United States · United States Congress · 10 September 1987
Amends the Internal Revenue Code with respect to the corporate income tax exclusion of contributions to the capital of the taxpayer. Includes as a qualifying contribution any amount of money or property received by a regulated public utility (a utility required to provide electric energy, gas, water, or sewage disposal services) that: (1) is a contribution in aid of construction (as defined by regulations to be promulgated by the Secretary of the Treasury); (2) meets certain expenditure requirements; and (3) is not included in the taxpayer's rate base. Excludes amounts paid as customer connection fees.
United States · United States Congress · 9 September 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, or conference report thereon, making appropriations, providing revenue, or increasing the statutory limit on the public debt except by a rollcall vote.
United States · United States Congress · 7 August 1987
Designates a Federal building being constructed at the northwest corner of Ocean Boulevard and Magnolia Avenue in Long Beach, California, as the Craig Hosmer Federal Building.
United States · United States Congress · 7 August 1987
Provides that when any bill or joint resolution making continuing appropriations is agreed to by both Houses of the Congress in the same form, the Clerk of the House of Representatives shall enroll the provisions in such bill or joint resolution as separate bills or joint resolutions (for item veto purposes). Requires the enrollment as part of one separate bill or joint resolution of: (1) all the provisions within the jurisdiction of a subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations; (2) all the provisions within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Appropriations; (3) all the provisions within the jurisdiction of any other House committee; and (4) all the provisions for which jurisdiction cannot be determined.
United States · United States Congress · 7 August 1987
Individual Education Savings Account Act of 1987 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an individual taxpayer an income tax deduction for cash contributions to a savings account established to pay the tuition and lodging expenses, as certified by the relevant educational institution, of the taxpayer's child (or descendant of such child) at an institution of higher education or a vocational school. Limits the amount of the deduction to $2,000 per year and a $48,000 total. Provides that: (1) an account may have only one beneficiary; and (2) only one taxpayer may contribute to such an account. Lists requirements applicable to an educational savings account trust. Permits the exclusion from gross income of payments and distributions from an education savings account as long as such amounts are used for the qualified educational expenses of the eligible beneficiary or are distributions of excess contributions before the due date of the tax return. Exempts the accounts themselves from taxation (except for the tax on unrelated business income of a charitable organization) unless they cease to be proper education savings accounts because: (1) the beneficiary no longer meets age or school enrollment requirements; or (2) the contributor-taxpayer transfers an ownership interest in the account, engages in prohibited transactions, or pledges the account as security. Imposes penalties in the form of additional tax when account funds or distributions are used for other than educational purposes. Permits a tax exclusion for qualified rollover contributions with respect to an educational savings account. Requires that the trustee of the account report to the Secretary of the Treasury and to the account's owner on the maintenance of the account. Extends the deduction for contributions to the account to taxpayers who do not otherwise itemize deductions. Establishes: (1) a six percent excise tax on excess contributions to an education savings account; (2) a five percent excise tax on amounts connected with any prohibited transaction; and (3) a penalty for failure to file reports required concerning the account. Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 with respect to the treatment of education savings accounts under Federal student financial aid programs. Identifies the role of account funds and distributions for purposes of Pell grant eligibility determinations and the needs analysis applicable to student financial aid generally. Provides that contributions from such funds by persons with income of less than $35,000 will be indexed according to a special specified formula when calculating eligibility for student aid.
United States · United States Congress · 6 August 1987
Designates the period beginning September 15 and ending October 15 each year as National Hispanic Heritage Month. (Current law designates the week including September 15 and 16 each year as National Hispanic Heritage Week.)
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1987
Anti-Tree Spiking Act - Amends the Federal criminal code to provide criminal penalties for: (1) spiking timber; (2) teaching another to spike timber knowing that such technique will be unlawfully employed; or (3) traveling in interstate or foreign commerce (or using any facility of interstate or foreign commerce) to organize or participate in a violation of this Act. Authorizes the Attorney General to pay for information concerning violations of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 1987
Urges the administration to continue to reject efforts by Canadian negotiators to: (1) have the U.S. cabotage trades, including the transport of energy resources, opened to Canadian vessels; and (2) eliminate the ad valorem duty on vessel repairs performed in Canadian shipyards.
