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United States · Official source
3,212 records where Rep. Goodling, William F. [R-PA-19] is listed as a sponsor, author, or other actor. Search with topics and years
United States · United States Congress · 16 September 1991
Designates the week of September 22 through 28, 1991, and September 20 through 26, 1992, as Religious Freedom Week.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 1991
Better Education for All Students Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to add a new title VIII, Better Education for all Students, to improve education for all students in the Nation through grants to States to restructure education systems at State and local levels. Authorizes the Secretary of Education (the Secretary) to make such grants to State educational agencies (SEAs) to enable States to reform and improve the quality of education. Requires SEAs to use such grants to: (1) develop an educational reform plan, including goals and innovations in curricular frameworks, materials, and assessment tools; and (2) implement reforms and a plan to improve the education system within the State. Sets forth application requirements. Requires SEA grant applications to cover a five-year period, and to contain specified assurances, descriptions, and other provisions. Directs the Secretary to: (1) approve applications and amendments that meet such requirements and that are of sufficient quality to meet specified objectives; and (2) give notice, technical assistance, and opportunity for a hearing before any final disapproval. Requires each State program assisted under this Act to establish a panel coordinated by the chief State school officer to develop a statewide reform plan. Sets forth requirements for various officials and entities to be represented on such panel. Sets forth requirements for State plan contents and plan development and approval procedures. Requires States with approved plans to use funds (allotted by the Secretary under this Act, and State and private funds contributed to make up the total cost of a State program) to: (1) develop and implement State goals, curricular frameworks, and assessment tools; (2) technical assistance (including information dissemination) to local educational agencies (LEAs) to carry out local plans; (3) specified authorized activities for LEAs, as appropriate; and (4) evaluation, reporting, and data collection. Requires the SEA, from the allotted program funds and within four years, to make subgrants to LEAs, provided that: (1) such SEA has a formal process for doing so; (2) one LEA in each congressional district shall receive a subgrant; and (3) the LEA with the greatest number of disadvantaged children in the State shall receive a subgrant. Requires that funds available under this Act be used to carry out the plan in a manner which ensures that all children, and especially those identified through the assessment process as not achieving satisfactorily, are afforded ample opportunity to reach local, State, and national goals. Sets forth requirements for content, development, and approval of local plans. Requires local plans to assure: (1) broad-based community participation in plan development; and (2) ongoing evaluation of plan effectiveness, including annual review and making necessary changes. Requires local plans to propose district-wide reform which includes: (1) developing a curriculum to implement the State's frameworks; (2) setting local goals; (3) identifying or developing instructional materials; (4) providing teacher and administrator training; and (5) identifying assessment instruments to measure progress toward meeting State and local goals. Requires LEAs to use such subgrant funds for district-wide reform, consistent with State and local plans. Sets forth a list of authorized activities. Authorizes appropriations to carry out this Act of FY 1992 through 2002, but prohibits any such appropriations for FY 1992 through 1994 unless the aggregate appropriation for all elementary and secondary programs which received funding in the previous fiscal year is at least equal to the appropriation for such preceding fiscal year, adjusted for inflation. Authorizes the Secretary, from such appropriation for this Act, to make annual grants to States with approved applications based upon the formula for State allotments under the chapter 1 program for education of disadvantaged children (under part A of chapter 1 of title I of ESEA). Provides for a gradually declining Federal share (from 100 percent in the first year to 33 percent in the fifth and any succeeding year) of total program costs. Requires the remaining program cost to be paid by the State from a combination of State and private sector funds. Limits the amount which may be reserved for administrative costs. Requires annual progress reports by States to the Secretary, including progress toward State goals and plans and description of proposed activities for the succeeding year. Directs the Secretary to evaluate a representative sample of such State and local reform efforts over the course of the ten-year authorization, to assess their effectiveness in improving educational performance outcomes of all children, including an examination of such activities' effects on disadvantaged students. Authorizes reservation of a portion of funds for such evaluation. Declares that nothing in this Act shall supersede State law.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 1991
Designates October 30, 1991, as Refugee Day.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1991
Amends the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 to extend through FY 1995 the authorization of appropriations for specified programs for drug abuse education and prevention: (1) relating to youth gangs; and (2) for runaway and homeless youth. Amends the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989 to replace a reference to the National Narcotics Leadership Act of 1988 with a reference to the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 1991
Tax Fairness and Accountability Act of 1991 - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to require any legislation that increases the tax rate, the tax base, or the amount of income subject to tax, or decreases a deduction, exclusion, or credit to be approved in the House of Representatives and the Senate by an affirmative vote of three-fifths of its Members.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 1991
Designates May 1992 as National Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Month.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 1991
Authorizes the Speaker of the House of Representatives to enter into an agreement with the Triangle Coalition for Science and Technology Education to establish an Albert Einstein Congressional Fellowship Program providing for two fellowships within the House, in each fiscal year, beginning in FY 1992. Provides for the agreement only if the Triangle Coalition for Science and Technology meets certain program requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 1991
Recognizes and grants a Federal charter to the Military Order of the World Wars, a nonprofit corporation organized under the laws of the District of Columbia.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 1991
Job Training Reform Amendments - Declares it to be the policy of the United States to: (1) provide financial assistance to States and local service delivery areas (SDAs) to meet the training needs of low-income adults and youth and assist them in obtaining unsubsidized employment; (2) increase funds available for programs of training services for the disadvantaged by at least ten percent of the baseline each fiscal year to provide for growth in the number of eligible adults and youth served beyond the current five percent of the eligible population in need of these services; and (3) encourage provision of longer and more comprehensive education, training, and employment services to the eligible population, with increased funding to maintin current service levels. Amends the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) to authorize appropriations. Defines "basic skills deficient" as reading or computing skills at or below 8th grade level. Adds the Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs, the Center for Employment Training, and organizations serving older workers to the list of community-based organizations. Strikes from such list the National Urban Indian Council. Revises the definition of "economically disadvantaged" to: (1) refer to income guidelines promulgated each year by the Secretary of Health and Human Services; and (2) include those determined eligible for, even if not receiving, food stamps. Revises the definition of "supportive services" to include drug and alcohol abuse counseling and referral and individual and family counseling. Includes representatives of local welfare agencies on private industry councils (PICs). Applies the requirement for a job training plan to training services for the disadvantaged only. Revises requirements for the contents of such plans to provide for linkages with appropriate agencies and for outreach to recruit locally determined target groups. Revises requirements for training services for the disadvantaged performance standards to: (1) promote delivery of services to the hard-to-serve; and (2) add measurement of increased basic education attainment and occupational skills (as well as the current measurement of increased employment and earnings and reduced welfare dependency). Provides for the following additional factors in performance standards for youth programs: (1) attainment of employability competencies; (2) eighth grade, secondary and postsecondary school completion or its equivalent; and (3) enrollment in other education, training, or employment programs or apprenticeships, or enlistment in the Armed Forces. Requires the private industry council to determine levels for competency standards based on such factors as entry skill levels and other hiring requirements. Sets forth additional elements of performance standards. Retains the requirement that the Secretary prescribe performance standards relating gross program expenditures to various performance measures, but states that such standards shall not be taken into consideration in the award of incentive grants. Provides that Governor's incentive grant awards shall be to service delivery areas (SDAs) conducting adult and youth programs which: (1) meet specified performance standards established by the Secretary and exceed performance standards for long-term placement of hard-to-serve populations; (2) place participants in employment providing wages at placement exceeding the appropriate performance criteria, as well as employer-assisted employment benefits (including health benefits); (3) meet specified performance standards established by the Governor; and (4) establish linkages with other programs to avoid duplication and enhance delivery of services. Retains the requirement for the Secretary to prescribe performance standards for dislocated workers employment and training assistance based on placement and retention in unsubsidized employment. Eliminates, however, the requirement that such standards make appropriate allowance for the difference in cost resulting from serving workers receiving certain needs-related payments. Changes from discretionary to mandatory the authority of State Governors to prescribe within certain parameters, variations in performance standards for training services for the disadvantaged and for dislocated workers employment and training assistance. Directs the Secretary to: (1) provide information and technical assistance on performance standards adjustments; (2) collect data that identify hard-to-serve individuals and long-term welfare dependency; (3) provide guidance on setting performance goals at the service provider level that encourages increased service to the hard-to-serve, particularly long-term welfare recipients; and (4) review performance standards to ensure that they provide maximum incentive in serving the hard-to-serve, particulary long-term welfare recipients, including those receiving benefits under the aid to families with dependent children (AFDC) and supplement security income (SSI) programs of the Social Security Act. Authorizes Governors to prescribe additional performance standards for these programs, which must be reported in the coordination and special services plan. Directs the Secretary to prescribe performance standards for: (1) employment and training programs for Native Americans and migrant and seasonal farm workers; (2) the Jobs Corps; and (3) the jobs for employable dependent individuals incentive bonus program. Directs the Secretary to prescribe a system for variations in JTPA performance standards for special populations to be served. (Current law requires prescription of such variations, but without system.) Authorizes the Secretary to modify JTPA performance standards not more often than once every two program years (except that Job Corps standards may be modified each program year). Prohibits such modifications from being retroactive. Directs the Secretary to establish uniform criteria for determining SDA failure to meet performance standards and for requiring certain remedial responses. Sets forth required responses to failures to meet such standards, including a process for correction. Requires each State Governor to report annually on the final performance of each SDA and on the Governor's plans to provide technical assistance to SDAs failing to meet the prescribed uniform criteria. Directs the Secretary, upon determination that the Governor has not provided appropriate technical assistance, to provide such assistance using specified funds withheld from the State administration set-aside. Requires the Governor, if an SDA continues to fail to meet performance standards for two program years, to: (1) notify the Secretary and the SDA of the continued failure; and (2) develop and impose a reorganization plan. Directs the Secretary, if the Governor has not initiated such requirements within 90 days after the end of the second program year of such failure, to develop and impose such reorganization plan, using the specified withheld funds. Allows the alternative administrative entity under such reorganization plan to be a newly formed private industry council or any agency jointly selected by the Governor and the chief elected official of the largest local government in the SDA or substate area. Allows SDA to appeal for revision of such reorganization plans. Defines "employment," for purposes of JTPA performance standards, as employment for more than 20 hours per week. Requires selection of service providers to be made on a competitive basis and to include: (1) a determination of such provider's ability to meet program design specifications that take into account JTPA's purpose and the needs established in the Governor's coordination and special services plan; and (2) documentation of compliance with procurement standards established by the Secreary, including the reasons for selection. Revises limitations on certain costs for specified programs, including general administrative costs, combined administration and support services costs, and training-related services costs. Prohibits duplication of supportive services which are available free to participants through other services. Provides for recapture and reallotment of unexpended funds for training services for the disadvantaged youth program. Revises requirements for the Governor's coordination and special services plans to include descriptions of State coordination measures and projected grant uses. Includes State agencies primarily responsible for administration of programs for older workers among those which may be represented on the State Job Coordinating Council. Revises provisions for State education coordination and grants. Repeals specified provisions for training programs for older workers. Requires identification of any State- or SDA-rule, regulation, policy, or performance standard relating to administration and operation of programs funded by JTPA. Requires State labor market information programs to include training and technical assistance to support comprehensive career guidance and participant outcome activities for local programs assisted under JTPA. Revises program requirements for service delivery systems. Exempts normal tuition charges for training or education from certain requirements for a breakdown of cost components. Exempts from specified cost limitations certain administrative expenses related to training incurred by community-based organizations. Requires placements made in unsubsidized employment to be in job areas related to the training provided to the participant. Allows an SDA which is a city or a country to serve residents of either the city or the country if the city is located within the county and is a separate SDA. Limits the duration of on-the-job training to a period not in excess of that generally required for acquisition of skills needed for that position, but never exceeding six months. Requires on-the-job contracts to: (1) specify types and duration of training and other services; and (2) if an intermediary brokering contractor is used for placements, specify certain additional services and factors. Revises provisions relating to disposal of assets and program income. Prohibits JTPA funds from being used for employment generating activities, economic development activities, revolving loan funds, capitalization of businesses, contract bidding resource centers, activities to induce or encourage relocations resulting in loss of employment at the previous existing location, and similar activities that do not result in the direct creation of jobs into which program participants are placed. Prohibits the use for foreign travel of funds for: (1) training services for the disadvantaged; or (2) employment and training assistance for dislocated workers. Extends specified minimum wage exemptions to certain SDAs. Revises certain Federal and fiscal administrative provisions. Allows the use of certain advance payment methods when contracting with nonprofit organizations of demonstrated effectiveness. Requires States to establish fiscal control and fund accounting procedures to ensure proper disbursal and accounting of Federal funds. Requires the Secretary to establish procurement standards for States, local areas, and SDAs to ensure that specified criteria are met. Requires State Governors to: (1) conduct annual on-site monitoring of each SDA and substate area to ensure compliance with such procurement standards; (2) impose corrective action to secure prompt compliance; (3) impose specified sanctions in the event of failure to take required corrective action; and (4) certify biennially the State's implementation, monitoring, and enforcement of such standards. Directs the Secretary, upon determination that the Governor has not fulfilled such requirements, to impose such corrective actions and sanctions. Requires the Governor, in cases of failure to take required corrective actions for substantial violations of JTPA provisions or regulations, to direct the Governor to: (1) issue a notice of intent to revoke approval of all or part of the plan affected; or (2) impose a reorganization plan, which may include specified changes. Provides for appeals of corrective actions and sanctions. Directs the Secretary to take such actions if the Governor fails to do so promptly. Directs the Secretary to: (1) review the implementation of these requirements and report with recommendations to the Congress on the effectiveness of such provisions; and (2) provide for an independent study of the amount and use of program income received by service providers, and submit such study with recommendations to the Congress. Revises reporting, recordkeeping, and requirements investigative requirements. Requires recipients to maintain and provide to the Secretary standardized records of a sufficient number of individual participants to provide an adequate sample size to allow for preparation of national estimates to meet specified requirements. Requires the Secretary, Inspector General, or Comptroller General to furnish States or SDAs which are going to be investigated with the monitoring guides to be used by reviewers. Requires States, administrative entities conducting the program, and recipients (other than sub-recipients) to monitor the performance of service providers in complying with the agreements under JTPA. Requires Governors to ensure that requirements are established for retention of records for specified periods. Revises requirements for information in reports. Directs the Secretary to ensure that all elements required for reports are defined and reported uniformly. Revises provisions for training services for the disadvantaged adults and youth. Revises adult program allotment provisions to establish State set-asides for education, performance incentives, and auditing and administration. Allows individuals, whether employed or unemployed, to be eligible for adult program services as long as they are adults (age 22 or older) who are economically disadvantaged. Requires that at least 60 percent of program participants in each SDA be individuals who, in addition to being economically disadvantaged adults, are in one or more of the following categories: (1) basic skills deficient; (2) school dropouts; (3) recipients of cash welfare payments; (4) offenders; (5) individuals with disabilities; or (6) homeless. (Retains the current provision that allows up to ten percent of program participants in an SDA not to be economically disadvantaged if they have encountered barriers to employment.) Requires SDAs to: (1) make special efforts and expenditures to serve older workers; (2) coordinate delivery of such services with those under the Older Americans Act; and (3) give priority to service providers with demonstrated effectiveness in providing such services. Establishes adult program design requirements, including: (1) assessment of participants' skill levels and service needs; (2) development of service strategies to identify employment goals, appropriate achievement objectives, and appropriate services; (3) review of participant progress; and (4) if appropriate, basic (including language) and occupational skills training and supportive services. Requires that job search, skills training, job club, and work experience be accompanied by other services designed to increase a participant's basic education or occupational skills. Allows an exception from such combination requirement only if: (1) the participant's assessment and service strategy indicate that the additional services are not appropriate; and (2) the activities are not available to the participant through the Employment Service or other public agencies. Allows continued provision of counseling and supportive services to a participant for up to one year after termination from the program. Revises authorized services for which adult program funds may be used. Eliminates employment-generating activities from the list of such authorized services. Divides the lists of such services into direct training and training-related and supportive services. Requires SDAs to link with: (1) other specified Federal programs; and (2) State, local, and private programs, as appropriate. Allows an SDA to transfer up to ten percent of adult program funds to the youth program under certain conditions. Revises provisions for summer youth employment training programs to limit administrative costs to 15 percent. Requires SDAs to: (1) expend funds for basic and remedial education as described in the State job training plan; (2) assess participant skill levels and service needs and develop service strategy for participants; and (3) provide follow-up services for participants for whom a service strategy has been developed. Allows individual concurrent enrollment in such program and in disadvantaged youth programs. Sets forth provisions for the disadvantaged youth program. Revises allotment formulas to establish set-aside for State education coordination and grants. Revises eligibility requirements for in-school youth and out-of-school youth. Requires that at least 60 percent of the funds for in-school youth and for out-of-school youth, respectively, be used for participation of specified targeted groups. Establishes year-round program design requirements, including: (1) assessment of participants' skill levels and service needs; (2) development of service strategies to identify achievement objectives, appropriate employment goals, and appropriate services; (3) review of participant progress; and (4) if appropriate, basic skills training, occupational skills training, pre-employment and work maturity skills training, work experience combined with skills training, and supportive services. Requires that work experience, job search, job search skills training, and job club activities be accompanied by additional services which: (1) are designed to increase a participant's basic education or occupational skills; and (2) may be provided sequentially or concurrentllly, under other education and training programs. Allows continued provision of counseling and supportive services to a participant for up to one year after termination from the program. Requires SDAs to establish linkages with the