fund for Community Policing - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a tax, equal to 100 percent of the price for which sold, on taxable smoking paraphernalia manufactured in or imported into the United States. Increases the tax on cigarette papers. Establishes in the U.S. Treasury the Drug Prevention Trust Fund. Transfers to such Fund amounts equivalent to the net revenues received in the Treasury from such taxes. Specifies that amounts in the Fund shall be available, as provided in appropriation Acts, only for purposes of making expenditures to carry out the community policing program coordinated by the Director.
United States · United States Congress · 27 May 1992
States it shall be U.S. policy that: (1) President Aristide should be reinstated as President of Haiti; (2) the United States will coordinate with the Organization of American States to implement the Haitian trade embargo; and (3) humanitarian assistance to Haitians will be extended and their forced repatriation will cease. Provides for temporary protected status for certain Haitian nationals. Directs the President to: (1) notify Haiti of U.S. intentions to terminate the migrant interdiction agreement between the two countries; and (2) expand processing facilities for Haitians seeking U.S. protection. Excludes from U.S. entry certain Haitians who directly or indirectly assisted the overthrow of President Aristide or who participated in terrorist acts against the Haitian people.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1992
Withdraws most favored nation status from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Authorizes the President to restore such status after he certifies to the Congress that: (1) such treatment would promote compliance with the provisions of the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe; and (2) Yugoslavia has ceased its armed conflict with the other ethnic peoples of the region, and has agreed to respect the borders of the six republics, that formerly comprised the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1992
Designates February 21 through 27, 1993, as American Wine Appreciation Week. Commends the winegrape and fruit growers and vintners of the United States for the production of high quality agricultural products.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1992
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should: (1) suspend all assistance and cooperative programs with Serbia and Montenegro and prevent them from gaining access to benefits and assets available to the other newly independent states of the former Yugoslavia (independent states); (2) urge the European Community (EC), other members of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE), and the United Nations to take immediate action to impose more comprehensive sanctions against Serbia and Montenegro, such as an oil embargo; (3) urge international financial institutions to cease negotiations with Serbia and Montenegro, and urge the EC, CSCE, and other members of the United Nations to freeze credit lines to Serbia and Montenegro; (4) take no action to recognize Serbia and Montenegro until they meet EC criteria for recognition and until Serbia ceases aggression against Bosnia-Hercegovina, withdraws military forces from Bosnia, and agrees to respect the territorial integrity of all the newly independent states; (5) press for full suspension of the Yugoslav seat from the CSCE and other international bodies; (6) promote efforts to establish a security zone around Sarajevo to ensure the delivery of humanitarian assistance; (7) insist that Serbia restore the autonomy of Kosovo and Vojvodina; and (8) encourage each of the newly independent states to respect the CSCE principles guiding relations between states.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 1992
Amends the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 to create Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award categories for: (1) units of Federal, State, or local government; and (2) nonprofit organizations.
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 1992
Amends the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 to create a Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award category for educational institutions. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to report to the Congress regarding award and application criteria for such category.
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 1992
Entitles Federal employees to: (1) family leave in certain cases involving a birth, an adoption, or an employee's parent's or child's serious health condition; and (2) temporary medical leave in certain cases involving a serious health condition of the employee. Provides protection for an employee's employment and health benefit rights. Limits such leave to leave without pay.