United States · United States Congress · 1 July 1987
Capital Punishment Procedures Act of 1987 - Amends the Federal criminal code to establish criteria for the imposition of the death penalty for Federal crimes. Requires the Government, for any offense punishable by death, to serve notice upon the defendant a reasonable time before trial or acceptance of a plea, that it intends to seek the death penalty and the aggravating factors upon which it will rely. Requires a separate sentencing hearing before a jury, or the court upon motion by the defendant, when the defendant is found guilty or pleads guilty to an offense punishable by death. Allows the defendant and the Government to present any information relevant to sentencing, without regard to the rules of evidence, but permits evidence to be excluded where its probative value is substantially outweighted by the danger of creating unfair prejudice, confusing the issues, or misleading the jury. Specifies mitigating factors which the defendant must establish by a preponderance of the information and aggravating factors which the Government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt. Sets forth special aggravating factors for espionage, treason, homicide, and the attempted murder of the President. Directs the court, or the jury by unanimous vote, to impose the death penalty upon a finding that such sentence is justified based on consideration of both the aggravating and mitigating factors. States that no person who was under 18 years of age at the time of the offense may be sentenced to death. Requires the court to instruct the jury not to consider the race, color, national origin, creed, or sex of the defendant or victim in its consideration of the sentence. Establishes procedures for appeal from a death sentence. Requires the court of appeals, upon consideration of the record and the information and procedures of the sentencing hearing, to affirm the decision if: (1) the sentence was not imposed under the influence of passion, prejudice, or any other arbitrary factor; and (2) the information supports the finding of aggravating factors. Requires the court to provide a written explanation of its determination. Sets forth procedures for the implementation of the sentence of death. Limits the circumstances under which the offense of delivering defense information to aid foreign governments is punishable by death. Provides for the imposition of the death penalty for: (1) murder committed by prisoners in Federal prisons; (2) kidnappings which result in the death of any person; (3) hostage takings which result in the death of any person; (4) attempting to kill the President of the United States (if such attempt results in bodily injury or comes dangerously close to causing the President's death); (5) "murder for hire"; (6) murder in the aid of a racketeering activity; (7) international terrorism (where the killing is a first degree murder); and (8) engaging in a criminal enterprise activity which results in death. Increases the minimum sentence to life imprisonment for the crime of bank robbery which results in death.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 1987
Amends rule XXI of Rules of the House of Representatives to prohibit any appropriation from being reported in any joint resolution continuing appropriations, or from being in order as an amendment thereto, for any expenditure not previously authorized by law, except to continue appropriations for public works and objects which are already in progress. Prohibits any provision which changes existing laws from being reported in any joint resolution continuing appropriations except germane provisions which retrench expenditures by the reduction of money covered by the bill, which may include those recommended to the Committee on Appropriations by direction of any legislative committee having jurisdiction over the subject matter. Prohibits an amendment to a joint resolution continuing appropriations from being in order if changing existing law. Declares that, except as provided by this Act, no amendment shall be in order during consideration of a joint resolution continuing appropriations proposing a limitation not specifically contained or authorized in existing law for the period of the limitation. Sets forth floor procedure for consideration of an acceptable joint resolution continuing appropriations. Prohibits the House from considering any joint resolution continuing appropriations, or amendments thereto, which covers a period of more than 90 calendar days. Prohibits any item of appropriation set forth in any joint resolution continuing appropriations from exceeding the lesser of the amount set forth for such item in the House-passed or Senate-passed general appropriation bill for the fiscal year. Declares that if there is no House-passed or Senate-passed bill containing such item, then such item shall be at the rate at which it would have been assuming the continuation of current law. Prohibits the waiver of any provision of this resolution except by two-thirds vote of the Members present and voting. Declares this resolution applicable with respect to joint resolutions continuing appropriations for FY 1989 or any subsequent fiscal year.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1987
Constitutional Amendment - Requires the Congress and the President, prior to each fiscal year, to agree, by enactment of a joint resolution, on an estimate of total receipts for that fiscal year. Prohibits outlays for that year from exceeding such estimated receipts unless the Congress, by a three-fifths rollcall vote of each House, provides for a specific excess of outlays over receipts. Requires the Congress, whenever actual outlays exceed actual receipts for any fiscal year, to provide by law for the repayment of such excess in the ensuing fiscal year. Requires a three-fifths rollcall vote of each House to increase the public debt. Directs the President to submit to the Congress a proposed budget for each fiscal year in which total outlays do not exceed total receipts. Requires the approval by a majority of the total membership of each House by rollcall vote before any bill to increase revenue may become law. Waives this article for any fiscal year in which a declaration of war is in effect. Declares that total receipts shall include all receipts of the United States, except those derived from borrowing, and total outlays shall include all outlays of the United States, except those for repayment of debt principal.