appropriate educational agencies responsible for service to participants. Provides that authorized youth services may include, but need not be limited to, the services described under the headings of direct training, training related services, and participant support services under part A adult program provisions. Provides that additional authorized youth services may include specified features. Requires SDAs to link the youth program with: (1) other specified Federal education and training programs; and (2) as appropriate, State, local, and private programs. Allows an SDA to transfer up to ten percent of youth program funds to the adult program under certain conditions. Provides, with respect to employment and training assistance for dislocated workers, that an eligible dislocated worker participating in training (except on-the-job training) shall be deemed to be in training with the approval of the State agency for purposes of unemployment compensation. Extends the authorization for specified demonstration programs. Revises employment and training programs for Native American and migrant and seasonal farmworkers. Directs the Secretary to: (1) designate a single organizational unit to have as its primary responsibility the administration of all Native American programs authorized under JTPA; and (2) promote recruitment and promotion of Indians, Native Alaskans, and Native Hawaiians to positions in such unit. Authorizes the Secretary to waive, under the migrant and seasonal farmworker programs, the requirement of biennial competition for grants for those grantees that: (1) have performed satisfactorily on their existing grant; and (2) submit a satisfactory two-year plan for the succeeding period. Requires JTPA grants for Native American programs and for migrant and seasonal farmworker programs to be consistent with specified standard competitive procurement procedures and auditing procedures. Amends provisions for the Job Corps. Revises the age limits for participation in the Job Corps to allow not more than 20 percent of the enrollees to be from age 22 through 24. Declares that JTPA allows participants to participate concurrently or sequentially in both the Job Corps and training services for the disadvantaged. Increases from ten to 20 percent the allowable number of nonresidential participants enrolled in the Job Corps in any year. Requires that, in enrolling nonresident participants, priority be given to those eligible individuals who are single parents with dependent children. Prohibits use of Department of Labor funds to contract with a nongovernmental agency to administer or manage a Civilian Conservation Center of the Job Corps on public land. Directs the Secretary, as practicable, to provide child care at or near Job Corps centers for individuals who require such care for their children in order to participate in the Job Corps. Requires each Job Corps center to provide alcohol and drug abuse counseling and referral to participate who need such services. Directs the Secretary to provide all nonprofit Job Corps contractors with an equitable and negotiated management fee of not less than one percent of the contract amount. Revises provisions for national activities, including research, demonstration, training and technical assistance. Directs the Secretary to provide guidance and technical assistance to State and SDAs relating to documentation of participants' eligibility for training services for the disadvantaged. Directs the Secretary to: (1) lead the Departments of Labor of Education, of Health and Human Services, and other appropriate departments in identifying a core set of consistently defined data elements for employment and training programs; and (2) report to the Congress on recommended data elements and definitions. Revises provisions for labor market information. Directs the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in cooperation with the States, to engage in research and demonstration on organizing and making accessible nationwide information on quarterly earnings, establishment and industry affiliation, and geographic location of employment, for feasibility determination and/or policy research and program evaluation purposes, while ensuring confidentiality and privacy. Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress within 12 months on the costs and benefits of such a database under the cooperative labor information program. Includes the Secretary of Health and Human Services among those with whom the Secretary is to cooperate in reviewing and coordinating labor market information systems. Directs the Secretary, through the National Occupational Information Coordinating Committee (NOICC), to report biennially to the Congress on development and maintenance of a common core of labor market information. Increases the authorization of funding for NOICC. Directs NOICC to: (1) give special attention to career development; and (2) conduct research and demonstrations to improve coordination and compatibility of Federal or State human resources data systems, including economic development assistance systems, and to provide support to States in implementing system enhancements. Establishes a new Youth Opportunities Unlimited Program. Authorizes the Secretary to establish such national program of Youth Opportunities Unlimited (YOU) grants to pay 50 percent of the cost of comprehensive education, training, and employment services for youth in high poverty areas in urban and rural areas. Requires such grants to be awarded to the local service delivery area (on behalf of the participating community) in which the target area is located (or to designated grantees if the target area is in a farmworker community, Indian reservation, or Alaskan native village). Authorizes the Secretary to select as grant recipients up to 25 communities in the first year after the program is in effect. Requires that at least one, but not more than three, of such grants be awarded to: (1) designated representatives of Indian reservations and Alaskan native villages; and (2) designated representatives of farmworkers. Makes such grants cover a three-year period, with each year conditional upon compliance. Authorizes participating communities to apply for grants for use on behalf of target areas. Requires that a designated area have not more than 25,000 population, except in the case of single school districts. Makes all youth aged 14 through 21 in the target area eligible to participate in assisted programs and activities. Requires each participating community to develop an integrated service delivery system in each target area which meets specified minimum criteria for services. Requires such programs to also have an education component, outreach and recruitment efforts, youth program models, and measurable goals and outcomes. Sets forth requirements for maintenance of State and local funding levels, limitations on use of program funds, applications, and Federal and local shares. Directs the Secretary to provide for technical assistance, independent evaluations, and a report. Reserves funds for such program. Establishes a new microenterprise grants program. Directs the Secretary, to make grants in limited amounts to not more than ten States per year to implement and enhance community-based microenterprise activities. Requires that such activities produce substantial benefits for persons whose annual income does not exceed the poverty line. Authorizes use of such grants for staff entry level training, technical assistance, and support programs and counseling. Sets forth application and selection requirements. Requires State matching funds and annual reports. Defines microenterprise as a commercial enterprise: (1) with five or fewer employees, one or more of whom owns the enterprise; and (2) none of the owners of which has income exceeding the poverty line.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 1991
Fairness in Product Liability Act of 1991 - Governs any product liability action brought in either State or Federal court against a manufacturer or product seller on any theory for harm caused by a product, superseding State law in specified ways and degrees. Makes a product seller liable only if the seller: (1) failed to exercise reasonable care regarding the product, and the failure was the proximate cause of the harm; (2) made an express warranty, independent of any express warranty by the manufacturer, the product failed to conform to the warranty and the failure caused the harm; or (3) engaged in international wrongdoing which was a proximate cause of the harm. Makes a product seller liable as if the seller were the manufacturer if: (1) the manufacturer is not subject to service of process under State laws; or (2) a court determines the claimant would be unable to enforce a judgment against the manufacturer. Allows, in certain circumstances, a complete defense of alcohol or controlled substance use. Reduces damages by the percentage of harm attributable to misuse or alteration of a product by any person, subject to exception involving misuse or alteration by the claimant's employer or coemployees. Allows punitive damages against a manufacturer or seller for conscious, flagrant indifference to user safety. Prohibits, in certain circumstances, punitive damages regarding a drug or device, as defined in the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, unless packaging of a drug is substantially out of compliance with tamper-resistant packaging regulations. Declares manufacturer or seller liability to be several and not joint for noneconomic damages. Requires a product liability action to be brought within two years after the harm and its cause is, or with reasonable diligence should have been, discovered. Sets the time limit at 25 years for products which are capital goods. Requires offset of workers' compensation benefits. Sets forth rules regarding subrogation, contribution, indemnity, and liens. Provides for tort actions against employers. Prohibits U.S. district courts from having jurisdiction under specified provisions of Federal law over any civil action arising under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 1991
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1991 - Amends the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to allow States to opt to include under the definition of "children with disabilities," for children aged three through five, those who need special education and related services because they are experiencing delays in one or more following areas of their development: physical, cognitive, communication, social or emotional, or adaptive. Increases the amount of Assistance for Education of All Handicapped Children grant funds which a State may use for administrative costs. Revises provisions relating to Indian reservations. Requires that payments by the Secretary of Education (the Secretary) to the Secretary of the Interior are to meet assistance needs for the education of children with disabilities aged five through 21 on reservations who are enrolled in elementary and secondary schools for Indian children operated or funded by the Secretary of the Interior. Allows Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) schools which are State-accredited to count Indian students aged three through five enrolled in affiliated programs for the purpose of funds distribution. Makes the Secretary of the Interior responsible for meeting all assistance requirements for such children. Makes the State educational agency (SEA) responsible for ensuring that all such requirements are implemented with respect to all other children aged three through 21 on reservations. Revises requirements for the application by the Secretary of the Interior for the allotment payment, including additional requirements for information, coordination, and cooperation in monitoring and oversight. Directs the Secretary to make payments to the Secretary of the Interior for distribution to tribes or tribal organizations or consortia to provide for the coordination of assistance for special education and related services for children aged three through five on reservations served by elementary and secondary schools for Indian children operated or funded by the Department of the Interior. Sets forth formulas for such distribution. Requires such funds to be used to assist in child find, screening, and other procedures for the early identification of children aged three through five, parent training, and direct services. Requires the tribe or tribal organization to report biennially to the Secretary of the Interior on the activities undertaken with such funds. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to offer and, on request, provide technical assistance (especially in the areas of child find, diagnosis, and referrral) to State, local, and intermediate educational agencies, and tribes and tribal organizations. Prohibits specified assistance funds from being used by the Secretary of the Interior for administrative purposes, including child count, and the provision of technical assistance. Directs the Secretary of the Interior, before January 1, 1992, to submit to specified congressional committees a plan for the coordination of services, from whatever source, for all Indian children with disabilities residing on reservations covered under IDEA. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish under the BIA an advisory board on education and provision of services to Indian infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities. Requires State plans to set forth policies and procedures relating to the smooth transition for those participants in the early intervention program who will participate in preschool programs under IDEA, including a method of ensuring development and implementation, by a child's third birthday, of an individualized education program or, if consistent with specified provisions, an individualized family service plan. Revises application requirements to allow the local or intermediate educational agency, if this is consistent with State policy and has the concurrence of parents or guardian, to establish, annually review, and revise an individualized family service plan (as an alternative to an individualized education plan) for each child with a disability, aged three through five. Revises provisions for preschool grants to increase to $1,500 (from $1,000) the maximum limit on a preschool grant to a State per child with a disability, aged three through five. Allows a State to opt to use a certain portion of its preschool grant to provide a free public education to two-year-old children with disabilities who will reach age three during the school year, whether or not they are receiving or have received services under the early intervention program (also allows the local or intermediate educational agency to use its preschool grant funds from the State for such purpose, if consistent with State policy). Provides that early intervention program provisions do not apply to any child with disabilities receiving a free public education with funds received under preschool grants provisions. Revises IDEA provisions for early education for children with disabilities to include program services and activities for: (1) individuals at risk of having substantial developmental delays if early intervention services are not provided; (2) outreach to low-income, minority, rural, and other underserved populations eligible for assistance under IDEA; and (3) supporting statewide projects in conjunction with an early intervention plan and preschool grant application, to change from segregated to integrated environments the delivery of early intervention services to infants and toddlers with disabilities and of special education and related services to preschool children with disabilities. Directs the Secretary to fund up to five grants to States for three years to establish a statewide interagency, multidisciplinary, coordinated system to identify, track, and refer to appropriate services all categories of children who are biologically and/or environmentally at-risk of having developmental delays. Sets forth requirements for grantees. Revises provisions for personnel training and parent training and information. Directs the Secretary to fund up to five grants to States or other entities to support formation of a consortium or partnerships of public and private entities to provide opportunities for career advancement and/or competency-based training for current workers at public and private agencies providing services to infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities. Sets information dissemination requirements and authorized uses of funds. Provides for award of a cooperative agreement through a separate competition to an entity to provide technical assistance to grantees. Requires grantees to give priority to providing specified parent training and information services to parents of children aged zero through five. Requires the Secretary, in ensuring that parent training and information grants will serve parents of minority children with disabilities representative to the proportion of the minority population in the areas being served, to specify: (1) the special efforts that will be undertaken to involve parents of such children; and (2) budgetary items earmarked for ensuring such services. Requires the Secretary to obtain data on the number of parents served under such parent training and information programs who are parents of children with disabilities aged zero through five. Increases the amounts authorized to be appropriated for FY 1992 through 1994 for provisions for training personnel for the education of individuals with disabilities. Revises definitions, under provisions for early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities, to include references to the following developmental needs: communication, social or emotional, and adaptive. Includes among early intervention services: vision services, assistive technology devices and services, and transportation and related costs. Includes among qualified personnel: family therapists, orientation and mobility specialists, and pediatricians and other physicians. Requires that early intervention services, to the maximum extent appropriate, be provided in natural environments, including the home, and community settings in which children without disabilities participate. Authorizes differential funding for the fourth or fifth year of grant allotments to States under the early intervention program for handicapped infants and toddlers (from birth to age two), thus allowing certain States to continue their participation in such program under specified conditions. Allows States that have not met all or some of fourth or fifth year requirements to request extended participation for such years and, if such request is approved by the Secretary of Education, receive an allotment for such years in an amount set at a specified earlier, lesser rate. Provides for reallotment of the resultant excess funds to States that have met all the requirements for such years and that will consequently be receiving the full grant allotment for such years, as well as such additional funds from their portion of such reallotment. Revises requirements for a statewide system of services, under the early intervention program, include reference to service coordination (rather than case management) services under the individualized family service plan. Requires the comprehensive system of personnel development to: (1) include training of paraprofessionals; and (2) be consistent with the preschool system. Revises the lead State agency responsibilities to: (1) include monitoring compliance of programs and activities used by the State to carry out the early intervention program whether or not these are receiving assistance; and (2) provide for assignment of fiscal responsibility to the appropriate agencies in accordance with provisions for State designation of an individual entity to make such assignment. Revises part H requirements for the State application and assurances. Requires such application to also include: (1) a designation by the State of an individual or entity responsible for assigning financial responsibility among appropriate agencies; (2) a description of the policies and procedures used to ensure a smooth transition for participants in early intervention programs who are eligible to participate in preschool programs, including how the families will be included in transitional plans and how the early intervention programs who are eligible to participate in preschool programs, including how the families will be included in the transitional plan and how the early intervention lead agency will notify the appropriate local or intermediate educational agency at least 90 days before such child is eligible for the preschool program in accordance with State law; and (3) a description of the policies and procedures used to review the child's program options, for the period beginning in the day the child turns three years old through the remainder of the school year, and to establish a transition plan. Requires the State, beginning in FY 1992, to assure that policies and practices have been adopted to ensure meaningful involvement of traditionally underserved families, including minority, low-income, and rural families, in early intervention planning and implementation and access of such families to culturally competent services within their local areas. Allows a State to use early intervention program funds to provide a free appropriate public education, in accordance with preschool program provisions, to children with disabilities in the transitional period from their third birthdays to the beginning of the following school year. Revises early intervention statewide system procedural safeguards to also include the rights of parents or guardians to: (1) written notice of and written consent to the exchange of personnally identifiable information among agencies, consistent with Federal and State laws; and (2) determine whether they, their infant or toddler, or other family members will accept or decline any early intervention service in accordance with State law without jeopardizing other such early intervention services. Revises early intervention requirements relating to State Interagency Coordinating Council: (1) membership composition and numbers; (2) chairperson; (3) functions (adding advice and assistance in toddlers transition to preschool programs and in provision of appropriate services for children from birth through age five); and (4) expenditures (including child care for parent representatives). Revises early intervention requirements for allocation of funds among tribal organizations or consortia. Requires such funds to be used to assist States in child find, screening, and other procedures for the early identification of Indian children aged zero through two, and for parent training. Allows such funds to be used also to provide early intervention services. Requires the tribe or tribal organization to report biennially to the Secretary of the Interior on the activities undertaken with such funds. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to include a summary of such information, biennially, with other specified information required to be submitted to the Secretary of Education. Authorizes the Secretary of Education to require any additional information from the Secretary of the Interior. Prohibits any of such early intervention funds from being used by the Secretary of the Interior for administrative purposes, including child count, and the provision of technical assistance. Extends through FY 1994 the payment of State allotments for early intervention program services. Provides that each State shall receive at least a specified minimum amount in such allotment. Extends through FY 1994 the authorization for early intervention program services. Directs the Secretary of Education (the Secretary) to establish a Federal Interagency Coordinating Council, for early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families and preschool services for children with disabilities, to: (1) minimize duplication of programs and activities at Federal, State, and local agency levels; (2) coordinate Federal agency programs and policies and technical assistance and support to States; and (3) identify gaps in programs and services and barriers to Federal interagency cooperation and program operation. Directs the Secretary to: (1) undertake a study to identify alternative formulas allocating early intervention program funds, including specified analyses; and (2) transmit the study and a report on it to specified congressional committees by March 1, 1993. Amends both Federal law relating to impact aid and the Defense Dependents Education Act of 1978 to require that IDEA provisions for early intervention services and preschool public education apply, respectively, to infants and toddlers age birth through two with disabilities and children aged three through five with disabilities who are military dependents served under such law and such Act. Makes various technical amendments and changes in terminology in IDEA, and updates various Federal laws' references to IDEA. Increases the amount of funds which a State may use for administrative costs under certain IDEA provisions.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 1991
Designates November 1991 as National Red Ribbon Month.
