United States · United States Congress · 1 March 1990
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the 25th anniversary of the enactment of the Older Americans Act of 1965 and its successful implementation should be recognized; (2) contributions at all levels of the aging network should be acknowledged and commended; and (3) support for the Act and its primary goal should be reaffirmed.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 1990
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should designate a special envoy to negotiate the release of American and all other hostages in Lebanon and appeals to their captors to free them. Expresses sympathy for their families. Recognizes those who will be commemorating the fifth anniversary of the captivity of Terry Anderson on March 16, 1990.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1990
International Voluntary Family Planning Assistance Act of 1990 - Authorizes appropriations for international population planning assistance. Earmarks a specified amount of such funds for the United Nations Population Fund if: (1) the Fund maintains such funds in a separate account, without commingling; (2) none of the funds are made available for China; and (3) any agreement to obligate such funds expressly states that the full amount granted by the agreement will be refunded to the United States if U.S. funds are used for family planning in China or abortions in any country. Prohibits any funds appropriated under this Act from being used for abortions.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1990
Foreign Investment Policy Improvements Act - Requires the Bureau of Economic Analysis to use certain business information relating to foreign-owned businesses in the United States (ten percent or more of whose voting securities are owned by foreign persons) when implementing the International Investment and Trade in Services Survey Act. Amends such Act to authorize and provide for the collection and use of information on direct investments owned or controlled directly or indirectly by foreign governments.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1990
Amends the Export Administration Act of 1979 to prohibit any items which are included on the Commodity Control List from being included on the United States Munitions List (which shall consist only of specially designed items of military or intelligence application). Provides for determinations of the appropriate control lists on which items are to be included.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1990
Expresses sadness over the loss of 23 U.S. soldiers' lives in Panama as a result of Operation Just Cause and conveys condolences to their families. Commends the President for his efforts to provide for the early return of the remaining U.S. troops and urges him to continue efforts to foster democratic ideals in Panama.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1990
Directs the Peace Corps to establish a memorial on Federal land in the District of Columbia to honor Peace Corps volunteers. Establishes the Peace Corps Volunteer Memorial Advisory Board to: (1) promote the establishment of the memorial; and (2) with the approval of the Peace Corps, recommend the site and select the design for the memorial. Authorizes the Peace Corps to solicit private contributions for such memorial. Establishes a fund in the Treasury for the sole purpose of carrying out this Act. Prohibits the use of Federal funds for the construction of the memorial, except those received as private contributions. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to be responsible for maintenance and care of the memorial.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1990
Urgent Assistance for Democracy in Panama Act of 1990 - Title I: Panama - Authorizes funds to Panama for: (1) economic assistance programs; (2) certain guaranteed assistance relating to housing and trade credit insurance programs; and (3) certain law enforcement assistance (including military assistance). Provides for the resumption of U.S. assistance to Panama under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and certain trade benefits under the Generalized System of Preferences and the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act because of such country's cooperation in controlling narcotics trafficking. Title II: Eastern Europe and Yugoslavia - Authorizes the use of certain funds under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 relating to the economic support fund to support the democratization in East European countries and Yugoslavia.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1990
Expresses sadness over the loss of 23 U.S. soldiers' lives in Panama as a result of Operation Just Cause and conveys condolences to their families. Commends the President for his efforts to provide for the early return of the remaining U.S. troops and urges him to continue efforts to foster democratic ideals in Panama.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 1990
Designates September 21, 1990, as National POW/MIA Recognition Day. Recognizes the National League of Families POW/MIA flag as the official symbol of the United States' commitment to resolving the fates of Americans still prisoner or missing in action in Southeast Asia.
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 1990
Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize Overseas Private Investment Corporation programs for Czechoslovakia. Directs that the projects supported enhance the nongovernmental sector and reduce state involvement in the economy.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1990
Authorizes the Secretary of Education to provide financial assistance to the Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars for construction and related costs of a student residence and classroom building in Washington, D.C. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1991 through 1993.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1990
Department of Environmental Protection Act - Title I: Establishment of Department of Environmental Protection - Redesignates the Environmental Protection Agency as the Department of Environmental Protection, an executive department to be administered by a Secretary of Environmental Protection. Establishes within the Department: (1) an Office of International Environmental Affairs; (2) an Office of Enforcement; and (3) a Center for Environmental Statistics (Center). Encourages the Secretary to assist the Secretary of State in negotiating and administering international environmental protection agreements and participating in the work of international environmental protection organizations. Encourages the Secretary to continue the Department's role in conducting international environmental research and providing technical assistance to other nations to improve environmental quality. Requires the Secretary to establish an Advisory Committee on Environmental Statistics to advise the Center and the Congress on the collection and dissemination of statistical data. Directs the Secretary to maintain a comprehensive guide to the Department's environmental and public health information services. Requires the Secretary to establish an Advisory Committee on Public Access to provide recommendations on improving public access to departmental information. Directs the Secretary to: (1) study the use of computer telecommunications and other means to provide for access to such information; and (2) permit the reduction or waiver of user fees for such access. Title II: Commission on Environmental Administration - Establishes the Commission on Environmental Administration to analyze and make recommendations on specified reorganization and management issues in the Department. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1990
Makes FY 1990 supplemental appropriations to the Department of Health and Human Services for payments under the low-income home energy assistance program.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1990
Calls upon the United Nations to repeal General Assembly Resolution 3379 (equating Zionism with racism). Commends the President for his commitment to this goal and requires progress reports to the Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 21 November 1989
Amends Federal law to authorize and request the President to designate May as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month annually, beginning in 1990. (Current law designates a seven-day period beginning on May 4, 1979).
United States · United States Congress · 21 November 1989
Expedited Consideration of Proposed Rescissions Act of 1990 - Amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to require a special message, in the case of budget authority proposed to be rescinded or reserved, to include language amending the law authorizing such programs to allow them to continue to function at the proposed new level of budget authority. Allows the President to transmit to both Houses of the Congress, for expedited consideration, one or more special messages proposing to rescind all or part of any item of budget authority provided in an appropriation bill. Requires that such special message be transmitted not later than three days after the President approves the appropriation bill and be accompanied by a draft bill or joint resolution that would, if enacted, rescind the budget authority proposed to be rescinded. Sets forth House and Senate procedures for the expedited consideration of such a proposal.
United States · United States Congress · 21 November 1989
Export Development Task Force Act of 1990 - Establishes the Bipartisan Task Force on Export Development and Promotion to review all Federal activities and programs that assist U.S. businesses in export development or promotion of nonagricultural goods and services, including financing programs. Establishes the Interagency Working Group on Export Development to develop export markets for U.S. nonagricultural goods and services.
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 1989
Authorizes the President, on behalf of the Congress, to present a gold medal to Laurance Spelman Rockefeller in recognition of his leadership on behalf of natural resource conservation and historic preservation. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to provide for the sale of bronze duplicates of the medal.