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 1987
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 1992 the period during which qualified mortgage bonds may be issued. (Under current law, authority to issue these bonds expires as of 1989.)
United States · United States Congress · 3 June 1987
Expresses the determination of the Congress that the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO): (1) is a terrorist organization; (2) is a threat to the interests of the United States, its allies, and to international law; and (3) should not benefit from operating in the United States. Prohibits, if the purpose is to further the interests of the PLO: (1) the receipt of anything of value except informational material from the PLO; (2) the expenditure of funds from the PLO; or (3) the establishment or maintenance of a PLO office within the jurisdiction of the United States. Provides that the provisions of this Act shall cease to have effect if the President certifies to the Congress that the PLO no longer practices or supports terrorist actions.
United States · United States Congress · 3 June 1987
Prohibits the proposed enhancement or upgrade in the sensitivity of technology of, or the capacity of, Maverick missiles for Saudi Arabia, as described in the May 29, 1987, certification from the President to the Congress under the Arms Export Control Act.
United States · United States Congress · 3 June 1987
Designates the week beginning October 18, 1987, as Financial Independence Week. Urges all citizens to pursue financial independence through sound planning and management of their individual resources.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1987
Depositor Protection Act of 1987 - Prohibits a bankruptcy trustee from avoiding as a preferential transfer certain withdrawal transactions made by depositors or investors from accounts with certain financial institutions which issue savings obligations or accept deposits in the ordinary course of business. Applies such prohibition to bankruptcy cases filed on or after March 9, 1983.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 1987
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Japanese should: (1) lower their high tariffs and remove quotas on U.S. agricultural products; and (2) take such actions to avoid damage to the relations between the two countries.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 1987
Designates the westernmost point of Guam as Point Udall in honor of Morris Udall, a Member of the House of Representatives. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to place and maintain a plaque on Federal land near such point to honor the service and accomplishments of Morris Udall. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 1987
Amends rule XLIX of the Rules of the House of Representatives to require a two-thirds vote on legislation that increases the statutory limit on the public debt. Prohibits the consideration of such legislation if it contains any item other than such debt increase.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 1987
Amends Federal veterans' benefits provisions to direct (current law authorizes) the Administrator of Veterans Affairs to pay travel expenses of certain veterans and their eligible dependents to or from a Veterans Administration facility or other authorized place in connection with rehabilitation, counseling, or medical treatment or care. Defines those veterans entitled to such payment, including: (1) those veterans financially unable to meet such travel costs; and (2) those veterans unable to bear the cost of special transportation necessitated due to a medical disability. Limits such payments in the case of travel by a privately-owned vehicle to the cost of similar public transportation for such travel. Limits such payment to the actual cost incurred for such travel.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 1987
Davis-Bacon Reform Act of 1987 - Amends the Davis-Bacon Act to increase from $2,000 to $250,000 the threshold amount subjecting certain contracts to such Act and requiring them to specify the minimum wages to be paid to laborers and mechanics. Directs the Secretary of Labor to establish as the prevailing wage for a class of laborers or mechanics the entire range of wages being paid to a corresponding class of such workers in the particular urban or rural subdivision of the State in which the work is to be performed. Sets out the means for determining such prevailing wage in cases when more than a single wage is being paid to corresponding classes of workers. Excludes from the computation of wages the basic hourly rates of pay for workers on local Federal projects. Establishes a separate classification for helpers of laborers or mechanics, with their prevailing wages to be determined on the basis of the corresponding class of helpers. Prohibits the division of contracts into units of $250,000 or less for purposes of avoiding wage computation under such Act. Directs the Secretary of Labor and the U.S. Comptroller General to submit to the Congress annual reports describing the effects of the Davis-Bacon Act, the Copeland Act, and this Act on local wages and on local and national economies. Amends the Copeland Act to require certain contractors or subcontractors to furnish compliance statements concerning weekly wages at the beginning, midpoint, and conclusion of the period covered by the contract, instead of every week as the wages are paid.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1987