United States · United States Congress · 23 July 1991
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the people of the United States should recognize: (1) the tenth anniversary of "An Artistic Discovery" (the Congressional High School Art Competition); and (2) its success in encouraging the creative endeavors of our Nation's young artists and forging strong working relationships among the Congress, businesses, and the arts community towards the ultimate goal of providing opportunities for high school students to express their artistic talents.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 1991
Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Education to study and evaluate, through the Office of Educational Research and Improvement, the effectiveness of various programs that guarantee disadvantaged children the financial resources needed to pursue a postsecondary education in exchange for the child's commitment to achieving a satisfactory elementary and secondary education. Requires dissemination of such study findings through appropriate agencies and organizations, including business associations. Requires an interim and a final report to specified congressional committees. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 1991
Designates August 29, 1991, as National Sarcoidosis Awareness Day.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 1991
Amends the National School Lunch Act to extend through FY 1994 the eligibility of certain school districts to receive, under a pilot project, all cash payments or all commodity letters of credit in lieu of entitlement commodities for school lunch programs.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 1991
Designates May 1992 as National Trauma Awareness Month.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 1991
Amends the General Education Provisions Act to exclude from the definition of educational records, under requirements relating to family educational and privacy rights, any records maintained by a law enforcement unit of the educational agency or institution, that were created by that law enforcement unit for the purpose of law enforcement.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 1991
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the President should establish a bipartisan commission to investigate the operation of and complaints regarding, the U.S. Postal Service.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 1991
Partnerships for Educational Advancement Act of 1991 - Amends title I (Postsecondary Programs for Nontraditional Students) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to add: (1) a new part E program of grants for articulation agreements and planning between parterships of two-year and four-year institutions of higher education; and (2) a new part F program of articulation scholarships for the second through fourth academic years of undergraduate education to encourage students pursuing an associate degree to continue their higher education. Directs the Secretary of Education (the Secretary) to make such grants to States to make awards to articulation partnerships between qualified institutions, on the basis of either a competition or a formula determined by the State. Provides for allocation of such grant funds to States: (1) by a formula based the relative total amount of student assistance received under HEA title IV by students attending institutions in the State, if the authorization of appropriations for such grants program equals or exceeds a specified amount; or (2) if such authorized amount is less than the specified amount, by competitive grants which the Secretary is authorized to make to States. Sets forth requirements for State and local applications, articulation agreements, and State administrative costs limitation. Requires States to give priority to grant applications for programs which: (1) encourage teacher education; (2) have, as one partner participating in the agreement, an entity meeting a specified requirement for the tech-prep education program consortia (i.e. a local or intermediate educational agency or area vocational education school serving secondary school students, or a secondary school funded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs) under the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act; (3) contribute their own institutional resources; (4) are not subject to a student loan default reduction agreement under title IV (Student Assistance) of HEA; or (5) encourage articulation in subject areas of national importance as determined by the Secretary. Sets forth requirements for annual State program reports and for program evaluation by the Secretary. Directs the Secretary to: (1) report to the Congress by January 31, 1996, on the results of such evaluation; and (2) disseminate findings relating to the most successful programs. Reserves limited amounts for such purposes. Authorizes appropriations for the articulation agreements grants program. Authorizes the Secretary to award articulation scholarships, for the second through fourth undergraduate years, to students who, during the first year of the scholarship award, are enrolled in the second year of an associate degree program all course credits of which may be counted toward a bachelor's degree. Authorizes the Secretary to conduct, either directly or by contract, a national competition to select such scholars. Requires selection procedures to assure at least one scholar shall be selected each year from each State. Requires selection on the basis of superior academic ability and leadership potential. Requires that selected scholars be eligible students under HEA title IV student assistance provisions. Requires the Secretary to give priority to students demonstrating: (1) superior academic ability; and (2) financial need for assistance (i.e. only if eligible for and will receive assistance under the Pell Grants program). Allows an individual selected for such a scholarship award to receive the award only if the institution they will attend: (1) has entered into a HEA title IV student assistance program participation agreement with the Secretary; and (2) has agreed to contribute at least 20 percent of the cost of such award from its own resources (which may include institutional grants or scholarship funds and tuition and fee waivers). Provides that each student awarded such a scholarship shall receive, for each covered year of academic study, an award of $1,000 plus an amount not exceeding the lesser of $10,000 or the total cost of attendance, and which, when combined with the student's estimated financial assistance under title IV, does not exceed such total cost of attendance. Allows such awards to be used to replace an amount otherwise expected to be contributed by the student or their family or to be borrowed under title IV requirements. Provides that such award shall not be taken into account in determining title IV eligibility or amount of aid, except that the total shall not exceed the total cost of attendance. Provides for reductions to avoid such excess amounts. Sets forth scholarship conditions for satisfactory progress and verification. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 1991
Designates the week beginning August 11, 1991, as National Convenience Store Appreciation Week.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 1991
Multiple Employer Health Benefits Protection Act of 1991 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to establish certification standards under title I (Protection of Employee Beneift Rights) for multiple employer welfare arrangements (MEWAs) providing health benefits. Treats as employee welfare benefits plans, and exempts from certain restrictions on preemption, a MEWA which provide benefits consisting solely on specified medical care, which is not fully insured, and with respect to which a specified certificate of compliance is in effect or there is pending a complete application for such a certificate and the Secretary of Labor (the Secretary) determines that provision protection under this Act is appropriate. Sets forth requirements for such certificate of compliance, including provisions for: (1) application information and filing fee; (2) issuance of certificate; (3) treatment of party seeking the certificate where the party is subject to disqualification for specified reasons; and (4) franchise networks. Sets forth additional filing requirements, including: (1) notice of material changes; (2) annual reports; (3) engagement of qualified actuary; and (4) filing certificates of compliance with States. Sets forth requirements for disclosures to participating employees. Requires MEWAs with certificates of compliance under this Act and which are not fully insured to maintain specified types of reserves. Requires a specified minimum amount for certain of such reserves. Sets forth transitional rules for meeting escrow requirements. Requires the qualified actuary to include, in determining the amount of such required reserves, a margin for error and other fluctuations taking into account the specific circumstances of such MEWA. Requires such MEWAs to establish and maintain for each plan year aggregate and specific excess/stop loss coverage in a prescribed manner and amount. Sets forth corrective actions which such MEWAs' operating committees must take: (1) to avoid suspension or revocation of certification; or (2) in connection with termination of the MEWA. Sets forth provisions for certification: (1) expiration and renewal; (2) suspension or revocation by the Secretary or under court proceedings; (3) surrender and notification of participating employees; and (4) expiration, suspension, and revocation publication. Sets forth provisions for review of actions by the Secretary with respect to denials of applications for, or suspensions or revocations of, such certificate of compliance. Revises ERISA provisions relating to: (1) a specified exemption from preemption; (2) the definition of plan sponsor; and (3) treatment of single employer arrangements. Directs the Secretary to prescribe an alternative means of distribution of summary plan descriptions by participating employers, in the case of MEWAs. Requires MEWAs which provide medical care health benefits and which are not fully insured and which have not been certified under this Act to file specified registration statements with the Secretary and with the Insurance Commissioner (or similar official) of each State in which they conduct business.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 1991
National Aquaculture Development Act of 1991 - Designates the Department of Agriculture as the lead Federal agency for the coordination and implementation of national policy for private aquaculture. Establishes in the Department of Agriculture the Office of Aquaculture Policy Coordination and Development. Requires the Department to treat private aquaculture as a form of agriculture and aquaculture products as agricultural commodities. Amends the National Aquaculture Act of 1980 to add specified tasks to the aquaculture duties of the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Secretary of the Interior (the Secretaries). Sets forth requirements regarding the location and functioning of the National Aquaculture Information Center. Requires the interagency aquaculture coordinating group to establish a working relationship with the industry advisory councils of regional aquaculture centers and with national organizations and commodity associations. Mandates reports to the Congress regarding: (1) the application of the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 to aquaculture; and (2) actions taken to revise the National Aquaculture Development Plan. Removes provisions requiring the concurrence of the Secretaries in order to specify which of the Secretaries has responsibility for implementing each action in the Plan. Shifts certain requirements and powers from the Secretaries to the Secretary of Agriculture.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 1991
Official Anthem of the Statue of Liberty - States that it is the intent of the 101st Congress to memorialize "The Most Beautiful Lady in the World" written and composed by Helmut C. Calabrese and Paul L. Calabrese, and dedicates it as the official anthem of the Statue of Liberty.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 1991
Constitutional Amendment - Requires the Congress and the President, prior to each fiscal year, to agree on an estimate of total receipts (except those derived from borrowing) for that fiscal year by enactment of a law devoted solely to that subject. Prohibits outlays for that year (except those for repayment of debt principal) from exceeding this amount unless the Congress, by a three-fifths roll call vote of each House, authorizes a specific excess of outlays over receipts. Requires a three-fifths roll call vote of each House to increase the public debt. Directs the President to submit a balanced budget to the Congress. Requires the approval of a majority of the total membership of each House by roll call vote before any bill to increase revenue may become law. Waives these provisions when a declaration of war is in effect. Makes this article effective beginning with FY 1995 or with the second fiscal year after its ratification, whichever is later.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 1991
Designates the week of October 27 through November 2, 1991, and October 11 through 17, 1992, as National Job Skills Week.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 1991
Designates July 27 through August 2, 1991, as National Invent America! Week.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 1991
Individuals With Disabilities Transportation Assistance Act of 1991 - Amends the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964 to authorize the Secretary of Transportation (Secretary) to make grants to States, local public bodies and agencies, and private nonprofit corporations and associations to provide transportation to eligible individuals with disabilities between their homes and their places of employment or where they are seeking employment. Prohibits the Secretary from making such grants unless the grantee providing such transportation agrees to impose a charge on each individual using such transportation. Sets forth specified grant requirements. Sets at 90 percent for the first year, 80 percent the second year, and 75 percent the third year the Federal share of costs for such program. Requires the Secretary to make such grants on a competitive and formula basis. Requires specified reports. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 1991
Shipbuilding and Repair Industry Free Trade Act of 1991 - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to annually determine and publish the net shipbuilding and repair subsidy provided, directly and indirectly, to each major shipbuilding and repair company in foreign countries meeting certain requirements. Requires the information submitted to the Secretary in connection with the determinations to be treated as proprietary if it meets certain requirements of the Tariff Act of 1930. Requires each company to repay to its government the total value of the aggregate subsidy provided, plus interest. Directs the Secretary to: (1) require certification from both the company and the foreign government that the payments have occurred; and (2) if requested, verify the repayment. Directs the Secretary, if a company has not complied, to direct the Commandant of the Coast Guard to collect an annual assessment on each vessel constructed or repaired by the company. Sets the amount of the assessment at the amount of the net subsidy, adjusted by partial repayments and increased by any previous unpaid assessment. Prohibits a vessel from entering a U.S. port until the assessment is paid in full. Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to provide for the judicial review of subsidy assessment determinations by the U.S. Court of International Trade.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 1991
Abandoned Infants Assistance Act Amendments of 1991 - Amends the Abandoned Infants Assistance Act of 1988 to revise and extend various grant programs. Adds as a goal of the comprehensive services under such Act to support of the family in the broadest sense to prevent abandonment of the child. Requires (currently authorizes) the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) to make demonstration project grants for foster care and residential care for infants and young children abandoned in hospitals and for abandonment prevention programs. Includes the provision of services to all members of the natural family for any condition that increases the probability of abandonment of an infant or young child, under such demonstration projects to prevent abandonment. Includes coverage of medically fragile children and of the actual expenses of the persons receiving services under such demonstration projects for recruiting, training, and retaining foster families. Includes family support groups, parenting skills training, and various other services under such demonstration projects for natural and foster families of infants and children with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), and includes coverage for families of medically fragile children and youth under such provisions. Adds provisions for comprehensive service centers. Directs the Secretary to make demonstration grants from specified funds for a program for public entities to plan, coordinate, and establish model comprehensive service centers. Sets forth requirements for such centers and transition provisions. Requires the Secretary to make demonstration project grants under such Act, subject to availability of funds, for at least three-year periods, with two automatic extensions absent a finding of substantial nonperformance. Revises provisions for evaluations, studies, and reports by the Secretary under such Act. Provides that evaluations of demonstration projects shall be made with specified funds. Adds provisions for special needs dissemination. Directs the Secretary, from specified funds, to enter into contracts or cooperative agreements, with entities that have demonstrated appropriate expertise, to develop model projects for information assistance to special groups of individuals who: (1) show, on a national or State basis, disproportionate risk of dysfunctional behavior that will lead to abandonment of infants or young people covered under such Act, and (2) have been historically underserved in provision of such information. Sets forth contract requirements for types of information services and priorities to be given specified groups. Requires such contracts or agreements to be for at least three-year periods, with two additional consecutive one-year extensions absent a finding of substantial noncompliance. Defines the terms natural family and medically fragile for purposes of such Act. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1992 through 1995 under such Act for: (1) demonstration grants in general; (2) comprehensive service centers; (3) evaluations of demonstration projects; (4) special needs dissemination; and (5) administrative expenses, with specified limitations. Requires such funds to remain available until expended. Repeals a provision for program termination which prohibited any demonstration grant after FY 1991.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 1991