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 1989
International Narcotics Control Act of 1989 - Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) it is crucial to international antidrug efforts that funds be made available to provide alternative sources of income for individuals in major coca producing countries who are dependent on illicit drug production, as well as for eradication, enforcement, rehabilitation, treatment, and education programs in such countries; and (2) the United States and other major donor countries should provide increased economic assistance to major coca producing countries which have taken steps to attack illicit coca production by methods which reduce the flow of cocaine to the world market. Urges the Director of National Drug Policy to develop and submit to the Congress a plan which addresses such needs. Authorizes the President to make funds for foreign military financing under the Arms Export Control Act and international military education and training under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 available to provide defense articles and services and international military education and training to Bolivia, Colombia, and Peru. Earmarks specified amounts of such assistance for narcotics law enforcement training and interdiction activities and procurement of defense articles by enforcement agencies in such countries. Makes such countries eligible only if they maintain democratic governments and their law enforcement agencies do not engage in human rights violations. Requires the President to report to specified congressional committees prior to obligating such funds. Provides for human rights reporting on such countries. Authorizes appropriations. Amends the International Narcotics Control Act of 1988 to earmark specified amounts of international military education and training assistance and anti-narcotics military assistance for FY 1990 for eligible countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. Waives provisions of the Arms Export Control Act concerning foreign military financing with respect to financing for narcotics control activities. Prohibits the provision of such assistance to Bolivia, Colombia, and Peru. Amends the Arms Export Control Act to require the Special Defense Acquisition Fund to be used to acquire defense articles for narcotics control purposes. Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize the President to transfer excess defense articles to any country: (1) which is a major illicit drug producing country in Latin America and the Caribbean with a democratic government; and (2) whose armed forces do not engage in human rights violations. Requires such countries to ensure that such articles will be used only in support of anti-narcotics activities. Limits the aggregate value of articles to be transferred to a country in any fiscal year. Permits such transfers only if: (1) the articles are drawn from existing Department of Defense (DOD) stocks; (2) funds available to DOD for the procurement of defense equipment are not expended in connection with such transfers; and (3) the President determines that such transfers will not have an adverse impact on the military readiness of the United States. Permits such transfers without cost to the recipient country. Requires the President to notify specified congressional committees prior to transferring such articles. Waives certain prohibitions on the provision of assistance to countries in default on loan payments to the United States with respect to narcotics-related assistance for FY 1990 for major illicit drug producing countries. Earmarks specified amounts of grant military assistance and foreign military financing for FY 1990 for arming aircraft used in narcotics control eradication or interdiction efforts. Prohibits such funds from being used to purchase new aircraft. Requires the notification of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee prior to the use of such funds. Earmarks a specified amount of international narcotics control assistance for FY 1990 for the testing and use of herbicides for the aerial eradication of coca. Limits the amount of FY 1990 international narcotics control assistance to be made available for Mexico. Permits excess assistance to Mexico only if specified congressional committees are notified. Waives a prohibition on assistance to drug traffickers with respect to FY 1990 assistance to major drug transit countries if the President certifies that: (1) certain provisions of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 with regard to money laundering do not apply to such a country; (2) such country was previously a major illicit drug producing country but has effectively eliminated drug production during the preceding two years; and (3) such country is cooperating fully with the United States or has taken certain steps with respect to narcotics control. Expresses the sense of the Congress that U.S. trade policy should be coordinated with U.S. narcotics control objectives, particularly with respect to the International Coffee Agreement. Commends the President for reviewing, and urges him to continue to review whether: (1) the International Coffee Agreement negotiations should be resumed; and (2) the trade benefits provided in the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act should be extended to the major coca producing countries of Latin America. Requires the President to report to the Congress on such review. Urges the President to: (1) place debt relief and drug control efforts in Latin American countries among the highest of foreign policy priorities; and (2) ensure that the Director of National Drug Control Policy, the Secretary of State, and the Secretary of the Treasury have leading roles in addressing these problems. Urges the President to consult with Latin American countries to arrange a hemispheric summit to discuss specific illicit drug and debt issues. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the proposal for the promotion of a multilateral anti-narcotics force for the Western Hemisphere should be endorsed; and (2) the United States should work through multilateral organizations to determine the feasibility, and assist in the establishment, of such force. Urges the President to: (1) seek agreement by relevant foreign countries, especially NATO countries and members of the Warsaw Pact, to join with the United States in halting weapons transfers to narcotics traffickers in Latin America; and (2) improve the coordination of U.S. efforts to track the flow of such weapons to international narcotics traffickers and to prevent illegal shipments from the United States. Calls upon the President to direct the U.S. representative to INTERPOL to urge such organization to study the feasibility of establishing an international database on the flow of the types of weapons acquired illegally by international narcotics traffickers. Requires the President to report to the Congress on such actions. Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to raise the limit on the amount of rewards for information concerning international terrorism. Makes technical amendments to provisions of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 concerning international narcotics control. Incorporates related provisions of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 and the International Narcotics Control Act of 1986 into such Act. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1990 for international narcotics control assistance. Requires countries receiving such assistance to bear an appropriate share of the costs for any activity for which assistance is provided. Exempts assistance for narcotics control crop substitution activities from a prohibition on the use of funds to support the production of any agricultural commodity in a foreign country which would compete with a similar U.S. commodity. Authorizes the President to release Bolivia, Colombia, or Peru from obligations to make payments to the United States if such country is participating in a program for the use of herbicides for the aerial eradication of coca. Directs the President to report annually to the Speaker of the House and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on international narcotics control activities. Makes technical amendments to, and repeals specified provisions of, the International Narcotics Control Act of 1988, the International Narcotics Control Act of 1986, and the Narcotics Control Trade Act.
United States · United States Congress · 2 November 1989
Declares that it is the policy of the United States to recognize Brazil's sovereign authority in the Amazon and that the United States should adopt a policy to encourage and support conservation efforts initiated by Brazil to protect the Amazon forest. Declares that the United States should redouble its efforts to address development within its own borders in an environmentally sound and sustainable manner.
United States · United States Congress · 2 November 1989
Reaffirms support for the goals of democracy, peace, freedom, and security in Central America and the terms of the Bipartisan Accord on Central America of March 24, 1989. Supports the progress that has been made toward holding free and fair elections in Nicaragua on February 25, 1990. Condemns the action by President Ortega to end the cease-fire with the Nicaraguan Resistance, calls on him to reverse that decision, and calls on both the Government and the Nicaraguan Resistance to abide by the cease-fire. Deplores any effort by: (1) the Government of Nicaragua to curtail, postpone, or cancel elections on February 25, 1990, or to use any pretense to impose emergency laws during the period leading up to the election; or (2) the Nicaraguan Resistance to disrupt such elections.
United States · United States Congress · 31 October 1989
Amends Federal law to require the Secretary of the Treasury to make timely payments of benefits under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act despite the public debt limit.
United States · United States Congress · 26 October 1989
Rural Assistance and Revitalization Act of 1989 - Title I: Rural Business and Job Creation - Subtitle A: Rural Partnerships Investment Board - Establishes a Rural Partnerships Investment Board to provide lines of credit to enable eligible entities to develop rural business development revolving funds. Establishes in the Treasury a Rural Business Investment Fund. Subtitle B: Rural Capital Access Program - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a rural capital access program to encourage lending institutions to provide rural business loans. Subtitle C: Rural Economic Development Administered by the Secretary and the Rural Electrification Administration - Amends the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to establish a position of Assistant Administrator for Economic Development in the Rural Electrification Administration (REA). Establishes within REA a technical assistance unit to advise borrowers with regard to economic and community development activities. Provides for deferred payment on economic development loans. Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to authorize water and waste facility loans for certain REA borrowers. Amends the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to establish in the Treasury a Rural Business Incubator Fund to fund REA borrowers in order to create or operate rural business incubators. Title II: Administration - Renames the Department of Agriculture and the Secretary of Agriculture the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (Department) and the Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development, respectively. Establishes in the Department the Rural Electrification and Development Administration (Administration) to be headed by an Assistant Secretary for Electrification and Rural Development. Transfers to the Administration: (1) the REA; (2) the community facilities, water and waste disposal, and business and industry loan programs administered by the Farmers Home Administration; and (3) other development programs as the Secretary may assign to the Administration. Establishes in the Rural Development Administration (sic) an Office of Rural Policy. Title III: Information - Directs the Census Bureau to expand its data collection efforts with regard to changing rural economic conditions. Amends the Rural Development Act of 1972 to establish a rural development research grant program. Directs the Secretary to establish: (1) a National Center for Cooperative Research, Education, Training, and Development; and (2) similar regional centers. Title IV: Human Capacity - Amends the Rural Development Act of 1972 to direct the Secretary to establish an Extension Service rural economic and business development program. Amends the Farm Credit Act of 1971 to authorize Farm Credit System (System) institutions to provide technical assistance to rural communities. Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to increase the authorization of appropriations for technical assistance. Title V: Rural Infrastructure - Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to: (1) establish local income-based loan rates for health care and related facilities; (2) increase the ceiling for water and waste facility grants; and (3) establish an emergency community water assistance grant program. Title VI: Provisions Relating to Institutions of the Farm Credit System - Amends the Farm Credit Act of 1971 to authorize System institutions to participate in specified agricultural real estate and operating loan guarantee programs. Increases the scope of System institution credit. Title VII: Regulations - Requires final implementing regulations to be issued within six months of enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 19 October 1989
Small Business Access Improvement Act of 1989 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for small businesses for the expense of providing public accommodations access to the disabled. Reduces the tax deduction for expenditures to remove architectural and transportation barriers to the handicapped and elderly.
United States · United States Congress · 6 October 1989
Food Contamination Prevention Act - Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to promulgate regulations: (1) prohibiting the transportation in commerce of hazardous, medical, recyclable, and terminal waste in any refrigerated or other vehicle designed for transporting perishable food or in any vehicle that is also used to transport any food, food additive, drug, cosmetic, or device, or any package containing such items; (2) establishing health and safety standards for the transportation in commerce of recyclable and reusable waste in vehicles that are also used to transport any food, food additive, drug, cosmetic, or device, or any package containing such items; (3) requiring any vehicle used to transport solid waste to be labeled in a manner that identifies the vehicle as a dedicated or nondedicated waste vehicle and that identifies the class of waste transported by such vehicle; (4) requiring each solid waste management facility to institute a program to ensure that all nondedicated waste vehicles that are used to transport solid waste are kept free from contaminants through the use of reasonably available current technology; and (5) establishing criteria for three classes of nonhazardous solid waste (reusable, recyclable, and terminal as defined in this Act). Prescribes criminal penalties for violation of such regulations.