General Aviation Standards Act of 1987 - Amends the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 (relating to aviation accident investigations) to apply such Act, with specified exceptions, to any action for damages for harm arising out of a general aviation accident brought against a general aviation manufacturer, owner, or operator of a general aviation aircraft, or a person who supports or maintains such aircraft. Establishes guidelines for uniform standards of liability of general aviation manufacturers for general aviation accidents. States that all actions for harm arising out of a general aviation accident shall be governed by the principles of comparative responsibility. Establishes, with specified exceptions, a limitation of actions period of 12 years from delivery of aircraft or harm-causing part to the purchaser for general aviation civil liability brought against a general aviation manufacturer. Declares admissible as evidence certain income tax and payroll tax liability for purposes of establishing financial harm arising out of a general aviation accident. Permits the award of punitive damages if a claimant establishes by clear and convincing evidence that the harm suffered was the direct result of conduct manifesting conscious, flagrant indifference to safety. Establishes a two-year limitation of actions period for actions arising out of a general aviation accident. Confers original jurisdiction upon the Federal district courts, concurrently with State courts, for all civil actions for harm arising out of a general aviation accident. Provides procedures for removal from State to Federal district courts of such actions. Declares that this Act supersedes any State law regarding recovery of damages for harm arising out of a general aviation accident. Declares the intent of the Congress that sanctions be strictly enforced for violations of Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, including orders to pay to the other party the reasonable costs of legal fees.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1987
Directs the head of each Federal department or agency holding records relating to sightings of U.S. military personnel in Southeast Asia since 1973 to make available to the public, within 30 days after the enactment of this Act, all such records. Provides exceptions to such disclosures for information revealing intelligence sources and methods or the names of such personnel.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1987
Technology Transfer Enforcement Act of 1987 - Expresses congressional findings with regard to the sale by Toshiba Machine Corporation and Kongsberg Vaapenfabrik to the Soviet Union of machines used to make advanced submarine propellers undetectable by the United States. Prohibits the importation of products manufactured by the Toshiba Corporation. Prohibits the Secretary of Defense from entering into any contract or subcontract with the Toshiba Machine Corporation or Kongsberg Vaapenfabrik.
United States · United States Congress · 23 April 1987
Designates the week of June 1 through June 7, 1987, as National Polio Awareness Week. Authorizes and requests the President to issue a proclamation saluting the work of the International Polio Network.
United States · United States Congress · 22 April 1987
Designates the week beginning August 2, 1987, as International Special Olympics Week and designates August 3, 1987, as International Special Olympics Day.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 1987
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an individual a nonrefundable income tax credit equal to 25 percent of the amount of expenses paid or incurred during the taxable year for new security devices for the taxpayer's residence, including: (1) a lock or alarm for a door or window; (2) security lighting; (3) protective window and door bars; and (4) an electronic alarm system. Permits a maximum credit of $175. Provides that the tax credit shall be 100 percent of such expenses for individuals who have attained the age of 65 before the close of the taxable year. Provides that when the basis of property is increased as a result of an expenditure for security devices, the taxpayer must reduce such property's basis by the amount of the allowed credit. Disallows a credit when the property is eligible for the investment credit.
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 1987
Makes permanent the income tax credit for qualified research expenditures by repealing the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code that would terminate such credit for expenses incurred or paid after 1988.
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 1987
Suspends nondiscriminatory treatment (most-favored-nation treatment) for products of Romania entered into the United States during the one-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act. Allows the President to restore nondiscriminatory treatment to products of Romania prior to the end of such period if the President submits a report to the Congress, before the 181st day of the suspension year, containing: (1) the annual objectives of the United States toward achieving the gradual reduction of Romanian human rights violations during the remainder of the suspension year and the reduction and termination of such violations during the five succeeding years; and (2) recommendations regarding actions to be taken by the United States within such five-year period to achieve such objectives. Allows the President to extend nondiscriminatory treatment to the products of Romania during each of the five succeeding years if the President submits a report to the Congress before the beginning of each year stating that the Romanian Government is achieving the applicable human rights violation reduction objectives. Provides for the termination of such nondiscriminatory treatment for any part of such years by enactment of a joint resolution disapproving of the extension of such nondiscriminatory treatment.
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 1987
World War I Veterans' Service Pension Act - Directs the Administrator of Veterans Affairs to pay a monthly pension of $150 to each veteran of World War I who meets specified service requirements. Requires such veteran, if receiving another pension administered by the Veterans Administration (VA), to elect which pension he will receive. Provides for the payment of a monthly pension of $100 to surviving spouses of World War I veterans who meet certain marriage requirements. Requires such surviving spouses to choose between pensions if they are currently receiving another pension through the VA.