Integrity in Higher Education Act of 1991 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) with respect to student assistance to establish requirements for institutional integrity. Directs the Secretary of Education (the Secretary) to develop and implement objective performance standards for the administration of student assistance programs. Requires the Secretary to provide for the conduct of: (1) program reviews on a systematic basis designed to include all eligible institutions participating in such programs; and (2) recertification reviews of the administrative capability and financial responsibility of institutions over a five-year period on a targeted basis using objective criteria. Provides for automatic recertification and on-site reviews of such institutions. Requires each eligible institution to submit detailed information on its revenues and expenditures that the Secretary may require. Establishes the State postsecondary approving agency program. Directs the Secretary to enter into agreements with each of the States, either directly or through a consortium of States, to: (1) establish one State postsecondary approving agency (State agency) in each State to review and approve postsecondary institutions and educational programs for student assistance purposes; and (2) provide Federal reimbursement to States for the costs of State agencies performing the functions required by such agreements. Conditions such reimbursement on the State's continuing compliance with the agreement. Provides, if a State declines to enter into such an agreement, that the Secretary make other appropriate arrangements for program review and approval in that State with agencies or organizations of demonstrated competence in reviewing higher education programs. Directs the Secretary to serve as the approving agency for any institutions eligible to participate in student assistance programs but not offering educational programs in the United States. Sets forth requirements for such State agency agreements, including State organization structures. Declares that no State shall be required to: (1) fulfill the obligations of such an agreement unless the Secretary reimburses it for the specified Federal costs; or (2) enter into such an agreement unless the Congress appropriates the funds to pay those Federal costs. Provides for payment of Federal reimbursement to States for State agency costs with specified limitations. Authorizes appropriations. Sets forth State postsecondary approving agency functions. Prohibits a State agency from approving an institution, under institutional integrity requirements established by this Act, unless the institution complies with the following specified conditions. Requires the institution to obtain initial authorization to offer educational programs by meeting published State standards for: (1) financial and administrative capacity at a specified scale of operations; (2) facilities, equipment, and supplies; (3) personnel; (4) curriculum and instruction; (5) student support services; (6) admissions, academic calendars, tuition charges and fees, grading, academic progress, and advertising; (7) submission of data and documents on enrollments, completions, finances, and other topics; and (8) maintenance of student records. Requires the institution to demonstrate that: (1) it continues to comply with such standards; and (2) its students' achievement is of sufficient quality that it provides satisfactory education and training. Requires the institution, if a State does not have published standards, to meet standards prescribed by the Secretary through regulation or through an agreement with the State. Requires a special provision in the agreement if the State agency uses either accreditation by a private agency or compliance audits by a State guaranty agency as a substitute for State approval of compliance with such standards. Allows the State agency to establish different standards of approval for different classes of institutions; but requires a published standard for each such class, unless the agreement with the Secretary specifically exempts such classes. Authorizes the State agency to disapprove an institution or educational program on the basis of its own findings or those of the Secretary or another Federal entity, in accordance with specified procedures. Prohibits a State agency from: (1) performing specified financial and compliance audits as may be required under certain student assistance provisions; or (2) assuming financial liability for claims against institutions subject to the State agency's review and approval. Requires a State agency to establish procedures for receiving, responding to, and recording consumer complaints about approved institutions. Provides that nothing in this Act shall: (1) restrict States authority to establish mechanisms to enforce State standards; or (2) require States to establish specific mechanisms recommended by the Secretary. Lists certain types of enforcement mechanisms that the State plan under the agreement may include. Requires current approval by such a State agency for institutional participation in the programs of Stafford loans and other student financial assistance. Directs the Secretary to establish standards for approval of accrediting agencies or associations, which must be met before they may receive approval for student assistance. Sets forth various required contents of such standards, including that a agency or association: (1) maintain a clear distinction from any professional or trade organization having a related membership; and (2) apply accreditation standards that determine that an institution's services, curricula, faculty, facilities, fiscal resources, and students' achievements are of sufficient quality that it provides satisfactory education and training. Establishes a program of demonstration grants for improved administration and the reduction of regulatory burdens. Authorizes the Secretary to make such grants to public agencies, nonprofit private organizations, and institutions of higher education with demonstrated competence in reviewing higher education programs in order to help them demonstrate innovative approaches in administering student assistance programs.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 1991
Declares it to be the policy of the United States that: (1) the 25th anniversary of Federal aid to improve the basic and literacy skills of adults through the Adult Education Act (AEA) should be recognized and observed; and (2) there should be a continued commitment to Federal aid for educating adults through AEA to increase adult literacy and assure a productive work force and a competitive United States in the 21st century.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 1991
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1991 - Amends the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to extend the authorization of appropriations for early intervention program services for infants and toddlers with disabilities. Includes among such services assistive technology devices and services. Provides that service coordination and coordinator include case management services and a case manager. Requires the comprehensive system of personnel development to be consistent with the system under the program of assistance for the education of all children with disabilities. Revises lead State agency responsibilities to include monitoring compliance of programs and activities used by the State to carry out early intervention services, whether or not these are receiving assistance. Allows a State (in addition to the currently authorized direct services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families) to use early intervention program funds to: (1) finance services in support of a free appropriate public education, in accordance with the preschool program, to children with disabilities in the transitional period from their third birthday to the beginning of the next school year; and (2) provide appropriate developmental services to infants and toddlers who do not have disabilities but are at risk of having substantial developmental delays if such services are not provided. (Current law allows State discretion to include such infants and toddlers among those served.) Requires the State, in providing services to such at-risk infants and toddlers, to describe them and such services in its application, comply with payor of last resort requirements, and comply with all other requirements unless it can give acceptable reasons for noncompliance. Requires each State receiving early intervention funds to: (1) describe in its application the extent to which it will use them for direct services not otherwise available and for expanding and improving otherwise available services; (2) keep records demonstrating that such uses have been as authorized, and in compliance with payor of last resort requirements (for nonsubstitution of other funds and nonreduction of other benefits); and (3) include data on the amount of such funds expended as direct services and as expansion and improvement, and the purposes of such expenditures. Revises early intervention program requirements relating to State Interagency Coordinating Council membership composition and numbers. Provides that nothing in IDEA relating to early intervention shall be construed to permit the State to reduce medical or other assistance or alter eligibility under any program within the State. (Current law refers to nonreduction of benefits only under Social Security Act title V provisions relating to maternal and child health and title XIX provisions relating to medicaid for handicapped infants and toddlers.) Requires a State, in order to receive its full allotment of early intervention funds, to: (1) adopt a schedule of sliding fees for early intervention services; or (2) provide a satisfactory explanation for not adopting such a schedule. Provides that any State not meeting such requirement shall receive only 90 percent of its allotment. Revises IDEA provisions for the preschool grants program to allow a State to opt to use a certain portion of its preschool grant to provide a free public education to two-year-old children with disabilities who will reach age three during the school year, whether or not they are receiving or have received early intervention program services. (Allows the local or intermediate educational agency to use State preschool grant funds for such purpose, if consistent with State policy.) Provides that early intervention program provisions do not apply to any child with disabilities receiving a free public education with preschool grant funds.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 1991
Choice in Education Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Education (the Secretary) to make four-year grants to public schools or local educational agencies for demonstrations and evaluations of choice in education programs which provide parents and children with an opportunity to choose an appropriate education. Provides for evaluation of data from such demonstration programs and other ongoing public and private school choice programs. Earmarks the first year of a grant for planning and training and the next for implementation. Allows grantees to apply for an additional two-year continuation grant. Limits the use of other Federal funds for such demonstration programs. Requires grant applications to contain specified assurances and documentation. Requires a review panel appointed by the Secretary to make grant recommendations for specified types of proposals. Requires the grantee to submit a detailed implementation plan at the end of the planning year. Requires approval of such plan, unless: (1) parents and students are not involved in planning and implementation and are not provided with adequate and objective information on available choices; (2) the program does not demonstrate the probability of increasing educational opportunities of disadvantaged students, minority students, or students with disabilities; and (3) the program does not provide equal access for all students. Requires grantees to report biennially on program operation and student achievement. Directs the Secretary to reserve a portion of funds to evaluate grant programs under this Act in comparison with other similar programs not receiving assistance under it. Directs the Secretary to provide the independent evaluation results to the Educational Resources Information Center and to all program participants. Authorizes the Secretary, through the Office of Educational Research and Improvement, to provide for research, evaluation, and dissemination of results through grants to and contracts with various entities. Directs the Secretary to report biennially to the Congress. Defines "choice" as a system adopted by a State or local educational agency under which parents may select the school or educational program in which their child will be enrolled, including limited choice, open enrollment, and magnet schools. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 1991
Medicare Physician Regulatory Relief Amendments of 1991 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to: (1) prohibit the denial of physician claims because of patient failure to complete Medicare secondary payer questionnaires; (2) prohibit carriers from using extrapolation to recover the amounts they reimbursed physicians for claims for which Medicare disallows payment, if the physician requests that each such claim be individually identified; (3) prohibit the imposition of specified user fees on physicians; (4) require consideration of physician comments in annual carrier performance reviews; (5) allow individuals (including physicians) to file administrative appeals when they have suffered damages as a result of the failure of a carrier to carry out Medicare policies; and (6) require review of medical necessity denials by physicians in the same medical specialty as the physician providing the service. Amends the Medicare and Medicaid (title XIX of the Social Security Act) programs to permit the reimbursement of a patient's regular physician for services provided by another physician who covers for the regular physician under contractual arrangements. Amends title XI of the Social Security Act to repeal the peer review requirement for certain surgical procedures.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1991
James Madison-Bill of Rights Commemorative Coin Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury (the Secretary) to mint and issue five-dollar gold coins emblematic of the Bill of Rights, and one-dollar silver coins emblematic of James Madison. Sets forth guidelines for their sale and issuance, and for financial assurances. Mandates that the surcharges received by the Secretary shall be transmitted to the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Trust Fund. Authorizes audits by the Comptroller General. Provides a general waiver of procurement regulations when implementing this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1991
Designates the week beginning August 25, 1991, as National Parks Week.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 1991
Higher Education Act Amendments of 1991 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to revise and reauthorize its programs. Title I: Access and Retention - Establishes a new HEA title I, Access and Retention, to provide special programs and projects: (1) to identify and encourage students from low-income or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds who have potential for postsecondary and graduate education; and (2) to prepare students from such backgrounds for such education. (Replaces the current title I, Postsecondary Programs for Nontraditional Students.) Establishes a new Precollege Outreach Program of grants to States (replacing the current part A program) to support outreach services for individuals from low-income and educationally disadvantaged backgrounds in order to help them successfully complete secondary education and begin and succeed in postsecondary education. Authorizes States to make subgrants to eligible entities to carry out one or more of such services. Provides for a gradually declining Federal share of project costs, from 90 percent in the first year, with five percent reductions in succeeding years leveling off at 70 percent for the fifth year and thereafter. Includes among criteria to be used by the State agency in selecting projects the degree to which an applicant's service area include large numbers of low-income or first-generation college students. Prohibits an institution of higher education from using such grant funds for recruitment of students to enroll at that institution. Authorizes appropriations. Establishes a new Student Support Service Program of grants to institutions of higher education (replacing the current part B Natinal Programs) to support individuals pursuing postsecondary education programs who are first-generation college students or from low-income or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds. Directs the Secretary, in making such grant awards, to give highest priority to projects at institutions with the lowest educational and general expenditures per full-time equivalent student. Sets forth types of authorized services to assist in motivating and preparing students for postsecondary education. Authorizes appropriations. Establishes a new Ronald E. McNair Graduate Outreach Program of grants to institutions of higher education (combining and replacing certain current part C programs) for services to eligible individuals from low-income and educationally disadvantaged backgrounds to prepare them for graduate, professional, and doctoral study. Directs the Secretary not to make such a grant award without assurances that: (1) at least two-thirds of project participants will be first-generation college students from low-income families; (2) remaining participants will be from a group underrepresented in graduate education; (3) participants will be enrolled in a degree program, at an institution of higher education; and (4) participants in summer research internships will have completed their sophomore year in postsecondary education. Sets forth authorized uses of grant funds, including opportunities for research or other scholarly activities, summer internships, and fellowships. Authorizes appropriations. Title II: National Graduate Fellowships Program - Repeals HEA titles II (Academic Library and Information Technology Enhancement) and IX (Graduate Programs). Establishes a new HEA title II, National Graduate Fellowships Program, for competitive grants to institutions of higher education to provide financial support to highly qualified individuals in graduate studies in areas of national need (including individuals from groups traditionally underrepresented in such studies in such areas). Designates each fellowship recipient a National Graduate Fellow. Limits the fellowship stipend to five years. Authorizes the Secretary to award continuation grants to institutions demonstrating satisfactory progress. Requires institutions receiving them to give preference in awarding fellowship stipends to students who have received National Graduate Fellowships and who demonstrate satisfactory progress in their studies. Sets forth reporting requirements. Directs the Secretary to make new grants under title II only to the extent that funds remain from continued prior funding under HEA to recipients of graduate fellowship assistance for: (1) the Foreign Language and Areas Studies Fellowship Program; (2) the Patricia Roberts Harris Fellowship Program; (3) the Jacob K. Javits Fellows Program; or (4) the Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need Program. Requires institutions receiving title II grants to give preference in awarding fellowships to students who previously received such assistance under a listed program. Allows a student who received such assistance to subsequently receive a National Graduate Fellowship, but limits the combined period of assistance to not more than five years. Authorizes appropriations. Title III: Institutional Aid - Revises HEA title III, Institutional Aid. Eliminates provisions for special consideration for certain activities. Deems these simply as allowable program activities.) Revises eligibility criteria for institutions to require that their average educational and general expenditures be lower, by a percentage determined annually, than the same expenditures per full-time equivalent undergraduate student of institutions that offer similar instruction. Eliminates as a requirement for such assistance that such institutions are to have been authorized for the preceding five years to offer a specified degree program and accredited or making reasonable progress toward accreditation. Eliminates provisions for waivers of such requirement for institutions with specified percentages of minority students. Limits grant awards to only one such grant, with a maximum five-year duration, to any eligible institution, except that a one-year planning grant may be awarded for preparing plans and applications. Requires: (1) grant applications to describe measurable goals for the institution's management and academic programs, and a plan for achieving them; and (2) continuation applications to demonstrate progress toward achieving them. Revises the program of grants to strengthen Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Allows the use of grant funds to establish or improve a development office to strengthen or improve contributions from alumni and the private sector. Prohibits awarding to any one undergraduate institution: (1) more than two such grants for a period not to exceed ten years from September 30, 1987; or (2) any grant exceeding five years. Requires grant applications to describe measurable goals for the institution's financial management as well as academic goals, and plans to achieve them. Revises and renames a certain program Endowment Challenge Grants for Institutions Eligible for Assistance. Increases the amount (from $10,000,000 to $20,000,000) which appropriations for such grants must exceed before the Secretary may make a two-to-one matching endowment grant exceeding $1,000,000 to an institution. Gives priority for endowment grants to applicants that have received another title III grant within the preceding five years. Revises title III general provisions. Authorizes appropriations. Title IV: Student Assistance - Part A: Grants to Students - Amends HEA title IV (Student Assistance) with respect to the program of Grants to Students in Attendance at Institutions of Higher Education. Subpart 1: Pell Grants - Extends Pell Grant program authority through FY 1997. Eliminates a requirement that the Secretary make an advance payment to eligible institutions of at least 85 percent of the amount each institution requests as needed to pay Pell Grants to eligible students. Revises requirements for the amount of Pell Grants. Sets the amount of an award to a student at the lesser of: (1) the specified maximum award less the expected family contribution; or (2) the percentage (based on family-income level) of the amount of the student's need for financial assistance (i.e. cost of attendance minus expected family contribution). Increases the maximum award amount to $3,700 for 1992-3 and the four succeeding award years. Sets forth a table of percentages of student need for award computation. Increases the minimum allowable award from $200 to $400. Eliminates certain restrictions on the award of Pell Grants to students attending on a less than half-time basis. Revises the period of eligibility for Pell Grants. Limits such period to the full-time equivalent of three academic years in the aggregate in the case of all undergraduate degree or certificate programs normally requiring two years or less. Specifies that longer eligibility periods for longer programs are cumulative and include periods for which the student received a Pell Grant under shorter programs Revises requirements for adjustments for insufficient appropriations for the Pell Grant program. Provides for reduction of all awards by a percentage determined in accordance with a schedule of reductions by the Secretary. (Currently certain awards are held harmless.) Increases the minimumm allowable Pell Grant, under such reduction formula, from $100 to $200. Eliminates certain limitations on the availability of Pell Grant funds when excess amounts are available at the end of a fiscal year. Subpart 2: Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants - Extends the authorization of appropriations for the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG) program, but reduces the amount of funding. Reduces the Federal share of SEOG awards to not more to not more than 50 percent in FY 1992 and thereafter. (Current law provides for a maximum Federal share of 85 percent in FY 1991, and allows an even greater Federal share if the Secretary determines it warranted.) Subpart 3: Repeals - Repeals authority for the following programs: (1) Grants to States for State Student Incentives (SSI); (2) Special Programs for Students from Disadvantaged Backgrounds (TRIO programs); (3) Assistance to Institutions of Higher Education (including the Veterans Education Outreach Program); and (4) Special Child Care Services for Disadvantaged College Students. Subpart 4: Presidential Achievement Scholarship Program - Creates a Presidential Achievement Scholarship Program to award scholarships to Pell Grant recipients who demonstrate high levels of academic achievement. Authorizes appropriations. Allows Presidential Achievement Scholars to receive up to four scholarships, each for one academic year, for full-time undergraduate study (or five scholarships for full-time undergraduate study programs that require attendance for five academic years). Bases eligibility in the first year of postsecondary education on the student's receiving a Pell Grant and either: (1) ranking, or having ranked, in the top ten percent, by grade point average, of his or her high school graduating class; or (2) achieving at least the announced minimum score on one of the nationally administered, standardized tests identified by the Secretary. Bases eligibility after the first year on the student's receiving a Pell Grant and: (1) being enrolled in a program of study of at least two years that lead to a degree or certificate; and (2) ranking in the top 20 percent, by cumulative grade point average or equivalent, of his or her postsecondary education class as of the last academic year of study completed. Provides that a student's eligibility for such a scholarship does not depend on receipt of scholarship or Pell Grant in the previous academic year. Requires full-time attendance at the institution as a condition for receiving such a scholarship. Directs the Secretary to establish scholarship award procedures, including deadlines for consideration of students. Requires disbursement of scholarship proceeds to the institutions, but not until the student recipients are enrolled. Sets such scholarship award at $500 for any academic year. Reduces such amount by the amount it exceeds the student's cost of attendance by itself or when combined with other Federal or non-Federal grant or scholarship assistance in the the academic year. Provides for proportionate reductions in each award to adjust for insufficient appropriations. Subpart 5: National Science Scholars Program - Creates a National Science Scholars Program to award scholarships to outstanding students, selected by the President, for the study of physical, life, or computer sciences, mathematics, or engineering. Authorizes appropriations. Provides for an initial award for the first year of undergraduate study and a continuation award for the remaining three (or four) years, as appropriate. Allows National Science Scholars to use such award to attend any defined institution of higher education. Requires the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF Director) and the Secretary to jointly establish criteria for selection of scholars for initial year awards. Requires such criteria to include potential to successfully complete a postsecondary program, and motivation to pursue a career, in such fields. Allows consideration to be given to individual financial need and to the nondiscriminatory promotion of participation by minorities and individus with disabilities. Requires States to establish a nominating committee, if they desire to qualify student residents for selection. Requires each State nominating committee to submit to the President nominations of from four to ten individuals from each congressional district. Requires priority ranking of such nominations. Requires the President to select and announce two such scholars for each academic year from each congressional district. Directs the Secretary to make continuation awards of additional scholarships to recipient of initial awards who meet specified requirements. Requires disbursement of scholarship proceeds to the institutions, but not until the student recipients are enrolled. Requires the NSF Director and the Secretary to encourage the support and assistance of civic groups, the business community, professional associations, institutions of higher education, and others in providing scholarship assistance to National Science Scholarship finalists. Sets forth eligibility requirements for initial and continuation awards. Allows the Secretary to waive full-time attendance requirements in unusual circumstances. Directs the Secretary to determine circumstances for eligibility reinstatement after an interruption of schooling for personal reasons. Requires the Secretary annually to notify all public and private secondary schools and all institutions of higher education in each State of the availability of such scholarships. Sets such a scholarship award at $6,000 for any academic year. Reduces such amount by the amount it exceeds the student's cost of attendance by itself or when combined with other Federal and non-Federal grant or scholarship assistance in the academic year. Provides for proportionate reductions in each award to adjust for insufficient appropriations. Requires priority consideration to be given students receiving such scholarships, to the extent they are otherwise qualified, for federally financed summer employment in federally funded research and development centers that complements and reinforces their educational program. Requires Federal agencies to participate actively in providing appropriate summer employment opportunities for such students. Repeals provisions of the Excellence in Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Education Act of 1990 which currently authorize the National Science Scholars Program. Subpart 6: Special Programs for Students Whose Families Are Engaged in Migrant and Seasonal Farmwork - Revises the Special Programs for Students Whose Families Are Engaged in Migrant and Seasonal Farmwork. Renames certain grants as grants to build the program capacity of educational agencies, institutions, and organizations to operate high school equivalency programs (HEP) and college assistance migrant programs (CAMP) for migrant students. Makes State and local educational agencies (as well as as institutions of higher education and private nonprofit organizations) eligible for such HEP grants. Allows provision of HEP services to individuals 16 years of age or older, or beyond the State age of compulsory school attendance, and not currently enrolled in school. (Current laws requires 17 years of age or over.) Limits authorized CAMP services, with specified exceptions, to those services necessary to assist migrant students in completing their first year of college. Requires CAMP grantees to provide follow-up services for migrant students after their first year of college. Authorizes use of up to ten percent of the CAMP grant for such follow-up services. Requires such follow-up services to include: (1) monitoring and reporting on student academic progress; and (2) referring students to providers of counseling services, academic assistance, or financial aid. Requires each project application to include a long-range management plan describing how the applicant will, over the grant period, gradually assume financial responsibility to provide services substantially similar to those proposed in the application. Requires the Secretary in making grants, to consider the geographic distribution of the persons to be served by grantees. Requires grant awards to be one-time, nonrenewable grants for: (1) a five-year period for first-time grantees; and (2) a three-year period for previous grantees. Provides for a Federal share of 90 percent in the first year, declining to 50 percent in the last year of such grants. Retains the $150,000 minimum allocation for each project. Extends the authorization of appropriations for the the HEP and CAMP programs. Subpart 7: Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program - Revises the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program, particularly the formula for allocation of such scholarship program funds among States. Bases such allocation on relative population ages five through 17. Provides that each State shall receive at least ten scholarships. Allocates to the State $1,500 per scholarship. Eliminates a requirement that ten such scholars be selected for each congressional district. Requires the State education agency to adopt selection procedures to ensure an equitable geographic distribution of awards within the State. Eliminates requirements for an award ceremony. Extends the authorization of appropriations for the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program. Part B: Guaranteed Student Loans - Revises the Robert T. Stafford Student Loan program. Extends the authorization for, and the amount of, new loan principal that may be made to students covered by Federal loan insurance. Increases the annual and aggregate loan limits under the Stafford loan and the Supplemental Loans for Students (SLS) programs. Requires lenders to: (1) offer Stafford and SLS loan borrowers the option of repaying such loans on a graduated repayment schedule under specified conditions; (2) obtain the borrower's authorization for entry of judgment against the borrower in the event of default; and (3) obtain the borrower's driver's license number, if any, at the time of loan application (for the parent loan PLUS program, as well). Eliminates a provision which allowed an institution to refuse to certify a student's eligibility for a loan, or allowed it to certify a lesser amount, under specified conditions. Revises loan deferment provisions. Retains deferment while the borrower is in specified courses of study. Replaces the various current categorical deferments with a hardship deferment of up to three years in the aggregate. Requires the lender to grant specified forbearance if the borrower is a Peace Corps or VISTA volunteer does not qualify for such hardship deferment. Revises provisions for Federal reinsurance coverage. Revises the period in which guaranty agencies must file reinsurance claims. Revises requirements for calculation and payment of such reinsurance. Requires in the case of Stafford, SLS, and PLUS loan applicants over age 21, that the lender: (1) obtain a credit report; and (2) require a cosigner for such applicants who have adverse credit histories. Allows the lender to charge such applicants for the actual cost of such credit reports, up to $25. Requires a 60-day delayed disbursement of Stafford or SLS loans to first-year undergraduates at institutions with default rates of 30 percent or greater. (Retains the current 30-day delayed disbursement for first-year undergraduates at institutions with default rates less than 30 percent.) Revises provisions for eligibility limitations, suspensions, terminations, other hearing procedures, and fines for lenders or institutions that violate program requirements. Sets forth conflict-of-interest restrictions on guaranty agency officers and employers. Prohibits any guaranty agency from permitting any of its officers or employees, or any member of their immediate families, to have a direct financial interest in, or serve as an officer or employee of, any lender, secondary market, contractor, or service with which the guaranty agency does business. Includes financial information among the information the Secretary may reasonably require from a guaranty agency to carry out the student loan programs and protect the U.S. financial interest. Revises the administrative cost and collection retention allowances for guaranty agencies. Revises provisions for oversight of guaranty agencies. Authorizes the Secretary to require a guaranty agency to submit and implement a management plan if the ratio of its reserve funds to outstanding guarantees is less than a set level, or if its administrative or financial condition jeopardizes its continued ability to perform its responsibilities under its guaranty agreement. Authorizes the Secretary to terminate the guaranty agreement with any agency that fails to submit an acceptable management plan or fails to improve substantially its condition in accordance with such a plan. Authorizes the Secretary to assume guaranty agency functions of agencies whose agreements are terminated by the Secretary or themselves. Limits the Secretary's liability for any outstanding liabilities of a guaranty agency, the functions of which the Secretary has assumed, to the fair market value of assets assigned by the agency to the Secretary, minus any necessary liquidation or administrative costs. Requires State backing of designated guaranty agencies. Requires each State to guarantee, with its full faith and credit or the equivalent, all student loans guaranteed by the guaranty agency designated for that State for borrowers attending eligible institutions in that State. Provides that a State may elect to guarantee, in addition, student loans guaranteed by any other guarantee agency for borrowers who are attending eligible institutions in that State. Requires the State, if such a guaranty agency backed by the State is unable to discharge its insurance obligation, to be responsible for discharging them, as well as administrative costs associated with transferring the guaranty agency's operations to another entity. Directs the Secretary, if a State discharges such insurance obligations, to pay the State the amount the guaranty agency would otherwise have received as reimbursement. Directs the Secretary, unless a State demonstrates by January 1, 1994, that it is backing the designated guaranty agency, to assess institutions of higher education participating in the student loan program that are located in that State a fee based on the risk of financial loss to the Federal Government that the State would otherwise assume. Requires such fees to be deposited in the student loan insurance fund. Requires a State to pay a share of default costs in specified circumstances. Allows a State to charge a fee to an institution of higher education in the State participating in the loan program according to an approved fee structure based on the institution's cohort default rates and the State's risk of loss under such requirement Eliminates the student loan program eligibility of foreign institutions (but not of study abroad that is part of the curriculum of U.S. institutions). Revises the definition of cohort default rate. Reduces the special allowance rates for holders of loans for which the cohort default rate exceeds 20 percent. Requires the Student Loan Marketing Association (Sallie Mae) to notify the Secretary, within 15 days, when: (1) it makes a loan or extends any other form of credit to a guaranty agency; (2) its cumulative loans or other forms of credit outstanding to any one lender exceed $50,000,000; or (3) it makes any additional loans or other forms of credit to a lender whose cumulative outstanding loans from it exceed $50,000,000. Requires Sallie Mae's annual report on its operations and activities: (1) to be submitted to the Secretary and the Congress (currently the President and the Congress); and (2) to include specific information regarding its investments and debts, the characteristics of its student loan portfolio, and other data which the Secretary may reasonably require. Part C: Work-Study Programs - Extends the authorization of appropriations for Work-Study Programs (but reduces the amount of such funding). Lowers the maximum Federal share of the the compensation of students employed in the work-study program to 50 percent for FY 1992 and succeeding fiscal years. (Current law sets it at 70 percent for academic year 1990-1991 and succeeding academic years.) Eliminates special incentives (such as increased Federal administrative allowance and increased Federal share of student compensation for community service-learning jobs under the work-study program. Lowers the maximum Federal share of the cost of any job location and development program, under the work-study program from 80 percent to 50 percent. Prohibits students attending proprietary institutions of higher education from being employed by such institutions under the work-study program (but allows them to participate in work-study program employment by a government agency or a private nonprofit organization). Reduces from $200 to $100 the amount of work-study program compensation in excess of need that a student may receive. Eliminates provisions for private sector employment agreements under the work-study program. Part D: Income Contingent Loan Program - Extends through FY 1996 the authorization of appropriations for the Income Contingent Direct Loan Program (ICL program) (and increases the amount of such funding). Eliminates the limitation that the Secretary may not enter into ICL agreements with more than ten institutions of higher education. Makes consortia of institutions of higher education (as well as single institutions) eligible to participate in the ICL program. Provides for an aggregate ICL loan limit of $50,000 for individual graduate and professional students, including any such loans made to such persons before they become graduate or professional students. Provides for an annual limit of $10,000 on ICL loans to graduate and professional students. (Retains current limits for undergraduates.) Requires ICL applicants to provide their driver license number, if any. Requires institutions to: (1) obtain a credit report on any ICL applicant over age 21; and (2) require any such applicant with an adverse credit history to obtain a cosigner. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress on the cost-effectiveness of the ICL program, its impact on participating institutions and students, and the feasibility of extending it to a loan program of general applicability. Part E: Perkins Loan Program - Authorizes appropriations for the Perkins Loan Program, but only for reimbursement of institutions for Perkins loans that are cancelled for certain public service. Terminates the authorization of appropriations for: (1) Federal contributions to student loan funds established under such program; and (2) continuation loans to certain students who have received earlier Perkins Loans. Revises provisions for terms of such loans and cancellation for public service. Extends provisions for distribution of assets from such student loan funds. Repeals provisions for allocation of funds. Part F: Need Analysis - Revises provisions for need analysis to apply them to all need-based student assistance programs, including Pell Grants (which currently have a separate need analysis system). Revises the definitions of cost of attendance and family contribution, as well as provisions for data elements used in determining the expected family contribution. Revises the formula for calculation of the expected family contribution for a dependent student to eliminate references to the student's spouse. Allows application of any parents' negative available income: (1) to reduce the parents' income supplement amount from assets; and (2) if there is any negative amount remaining after that is reduced to zero, to increase the allowances against the dependent student's income. Revises the minimum dependent student contribution to be the greater of: (1) specified amounts that vary according to family total income; or (2) 70 percent of the student's total income, minus the adjustment to student income. Eliminates certain exceptions to the general need analysis calculation for dislocated workers and displaced homemakers. Excludes from the calculation of net worth the net value of the principal place of residence for the families of dependent students and for independent students, if their adjusted gross income is less than $20,000. Revises the tables for determination of standard maintenance allowance, employment expense allowance, adjusted net worth of business and of farm, asset protection allowance, and parents' assessment from available income. Revises the asset protection allowance to provide for consideration of the average age of both parents. Revises provisions for family contribution for married or single independent students without dependents (including various revisions similar to those described for dependent students). Includes married, as well as unmarried, students under this category of independent students without dependents. Revises provisions for minimum student contribution under this category. Revises tables for determining various allowances and other factors. Revises provisions relating to the family contribution for married or single independent students with dependents (including provisions similiar to those in other categories). Revises tables for determining various allowances and other factors. Eliminates certain restrictions on the Secretary's authority to prescribe regulations to carry out need analysis requirements. Revises provisions relating to development of revised tables of assessment rates for purposes of such need analysis. Authorizes the Secretary to prescribe regulations specifying situations in which the data elements considered in determining a student's expected family contribution may be modified to accommodate the special circumstances of the student. Part G: General Provisions - Revises general provisions relating to student assistance programs. Includes as an institution of higher education for the student assistance programs any institution that provides programs of at least six months (or 600 clock hours) that prepare students for gainful employment in recognized occupations, and that has been in existence for at least two years. Makes ineligible for student assistance program participation for specified periods any institution whose cohort default rate equals or exceeds a specified threshold percentage. Revises provisions for proprietary institutions of higher education. Authorizes the Secretary, if a particular category of proprietary institution does not meet specified student assistance program requirements because there is no nationally recognized accrediting agency or association qualified to accredit such institutions, to: (1) appoint an advisory committee to recommend qualifying standards; and (2) determine whether the particular schools meet them. Provides for reduction of student assistance loan award maximums for short-term programs. Revises provisions relating to a master calendar. Revises provisions for a common financial reporting form for determination of expected family contribution. Requires students, in order to remain eligible for assistance, to satisfy specified minimum academic achievement standards, including an academic standing above the bottom ten percent of their postsecondary class. Directs the Secretary to implement a system of verification of immigration status. Revises requirements for borrower information to be submitted to the institution during the exit interview. Eliminates certain provisions for training in financial aid and student support services. Requires any institution participating in any student assistance program to have in effect a fair and equitable refund policy and to provide a written statement of it, with examples, to prospective students. Revises provisions for student assistance program participation agreements. Requires the institution to acknowledge the authority of the Secretary, guaranty agencies, accrediting agencies, and State licensing bodies to share with each other any information pertaining to the institution's eligibility to participate in such programs. Prohibits institutions from providing any incentive payments for securing enrollments to any persons or entities engaged in any student recruiting or admission activities or in making decisions regarding the award of student financial assistance. Eliminates the requirement that hearings be on the record, with respect to program participation limitation, suspension, or termination procedures. Authorizes the Secretary to conditionally certify an institution's eligibility to participate in student assistance programs, under specified circumstances. Provides for loan collection wage garnishment. Authorizes a guaranty agency, or the Secretary where appropriate, to garnish the disposable pay of an individual to collect the amount owed or the required repayment, subject to certain conditions. Provides for data matching. Authorizes the Secretary to obtain from Federal or State agencies specified information relating to an individual for student loan collection purposes. Directs the Secretary of Labor to enter into an agreement to provide prompt access for the Secretary to wage and unemployment compensation claims information and data maintained by or for the Department of Labor or State employment security agencies. Subjects to specified criminal penalties attempts to commit specified offenses. Amends the Higher Education Technical Amendments of 1991 to make permanent the elimination of limitations on actions to collect defaulted student loans or grant overpayments. Title V: Education Recruitment, Retention, and Development - Establishes a new Partnerships for Innovative Teacher Education program, replacing the current Midcareer Teacher Training for Nontraditional Students program. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to and contracts with State and local educational agencies, institutions of higher education, and consortia of such institutions and agencies to plan, establish, and operate teaching schools to develop and put into practice the best knowledge about teaching. Provides that such awards shall be for a term of three years, with renewals for two additional years under specified conditions. Provides for applications, priorities, uses of funds by award recipients, and authorized activities of such teaching schools. Authorizes appropriations. Sets the Federal share at 75 percent for the first three years and 50 percent for the final two years. Repeals provisions for School, College, and University Partnerships. Retains Professional Development and Leadership Programs. Authorizes appropriations to complete the final year of funding for the territories under provisions for Leadership in Educational Administration Development. Repeals provisions for Professional Development Resource Centers and Leadership in Educational Administration Development. Retains Teacher Scholarships and Fellowships. Renames the Congressional Teacher Scholarship Programs the Paul Douglas Teacher Scholarship Program. Makes such scholarships available to outstanding high school graduates who demonstrate an interest in teaching. Authorizes appropriations. Revises requirements for the teaching service obligation of certain scholarship recipients, repayment conditions, assurances of pursuing a teaching career, and maintenance of academic achievement. Revises the Christa McAuliffe Fellowship Program to authorize appropriations. Bases allotment of funds on the number of public school teachers in each State and other specified jurisdictions. Authorizes the Secretary, in extraordinary circumstances, to waive or defer all or a portion of the service requirement, or to allow fellows to fulfill their service requirement by teaching in another school or school district. Requires States, in making fellowship awards, to give priority to applicants proposing fellowship projects involving pursuit of eligible activities on a full-time basis as part of a sabbatical. Eliminates the requirement that announcement of such awards be made in a public ceremony. Repeals provisions for State Task Forces on Teacher Training. Title VI: International Education Programs - Revises the International and Foreign Language Studies program for graduate and undergraduate language and area centers to eliminate stipends and allowances for: (1) individuals undergoing advanced training; and (2) students beginning their third year of graduate training. Repeals provisions for grants to institutions of higher education or public or private nonprofit library institutions or consortia to acquire, maintain bibliographic data on, preserve, and make available to researchers and scholars certain periodicals published outside the United States which are not commonly held by U.S. academic libraries. Authorizes appropriations to carry out International Education Programs. Title VII: College Facilities Loans and Insurance - Revises and redesignates the Construction, Reconstruction, and Renovation of Academic Facilities Loans and Insurance program to: (1) provide higher education institutions with access to private capital construction debt through the College Construction Loan Insurance Association; and (2) provide for servicing of the remaining loan portfolio of the Higher Education Facilities Loans, College Housing Loans, and College Housing and Academic Facilities Loans authorized before the effective date of this Act. Repeals the authorization of appropriations and other provisions for: (1) Grants for the Construction, Reconstruction, and Renovation of Undergraduate Academic Facilities; (2) Grants for Construction, Reconstruction, and Renovation of Graduate Academic Facilities; (3) Loans for Construction, Reconstruction, and Renovation of Academic Facilities; (4) Grants to Pay Interest on Debt; (5) Housing and Other Educational Facilities Loans; and (6) Special Programs. Authorizes appropriations for remaining programs. Title VIII: Cooperative Education - Extends the authorization of appropriations for Cooperative Education (but reduces the amount of such funding). Eliminates certain reservations of funds for specified categories of projects. (Retains the current division of 75 percent of funds for grants for cooperative education programs and 25 percent for demonstration and innovation projects, training and resource centers, and research.) Defines cooperative education as the provision of alternating or parallel periods of academic study and public and private employment in order to give students work experience related to their academic or occupational objectives and an opportunity to earn the funds necessary for continuing and completing their education. Revises matching requirements for cooperative education grants. Requires grant applicants to describe fiscal support plans to ensure that such programs shall continue beyond the five-year period of Federal assistance at not less than the level of expenditures for the initial year of Federal assistance. Authorizes the Secretary to elect not to make a continuation award to a fund recipient that has failed to maintain such fiscal effort in years after the grant period. Requires each recipient to document to the Secretary its maintenance of fiscal effort beyond the five-year period of Federal assistance. Revises grant application requirements to require descriptions of: (1) the extent to which programs in the academic discipline for which the application is made have had a favorable reception by public and private sector employers; and (2) the plans the applicant will carry out to evaluate their cooperative education program at the end of the grant period. Eliminates certain factors for special consideration of applications. Directs the Secretary to give special consideration to applications which demonstrate a commitment to serving disadvantaged students and students with disabilities. Revises provisions relating to the duration of grants. Provides that: (1) only institutions that have received such a grant before enactment of this Act shall be eligible to receive one additional continuation grant of not more than five years; and (2) all other institutions may receive only a single five-year grant. Revises provisions for training and resource centers to provide that their improvement of materials used in cooperative education programs shall take place in conjunction with other specified activities. Title IX: Postsecondary Improvement Programs - Revises provisions for the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE). Repeals consultation provisions which prohibit any FIPSE grant or contract unless it has been submitted to the appropriate State entity and that entity has had an opportunity to submit comments and recommendations to the Secretary. Specifies that the Secretary appoints the Director of the National Board of FIPSE. Revises Board functions and repeals a requirement for a minimum number of Board meetings annually. Eliminates provisions requiring the Director to establish grant and contract review and evaluation procedures, and prohibiting such procedures from being subject to any review outside of officials responsible for FIPSE administration. Extends the authorization of appropriations for the FIPSE program. Revises and renames the Minority Science and Engineering Programs the Minority Science Improvement Program. Repeals a requirement that the Secretary submit to the Congress an annual list of grantees. Directs the Secretary in cooperation with the heads of other Federal departments and agencies that operate programs similar to the Minority Science Improvement Program, to report to the President before 1995, summarizing and evaluating those programs. Repeals provisions for Science and Engineering Access Programs. Requires grant recipients, in order to remain eligible to receive funds, to demonstrate to the Secretary that they are making reasonable progress toward achieving the project goals. Repeals specified provisions: (1) relating to procedures for grant and contract review; and (2) for the Advisory Board for the Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Programs. Extends the authorization of appropriations for the Minority Science Improvement Program. (Eliminates provisions allocating funds and providing an additional appropriation for new activities specifically aimed at increasing the participation of minority students in scientific and engineering research careers.) Revises and renames the Innovative Projects for Community Services and Student Financial Independence programs the Innovative Projects for Community Services, whose purpose shall be to support innovative projects to encourage student participation in community service projects, including literacy projects. Provides that the Secretary (rather than the FIPSE Board Director) shall establish the procedures under which the FIPSE Board approves Innovative Projects grant and contract applications. Extends the authorization of appropriations for Innovative Projects for Community Services (and increases the amount of such funding to reflect the incorporation of certain functions of the Student Literacy Corps eliminated by this Act). Title X: Partnerships for Economic Development and Urban Community Service - Repeals the Partnerships for Economic Development and Community Service program. Title XI: General Provisions - Revises the definition of institution of higher education. Requires such institutions, in order to be eligible to participate in HEA programs, to comply with such minimum State licensing standards as the Secretary may prescribe by regulation and which the relevant State licensing body is to impose upon institutions it licenses. Revises the alternative accreditation process. Authorizes the Secretary, if a particular category of institutions is not accredited because no nationally recognized accrediting agency or association is qualified to do so, to appoint an advisory committee to: (1) recommend standards to qualify institutions in such category to participate in HEA programs; and (2) review whether particular institutions meet such standards. Requires an institution, if it is accredited by more than one accrediting body, to designate, for HEA eligibility purposes, one such body as it primary accreditor, on either an institutionwide or program basis. Deems such an institution no longer accredited for purposes of HEA eligibility for a 24-month period if its accreditation is terminated for cause by the primary accreditor, or if it withdraws from such accreditation voluntarily under a show cause or suspension order, unless such accreditation is restored by the same accreditor during such 24-month period. Revises provisions relating to treatment of territories and territorial student assistance. Changes from mandatory to discretionary the Secretary's authority to waive the eligibility criteria of any postsecondary education program administered by the Department of Education where such criteria does not take into account the unique circumstances of specified U.S. territories. Eliminates provisions for: (1) promulgation of certain regulations; and (2) an authorization of appropriations for supporting the cost of providing postsecondary education programs on Guam for nonresident students from specified U.S. territories. Extends the authorization for the continued existence of the National Advisory Committee on Accreditation and Institutional Eligibility. Revises provisions for peer review of applications to authorize the Secretary to use up to one-half of one percent of appropriations, for discretionay grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to provide for the panels of readers required to review the applications for such grants, contracts, and agreements. Provides for sharing of institutional eligibility information by the Secretary, guaranty agencies, accrediting agencies, and State licensing bodies. Makes ineligible for any HEA assistance any individual who is in default on any loan made, insured, or guaranteed by the Federal Government, unless satisfactory repayment arrangements are made. Repeals provisions for: (1) a Joint Study Commission on Postsecondary Institutional Recognition; and (2) regional technology transfer centers. Title XII: Effective Dates - Sets forth effective dates for various provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 1991
Amends the National Labor Relations Act to make it an unfair labor practice for an employer to hire or threaten to hire permanent replacement workers during the first eight weeks of an economic strike but provides that this does not prohibit an employer from permanently replacing an employee who engages in violence or threats of violence or who secures employment equivalent to that held prior to such strike. Extends from 12 months to 18 months the period after the commencement of an economic strike during which striking employees who are not entitled to reinstatement are eligible to vote in an election for a collective bargaining representative. Makes it an unfair labor practice for a labor organization or its agents to call for an economic strike unless a simple majority of the employees voting in the bargaining units vote by secret ballot to conduct such strike. Declares the sense of the Congress that the National Labor Relations Board should give first priority and use the utmost speed to process unfair labor practice cases that involve the reinstatement of strikers who have been permanently replaced.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 1991
Ethics and Treatment of Home Medical Equipment Act of 1991 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish certification standards for suppliers of durable medical equipment, ostomy bags, and supplies related to ostomy care under part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) to assure patient safety and the availability of high-quality covered items. Requires such suppliers to meet such standards in order to be eligible for reimbursement from Medicare. Deems such suppliers accredited by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations or other appropriate accrediting entities to have met those standards. Prohibits carrier forum shopping. Modifies the prohibition against suppliers filling out certificates of medical necessity to make such prohibition applicable to items on the Secretary's list of potentially overused items. Prohibits physician referrals to durable medical equipment companies in which the referring physician has a financial relationship. Waives mandatory submission of claims provisions for nonparticipating suppliers of inexpensive items of durable medical equipment. Sets limits on the Medicare reimbursement cuts mandated under the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 for covered items. Restores Medicare's monthly payment for rental cap items to ten percent per month for up to 12 months. Provides an up-front purchase option for rental cap items in instances where the item is needed for longer than 12 months at least 75 percent of the time or where the patient is in a severe condition recognized by the Secretary.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 1991
Designates August 1, 1991, 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, including the self-determination of peoples.