United States · United States Congress · 4 October 1989
Polish and Hungarian Democracy Initiative of 1989 - Title I: Structural Adjustment - Requires the U.S. Government, to the extent that Poland and Hungary continue to evolve toward pluralism and democracy and develop and implement comprehensive economic reform programs, to: (1) take the leadership in mobilizing international financial institutions to provide timely and appropriate resources to help Poland and Hungary; (2) use the Exchange Stabilization Fund to support the implementation of a plan of the Polish Government to attack hyperinflation and other structural economic problems, address pressing social problems, and carry out comprehensive economic reform; (3) urge all members of the Paris Club of creditor governments and other creditor governments to adopt a generous and early rescheduling program for debts owed by the Polish Government, and reschedule payments due on the debt owed by such Government to the U.S. Government that is payable during FY 1990 through 1994; and (4) make available to Poland U.S. agricultural assistance and encourage parallel efforts by the European Community and other agricultural surplus nations. Sets a minimum level of agricultural assistance to Poland for FY 1990. Requires the President to submit a report to the Congress: (1) describing the steps taken by the U.S. Government under this Act; (2) assessing Poland's requirements for additional agricultural assistance during FY 1990 and for assistance during FY 1991 through 1992; and (3) specifying how much agricultural assistance the President proposes be provided by the United States to meet those requirements. Directs the President to provide to the Congress revised assessments of Poland's requirements for agricultural assistance during FY 1991 through 1992, as additional information becomes available. Title II: Private Sector Development - Authorizes appropriations for the three-year period beginning October 1, 1989, to support the Polish-American Enterprise Fund and the Hungarian-American Enterprise Funds (Enterprise Funds). Authorizes the President to designate two private, nonprofit organizations as eligible to receive funds and support (the Enterprise Funds). Sets forth provisions with respect to the management and administration of such funds, audits, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements. Requires each Enterprise Fund to take into account such considerations as internationally recognized worker and human rights, environmental factors, U.S. economic and employment effects, and the likelihood of commercial viability of the activity receiving assistance from the Enterprise Fund. Requires the Secretary of Labor to provide technical assistance to Poland and Hungary for the implementation of labor market reforms and to facilitate adjustment during the period of economic transition and reform. Specifies types of technical assistance authorized, including assistance pertaining to job training and retraining, labor-management relations, and worker rights. Requires the President to develop and implement a program for extending basic agribusiness, commercial, entrepreneurial, financial, scientific, and technical skills to the people of Poland and Hungary to enable them to better meet their needs and develop a market economy, including management training and agricultural extension activities. Specifies agencies, programs, and organizations participating in such program. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes appropriations to carry out programs in Poland and Hungary under the Peace Corps Act. Directs that a portion of specified agricultural commodities be made available and sold or bartered to generate local currencies to be used to complement the assistance for Poland authorized by this Act. Title III: Trade and Investment - Amends: (1) the Trade Act of 1974 to make Poland eligible for the Generalized System of Preferences; and (2) the Foreign Assistance Act to make Poland and Hungary eligible for Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) programs. Directs the OPIC to support projects in Poland and Hungary which will result in enhancement of the nongovernmental sector and reduction of State involvement in the economy. Amends the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 to remove Poland and Hungary from a list of Marxist-Leninist countries. Directs the Export-Import Bank and the Agency for International Development (AID) to work with certain international financial intermediaries which will facilitate trade between the United States and Poland which is eligible for financing from such Bank. Authorizes the President to provide guarantees to the Bank for liabilities incurred in connection with guarantees or insurance provided under the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 for financing for transactions involving the export of goods and services for the use of the private sector in Poland and Hungary. Limits such guarantees to short-term guarantees and insurance extended by the Banks which shall be repayable within one year from the date of arrival at the port of importation of the goods and services covered by such guarantees or insurance. Provides that such guarantees or insurance shall: (1) be by the Administrator of AID and the Bank; and (2) provide for the establishment of a reserve fund by the administering agency. Sets forth provisions with respect to funding, the discharge of liabilities, reporting requirements, administrative and technical assistance, fees and premiums charged by the Bank, and congressional reporting requirements in connection with guarantees of insurance guaranteed by the administering agency. Authorizes appropriations. Urges the President to seek bilateral investment treaties with Poland and Hungary to establish a more stable legal framework for U.S. investment in those countries. Title IV: Educational, Cultural, and Scientific Activities - Urges the United States to: (1) expand its participation in educational and cultural exchange activities with Poland and Hungary; and (2) establish binational Fulbright commissions with Poland and Hungary to facilitate and enhance academic and scholarly exchanges with those countries. Encourages the establishment of "sister institution" programs between American and Polish, and American and Hungarian, organizations. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the Administrator to establish and administer a program to provide scholarships to enable students from Poland and Hungary to study in the United States. Authorizes the Administrator to make grants to States to provide scholarship assistance for undergraduate or graduate degree programs, and training programs of one year or longer, in study areas related to the critical development needs of Poland and Hungary. Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of State to continue to implement the 1987 U.S.-Polish science and technology agreement for FY 1990 through 1992. Title V: Other Assistance - Authorizes appropriations to support democratic institutions and activities in Poland and Hungary. Authorizes appropriations to undertake such action (including educational, research, and technical and financial assistance) as the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) deems appropriate in protecting the environment in Poland and Hungary. Authorizes the Administrator to cooperate with Polish officials and experts to: (1) establish an air quality monitoring network in the Krakow metropolitan area as part of Poland's national air monitoring network; and (2) improve both water quality and the availability of drinking water in such area. Requires the Administrator to work with the United States and Hungarian officials and private parties to establish a regional center in Budapest for facilitating cooperative environmental activities between governmental experts and public and private organizations from the United States and Europe. Authorizes appropriations for EPA activities for FY 1990 through 1992. Directs the Secretary of Energy to cooperate with Polish officials and experts to: (1) retrofit a coal-fired commercial powerplant in Krakow, Poland, with advanced clean coal technology; and (2) assess and develop the capability within Poland to manufacture boilers or other equipment that will enable industrial facilities within Poland to burn fossil fuels cleanly. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes appropriations for medical supplies, hospital equipment, and training of Polish medical personnel. Title VI: Other Provisions - Requires: (1) the President to submit a report to the Congress on actions taken pursuant to this Act; and (2) the Secretary of State to coordinate the assistance for Poland and Hungary provided for in this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 1989
Amends the Rail Passenger Service Act to repeal an exemption from specified communicable disease control requirements of the Public Health Service Act for waste disposal from railroads operating in intercity rail passenger service.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 1989
Expresses the sense of the Congress that in recognition of several significant steps that Angola has taken toward peace, national reconciliation, and economic reform it is in the interest of the United States to take steps to normalize relations with the Government of Angola, including: (1) establishing a U.S. liaison office in Luanda; (2) supporting Angola's full participation in multilateral development institutions; and (3) providing humanitarian assistance.
United States · United States Congress · 21 September 1989
Prohibits the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from enforcing, during the 12-month period following the enactment of this Act, its underground petroleum storage tank financial responsibility regulations promulgated pursuant to the Solid Waste Disposal Act with respect to certain underground tank owners. Permits enforcement after such period if the Administrator of the EPA determines that such enforcement would not impose an unjust economic burden on the owners. Requires the Administrator to conduct a study for the purpose of identifying the principal economic difficulties associated with compliance by underground tank owners with EPA technical standards for such tanks. Directs the Administrator to report the results of such study to specified congressional committees. Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to: (1) delete the requirement that regulations under such Act include provisions for compensation of third parties for injury and property damage caused by accidental releases from underground storage tanks; and (2) reduce financial responsibility requirements for specified underground petroleum storage tanks.
United States · United States Congress · 20 September 1989
Poland and Hungary Democracy Act of 1989 - Title I: Enterprise Funds in Poland and Hungary - Authorizes appropriations to the President for promoting the development of the Hungarian and Polish private sectors through the support of a Polish-American Enterprise Fund and a Hungarian-American Enterprise Fund. Allows the President to designate two private, nonprofit organizations as the Funds. Requires the President to designate an executive agency to grant such monies to the Funds. Permits the agency to use a specified amount of such monies for carrying out functions under this title. Makes certain commodities eligible for assistance programs under the Agricultural Act of 1949 and the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 available to the Funds to generate local currencies. Authorizes grants to be made to the Funds only if the Funds are in compliance with this title. Provides for annual audits of the Funds. Requires the Funds to ensure that: (1) each recipient of Fund assistance keeps separate accounts and financial records; and (2) the Funds have access to such records for audit purposes. Directs each Fund to publish annual reports. Title II: Labor Market Transition - Requires the Secretary of Labor to provide technical assistance to Poland and Hungary for the implementation of labor market reform and to facilitate adjustment during the period of economic transition and reform. Authorizes the Secretary to transfer a specified amount from Department of Labor funds to provide such assistance. Title III: Environmental Initiatives - Authorizes the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to: (1) undertake environmental protection activities in Hungary and Poland; and (2) use specified amounts of funds made available for FY 1990 through 1992 under the Clean Water Act and other authorizing statutes to carry out such activities. Requires the Administrator to: (1) establish an air quality monitoring network in the Krakow metropolitan area; and (2) improve water quality and the availability of drinking water in such area. Directs the Administrator to work with U.S. and Hungarian officials and private parties to establish and support a center in Budapest, Hungary, for facilitating cooperative environmental activities between governmental experts and U.S. and Eastern and Western European organizations.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 1989
Applauds the actions of the Government of the Hungarian People's Republic and the Hungarian people that have allowed thousands of citizens of the German Democratic Republic to seek freedom in the West.
United States · United States Congress · 13 September 1989
Farm Animal and Research Facilities Protection Act of 1989 - Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to make it unlawful to disrupt or damage a farm animal facility, its animals, or property. Sets forth penalties for violations of this Act. Allows the Secretary of Agriculture to investigate such offenses. Grants U.S. district courts jurisdiction in such cases. Provides for a private right of action.