United States · United States Congress · 31 March 1987
Satellite Television Fair Marketing Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit the encrypting of satellite programming from the Public Broadcasting Service and the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service. Requires anyone who encrypts satellite delivered programming for private viewing to: (1) make it available for private viewing by home satellite antenna users; (2) establish reasonable character and financial criteria for distributors of satellite delivered programming and not discriminate in prices, terms, or conditions among distributors offering similar distribution services; and (3) conduct such encryption according to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) - approved standards designed to comply with specified criteria. Requires the FCC-approved standards to provide the public interest benefits of a universal encryption system permitting decryption by cable television subscribers and home satellite users. Authorizes aggrieved persons to commence civil actions to enforce this Act. Requires the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to conduct a study of pricing and distribution terms of satellite television programming to determine whether the programming market is developing competitively. Authorizes the FTC to establish remedies necessary to produce adequate competition. Requires the FCC to begin a rulemaking proceeding on improving access to network signals for rural Americans.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 1987
Telephone Decency Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit any obscene or indecent telephone communication, in foreign or interstate communication or in the District of Columbia, for commercial purposes to any person. (Current law prohibits such communication to any person without his or her consent or to any person under 18 years of age.)
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 1987
Imported Raw Agricultural Commodity Safety Act of 1987 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to prepare a fiscal year plan for the distribution of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) resources for sampling imported raw agricultural commodities to ensure: (1) compliance with pesticide residue laws; and (2) sharing of violations data among FDA districts. Directs the Secretary to prepare a fiscal year summary of sampling activities which shall specify: (1) commodity types and volume; (2) country of export; (3) numbers of samples taken; and (4) violations, including commodity and pesticide, and the name of the importer. Directs the Secretary, when a violation has been found, to monitor such commodity during the successive growing season. Directs the Secretary to: (1) submit an enforcement report to the appropriate congressional committees; and (2) include within such report a description of any pesticide residue detection research.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1987
Employee Educational Assistance Act of 1987 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent the income tax exclusion for employee educational assistance programs. (Present law terminates such exclusion as of December 31, 1987.) Requires, for every taxable year beginning after 1988, an annual cost of living adjustment of the maximum excludable amount. Waives the maximum excludable amount for any educational assistance furnished by certain educational institutions to graduate students engaged in teaching or research activities for such organization.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1987
Establishes the Veterans Administration as an executive department redesignated as the Department of Veterans' Affairs. Makes technical and conforming changes, including the redesignation of the Administrator of Veterans Affairs as the Secretary of Veterans' Affairs.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1987
San Luis Rey Indian Water Rights Settlement Act - Provides for the settlement of water rights claims between the United States and the La Jolla, Rincon, San Pasqual, Pauma, and Pala Bands of Mission Indians (California). Requires the Secretary of the Interior, upon the settlement of all water rights claims, to deliver water to the Indian Water Authority in the vicinity of the Bands' Reservations. Requires the Indian Water Authority to reimburse the United States for operational and maintenance costs (except construction costs) incurred in the delivery of such water. Requires the Indian Water Authority to pay costs associated with the conveyance of such water through non-Federal facilities. Prohibits the Secretary from being obligated to deliver such water if: (1) such delivery would require the construction of new Federal facilities; (2) consent is denied for the use of non-Federal facilities; or (3) necessary contracts have not been executed. Requires the Secretary to take the necessary steps to ensure that the delivery of such water will not result in added costs for Central Valley Project customers. Provides that no law shall require compliance with State laws governing changes in the places of use, purposes of use, or points of diversion of water under this Act in the water rights permits for the Central Valley Project. Requires the Secretary to use power from the Central Valley Project to deliver water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to the Indian Water Authority. Requires the Indian Water Authority to reimburse the United States at the project use rate for irrigation water for the operation and maintenance costs incurred in providing power for the delivery of water. Sets forth limitations on the costs of providing such power. Establishes the San Luis Rey Indian Water Authority. Provides that the Authority, upon the approval of the Secretary, may lease, sell, and manage any water or power resource on or off the reservations of the Bands. Authorizes the Secretary to lease, grant rights-of-way across, or transfer title to any Indian tribal or allotted land which is used to divert, convey, and store the waters of the San Luis Rey River for the local entities, including the Rincon and Bear Valley powerplants.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1987
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the promotion of unrestricted family visits between related people of the United States and the Soviet Union is an essential part of American policy toward the Soviet Union; and (2) the President, the Secretary of State, and other administration members should raise the issue of family visitation at all appropriate opportunities in discussions with leaders of the Communist Party and the Government of the Soviet Union.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1987
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the United Nations, and in particular the Human Rights Commission, should include among its highest priorities of its human rights agenda consideration of the question of human rights in Cuba.
![Official portrait of Rep. Gallegly, Elton [R-CA-24]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/g000021_200.jpg)