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 1992
Establishes in the Treasury the Alcohol-Related Traffic Laws Enforcement Fund. Makes amounts in the Fund available, as provided in appropriations Acts, to the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for making loans to units of local government. Specifies that such loans: (1) may only be used for acquiring and maintaining equipment (including breath testing devices and video surveillance cameras) for use in the enforcement of alcohol-related traffic laws and for training personnel of such units in the use of such equipment; and (2) shall be subject to specified terms and conditions. Requires all such equipment to be approved by the Administrator and the Governor of the State of which the unit is a part before being acquired. Sets forth provisions with respect to transfers to and management of the Fund. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 1992
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to include employment of certain economically disadvantaged elderly individuals who have attained age 65 as eligible for the targeted jobs tax credit. Makes such tax credit permanent.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 1992
Civil War Battlefield Commemorative Coin Act of 1992 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to issue a specified number of five-dollar gold coins, one-dollar silver coins, and half-dollar clad coins to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Civil War battlefield preservation. Sets forth certain features of such coins and provides for their design, issuance, and sale. Requires that all sales include a surcharge of $35 per coin for the five-dollar coins, $7 per coin for the one-dollar coins, and $1 per coin for the half-dollar coins. Requires that all surcharges be paid to the Civil War Battlefield Foundation for the preservation of historically significant Civil War battlefields.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 1992
Trade Expansion Act of 1992 - Title I: Market Access Provisions - Subtitle A: Enforcement of United States Rights Under Trade Agreements and Response to Certain Foreign Trade Practices - Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to extend through calendar year 1997 the requirement that the United States Trade Representative (USTR) identify U.S. trade liberalization priorities. Expresses the sense of the Congress that foreign countries that have substantial trade surpluses with the United States, and maintain acts, policies, or practices that are major barriers to, or distortions of, potential U.S. export trade, should be identified (for purposes of "Super 301" under the Trade Act of 1974) as priority foreign countries, and such acts, policies, or practices identified as priority practices. Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to authorize any interested person to request the USTR to review to determine whether a foreign country is in material compliance with the terms of a trade agreement. Defines an "interested person" as any person with a significant economic interest that is being or has been adversely affected by a foreign country's failure to comply materially with terms of a trade agreement. Requires the USTR to determine what action to take if a foreign country is found not in material compliance with such agreement. Directs the USTR to initiate an investigation of all acts, policies, and practices of Japan, Korea, and Taiwan that affect the access of U.S. rice to their markets. Requires the USTR to negotiate the elimination of such acts, policies, and practices, and report to the Congress on the progress of such negotiations. Subtitle B: International Trade in Motor Vehicles and Motor Vehicle Parts - Directs the USTR to initiate an investigation of all acts, policies, and practices of Japan that affect the access of U.S. motor vehicles and motor vehicle parts to its market, including but not limited to: (1) acts, policies, and practices utilized in the Japanese automotive distribution system; (2) toleration of anticompetitive activities by private Japanese firms (including "Keiretsu"); (3) exclusionary business practices; and (4) testing requirements and other government regulations. Requires the USTR to negotiate with Japan for a trade agreement that: (1) eliminates such acts, policies, and practices; (2) provides enforcement of Japan's commitments under the Structural Impediments Initiative, the Market -Oriented Sector Specific agreements, and the Action Plan announced at the Tokyo Summit in January 1992 with respect to trade in, and purchase of, motor vehicles and motor vehicles parts; (3) establishes long term goals for the purchase by Japanese motor vehicle manufacturers of high value-added motor vehicle parts and accessories; and (4) establishes procedures for the exchange of information between the United States and Japan that will permit the accurate assessment of the bilateral trade in motor vehicle parts. Requires the USTR to report to the Congress if such negotiations prove unsuccessful. Directs the President to negotiate with Japan for a voluntary restraint agreement that will provide for the imposition of limitations on the aggregate number of Japanese passenger automobiles and light trucks that may be exported to the United States between 1992 and 2000. Authorizes the President to enforce such agreements. Requires specified reports with respect to such negotiations. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the USTR should refer to the U.S. Government all information pertaining to Japanese acts, policies, and practices that adversely affect access to the purchasing by Japanese motor vehicle manufacturers in the United States of U.S. motor vehicle parts by Japanese-owned or-controlled producers. Requires the Board established by the Foreign-Trade Zones Act to: (1) review the operations of U.S. and foreign motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts producers to determine any positive economic effect on the United States of such Act; and (2) take appropriate action, including revocation or modification of a foreign-trade zone or subzone grant, with respect to any producer whose operations in such zone are determined not to have a net positive effect on the U.S. economy. Title II: Customs Modernization - Customs Modernization and Informed Compliance Act - Subtitle A: Improvements in Customs Enforcement - Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to revise customs procedures with respect to: (1) electronic transmission of forged, altered, or false data to the United States Customs Service with regard to the entry of imported merchandise; (2) penalties for failure to declare imported controlled substances; (3) examination and detention of imported merchandise; (4) certain recordkeeping requirements; (5) examination of books and witnesses; (6) review of protests by the Customs Service; (7) a repeal of a provision relating to the reliquidation on account of fraud; (8) penalties relating to manifests, false drawback or refund claims, and for fraud, gross negligence, and negligence; (9) unlawful unlading or transshipment; (10) public access to Customs Service interpretative rulings and decisions; and (11) seizure of imported merchandise. Subtitle B: National Customs Automation Program - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury (Secretary) to establish the National Customs Automation Program which shall be an automated and electronic system for the processing of commercial imports. Provides for electronic data transmission relating to: (1) remote location filing; (2) effective date of rates of duty on imported merchandise; (3) merchandise manifests; (4) imported merchandise invoices; (5) entry and release of imported merchandise; (6) admissibility in administrative and judicial proceedings of electronically transmitted information; (7) appraisement and liquidations of imported merchandise; (8) the payment of duties; (9) abandonment and damage to imported merchandise; (10) protests of Customs Service decisions; (11) refunds and errors; (12) bonds and other security; and (13) customs house brokers. Requires a refund (drawback) of duties (less one per cent of such duties) on articles produced in the United States with imported merchandise that have been destroyed under Customs Service supervision, provided such articles have not been used prior to such destruction. Sets forth provisions with respect to customs officer's immunity in regard to the appraisement of or collection of duties on imported merchandise. Subtitle C: Miscellaneous Amendments to the Tariff Act of 1930 - Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to authorize the Secretary to disregard the difference, but not less than $20 (currently ten dollars), between the total estimated duties deposited with respect to imported merchandise and the total amount actually due on such merchandise. Authorizes the Secretary to admit duty-free: (1) gifts from persons in foreign countries to persons in the United States whose value does not exceed $100 (currently, $50), or $200 (currently, $100) in the case of gifts from persons in the Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa; (2) articles accompanying persons for personal or household use whose value does not exceed $200 (currently, $25); or (3) articles whose value does not exceed $200 (currently, five dollars) in other cases. Authorizes the Secretary to waive collection of duties due on merchandise that are worth less than $20, or such greater amount as prescribed by him or her. Requires masters of vessels that have visited a hovering vessel or received merchandise while outside the U.S. territorial sea to report their arrival to the nearest customs facility. Provides for the electronic transmission of vessel documentation to the Customs Service. Requires the following vessels to report to the nearest Customs Service facility within 24 hours (or other period of time) as provided after arrival to a U.S. port: (1) vessels from a foreign port; (2) foreign vessels from a domestic port; (3) U.S. vessels having bonded or foreign merchandise for which entry has not been made; or (4) vessels which visited a hovering vessel or received merchandise outside the U.S. territorial sea. Authorizes the Secretary to permit masters of vessels to make preliminary entry of their vessel with the Customs Service in lieu of or before formal entry is made. Requires U.S. and foreign vessels to obtain clearance from the Customs Service before proceeding from a U.S. port for: (1) a foreign port; (2) another U.S. port (for foreign vessels only), or (for U.S. vessels only) another U.S. port if the vessel has bonded or foreign merchandise for which entry has not been made; or (3) outside the U.S. territorial sea to visit a hovering vessel or to receive merchandise. Exempts from entry and clearance requirements certain passenger vessels on excursion from the U.S. Virgin Islands to the British Virgin Islands and returning, U.S. documented vessels with recreational endorsement, or (as under current law) undocumented U.S. pleasure vessels not engaged in trade, except such vessels must comply upon arrival with specified customs reporting requirements and navigation laws and must not have visited any hovering vessel. Prohibits merchandise, passengers, or baggage from being unladen from any vessel required to make entry or vehicle required to report its arrival until such entry