United States · United States Congress · 13 September 1989
Legislative Line Item Veto Act of 1989 - Amends the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to grant the President legislative line item veto rescission authority. Authorizes the President to rescind all or part of any budget authority if the President determines that such rescission: (1) would help balance the Federal budget, reduce the Federal budget deficit, or reduce the public debt; (2) will not impair any essential Government functions; and (3) will not harm the national interest. Requires the President to notify the Congress of such a rescission by: (1) special message not later than 20 calendar days after enactment of appropriations legislation; or (2) special message accompanying the budget when such rescissions have not been proposed previously for that fiscal year. Makes such a rescission effective unless the Congress, during a review period of 20 calendar days, enacts a rescission disapproval bill. Describes: (1) information to be included in the President's message; and (2) procedures to govern consideration of rescission disapproval legislation in the Senate and the House of Representatives.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 1989
Designates October 27, 1989, as National Hostage Awareness Day in recognition of the 42d birthday of Terry Anderson and his fifth year in captivity. States that efforts should be made to have such date declared International Hostage Day by the United Nations. States that all Federal and international agencies should increase efforts to secure the release of the remaining hostages in Lebanon. Calls for prayer on such date for the release of all U.S. and foreign hostages in Lebanon.
United States · United States Congress · 11 September 1989
Commends and expresses support for President Barco and the Government and people of Colombia for standing up to the drug traffickers. Urges the administration to continue to make available whatever equipment, training, intelligence, and financial assistance that Colombia needs to overcome the activities of the drug traffickers.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1989
Urges: (1) the President to send one or more official observer missions for the 1990 national elections in Nicaragua, to be funded by the Department of State; (2) the Administrator of the Agency for International Development to fund one or more unofficial observer missions for those elections; and (3) all such observer missions to report their findings publicly after the elections are held. Specifies the funds that the Administrator is authorized to use to pay the expenses of unofficial observer missions.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 1989
Chemical and Biological Warfare Elimination Act - Title I: Measures to Prevent the Proliferation of Chemical and Biological Weapons - Declares it is U.S. policy to seek multilaterally coordinated efforts with other countries to control the proliferation of chemical and biological weapons. Requires the President to use the U.S. export control laws to control the export of defense articles, defense services, goods, and technologies that he determines would assist a country in acquiring the capability to produce or use such weapons. Amends the Export Administration Act of 1979 to require a validated export license for the export of any goods or technology that the President determines would assist a country in acquiring such weapons, unless the destination of such export is a country with which the United States has an arrangement for their control. Requires the President to impose certain sanctions against foreign persons if he determines that such persons knowingly contributed to the efforts of a country to acquire or use chemical or biological weapons in violation of international law. Declares such sanctions to include: (1) denial of U.S. procurement contracts for goods or services from such foreign persons; and (2) prohibition against importation of products from such persons. Authorizes the President to waive imposition of such sanctions if he determines that it is in the national security interests of the United States. Title II: Measures to Deter the Use of Chemical or Biological Weapons - Requires the President to determine whether a foreign country is using or developing chemical or biological weapons in violation of international law. Requires the President to impose certain sanctions against countries that do so. Declares such sanctions to include: (1) prohibition against arms sales and security-sensitive goods and technology; (2) prohibition of the export of U.S. goods and technology (except agricultural products); (3) import restrictions; (4) denial of foreign assistance; (5) U.S. opposition to loan or financial assistance from international and U.S. financial institutions; and (6) the suspension of diplomatic relations. Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions - Requires the President to transmit to the Congress a report regarding the use or development of chemical or biological weapons by countries in violation of international law.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 1989
Clean Air Act Amendments of 1989 - Title I: Provisions for Attainment and Maintenance of National Ambient Air Quality Standards - Amends the Clean Air Act to authorize the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), after promulgating a new or revised national ambient air quality standard, to require States to submit air quality implementation plans. Requires State Governors to designate areas within a State as nonattainment, attainment, or unclassifiable, with regard to air quality standards, and to submit such designations to the Administrator. Authorizes the Administrator to modify such designations, as necessary. Designates areas currently required to be listed under the Clean Air Act as nonattainment, attainment, or unclassifiable areas, as specified. Provides for the redesignation of areas, as appropriate. Prohibits the redesignation of any area from nonattainment to unclassifiable. Directs State Governors to submit to the Administrator a list of areas designated or redesignated as carbon monoxide and ozone attainment, nonattainment, and unclassifiable areas. Designates: (1) areas identified (in 52 Federal Register 29383) as Group I areas as particulate matter 10 (PM-10) nonattainment areas; (2) counties containing sites for which air quality monitoring data show a violation of national air quality standards for PM-10 before 1989 as PM-10 nonattainment areas; and (3) areas not meeting either description as PM-10 unclassifiable areas. Authorizes the Administrator to require States to designate areas with respect to the national air quality standard for lead. Permits the Administrator, with respect to attainment or unclassifiable areas, to require States to submit implementation plans that provide for the maintenance of such standards. Makes technical amendments to provisions concerning plan requirements. Sets forth provisions for plan approval and revisions. Requires plans to provide for attainment of national air quality standards in nonattainment areas within three years of this Act's enactment or within five years of a finding of substantial inadequacy. Retains a moratorium on construction or modification of major stationary sources in certain areas until such areas meet applicable requirements concerning permit programs or attainment standards for sulfur oxides. Repeals provisions concerning: (1) extensions of time for plan submissions and attainment dates; (2) requirements concerning parking surcharges and transportation regulations; and (3) suspensions of certain plan requirements. Requires the Administrator to publish a triennial (currently, annual) document which sets forth applicable requirements of the implementation plan for each State. Revises provisions concerning stack heights to require such heights to equal the height prescribed by the Administrator (currently, the height shall not exceed two and a half times the height of the source), unless the owner or operator demonstrates the need for a greater height and such source has met applicable emissions standards. Sets the date of attainment of national air quality standards for a nonattainment area at five years from the date such area was designated. Authorizes the Administrator to extend such attainment date, provided that such extension does not exceed 20 years. Permits up to two one-year extensions to be granted to a single area upon application by a State. Requires States to submit nonattainment plans within three years of the designation of an area. Makes technical amendments to provisions concerning nonattainment plan requirements. Authorizes the issuance of a permit to construct or operate a new source if demonstrated that the benefits of such source significantly outweigh environmental and social costs. Prohibits the use of existing growth allowances in areas which are notified that implementation plans containing such allowances are substantially inadequate. Requires States containing ozone or carbon monoxide nonattainment areas, together with local officials of such areas, to review and update, as necessary, planning procedures for such areas. Authorizes States, in the case of areas included in more than one State, to implement jointly such planning procedures. Provides that maintenance plans required as preconditions to area redesignations shall provide for maintenance of air quality standards for at least ten years after a redesignation petition is submitted to the Administrator. Authorizes the Administrator, whenever it is determined that the interstate transport of air pollutants from one or more States contributes significantly to a violation of an air quality standard in such States, to establish a transport region for such pollutants within such States. Requires the Administrator to establish a transport commission for each such region to: (1) assess the degree of interstate transport of the pollutant or precursors to the pollutant throughout the transport region; (2) assess strategies for mitigating the interstate pollution; and (3) recommend to the Administrator such measures as may be necessary to ensure that State plans meet requirements of this Act. Permits such commissions to request the Administrator to issue a finding that one or more of the States in a transport region have inadequate implementation plans. Applies program cost limitations for interstate air quality agencies to such commissions. Imposes the following sanctions on States which fail to comply with requirements concerning nonattainment areas: (1) a moratorium on the construction or modification of any major stationary source of the relevant pollutants in the nonattainment area, or with respect to ozone, the nonattainment area and the area within 25 miles of the nonattainment area; (2) restrictions on Department of Transportation assistance to such areas; (3) restrictions on the provision of new drinking water service in such areas; or (4) a withholding of all or part of assistance for air pollution planning and control. Requires States which fail to attain air quality standards by the required attainment date to submit plan revisions. Prohibits the construction or modification of any major stationary source of a pollutant in a nonattainment area after 1992 or 42 months after the designation of such area, whichever is later, unless the Administrator has approved a plan submission for such area. Authorizes the Administrator to promulgate a Federal implementation plan if any State fails to make a required submission or such submission is not approved. Classifies ozone nonattainment areas as Marginal, Moderate, Serious, and Severe, based upon the amount by which the air quality standard is exceeded in the area. Authorizes the Administrator to adjust the classification of areas which would be classified in another area if the ozone level were five percent greater or less. Prohibits more than two one-year attainment extensions from being issued for a single nonattainment area. Sets forth the following attainment dates: (1) December 31, 1995, for Marginal and Moderate areas; (2) December 31, 2000, for Serious areas; and (3) December 31, 2010, for Severe areas. Provides for the reclassification of areas which fail to meet required standards. Requires States in which Marginal areas are located to submit to the Administrator a current inventory of actual emissions from all sources. Directs such States to submit plan revisions to require: (1) correction requirements for available control technology; (2) a vehicle inspection and maintenance