United States · United States Congress · 30 May 1991
Teacher Leadership Act of 1991 - Title I: Teacher Recruitment - Part A: University Partnerships for Classroom Leadership - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to create University Partnerships for Classroom Leadership. Authorizes the Secretary of Education (the Secretary) to make grants to qualifying institutions (including institutions with large enrollments of minority or disadvantaged and historically Black colleges or universities) to establish partnerships with local education agencies (LEAs) to support: (1) mentorship or tutoring programs; (2) cultural, recreational, or athletic activities; (3) programs of college students as teacher aides; (4) seminars or workshops to advise college students about child development, child psychology, teaching methods, or the teaching profession; and (5) other appropriate activities to establish a presence of minority role models in the classroom or encourage minority students to enter the teaching field. Requires equitable distribution of such grants throughout the Nation and among a variety of communities. Permits the use of grant funds for: (1) training of college students and professors and school teachers; (2) instructional or curriculum materials; (3) transportation or incidental costs associated with participation; and (4) any other appropriate expenses of planning, implementing, or operating the partnership with the LEA. Authorizes appropriations. Part B: Community Partnerships for Classroom Leadership - Creates a National Mini Corps Program for higher education institution partnerships with the migrant community. Authorizes the Secretary to award grants to such institutions to establish partnerships to provide certain migrant college students with training to help them serve as student or teacher role models, links to the community, and tutors and teachers of migrant children. Provides for equitable distribution of grants. Allows the use of grant funds for program planning, implementation, and operation, but limits the portion that may be used for administrative expenses. Authorizes appropriations. Part C: National Job Bank for Teacher Recruitment Study and Demonstration - Establishes a National Job Bank for Teacher Recruitment. Directs the Secretary, through the Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI), to study the feasibility of establishing: (1) a clearinghouse to operate a national teacher job bank; and (2) regional clearinghouses. Directs the Secretary, through OERI, to contract with one or more State entities, nonprofit organizations, or higher education institutions to pay the Federal share of costs of establishing a Teacher Job Bank Clearinghouse to help: (1) public and private education agencies locate qualified applicants for teaching-related positions; and (2) individuals locate teaching-related jobs or training necessary to enter the teaching profession. Authorizes appropriations. Title II: Broadening the Diversity of Skills and Expertise of Teachers - Part A: Business Partnerships for Classroom Leadership - Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to LEAs to establish model partnerships with business community representatives to sponsor programs for: (1) local business representatives to work with teachers to provide supplementary instruction in the classroom; (2) classroom teacher internships working in local businesses to gain practical experience or new skills or expertise; (3) local business representatives to work with school administrators to develop instructional material; and (4) other appropriate activities for forming a working relationship between business and classroom leaders. Provides for equitable distribution of grants. Gives priority to partnerships focusing on mathematics or science expertise of classroom teachers, particularly at the elementary level. Allows awards only to partnerships of sufficient size and scope to be models. Allows use of funds for partnership planning, implementation, and operation, but limits the portion which may be used for administrative costs. Authorizes appropriations. Part B: Teacher Certification and Licensure - Establishes Standards for Teacher Certification programs to provide Federal support and technical assistance to States to: (1) review their teacher certification and licensure requirements; and (2) determine what new standards or alternative routes need to be developed. Directs the Secretary to make State allotments based on population of children ages five through 17. Directs the Secretary to reserve a portion of funds to provide technical assistance to States which are developing new standards or alternative routes for teacher certification and licensure. Allows States to use assistance for review of existing standards and development of new standards and alternative routes for teacher certification and licensure. Allows States to carry out such activities directly or through grants to appropriate agencies, institutions, or organizations. Authorizes appropriations. Title III: Innovations in the Practice of Teaching - Part A: CLASS (Classroom Leaders Assisting Students to Succeed) Academies - Replaces professional development resource centers for teachers with CLASS (Classroom Leaders Assisting Students to Succeed) Academies. Directs the Secretary to award grants to LEAs, State educational agencies, higher education institutions, private management organizations, or nonprofit organizations, or consortia of such entities, to establish and operate a CLASS Academy in each State. Requires that special consideration in awarding grants be given to entities receiving Leadership in Educational Administration Development assistance which can meet specified requirements. Sets forth grantee obligations and general criteria for grants. Requires each grant to be for five years, with possible renewal for one additional five-year period. Allows the use of grant funds for: (1) developing and implementing preservice and in-service training programs and professional development activities for prospective and practicing teachers, including summer institutes; (2) providing support services, consultation, and technical assistance for school-based training and professional development activities; (3) disseminating information about Academy programs and the latest research findings on teaching and learning; and (4) other appropriate expenses related to development and implementation of teacher programs and activities and Academy operation. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary, from appropriations for this part for FY 1992 or any succeeding fiscal year, to make available a necessary amount for establishing and operating a CLASS Academy in each State. Sets the non-Federal matching amount at 25 percent of the award to a grantee in FY 1992, and 50 percent in succeeding fiscal years. Part B: Research, Evaluation, and Dissemination - Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to and contracts with higher education institutions and other public or private organizations for research and evaluation of alternative teaching strategies, including ones designed to reach particular student populations (such as those who are disadvantaged or who have disabilities or limited English proficiency), and innovative programs for teacher education and training. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary, through the National Diffusion Network, to disseminate information and technical assistance with respect to alternative teaching strategies to LEAs, higher education institutions' teacher training programs, and CLASS Academies. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 30 May 1991
Job Training Partnership Act Amendments of 1991 - Title I: Amendments to the Job Training Partnership Act - Amends the Job Training Partnership Act (the Act) to authorize appropriations for: (1) Training Services for the Disadvantaged, Adult Opportunity Program; (2) the Youth Opportunity Program; (3) Employment and Training Assistance for Dislocated Workers (other than provisions for clean air employment transition assistance); (4) Federally Administered Programs (Employment and Training Programs for Native Americans and Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers; Veterans' Employment Programs; National Activities; Labor Market Information; National Commission for Employment Policy; Training to Fulfill Affirmative Action Obligations); and (5) Job Corps. Authorizes appropriations for the new Youth Opportunities Unlimited Progam. Defines "basic skills deficient" as reading or computing skills at or below 8th grade level. Adds organizations serving older workers to the list of community-based organizations. Strikes from such list the National Urban Indian Council. Revises the definition of "economically disadvantaged" to refer to income guidelines promulgated each year by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Revises the definition of "supportive services" to include drug and alcohol abuse counseling and referral and individual and family counseling. Includes representatives of local welfare agencies on private industry councils (PICs). Revises requirements for service delivery area (SDA) job training plans. Revises requirements for performance standards to add measurement of increased basic education attainment and occupational skills (as well as the current measurement of increased employment and earnings and reduced welfare dependency). Provides for the following additional factors in performance standards for youth programs: (1) attainment of employment competencies; (2) secondary and postsecondary school completion or its equivalent; and (3) enrollment in other training programs or apprenticeships, or enlistment in the armed forces. Authorizes the Secretary of Labor (the Secretary) to prescribe variations on such standards for youth programs to reflect the differences between in-school and out-of-school programs. Requires PIC's to determine levels for competency standards, based on factors such as entry skill levels and other hiring requirements. Directs Governors to award incentive funds to SDAs for achieving performance standard levels. Changes from discretionary to mandatory the authority of State Governors to prescribe variations in performance standards within certain parameters. Requires selection of service providers on a competitive basis to the maximum extent possible. Requires such selection process to include: (1) determination of the service provider's ability to meet program design specifications; and (2) documentation of compliance with procurement standards. Requires, with specified exceptions, that all expenditures under the Act be charged to appropriate cost categories. Establishes new cost categories and cost limitations for the Adult Opportunity and Youth Opportunity Programs. Requires the Governor's coordination and special services plan to include descriptions of State coordination measures and projected grant uses. Renames the State job training coordinating council the State human resource investment council. Revises specified provisions for State education coordination and grants. Repeals specified provisions for training programs for older workers. Revises program requirements for service delivery systems. Exempts normal tuition charges for training or education from certain requirements for a breakdown of cost components. Limits the duration of on-the-job training to a period not in excess of that generally required for acquisition of skills needed for that position, but never exceeding six months. Requires on-the-job contracts to: (1) specify types and duration of training and other services; and (2) if an intermediary brokering contractor is used for placements, specify certain additional services and factors. Allows a public or private nonprofit entity to retain any income earned under any program under the Act if it is used to carry out the program, even though financial assistance has expired. Requires States to establish fiscal control and fund accounting procedures to ensure proper disbursal and accounting of Federal funds. Requires the Governor to establish procurement standards for States, local areas, and SDA's to ensure that specified criteria are met. Revises reporting and recordkeeping requirements. Requires recipients to maintain and provide to the Secretary standardized records of a sufficient number of individual participants to provide an adequate sample size to allow for preparation of national estimates to meet specified requirements. Requires States, administrative entities conducting the program, and recipients (other than sub-recipients) to monitor the performance of service providers. Requires Governors to ensure that requirements are established for retention of records for specified periods. Revises training services for disadvantaged adults and renames them the Adult Opportunity Program. Sets forth new eligibility requirements and a new formula for the allotment of funds to the disadvantaged adult program. Requires that the following features be included in all individual adult programs: (1) assessment of skill levels and service needs; (2) service strategy; (3) progress review; and (4) where appropriate, basic and occupational skills training. Requires SDAs to link with: (1) other specified Federal programs; and (2) State, local, and private programs, as appropriate. Allows an SDA to transfer up to ten percent of adult program funds to the youth program under certain conditions. Revises training services for disadvantaged youth and renames them the Youth Opportunity Program. Sets forth new eligibility requirements and a new formula for the allotment of funds to the disadvantaged youth program. Requires that the following features be included in all individual youth programs: (1) assessment of skill levels and service needs; (2) service strategy; (3) progress review; and (4) where appropriate, training in basic, occupational, pre-employment, and work maturity skills, work experience combined with skills training, and supportive services. Requires SDAs to link the youth program with: (1) other specified Federal programs; and (2) as appropriate, State, local, and private programs. Allows an SDA to transfer up to ten percent of youth program funds to the adult program under certain conditions. Provides, with respect to employment and training assistance for dislocated workers, that an eligible dislocated worker participating in training (except on-the-job training) shall be deemed to be in training with the approval of the State agency for purposes of unemployment compensation. Increases from ten to 20 percent of total enrollment the allowable number of nonresidential participants enrolled in the Job Corps in any year. Requires that, in enrolling nonresident participants, priority be given to those eligible individuals who are single parents with dependent children. Establishes a new Youth Opportunities Unlimited Program. Authorizes the Secretary to establish such national progam of Youth Opportunities Unlimited (YOU) grants to pay 50 percent of of the cost of comprehensive education, training, and supportive services for youth in high poverty areas in urban and rural areas. Requires such grants to be awarded to the local service delivery area (on behalf of the participating community) in which the target area is located (or to designated grantees if the target area is in a migrant worker community, Indian reservation, or Alaskan native village). Authorizes the Secretary to select as grant recipients up to 25 communities in the first year after the program is in effect. Makes such grants cover a three-year period, with each year conditional upon compliance. Authorizes participating communities to apply for grants for use on behalf of target areas. Requires that a designated target area have not more than 25,000 population. Requires that program funds be used for services to youth ages 14 through 21. Title II: State Human Resource Investment Council - Requires each State which receives assistance under applicable programs to establish a single State human resource investment council to review and advise on coordination of applicable programs under: (1) the Adult Education Act; (2) the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act; (3) the Job Training Partnership Act; (4) the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; (5) the Wagner-Peyser Act; (6) the JOBS program of the Social Security Act; and (7) specified provisions of the Food Stamp Act of 1977.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 1991
Family Farm Tax Relief and Savings Act of 1991 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code with respect to nontaxable exchanges to allow the rollover of gain from the sale of a qualified farm asset into one or more individual retirement plans, to be known as asset rollover accounts. Denies an itemized deduction for contributions to such accounts and sets forth contribution limitations. Provides that rollover contributions to an asset rollover account may be made only from other such accounts. Sets forth reporting requirements for individuals making contributions to such accounts and taxes excess contributions.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 1991
Benjamin Franklin Memorial Fire Service Bill of Rights Act - Title I: Minting of Benjamin Franklin National Memorial Commemorative Coin - Benjamin Franklin National Memorial Commemorative Coin Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to issue: (1) five dollar gold coins emblematic of Benjamin Franklin's contributions to the advancement of science; (2) one dollar silver coins emblematic of Benjamin Franklin's contributions to the American Fire Service. Sets forth sale and issuance guidelines, including a general waiver of procurement regulations and surcharge distributions. Title II: Fire Service Bill of Rights - Fire Service Bill of Rights Act - Amends the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 to set forth a fire service bill of rights, including the right of responding fire services to: (1) know the kind of danger presented by hazardous materials they face in emergency responses; and (2) be fully informed of infectious diseases their members face during the course of life safety activities. Declares that the bill of rights does not create any private right of action.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 1991