or report of arrival is made and a permit for unlading has been issued by the Customs Service. Authorizes the issuance of such permits through electronic data transmission. Requires every importer of record of merchandise to make and file electronically or otherwise a declaration stating whether such merchandise is imported pursuant to a purchase or purchase agreement and that all other required documents are true and correct. Requires persons who gained any benefit from, or met any obligation to the United States as the result of the prior exportation of merchandise that has returned as undeliverable to inform the Customs Service of the return of such merchandise within a reasonable time. Provides for electronic data transmission of entry information to complete any incomplete entry of imported merchandise. Declares entered or unentered merchandise that remains in customs custody for six months, with an extension at the importer's request of up to a year (currently, for merchandise that remains in custody for one year), and in which duties, taxes, fees, storage, and other charges have not been paid, to be unclaimed merchandise which shall be appraised and sold by the Customs Service at public auction. Authorizes the sale of imported gunpowder and other explosive merchandise that if permitted to remain in a bonded warehouse for six months (currently, one year) would depreciate in value to the extent that its sale would be insufficient to pay such duties, taxes, fees, storage, and other charges. Authorizes the Customs Service, in lieu of sale, to provide notice to interested parties that, unless, within 30 days of such notice, the subject merchandise is entered or withdrawn for consumption and payment made of all duties, taxes, and fees, transfer and storage charges and other expenses that title to such merchandise shall be deemed to vest in the United States. Authorizes the Secretary to pay to a party that has lost a substantial interest in merchandise by virtue of title vesting in the United States, and can establish that it did not receive a vesting notice, an amount from the Customs Forfeiture Fund equal to what such party would have received if such merchandise had been sold and a proper claim filed. Requires any surplus of the proceeds from the sale of such merchandise to be deposited into the Fund if a claim for such surplus is not filed with the Customs Service. Authorizes the Secretary to prescribe regulations for the declaration and entry of merchandise whose value does not exceed a certain amount, not more than $2,500 (currently not greater than $1,250), and/or when different commercial facilitation and risk considerations that may vary for different classes or kinds of merchandise or different classes of transactions may dictate. Requires the Secretary upon seizure and forfeiture of imported merchandise bearing a counterfeit mark to dispose of such merchandise more than 90 days (currently, one year) after such forfeiture. Authorizes withdrawal of imported merchandise from a warehouse for transfer to a foreign trade zone. Authorizes the Customs Service to order the destruction or other appropriate disposition of vessels, vehicles, aircraft, merchandise, or baggage that has been seized under the customs laws if it determines that the expense of keeping such items is disportionate to their value (currently applies only to items of less than $1,000 in value). Authorizes the use of funds from the Customs Forfeiture Fund for the payment of: (1) certain transfer and storage charges and expenses; and (2) claims against Customs Service employees. Requires actions for fraud, gross negligence, and negligence, false drawback or refund claims, and restoration of lawful duties with respect to imported merchandise to be instituted within five years after the alleged violation or discovery of such fraud. Requires the Customs Service to be reimbursed the administrative cost and expense incurred in collecting fees on behalf of other Federal agencies. Authorizes the Secretary to settle, for no more than $50,000 in each case, claims for personal injury, death, or damage to, or loss of, privately owned property caused by an investigative or law enforcement officer of the Customs Service. Authorizes the Secretary to contract with persons for collection services to recover indebtedness arising under the customs laws, provided the Customs Service has exhausted all administrative efforts to collect such indebtedness. Subtitle D: Miscellaneous Provisions and Consequential and Conforming Amendments to Other Laws - Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to exempt from such Schedule articles which are returned within 45 days after being exported from the United States as undeliverable and which have not left the custody of the carrier or foreign customs service. Prohibits such exportations from satisfying any requirement for exportation in order to receive a benefit from, or meet an obligation, to the United States as a result of such exportation. Declares that certain railway locomotives and railway freight cars on which no duty is owed are not subject to the entry or release requirements for imported merchandise under the Tariff Act of 1930. Exempts instruments of international trade, such as containers, lift vans, rail cars and locomotives, truck cabs and trailers, etc., from formal entry procedures. Requires them to be accounted for however, when imported to and exported from the United States through the manifesting procedures required for international carriers by the U.S. Customs Service. Amends the Internal Revenue Code and other specified Federal law with respect to: (1) certain expenditures from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund; and (2) coastwise trade vessels and U.S. vessels visiting foreign ports. Amends Federal law to grant the Court of International Trade exclusive jurisdiction of any civil action for review decisions of the Customs Service that deny, suspend, or revoke accreditation of private customs laboratories. Bars the commencement of such actions unless brought before such Court within 60 days of such decisions. Repeals specified provisions of Federal law. Requires the Commissioner of Customs to report to the Congress each fiscal year after FY 1992 on the collection of duties imposed under the antidumping and countervailing duty laws. Amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 to authorize the Commissioner of Customs to obtain from the operators of centralized cargo examination stations information on fees paid for the provision of services at such stations. Requires the Commissioner to report to specified congressional committees on the payment of such fees. Amends the Customs and Trade Act of 1990 to require the Commissioner of Customs to: (1) devise a methodology for estimating the level of compliance with the U.S. customs laws; and (2) evaluate the extent to which such compliance was obtained during the 12-month period preceeding the 60th day before each fiscal year 1993 through 1995. Directs the Commissioner to initiate, and submit to the Congress, a compliance review of certain carrier services. Title III: Customs and Trade Agency Authorizations for Fiscal Years 1993 and 1994 - Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to authorize appropriations to the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) for FY 1993 and 1994. Earmarks a specified amount for reception and entertainment expenses. Prohibits use of such funds for any special study, investigation, or report requested by an agency of the executive branch unless such agency reimburses the ITC for its costs. Amends the Customs Procedural Reform and Simplification Act of 1978 to authorize appropriations to the United States Customs Service for FY 1993 and 1994 for: (1) noncommercial operations; (2) commercial operations; and (3) the air interdiction program. Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to authorize appropriaitons to the Office of the United States Trade Representative for FY 1993 and 1994. Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to authorize apropriations for FY 1993 and 1994 for certain expenditures from the Customs Forfeiture Fund relating to purchases by the Customs Service of evidence of smuggling of controlled substances. Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to eliminate the East-West Trade Statistics Monitoring System. Title IV: Miscellaneous Trade Provisions - Subtitle A: Nontariff Provisions - Directs the President to negotiate trade agreements that eliminate the adverse effects of anticompetitive practices on international trade. Requires the President to report to the Congress on the status of such negotiations. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President, with respect to ensuring the effectiveness of the U.S. embargo of Cuba, should seek negotiations with countries that trade with Cuba to seek their agreement to restrict trade relations with it. Amends the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 to require the Secretary of the Treasury, at the request of the Secretary of Commerce (currently, authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury): (1) to take necessary action to ensure the attainment of the objectives of the machine tool decision of the President on May 20, 1986, and on December 27, 1991; and (2) to enforce any imported machine tool quantitative limitations, restrictions, or other terms contained in related bilateral arrangements. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to enforce the quantitative limitations and other provisions of bilateral arrangements negotiated with Taiwan on December 31, 1991, pursuant to the President's machine tool decision of May 20, 1986, until bilateral agreements are negotiated with such country pursuant to the President's December 27, 1991, decision. Directs the ITC to report to the Congress propsals for consolidating and simplifying U.S. international trade laws. Requires the Director of the Congressional Research Service to make recommendations to the Congress about establishment of a special unit that would: (1) integrate the resources of the Service, the ITC, and other appropriate agencies; and (2) serve as a central and objective source of information for the Congress on data and trends in trade between the United States and foreign countries. Subtitle B: Foreign Subsidies and Countervailing and Antidumping Duty Amendments - Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to require completion of reviews by the administering authority of the amount of duty with respect to countervailing and antidumping duty orders by the 270th day after the day on which a request for review was received. (Currently, there is no such deadline for completion of such a review.) Requires the ITC to consider contracts with long lead time as a factor when making material injury determinations with respect to an affected domestic industry in countervailing and antidumping duty investigations. Declares that the presence or absence of any factor the ITC is required to consider shall not give decisive guidance with respect to any threat of material injury determinations. Provides that, with respect to the determination of foreign market value of imported merchandise under investigation, no allowance shall be made to account for differences in input costs that are based on whether the end product made from the input is sold in the home market or exported. Requires