program; (3) permits for the construction and operation of new or modified stationary sources; (4) triennial inventories; and (5) emissions statements from owners or operators of stationary sources of oxides of nitrogen or volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Waives requirements for the submission of triennial inventories for sources which emit less than 25 tons annually of nitrogen oxides or VOCs if the State provides an emissions inventory for such sources to the Administrator. Requires States in which Moderate areas are located to submit plan revisions which provide for emission reductions, by December 31, 1995, of at least 15 percent from baseline emissions. Prohibits the following measures from being credited to the 15 percent reduction: (1) measures relating to motor vehicle tailpipe or evaporative emissions promulgated by the Administrator; (2) regulations concerning Reid Vapor Pressure promulgated by the Administrator; (3) measures concerning required corrections to implementation plans; and (4) measures concerning motor vehicle inspection and maintenance. Provides that plan revisions shall require: (1) the implementation of reasonably available control technology with respect to all VOC sources covered by a Control Techniques Guideline document and all sources with the potential to emit at least 100 tons annually of VOCs; and (2) owners and operators of gasoline dispensing systems to install and operate systems for gasoline vapor recovery of emissions from the fueling of motor vehicles. Sets forth deadlines for the installation of such systems. Requires States in which Serious areas are located to submit the same plan revisions as those applicable to Moderate areas. Directs such States, by December 31, 1995, to submit revisions to provide for: (1) the attainment of the ozone air quality standard by the applicable attainment date; and (2) certain VOC emissions reductions from the baseline emissions averaged over three-year periods, beginning in 1996. Sets forth provisions concerning creditable emissions reductions. Permits such revisions to provide for combined VOC and nitrogen oxide emissions reductions (in lieu of sole VOC reductions) that would result in reductions equivalent to those required for VOC emissions from the baseline level. Requires such States to revise plans to provide for programs to reduce hydrocarbon emissions from in-use motor vehicles in urbanized nonattainment areas with populations over 200,000. Sets forth minimum requirements for such programs, including waiver and enforcement provisions. Requires States containing certain Serious or Severe areas with populations over 250,000 to submit plan revisions to ensure the implementation of clean-fuel vehicle programs, including measures to make the use of clean alternative fuels economic for owners. Permits the Administrator to approve substitutes for such programs if such substitutes will achieve equivalent reductions of ozone-producing emissions. Requires States with Serious areas in which the levels of vehicle miles traveled or congestion levels exceed levels projected for purposes of the area's demonstration of attainment or progress to submit plan revisions providing for transportation control measures. Requires States in which Severe areas are located to make the same submissions as those applicable to Serious areas and to submit an attainment demonstration by December 31, 2000. Provides that States containing non-self-generating ozone nonattainment areas that do not include or are not adjacent to metropolitan statistical areas (MSA) shall be treated as satisfying the requirements of this Act if they make submissions required for Marginal areas. Permits the Administrator to treat such areas as non-self-generating if found that VOC and nitrogen oxides emissions within such areas do not contribute significantly to ozone concentrations in such areas or other areas. Sets forth requirements for areas reclassified as Moderate. Requires the Administrator to: (1) issue control techniques guidelines for seven categories of stationary sources of VOC emissions for which guidelines have not been issued; and (2) issue a document analyzing alternative control techniques for stationary sources of nitrogen oxides. Directs the Administrator to: (1) report to the Congress on VOC emissions from consumer or commercial products; and (2) promulgate regulations to aid in the attainment of the ozone air quality standard by decreasing emissions from such products. Authorizes such regulations to exempt health use products for which there are no suitable substitutes. Permits the transfer of enforcement authority for such regulations to States with the approval of the Administrator. Requires the Administrator to promulgate standards applicable to air pollutant emissions from loading and unloading of marine tank vessels which may endanger public health or welfare. Directs the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to issue regulations to ensure the safety of the equipment and operations to control such emissions. Prohibits States from adopting any less stringent emissions standards. Requires the Administrator to study and report to the Congress on whether current methodology used to establish a design value for ozone provides a reasonable indicator of the ozone air quality of ozone nonattainment areas. Subjects such study to peer review. Establishes an ozone transport region comprised of coastal States on the east coast between Maine and Maryland and the consolidated metropolitan statistical area (CMSA) including the District of Columbia. Sets a fee of $5,000 per ton of VOC emitted during a calendar year in excess of 80 percent of the baseline amount for major stationary sources in severe ozone nonattainment areas which fail to attain standards by the applicable date. Requires such fee to be adjusted annually. Exempts from such fee areas with populations under 200,000 if demonstrated that attainment is prevented because of ozone transported from other areas. Classifies carbon monoxide nonattainment areas as Moderate or Serious. Authorizes the Administrator to adjust such classifications under conditions parallel to those for ozone nonattainment areas. Sets forth attainment dates of December 31, 1995, and December 31, 2000, for Moderate and Serious areas, respectively. Sets forth provisions for attainment extensions and reclassifications parallel to those for ozone nonattainment areas. Requires States in which Moderate carbon monoxide areas are located to submit to the Administrator a current inventory of actual emissions from all sources. Directs such States to submit plan revisions to require: (1) vehicle inspection and maintenance programs; and (2) triennial inventories. Requires States in which Serious carbon monoxide areas are located to make the same submissions as those required for Moderate areas. Directs such States to submit plan revisions to require: (1) attainment demonstrations; (2) vehicle inspection and maintenance programs; (3) transportation control measures; and (4) the use of oxygenated fuels in CMSA or MSA. Classifies PM 10 nonattainment areas as Moderate or Serious. Sets forth procedures and a timetable for reclassification of such areas. Provides for attainment dates of December 31, 1994, and December 31, 2001, for Moderate and Serious areas, respectively. Sets forth provisions for attainment extensions parallel to those for ozone and carbon monoxide nonattainment areas. Permits additional extensions to be granted to Serious areas, under specified conditions. Limits such extensions to a period of five years. Authorizes the Administrator to waive any requirement or attainment date for a Serious PM-10 area if determined that anthropogenic sources of PM-10 do not contribute significantly to violations of the PM-10 standard in such area. Requires States in which Moderate PM-10 areas are located to submit plans that include a permit program for the construction and operation of new and modified PM-10 sources and a demonstration on whether attainment is practicable by the applicable date. Directs States in which Serious PM-10 areas are located to submit plans that include a demonstration on whether attainment is practicable by the applicable date and the implementation of reasonably available control measures. Sets forth a timetable for the submission of attainment demonstrations. Requires the Administrator to: (1) issue technical guidance on reasonably available control measures for urban fugitive dust and emissions from residential wood combustion and prescribed silvicultural and agricultural burning; and (2) examine other categories of sources contributing to nonattainment of PM-10 and issue any additional guidance. Directs States containing nonattainment areas with respect to air quality standards for sulfur oxides, nitrogen dioxide, or lead to submit implementation plans to the Administrator. Requires such plans to provide for attainment of such standards within five years of the date of designation or, for States without approved plans, within five years of this Act's enactment. Applies requirements of approved plans submitted by Indian tribes to all areas located within a reservation. Authorizes the Administrator to: (1) treat Indian tribes as States under the Clean Air Act, except with respect to a requirement that makes available at least one-half of one percent of annual appropriations to States; and (2) provide such tribes with grant and contract assistance to carry out air pollution control functions. Outlines requirements for such authorization. Authorizes the Administrator to promulgate other means for administering such authorities where such treatment is inappropriate. Revises provisions concerning transportation planning and guidelines to require the Administrator to update the June 1978 Transportation-Air Quality Planning Guidelines. Requires States to submit such reports as the Administrator may require concerning emissions reductions, vehicle miles traveled, congestion levels, and any other information necessary for the Administrator to assess the effectiveness, implementation, or revision of any State plan. Extends the deadlines by which the Administrator must promulgate and revise regulations concerning new source standards of performance. Sets deadlines for the promulgation of regulations for sources for which the Administrator has not proposed regulations. Applies recordkeeping, inspections, monitoring, and entry requirements to persons who manufacture emissions control or process equipment or who may have information relevant to emissions sources. Exempts from interstate pollution abatement requirements States with permit programs approved under title IV of the Clean Air Act. Exempts concentrations of particulate matter attributable to increases in fugitive emissions from surface coal mines for purposes of determining compliance with maximum allowable increases in ambient concentrations of particulate matter. Revises provisions concerning pollutant increments and preconstruction requirements to lower the ceilings on maximum allowable increases in concentrations of sulfur dioxide and particulate matter. Authorizes the Administrator, in the case of pollutants other than sulfur dioxide or particulate matter for which standards are promulgated or revised, to promulgate or revise air quality increments or other regulations to prevent the significant deterioration of air quality which would result from emissions of such pollutants. Permits the Administrator, if the indicator for the particulate matter air quality standard has been changed, to modify the maximum allowable increases in particulate matter specified under this Act. Provides that the Administrator's interpretation of State implementation plans shall, if contested by a State or other party, be given deference by a court if the interpretation concerns compliance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act and is rational. Repeals provisions concerning financial disclosure and conflicts of interest. Authorizes the Administrator to assess the risks to ecosystems from exposure to criteria air pollutants. Makes technical and conforming amendments. Title II: Provisions Relating to Mobile Sources - Directs the Administrator to promulgate regulations requiring the use of clean alternative fuel in new urban buses operated primarily in MSAs with populations over 1,000,000. Establishes a schedule for the phasing-in of such program, to require the use of such fuels by all model year 1994 buses. Limits emissions of particulate matter from such buses. Permits a delay of up to two years for the application of such requirements if the Administrator