AMERICA 2000 Excellence in Education Act - Title I: New American Schools - Authorizes financial assistance for creating New American Schools (NAS) in communities that have been designated AMERICA 2000 Communities (A2Cs). Provides that such NAS shall reflect the best thinking about teaching and learning, employ the highest-quality instructional materials and technologies, and be designed to meet the National Educational Goals as well as the particular needs of their students and communities. Directs the Secretary of Education (the Secretary) to reserve certain funds for a national program evaluation. Directs the Secretary to allocate the remaining funds among the States (and specified territories) in proportion to their respective numbers of members of Congress. Directs the Governor to nominate A2Cs to create NAS, for at least as many communities as there are members in the State's congressional delegation and at least one community in each congressional district of the State. Requires the Governor's nominations to be based on criteria established by the Secretary on the basis of expert panel advice, including: (1) the community's level of commitment and activity in the A2C initiative; (2) the community's schools' need for new and innovative educational programs; and (3) the quality of their application to the Governor. Sets forth conditions for the Secretary's approval, and for alternative nominations. Directs the Secretary to make NAS grants to selected agencies, organizations, and institutions on behalf of the selected communities. Limits any award to $1,000,000. Encourages grantees to adapt and implement one or more NAS designs developed by research and development teams funded by the NAS Development Corporation. Restricts use of such grant funds to certain special start-up costs associated with the creation and establishment of a NAS. Prohibits the use of such funds for construction or for the grantee's general administrative expenses. Requires each NAS to have obtained necessary State recognition or accreditation and to be fully operating by the start of the 1996-97 school year. Directs the Secretary, within 90 days, to convene an expert panel of educators, representatives of private business, and public representatives to advise on NAS program administration, including criteria for nomination of communities. Directs the Secretary to use reserved funds to conduct a national evaluation of NAS program impact on schools and communities and on education generally. Requires reports to the President and the Congress. Authorizes appropriations. Title II: Merit Schools - Authorizes appropriations for Merit School awards to reward public and private elementary and secondary schools and faculties that make documented progress in attaining the National Education Goals, particularly the goal of increasing students' mastery of the core academic subjects. Directs the Secretary to allocate specified funds among the States on the same basis as allocations for education of disadvantaged children under title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (the ESEA chapter 1 program). Requires Governors to submit State grant applications for a three-year period, which may be followed by an application for a two-year period. Makes specified provisions of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) inapplicable to this title. Specifies State use of funds for administrative costs (five percent) and Merit School awards (95 percent), with at least 20 percent of the latter earmarked for schools that demonstrate exceptional progress in improving students' performance in mathematics and science. Requires each Governor to: (1) establish a State review panel to assist in selection of Merit Schools; (2) submit annual program reports to the Secretary; and (3) apply specified national and State criteria in selecting schools. Requires each Merit School to use its award for activities to further its educational program, including staff bonus payments, college scholarships for secondary school students, special programs, equipment and materials, parental involvement, community outreach, and program replication. Prohibits State or local reduction of other assistance to the Merit School or its local educational agency. Title III: Teachers and School Leaders - Part A: Governor's Academies for Teachers - Directs the Secretary to make a one-time, five-year grant to each State to establish and operate Governor's Academies for Teachers and to recognize outstanding teachers. Requires a Governor to use the State's grant to make competitive awards to the State educational agency (SEA), local education agencies (LEAs), institutions of higher education, and other public and private organizations or consortia, to establish and operate such Academies. Allows such Academies to be operated in cooperation or consortium with those of other States. Requires each Academy to conduct a program of intensive instruction for current elementary and secondary school teachers, during the summer or the school year, focusing on the core academic disciplines of English, mathematics, science, history, and geography. Directs the Governor to allocate to each Academy funds for a program of cash awards and recognition to outstanding teachers in the core academic subject or subjects covered by the Academy program. Requires Academies to select such teachers from nominations received from various groups. Limits any such award to $5,000, but allows the recipient to choose how to use it. Authorizes appropriations. Part B: Governors' Academies for School Leaders - Directs the Secretary to make a one-time, five-year grant to each State to establish and operate a Governor's Academy for School Leaders. Requires the Governor to make competitive awards to the SEA, LEAs, institutions of higher education, and other public and private organizations or consortia, to establish and operate such an Academy. Allows such academies to be operated in cooperation or consortium with those of other States. Directs each Academy to carry out specified activities relating to school leadership training and development. Authorizes appropriations. Part C: Alternative Certification of Teachers and Principals - Authorizes appropriations to assist States to develop and implement alternative certification requirements to improve the supply of well-qualified elementary and secondary school teachers and principals. Makes certain GEPA provisions inapplicable to this part. Requires States to use such funds to support programs, projects, or activities that develop and implement new, or expand and improve existing, alternative teacher and principal certification requirements. Authorizes States to do so directly, through contracts, or through subgrants to LEAs, intermediate educational agencies, institutions of higher education, or consortia of such agencies. Title IV: Educational Reform and Flexibility - Part A: Educational Reform Through Flexibility and Accountability - Amends the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) to establish a program for flexibility and accountability in education and related services. Directs the Secretary to assist projects for elementary and secondary schools and other service providers to improve achievement of all students and other participants, but particularly disadvantaged individuals, by authorizing waivers by which Governors, SEAs, LEAs, and other service providers can improve performance of schools and programs by increasing their flexibility in use of resources while holding them accountable for achieving educational gains. Authorizes the Secretary, in support of such projects, to waive, with specified exceptions, any statutory or regulatory requirement applicable to any program administered by the Department of Education that may impede a school or service provider from meeting the special needs of such students and other individuals. Authorizes other Federal agency heads, with the Secretary's agreement, to make similar waivers for their programs. Limits duration of projects and associated waivers to a maximum of three years; but authorizes the Secretary to extend a project and any associated waivers for an additional two years if it is making substantial progress in meeting its goals. Requires the Secretary to terminate a project and its associated waivers at any time if acceptable progress is not being made. Grants other Federal agency heads authority to determine extension or termination of their waivers. Grants the Secretary exclusive authority to extend or terminate a project. Requires each project that involves elementary or secondary schools to include participation of an SEA and at least one LEA and two schools. Requires, to the extent possible, project participation by each grade and academic program, including ESEA chapter 1 programs, in a participating school. Prohibits unreasonable concentration of available resources in participating schools, if fewer than all schools in an LEA participate. Requires each project that does not involve elementary or secondary schools to involve at least two programs, at least one of which is administered by the Secretary. Prohibits waiver of requirements: (1) in awarding new competitive grants to agencies participating in such projects; (2) relating to maintenance of effort, comparability, or equitable participation of private school students; and (3) under specified provisions of GEPA, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Education Amendments of 1972, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Sets forth requirements for reports and evaluations. Provides for the budget neutrality of such program. Part B: Amendments to Chapter 2 - Amends chapter 2 (Federal, State, and Local Partnership for Educational Improvement) of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA chapter 2) to provide that part A funding for educational reform and improvement shall be divided equally between State and local programs (50 percent to each, while the current allocation formula requires at least 80 percent to go to local programs and not more than 20 percent to State programs). Reduces the portions of such State-level funds which: (1) may be used for State administration (from 25 to ten percent); and (2) must be used for the effective schools programs (from 20 to eight percent). Revises State application requirements to require approval by the Governor before submission to the Secretary. Includes educational choice programs among local targeted assistance programs of SEAs and LEAs. Includes, among authorized activities of such programs, any activities or expenses directly related to planning, implementing, operating, evaluating, and disseminating information about the LEA's educational choice program, including expenses of parents and children resulting from their program participation. Title V: Parental Choice of Schools - Part A: Findings - Sets forth congressional findings relating to parental choice in education. Part B: Parental Choice and Chapter 1 - Amends chapter 1 Financal Assistance to Meet Special Educational Needs of Children) of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA chapter 1) to provide for chapter 1 services for children participating in educational choice programs. Requires the LEA to provide such services in the form of: (1) supplementary compensatory education services; or (2) if that is not feasible or efficient, payment to parents of a per-child share of the LEA's basic chapter 1 grant. Allows parents to use such funds only for: (1) purchase of supplementary compensatory education services that meet the child's special educational needs from any elementary or secondary school, or any other public or private agency, organization, or institution that the LEA designates; and/or (2) transportation costs related to the child's participation in the choice program. Excludes such payments from the gross income of parents for Federal income tax purposes. Allows an LEA to use chapter 1 funds for the additional transportation costs of children receiving chapter 1 services who are in an educational choice program. Requires that LEAs with educational choice programs to explain to parents of chapter 1 participating children: (1) the availability of compensatory education services under various available options; and (2) options available under the educational choice program and the chapter 1 program. Part C: Assistance for Parental Choice Programs - Directs the Secretary to make one-year grants to LEAs that carry out educational choice programs. Authorizes appropriations. Makes an LEA eligible for such a grant if it: (1) will carry out an educational choice program during the year for which assistance is sought; and (2) carried out such a program during the preceding year. Defines an educational choice program, as one adopted by a State or an LEA under which: (1) parents select the school, including private schools, in which their children will be enrolled; and (2) sufficient financial support is provided to enable a significant number or percentage of parents to enroll their children in a variety of schools and educational programs, including private schools. Requires LEAs to use grant funds only for student educational services and parental involvement activities in addition to those that would otherwise be provided from State or local funds. Prohibits use of grant funds for LEA general administrative expenses. Part D: Parental Choice Programs of National Significance - Directs the Secretary to make five-year grants to SEAs, LEAs, and other agencies, institutions, and organizations to conduct and demonstrate nationally significant model programs of educational choice. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary, in any fiscal year for which funds are available to make new awards, to announce the approaches to educational choice that will be considered in the competition for such funding. Requires grant recipients to use such funds only for activities directly related to planning, implementing, operating and evaluating, and disseminating information about, the educational choice demonstration program. Allows such funds to be used to meet expenses of parents and children resulting from their participation in such program. Title VI: National Assessment of Educational Progress - Amends the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) to extend through FY 1996 the authorization of appropriations for the National Center for Educational Statistics and its programs, including the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Requires the NAEP to collect representative data on a national and State basis for those States that choose to participate. Repeals a requirement for data collection on a regional basis. Requires the NAEP to collect and report data: (1) at least once every four years in the core academic areas of reading, writing, mathematics, science, history, and geography; and (2) annually on students at specified ages and in specified grade levels. (Current law varies such deadlines for the different academic subjects and sets a biennial deadline for the age and grade levels.) Removes a confidentiality restriction on NAEP information with respect to individual schools. Removes a prohibition against use of NAEP test items and data to rank, compare, or otherwise evaluate individual students, schools, or school districts. Requires States which choose to enter NAEP agreements to conduct such Assessment at the school level for all schools in the State sample and coordinate within the State, subject to a minimum State contribution of $100,000. Directs the Secretary to pay the State a certain amount for the costs of conducting such Assessment in excess of the minimum State contribution. Title VII: National Commission on Time, Study, Learning, and Teaching - Establishes a National Education Commission on Time, Study, Learning, and Teaching (the Commission). Requires the Commission to examine the quality and adequacy of the study and learning time of U.S. elementary and secondary students in an era when World Class Standards of achievement need to be met, including issues regarding: (1) the length of the school day and year; (2) the extent and role of homework; (3) how time is currently being used for academic subjects (especially the five core subjects of English, mathematics, science, history, and geography); (4) year-round professional opportunities for teachers; and (5) the use of school facilities for extended learning programs. Directs the Commission, within one year after it concludes its first meeting, to subject a final report to the Congress and the President. Requires such report, in addition to the primary issues, to analyze and make recommendations about: (1) use of incentives for students to increase educational achievement in available instructional time; (2) how children spend time outside school; and (3) if appropriate, a model plan for adopting a longer academic day and year for U.S. elementary and secondary schools by the end of this decade, including mechanisms to assist in such transition. Terminates the Commission 90 days after it submits its final report. Authorizes appropriations. Title VIII: Regional Literacy Resource Centers - Amends the Adult Education Act to direct the Secretary to make grants or contracts for operation of regional literacy resource centers in appropriate regions. Makes eligible for such grants or contracts SEAs, LEAs, State literacy offices, volunteer-organizations, community-based, organizations, institutions of higher education, or other nonprofit entities. Provides that the Federal share of activity costs shall decline over a five-year period from a maximum of 80 percent to 60 percent. Authorizes appropriations. Title IX: General Provisions - Sets forth definitions for this Act. Makes specified provisions of Federal law permitting consolidation of grants to the Insular Areas inapplicable to funds received by such an area under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 1991
Designates the week beginning October 20, 1991, as World Population Awareness Week.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 1991
Amends the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) to direct the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) to conduct certain trial assessments, and develop other trial assessments for administration, in 1994. Directs the Secretary of Education to provide for the organization that conducts the independent evaluation of assessments under specified GEPA provisions to study and report to the Congress, within 120 days after enactment of this Act, on: (1) the process whereby achievement goals are set pursuant to specified GEPA provisions; and (2) the ability of NAEP to maintain valid data with respect to trends in student performance.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 1991
Designates July 2, 1991, as National Literacy Day.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1991
ESOP Promotion and Improvement Act of 1991 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow S corporations (certain small business corporations) to participate in employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs). Extends the ESOP exception to the ten percent early withdrawal penalty tax to certain ESOP distributions to employees made at any time. Permits ESOP participants whose compensation does not exceed a certain amount to contribute up to 50 percent of it to the plan. Allows ESOP closely-held corporate sponsors to pay estate tax if an estate transferred the stock of the corporation to an ESOP. Provides that ESOPs and cash or deferred arrangement plans may be combined for the benefit of employees. Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to allow employees additional time to bid for ownership of their employer if foreign interests are trying to buy such employer.