the United States Customs Service to report annually to the administering authority on the amount of duties collected during each year under each countervailing and antidumping duty order. Requires the administering authority to make such data available to interested parties. Requires the administering authority, when determining whether imported parts or components are circumventing an antidumping or countervailing duty order or finding, and whether to include such parts or components in such order or finding, to consider: (1) the pattern of trade; (2) the value and sources of supply of parts or components historically used in completion or assembly of the merchandise subject to such order; (3) whether the manufacturer or exporter of such parts or components is related to the person who assembles or completes the merchandise sold in the United States from the parts or components produced in the foreign country with respect to which the order or finding applies; and (4) whether imports into the United States of the parts or components produced in such foreign country have increased after the issuance of such order or finding. Authorizes the administering authority to include within the scope of such order or finding imported parts or components that are used in the completion or assembly of certain merchandise sold in the United States and subject to such order or finding, provided: (1) such merchandise is completed or assembled in the United States from parts or components supplied by the exporter or producer with respect to which such order or finding applies, from suppliers that have historically supplied the parts or components to that exporter or producer, or from any party in the exporting country supplying parts or components on behalf of such exporter or producer; (2) the value of such imported parts and components is significant in relation to the total value of all parts and components used in the assembly or completion operation, excluding packing, of the imported merchandise covered by such order or finding; or (3) consideration of specified factors establishes a pattern of circumvention of a countervailing and antidumping duty order or finding. Enables the administering authority to base such a decision on any of such factors by itself, rather than on all of them together. Sets forth similar provisions for merchandise completed or assembled in other foreign countries. Directs the Secretary of Commerce and the ITC to study and report to the Congress on modification of standards applicable to the initiation of countervailing and antidumping duty actions in order to make petitioning for such initiations less costly and more accessible for domestic petitioners. Requires the USTR to report to the Congress on the operation of the Agreement Concerning the Application of the GATT Agreement on Trade in Civil Aircraft between the United States and the European Community. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should not enter into any international trade agreement on antidumping requiring changes in U.S. antidumping laws that would reduce the effectiveness of such laws as a remedy against injurious dumped imports. Urges the President to review antidumping provisions contained in the Draft Final Act Embodying the Results of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations dated December 21, 1991 and seek changes to strengthen the effectiveness of U.S. antidumping laws, including, but not limited to, changes in provisions dealing with cumulation of injury and dispute settlement. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the U.S. Government should not condone the use by foreign governments of trade distorting subsidies, including development subsidies, that cause material injury to U.S. industries. Subtitle C: Other Tariff Provisions - Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to remove the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics from the list of countries ineligible for designation as a beneficiary developing country under the Generalized System of Preferences. Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to create a new tariff classification to cover imports of motor fuel blending stocks. Imposes a duty on such stocks. Revises the classification of linear alkylbenzenesulfonates and linear alkylbenzene sulfonic acids. Revises a specified subheading relating to nonalloy iron and steel pipes and tubes to include non-galvanized forms of such products. Increases the duty on certain other iron and steel pipes and tubes. Imposes a duty on galvanized nonalloy iron and steel pipes and tubes having a specified thickness. Increases the duty on certain stainless steel pipes and tubes. Authorizes the USTR to negotiate compensation for claims made pursuant to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, or any other trade agreement to which the United States is a party, as a result of the amendments made by this Act. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury, with respect to producers of watches in the insular possessions of the United States who are wage certificate holders, to pay to such a holder, at the holder's election, the face value of such certificates less the value of: (1) any duty refunds claimed by the holder under the certificate; and (2) any duty refunds under such certificate that are sold by such holder. Grants duty-free treatment of articles (not over $600 in value) acquired in Bermuda. Grants duty-free treatment to sweaters in which the number of U.S. citizens, nationals, or resident aliens who perform the assembly operations (in Guam) comprise at least 50 percent of the total number of assembly production workers. Sets forth specified exceptions. Provides that stuffed dolls and doll skins that are imported into the United States on or after December 31, 1985, and before October 1, 1988, shall be liquidated as duty free as of October 1, 1988. Declares that a specified production incentive certificate shall be deemed to have been reissued on the 15th day after the enactment of this Act, and shall expire one year after such day. Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to exempt semiconductors from the country of origin marking requirements under such Act. Amends the Foreign Trade Zones Act to extend until December 31, 1994, the exclusion of bicycle component parts from the exemption from customs laws provided by such Act. Treats certain entries of fabric wholly of polyamide as having been exported from the United States in accordance with and in satisfaction of the temporary importation bond and obligations of The Umbrellas: Joint Project for Japan and U.S.A. Corporation if specified conditions are met. Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to authorize the extension of time (not to exceed five years) for the exportation of articles to be repaired, altered, or processed, including processes which result in articles manufactured or produced in the United States, that are imported duty-free under bond, provided that any extension beyond the third year must be accompanied by the importer's certification that such articles are to be incorporated into a communications satellite. Subjects to liquidated damages any such articles imported after January 1, 1983, and before the effective date of this Act, that are certified by the importer as having been dedicated for incorporation into a communications satellite, and as not having been exported within the time required because of launch schedule delays. Limits such liquidated damages to a maximum one percent of the liquidated damages established under the bond.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 1992
Prohibits U.S. assistance to Serbia and Montenegro or any successor entity and requires the President to block all assets of the former Yugoslavian Government until he certifies to the Congress that: (1) Serbia and Montenegro have withdrawn their forces from Croatia and Bosnia-Hercegovina; and (2) the government of Serbia and Montenegro or any successor entity is democratically-elected and recognizes the territorial integrity of neighboring states and the political rights of Kosovo. Urges President Bush to withdraw U.S. recognition of Yugoslavia and to refuse to recognize Serbian and Montenegrin claims as a successor state. Supports withholding formal recognition of Serbia and Montenegro until all Serbian military, paramilitary, and irregular units are withdrawn from Bosnia-Hercegovina, Slovenia, and Croatia and until Serbia and Montenegro respect the territorial integrity of neighboring nations. Calls upon the administration to impose an "air cap" to provide protection to Bosnia-Hercegovina and Croatia, as is being afforded to the Kurds in Iraq. Supports the immediate provision of humanitarian and refugee assistance for the victims of war in Bosnia-Hercegovina and Croatia. Urges President Bush to call for a special meeting of the United Nations Security Council to adopt a resolution calling on member countries to: (1) suspend aid to Serbia and Montenegro; (2) block Serbian assets; (3) participate in an international trade embargo of Yugoslavia; (4) withdraw recognition of the Yugoslavian Government; and (5) terminate Yugoslavia's membership in international and multilateral organizations.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 1992
Veterans In Transition Act - Directs the Secretary of Defense to provide post-service training vouchers to eligible members of the armed forces who apply in order to finance employment retraining provided through programs established under the Job Training Partnership Act. Requires such vouchers to be provided to such members within 60 days of their separation from active duty. Defines as eligible those members serving on active duty or full-time National Guard duty on September 30, 1990, who were either involuntarily separated or separated under one of the military separation incentive programs, and who were not entitled to retired or retainer pay incident to such separation. Requires such a member to certify to the Secretary that the member is unemployed and does not have a firm commitment for employment upon separation. Directs the Secretary to provide such vouchers to certain unemployed members who did not receive such vouchers due to lack of the required certification. Authorizes the Secretary to provide such vouchers to other members discharged or released from active duty if they would benefit from the training provided. Directs the Secretary to provide appropriate notification to members eligible for such vouchers. Provides for the determination of voucher amounts, requiring such amounts to be generally equal to the cost of providing the training required to achieve the employment objective chosen by the member. Directs the Secretary of Labor to assist the Secretary in determining voucher amounts. Authorizes any member receiving such a voucher to exchange it for employment and training services provided under the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) to the same extent as other individuals eligible to receive such services. Requires such vouchers to be used within a two-year period after discharge, release, or separation. Directs the Secretary, after receiving a voucher, to reimburse the training provider for the actual cost of providing such training, not to exceed the face value of the voucher. Prohibits more than ten percent of the funds provided under this Act from being