determines that such delay will advance the technology, improve the benefits, or lower the costs of the urban bus program. Requires the Administrator to establish a program to increase the number of clean-fuel vehicles in the most serious ozone nonattainment areas. Directs the Administrator to promulgate regulations to establish performance standards for such programs, based on the long-term reductions in ozone-producing and toxic air emissions anticipated to result from the use of such fuels. Requires the following amount of clean-fuel vehicles to be produced and sold: (1) 500,000 in model year 1995; (2) 750,000 in model year 1996; and (3) 1,000,000 in model years 1997 through 2004. Authorizes the Administrator to grant credits toward emissions standards compliance to manufacturers who sell clean-fuel vehicles that achieve emissions reductions greater than required or sell more of such vehicles than required. Permits such manufacturers to transfer credits to other manufacturers. Requires at least one clean fuel to be sold at service stations dispensing an average of at least 50,000 gallons per month in clean-fuel vehicle areas. Permits the Administrator, if the sale of such vehicles has created a demand for such fuels outside the areas in which they are sold, to make such fuels available in major nationwide transportation corridors. Requires clean-fuel vehicles to be sold in: (1) certain Serious or Severe ozone nonattainment areas with populations over 250,000; or (2) any other area, at the request of a State Governor and with the approval of the Administrator. Permits State Governors to request the Administrator to increase the number of clean-fuel vehicles to be sold in an area. Requires the Administrator, in developing clean-fuel regulations, to hold at least one public hearing and to consider the environmental, energy, economic, health, national security, and safety implications of such program. Authorizes the Administrator to require manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of motor vehicles or motor vehicle fuels to maintain records, make reports, and provide information regarding such vehicles and fuels. Makes such records, reports, and information available to the public, with the exception of any information considered to be a trade secret. Sets standards for emissions of: (1) hydrocarbons from light duty vehicles (passenger cars) manufactured after 1979 and light duty trucks manufactured after 1993; (2) carbon monoxide from light duty vehicles manufactured after 1980 and light duty trucks manufactured after 1993; and (3) nitrogen oxides from light duty vehicles manufactured after 1980. Applies high altitude regulations requirements to light duty trucks manufactured after 1983. Requires the Administrator to set carbon monoxide emissions standards for light duty vehicles and light duty trucks operated at 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Provides that such standards shall be met by averaging emissions levels established for engine families. Directs the Administrator, no later than December 31, 1993, to complete a study assessing the need for further reductions of carbon monoxide emissions and the maximum reductions achievable from light duty vehicles and light duty trucks manufactured after 1997 when operated at 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Authorizes the Administrator to promulgate further cold temperature regulations for carbon monoxide emissions from such vehicles and heavy duty vehicles. Permits the Administrator to promulgate regulations for evaporative emissions of hydrocarbons from gasoline-fueled motor vehicles during operation and over two or more days of nonuse, under ozone-prone summertime conditions. Requires the Administrator to study the need for and feasibility of controlling emissions of unregulated toxic air pollutants associated with motor vehicles and motor vehicle fuels. Allows the Administrator to promulgate regulations requiring: (1) manufacturers to install emissions malfunction diagnostic systems on all new motor vehicles and engines; and (2) States with implementation plans to revise such plans to provide for inspection of such systems. Revises provisions concerning the promulgation of regulations for heavy duty vehicles. Requires the Administrator to study the practice of rebuilding heavy duty engines and the impact of such rebuilding on engine emissions. Authorizes the Administrator to prescribe requirements to control rebuilding practices. Permits the Administrator to set emissions standards for nonroad engines and vehicles. Prohibits the use of emissions control systems in such engines or vehicles if the operation of such systems will cause or contribute to an unreasonable risk to public health or safety. Requires the Administrator to add test procedures to vehicle certification regulations to determine whether light duty vehicles and light duty trucks manufactured after 1992 will pass inspection methods under conditions likely to be encountered in inspection and maintenance programs. Prohibits the Administrator from granting a certificate to any vehicle or engine not passing the test. Directs the Administrator, to the maximum extent feasible, to prescribe regulations permitting manufacturers to comply with emissions standards through averaging of emissions of vehicle or engine families within a manufacturer's fleet. Requires the Administrator to apply specified standards to nonconforming emissions of: (1) hydrocarbons from light duty vehicles or engines manufactured after 1992; and (2) hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide from light duty trucks manufactured after 1993. Permits the Administrator to require a manufacturer to: (1) audit the effectiveness of repairs made to remedy such nonconformities; and (2) procure or test in-use vehicles to determine whether a notice of nonconformity or failure should be issued. Authorizes the Administrator to promulgate regulations establishing fees to recover all costs to the U.S. Government associated with vehicle or engine certification and compliance monitoring and testing and vehicle fuel economy programs under the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act. Provides for the deposit of such fees in a special U.S. Treasury fund. Authorizes representatives of the Administrator to enter any manufacturer's establishment, at reasonable times, for purposes of inspecting or observing any activity associated with motor vehicle manufacturing or testing. Requires the Administrator to promulgate regulations to: (1) make it unlawful for any person to introduce into commerce gasoline whose Reid Vapor Pressure exceeds nine pounds per square inch; and (2) establish more stringent Reid Vapor Pressure standards to achieve comparable evaporative emissions. Provides that such regulations shall take effect no later than the high ozone season for 1992. Permits gasoline containing between nine and ten percent ethanol (by volume) to exceed the applicable Reid Vapor Pressure by up to one pound per square inch. Makes it unlawful, effective October 1, 1993, to introduce into commerce motor vehicle diesel fuel which contains sulfur in excess of .05 percent (by weight) or which fails to meet a cetane index minimum of 40. Permits the Administrator to require manufacturers and importers of diesel fuel not used in motor vehicles to dye such fuel to segregate it from motor vehicle diesel fuel. Sets a sulfur content limit for diesel used in model years 1991 through 1993 heavy duty vehicles and engines. Authorizes the Administrator to control the introduction into commerce of any fuel for nonroad engines or vehicles. Makes it unlawful for manufacturers of fuels or fuel additives to introduce into commerce, or increase the concentration in use of, any fuel or fuel additive for use in motor vehicles manufactured after 1974 which is not substantially similar to a fuel or additive utilized in the certification of any subsequent model year vehicle or engine. Requires the Administrator to promulgate regulations that allow manufacturers or fuel refiners to control emissions from motor vehicles and fuels by means different than required vapor recovery measures as long as the alternative measures achieve equivalent reductions over the same time period. Requires such regulations to establish performance standards for motor vehicles and fuels marketed in certain Serious or Severe ozone nonattainment areas with populations of at least 250,000. Permits averaging of such reductions if such averaging achieves reductions equivalent to those achieved by compliance with performance standards. Prohibits the manufacture or sale of any part which bypasses or renders inoperative any device installed on motor vehicles or engines in compliance with this title. Increases penalties for certain violations of the Clean Air Act. Authorizes the Administrator to commence a civil action to recover such penalties, subject to certain limitations. Sets forth judicial review and collection provisions, including requirements for the imposition of nonpayment penalties. Expands the scope and increases the amount of penalties for fuel regulations violations. Prohibits the introduction of leaded gasoline into any motor vehicle manufactured after 1989 which is designed solely for the use of unleaded gasoline. Repeals specified provisions concerning: (1) a study concerning aircraft emissions; (2) reporting requirements; (3) waivers of emissions standards; (4) propulsion and emissions control systems; and (4) exemptions from emissions control systems modifications. Title III: Hazardous Air Pollutants - Establishes a list of hazardous air pollutants. Provides for additions to or deletions from such list, based upon the degree to which a pollutant is known to cause cancer or any other chronic or adverse health effects in humans. Permits any person to petition the Administrator for modifications to such list. Requires the Administrator to list and establish emissions standards for all categories of major and area sources of such pollutants. Authorizes the Administrator to set emissions standards for radionuclides from such sources separately from regulating such pollutants. Requires such standards to be no less stringent than standards achieved by the best controlled similar source. Directs the Administrator to review and revise such standards, as necessary. Establishes a timetable for the promulgation of such standards, requiring standards for all categories within ten years of this Act's enactment. Requires compliance by existing sources within three years of the promulgation of such standards. Directs the Administrator, within seven years of the promulgation of such standards, to evaluate the risks remaining to public health after the promulgation of such standards. Requires the Administrator, if the application of such standards presents an unreasonable risk, to promulgate standards to protect adequately against such risk. Authorizes States with approved programs to issue permits providing for alternative emissions limitations from major sources or extensions of compliance dates for certain existing sources. Requires such limitations to be approved by the Administrator. Permits the Administrator to grant compliance extensions to sources in States without approved programs. Prohibits: (1) the construction of any new major source subject to standards under this title unless the Administrator or a State with an approved program determines that such source complies with such standards; and (2) the operation of any source subject to such standards, except in compliance with such standards. Requires the Administrator to establish and maintain an air toxics clearinghouse and centers to provide technical information and assistance to State and local agencies. Authorizes the Administrator to conduct research on methods for preventing, measuring, and controlling emissions and evaluating associated health and ecological risks. Permits the President to exempt any source from standards for up to two years if it is in U.S. national security interests to do so. Authorizes additional two-year extensions of such exemptions. Requires the President to report to the Congress on each exemption or extension. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Administrator to study and report to the Congress on the anticipated health hazards resulting from pollutant emissions by electric utility steam generating units after imposition of this Act's requirements. Requires the Administrator to describe alternative control strategies for emissions warranting regulation under this Act. Title IV: Permits - Makes it unlawful to violate any permit requirement or to operate a source subject to standards under the Clean Air Act, except in compliance with a permit. Authorizes the Administrator to exempt sources from permit requirements if consistent with the purposes of this Act. Directs the Administrator to promulgate regulations establishing the minimum elements of a permit program to be administered by any air pollution control agency. Requires such program to include requirements for: (1) permit applications; (2) monitoring and reporting; (3) permit fees of at least $25 per ton of each regulated pollutant to be increased in accordance with the Consumer Price Index; (4) adequate personnel and funding; (5) certain authorities for the permitting authority; and (6) adequate procedures for public notice and comment on permit applications. Authorizes the Administrator to collect fees from any source if determined that the permitting authority is not adequately administering or enforcing a permit program. Requires sources that fail to pay fees to the Administrator to pay penalties of 50 percent of the fee amount plus interest. Requires such fees to be used to support the air pollution control program of a State or interstate agency. Directs State Governors to submit: (1) permit programs to the Administrator within three years of this Act's enactment; and (2) legal opinions from the attorney general that the laws of the State, locality, or interstate compact provide adequate authority to carry out such program. Sets forth approval and modification procedures for such programs. Authorizes the submission and approval of partial permit programs which meet certain minimum requirements. Provides that approval of a partial program shall not relieve a State of its obligation to submit a complete program. Sets forth interim approval, administration, and enforcement procedures. Requires owners or operators of regulated sources to submit compliance plans with permit applications and to periodically certify that such facilities are in compliance with this Act's requirements. Makes permit applications, compliance plans, monitoring reports, certifications, and permits available to the public. Requires permits to include emissions limitations and standards, schedules of compliance, and such other conditions as are necessary to assure compliance with applicable requirements. Authorizes the Administrator to prescribe procedures for determining compliance and for monitoring and analysis of pollutants regulated under this Act. Requires permits to set forth inspection, entry, monitoring, compliance certification, and reporting requirements. Authorizes permitting authorities to issue: (1) general permits covering numerous similar sources; or (2) single permits authorizing emissions from similar operations at multiple temporary locations. Requires owners or operators of temporary sources to notify the permitting authority in advance of any change in location of such sources. Authorizes the permitting authority to require separate fees for operations at each location. Allows the reissuance or modification of permits which provide for less stringent emissions limitations or other requirements under certain conditions. Requires permitting authorities to: (1) submit to the Administrator any application for alternative emissions limitations or permit modifications; and (2) notify all States contiguous to the State in which the emissions originate of each permit application and provide an opportunity for such States to submit recommendations regarding such permit. Sets forth provisions concerning: (1) issuance or denial of permits; (2) waivers of notification requirements; and (3) notifications to States regarding termination, modification, revocation, or reissuance of permits. Title V: Acid Deposition Control - Declares that the purpose of this title is to achieve nationwide reductions in annual emissions of: (1) sulfur dioxides of approximately 10,000,000 tons from 1980 emissions levels (in two phases); and (2) nitrogen oxides of 2,000,000 tons relative to levels in 2000. Directs the Administrator to transfer annual allowances to owners or operators of affected sources in amounts equal to the annual tonnage emissions limitations under this Act. Continues the allocation of such allowances to an owner or operator if an existing affected unit is removed from commercial operation. Permits the transfer of such allowances between owners or operators, subject to certain limitations. Requires the Administrator to promulgate regulations to establish an allowance system which shall provide for unused allowances to be carried forward and added to allowances for subsequent years. Provides for the trading of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide allowances, including the crediting of nitrogen oxide reductions in phase I against those required in phase II. Subjects trades in nonattainment areas to the approval of the Administrator. Requires owners or operators of new units to hold allowances equal to the annual tonnage of sulfur dioxide emitted by such units after December 31, 2000. Makes such units ineligible for allocations of sulfur dioxide allowances. Permits such units to obtain allowances from any unit allocated allowances under this title. Makes it unlawful to hold or transfer any allowance, except in accordance with regulations issued by the Administrator. Lists affected sources and units and their sulfur dioxide allowances. Provides that existing steam-electric units with nameplate capacities of 100 MWe or greater that emit sulfur dioxide at a specified annual rate between this Act's enactment date and 2001 shall be considered to be affected units. Sets emissions limitations for such sources. Authorizes owners or operators of affected units to submit proposals to the Administrator to reassign sulfur dioxide emissions requirements to any other unit under their control. Sets forth approval procedures for such proposals. Provides that existing steam-electric units with nameplate capacities of 75 MWe or greater and with specified 1985 emissions rates shall be affected units for purposes of this Act after December 31, 2000. Subjects such units to specified emissions limitations after such date. Prohibits existing steam-electric units, after December 31, 2000, from exceeding annual emissions rate requirements equal to actual 1985 emissions rates. Requires nitrogen oxide emissions rate requirements to be met in the second phase by coal-fired steam-electric units with nameplate capacities of 75 MWe or greater. Sets nitrogen oxide emissions limitations for such units after December 31, 2000. Requires this title to be implemented by permits that prohibit exceedances of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions rates, limitations, or allowances or contravention of any permit provisions. Requires permits to be accompanied by compliance plans. Authorizes the Administrator to require: (1) a demonstration of attainment of national air quality standards for sources; and (2) an integrated compliance plan from owners or operators of two or more sources. Directs the Administrator to issue permits to listed affected sources. Sets forth permit application and approval procedures. Requires the Administrator to promulgate regulations to implement a Federal permit program for affected sources. Directs owners or operators submitting phase I permit applications and compliance plans to request certifications from State Governors that such applications and plans are in compliance with State law. Permits such certifications to preclude the use of coal produced outside the State at such sources. Waives such requirements if the Governor fails to act on such a request. Establishes deadlines for phase II sulfur dioxide emissions and nitrogen oxide emissions requirements with respect to: (1) the submission of permit applications and compliance plans; (2) the issuance of permits by States to affected sources; and (3) the issuance of allowances by the Administrator. Requires the Administrator, if a State fails to issue permits by the required deadline, to issue such permits by July 1, 1997. Directs States to submit permit programs for new units to the Administrator. Sets deadlines for the submission of permit applications and compliance plans for such units. Authorizes the submission of revised applications or plans. Makes it unlawful to: (1) fail to submit an application or plan in accordance with deadlines; or (2) operate any source, except in compliance with a permit program. Authorizes owners or operators of existing sources, by January 1, 1998, to demonstrate to the permitting authority that one or more units will be repowered with a qualifying clean coal technology. Directs owners or operators, as part of such demonstration, to provide documentation of a preliminary design and engineering effort for such repowering, an executed contract for the majority of the repowering equipment, and such other information as may be required by December 31, 2000. Grants owners or operators satisfying such requirements extensions of emissions limitations or rate requirements for such units from December 31, 2000, to December 31, 2003. Provides that qualifying sources that increase emissions of a pollutant relative to potential pre-repowering levels shall not be subject to requirements of title I of the Clean Air Act for such pollutant if the owners or operators of such sources demonstrate that the increased emissions will not: (1) cause or contribute to an exceedance in any area of a national air quality standard or of a maximum allowable increase in concentrations under such Act; (2) interfere with reasonable progress; or (3) result in an adverse impact on visibility or air quality related values in any Class I area under part C of title I of such Act. Directs the Administrator, for the period of an extension, to grant annual allowances for sulfur dioxide to the owners or operators of affected sources. Prohibits the transfer or use of such allowances by any other source to meet emissions requirements under this title. Requires owners or operators to notify the Administrator in advance of the date on which the affected unit is to be removed from operation to install repowering technology. Establishes emissions rates and allowances for such sources. Makes it unlawful to fail to comply with such requirements. Authorizes owners or operators of existing units that emit sulfur dioxide or nitrogen oxides to: (1) elect to designate such sources as affected units; and (2) submit such designations to the Administrator for approval. Directs the Administrator to establish a baseline for such units based on fuel consumption and operating data from 1985 through 1987. Establishes emissions limitations for such sources. Applies allowance and permit requirements for affected sources to designated affected sources. Authorizes the Administrator to establish a program for the designation of process sources as affected sources. Prohibits designated sources from transferring or banking allowances produced as a result of reduced utilization or shutdown. Makes owners or operators of affected sources that emit excess sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides liable for the payment of an excess emissions fee based on excess tonnage. Requires such individuals to: (1) offset the excess emissions by an equal tonnage amount in the following year or such period as the Administrator may prescribe; and (2) submit a plan to achieve such offsets to the Administrator and the State. Directs the Administrator to: (1) deduct allowances equal to the excess tonnage from those issued for the source for the years following the year in which the excess emissions occurred; and (2) adjust the fee for inflation, based on the Consumer Price Index, beginning in 1996. Makes it unlawful for liable owners or operators to fail to comply with such requirements. Requires sources subject to this title to install and operate continuous emission monitoring systems (CEMS) and to assure the data for sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, opacity, and volumetric flow for each unit. Directs the Administrator to specify the requirements for CEMS, alternative methods that provide reliable and timely information, and recordkeeping and reporting of information from such systems. Sets first and second phase deadlines for compliance with such requirements. Requires the Administrator to prescribe means for calculating emissions for any unit for which CEMS data is not available. Makes it unlawful to operate any source not in compliance with CEMS requirements. Deems excess emissions from an affected source to be a violation of this Act, with each ton emitted in excess of allowances constituting a separate violation. Requires the Administrator to assess and report to the Congress on the environmental effects of emissions reductions under this title. Directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to establish a demonstration program for regulatory incentives to promote the development of clean coal technologies and other control technologies to limit power plant emissions. Requires such incentives to include: (1) an incentive rate of return for clean coal or other technologies that recognizes their inherent risk; and (2) a ten to 20 year amortization period to recover the capital costs of such technologies. Provides that: (1) the program will have a five year life; (2) the program will cover no more than four units in each technology class; and (3) technology classes eligible for the program should be likely to realize significant cost reductions when employed. Requires FERC to review the merits of the program and determine whether it should be extended or made permanent. Requires FERC to establish a process for negotiating with potential developers of clean coal or other control technologies to agree upon cost caps for future projects and preapproval of the prudency of expenses for such projects if the expenses fall within the agreed-upon cap. Directs the Administrator to promulgate regulations to revise existing clean coal technology requirements and to facilitate clean coal projects. Requires such regulations to address physical or operational changes to existing facilities for the installation, operation, or removal of such projects. Provides that the Federal share for a qualifying project shall be at least 20 percent of the total cost of such project. Encourages States and political subdivisions which regulate public utility rates and charges to provide additional incentives for the implementation of clean coal technologies. Title VI: Provisions Relating to Enforcement - Authorizes the Administrator to issue administrative penalties for certain violations of the Clean Air Act. Makes Federal enforcement procedures currently applicable to implementation plans applicable to permit programs. Authorizes the Administrator to ask the Attorney General to commence criminal actions against violators of specified provisions of such Act. Permits the Administrator to prohibit the operation of sources for specified violations. Revises penalty provisions of, and makes technical amendments to, such Act. Establishes fines and prison sentences for knowing failures to pay fees under such Act. Doubles the maximum punishment for specified subsequent violations. Prescribes fines and up to 15 years' imprisonment, or both, for knowing releases of hazardous substances that place another person in imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury. Makes organizations responsible for such releases subject to fines of up to $1,000,000 per day for each violation. Limits the Administrator's authority to assess certain administrative penalties to matters where the total penalty does not exceed $200,000 and the first violation occurred no more than 12 months prior to the initiation of the administrative action, with specified exceptions. Authorizes the Administrator to implement a field citation program for appropriate minor violations for the purpose of assessing civil penalties of up to $5,000 per day for each violation. Sets forth provisions concerning judicial review and civil actions with respect to the assessment of such penalties. Outlines criteria to be considered by the court in determining the assessment of penalties. Authorizes the Administrator to pay rewards of up to $10,000 for information or services leading to criminal convictions or judgments of liability for violations of the Clean Air Act. Makes Federal, State, and local officials or employees ineligible for such rewards. Authorizes the Administrator to require owners or operators of sources subject to such Act to: (1) keep records on control equipment parameters, production variables, or other indirect data when direct emissions monitoring is impractical; and (2) submit compliance certifications. Directs the Administrator to require enhanced monitoring and submission of compliance certifications from owners or operators of major stationary sources. Authorizes the Administrator to apply such requirements to any other source. Makes such information available to the public. Removes an exemption for public disclosure of emission source records that may be trade secrets. Repeals a provision concerning penalties for violations of administrative orders. Authorizes the Administrator to extend a prohibition on Federal procurement from violators of the Clean Air Act to contracts performed at any facility owned or operated by such persons. (Current law prohibits such procurement for contracts to be performed at facilities where the violation occurred.) Authorizes the assessment of civil penalties for violations of such Act. Requires such penalties to be deposited in a special Treasury fund and to be available to finance air compliance and enforcement activities. Revises provisions concerning citizen suits under such Act. Requires the Administrator to take necessary measures to prevent the operation, construction, or modification of certain major emitting facilities. Makes noncomplying stationary sources subject to penalties. Title VII: Miscellaneous Provisions - Authorizes the Administrator to make grants to air pollution control agencies in amounts of up to three-fifths of the total cost of programs for the prevention and control of air pollution or implementation of national standards. Grants agencies contributing less than the required two-fifths minimum three years to attain the minimum level. Reduces the Federal contribution to agencies which fail to meet such minimum. Requires at least one-half of one percent of the annual State grant appropriation to be for grants to air pollution control agencies. Prohibits agencies from receiving grants during any fiscal year when expenditures of non-Federal funds for recurrent expenditures for air pollution programs will be less than expenditures for such programs during the preceding fiscal year. Requires the Administrator to revise current regulations defining nonrecurrent and recurrent expenditures to consider exempting agencies with acceptable periodic increases from such limitations. Authorizes the Administrator to award grants to agencies not meeting such requirements if determined that a reduction in expenditures is attributable to a non-selective reduction in the expenditures of applicable Federal agencies. Decreases the Federal contribution to interstate air quality agencies. Repeals provisions concerning annual reporting requirements. Requires the Administrator to study and report to the Congress on the role of ozone precursors in tropospheric ozone formation and control. Revises provisions (including deadlines) concerning the issuance and revision of criteria for national air quality standards. Establishes within EPA an Air Pollutant Release Investigation Board to investigate major life-threatening releases of air pollutants. Excludes from such investigations releases associated with nuclear incidents and transportation-related releases. Requires the Board to make reports on such releases to the Congress and, upon reasonable cost, to the public.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 1989
Commends the citizens of the Sioux City, Iowa, tri-State area for their heroism and volunteerism in providing assistance to the passengers and crew of crashed United Airlines Flight 232.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 1989
Fairness in Campaign Finance Act of 1989 - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to prohibit a candidate for the Senate or the House of Representatives from accepting a contribution from a multicandidate political committee if the amount of such contribution plus the total of multicandidate political committee contributions previously accepted during the same calendar quarter exceeds one-third of the sum of such contribution and the total of contributions previously accepted from all sources during that calendar quarter.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 1989
Fastener Quality Act - Prohibits the offering for sale or sale in commerce of any fastener (screw, nut, bolt, stud, similar threaded device, or washer) unless it is part of a lot which: (1) conforms to standards and specifications represented by the manufacturer; and (2) has been inspected, tested, and certified according to this Act. Sets forth special rules for small lots. Requires manufacturers to have a fastener lot sample inspected by a laboratory accredited under an approved system (including one owned or affiliated with the manufacturer if it is so accredited). Requires the laboratory, upon determination of conformance with the appropriate standards and specifications, to provide the manufacturer certificates with respect to such lot. Directs the Secretary of Commerce, through the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, to establish: (1) a program for the accreditation of laboratories engaged in the inspection and testing of fasteners; (2) conditions under which accreditation by private entities using standards issued by consensus standards organizations shall be deemed to satisfy the accreditation requirements of this Act; and (3) conditions, no less stringent than those for private accrediting entities, under which accreditation of foreign laboratories by their governments shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of this Act. Limits accreditation to three years. Requires that laboratory accreditation standards issued by one or more consensus standards organizations selected by the Director be used to accredit laboratories under the accreditation program. Authorizes the Director to hire contractors as necessary to carry out the accreditation program. Requires costs for the establishment and operation of the program to be fully reimbursable through fees or other charges for accreditation services. Directs the Secretary to ensure that private accrediting entities and laboratories accredited by such entities or by foreign governments comply with conditions and requirements in this Act. Requires the Director to periodically transmit recommendations to consensus standards organizations. Prohibits any manufacturer from selling any container of fasteners manufactured in the United States unless delivery to the first purchaser is accompanied by a written notification of testing and certification by an accredited laboratory. Prohibits any person from selling any container of fasteners manufactured outside the United States to any importer or end user unless delivery is accompanied by an original certificate from an accredited laboratory. Allows delivery to an importer or private label distributor without the required certificate if: (1) the manufacturer discloses in writing the appropriate standards and specifications; and (2) the importer or private label distributor assumes responsibility in writing for inspection and testing. Requires that, in a sale of any quantity for resale at wholesale, the container be conspicuously marked with the lot number. Requires persons who make significant alterations to a fastener subsequent to manufacture to have the altered fastener inspected and tested unless delivery is accompanied by a disclosure of the alteration and a warning. Requires subsequent disclosures of the alteration in resales. Prohibits commingling of fasteners from different lots in the same container. Requires fastener manufacturers or private label distributors to comply with requirements of a program for recordation of insignias. Directs the Secretary to establish such a program, including regulations to ensure traceability. Sets forth civil remedies, including declaratory and injunctive relief, and criminal penalties, including fines and imprisonment, for violations of this Act. Provides that nothing in this Act shall be construed to: (1) preempt any rights or causes of action that any buyer may have with respect to any seller of fasteners under the law of any State, except insofar as such State law conflicts with this Act; and (2) limit or otherwise affect the authority of any consensus standards organization to establish, modify, or withdraw any standards and specifications under any other law or authority in effect on the date of enactment of this Act.
![Official portrait of Rep. Houghton, Amo [R-NY-31]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/cd375c1d1b0b554995c377c2856cb497_200.jpg)