used for administrative costs. Prohibits the training providers, in accepting vouchers in exchange for employment and training services under the JTPA, from: (1) reducing the number of individuals who receive such services in the absence of the voucher program; or (2) denying such services to veterans who are eligible for such services but do not have a voucher. Directs the Secretary to notify the State agency administering the JTPA in which the member intends to reside and take up training. Amends the JTPA to include such separated members in the defense conversion adjustment program provided under such Act. Requires preseparation counseling of members about to be discharged or released from active duty to occur as soon as possible, but not later than 90 days before the date of discharge (currently, upon discharge). Includes as part of such counseling the creation of a transition plan for the member and spouse to achieve educational, training, and employment objectives. Directs the Secretary to consult with the Secretaries of Labor, Education, and Veterans Affairs and the Economic Adjustment Committee to improve the coordination of, and eliminate duplication between, specified job training and placement programs available to members who are discharged or released from active duty. Directs the Secretary to use ten percent of the amount authorized to be appropriated under this Act for the financing of specified coordination efforts. Directs the Secretary, as part of the preseparation counseling provided to discharged or released members, to insure that information is provided to interested members with respect to the establishment and operation of small businesses. Authorizes the Secretary to make a grant to a member eligible for a training voucher to assist such member in establishing a small business after such discharge or release. Authorizes the Secretary to make a grant to a business owned or operated by a veteran to assist the business to employ members eligible for training vouchers. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into an agreement with the head of a Federal agency under which the agency makes grants to States and local governments and nonprofit organizations to establish internships or other training programs for members eligible for training vouchers. Provides that all such grants will be made in lieu of providing the member with a training voucher. Authorizes the Secretary, in order to assist discharged or released members and their spouses in locating civilian employment, to conduct marketing and employer outreach activities to promote the creation of employment opportunities for such members and spouses. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 1992
DeLauro-Lowey Water Pollution Control and Estuary Restoration Financing Act - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to extend the authorization of appropriations for the State water pollution control revolving fund program through FY 1999. Requires a specified percentage (increasing with each succeeding fiscal year) of such appropriations to be used by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to make capitalization grants for estuary plans to qualified States. Requires States to submit estimates of the need for assistance for implementing and monitoring such plans. Prohibits the submission of such estimates unless the estimates are approved by the appropriate management conference under the National Estuary Program. Makes States that fail to submit approved estimates ineligible for assistance. Directs States to establish separate Estuary Accounts in their water pollution control revolving funds, to be used for implementing approved estuary plans. Permits loans made with amounts in such Accounts to be for terms of up to 40 years or for the useful life of a facility constructed with the loan, whichever is less, if the borrower demonstrates financial hardship. Allows States to use interest earned on amounts in such Accounts to subsidize up to 90 percent of the principal portion of debt service of certain entities that are financially unable to carry out a necessary project for an estuary plan. Establishes a State matching requirement for deposits into Accounts. Authorizes the Administrator to make grants for the implementation of estuary conservation and management plans. Limits the Federal share to 75 percent of the total cost of implementation. Authorizes appropriations. Permits certain grants under the National Estuary Program to be used for interim actions adopted by management conferences to protect the water and sediment quality of estuaries. Extends the authorization of appropriations for management conferences, grants, conservation and management plans, and research under the National Estuary Program through FY 1999. Revises provisions concerning the purposes of management conferences. Directs the Administrator to issue a guidance document that establishes requirements for: (1) management conferences to follow in developing, implementing, and monitoring conservation and management plans; and (2) approving and implementing interim actions to protect water quality of estuaries for which plans are developed. Requires management conferences to be convened for periods of at least five years (currently, up to five years). Permits the extension of a conference for an additional five years if the affected Governors concur in the extension and the extension is necessary to meet requirements. Revises approval and implementation procedures for estuary conservation and management plans and establishes such procedures for interim actions.
![Official portrait of Rep. Frost, Martin [D-TX-24]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/f000392_200.jpg)