United States · United States Congress · 28 September 1988
Alcoholic Beverage Labeling Act of 1988 - Prohibits manufacturing, importing, or bottling for sale or distribution in the United States any alcoholic beverage unless its container bears a Government warning statement that: (1) according to the Surgeon General, women should not drink alcohol during pregnancy because of the risk of birth defects; and (2) consumption of alcoholic beverages impairs the ability to drive a car or operate machinery and may cause other health problems. Sets forth location and type size requirements for such statement. Makes such requirement inapplicable to alcoholic beverages for export from the United States or for delivery to a vessel or aircraft as supplier for consumption beyond the jurisdiction of U.S. internal revenue laws. Applies such requirement to those for sale, distribution, or shipment to members or units of the armed forces, including those located outside the United States. Sets forth civil penalties for violations of this Act. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury (the Secretary) to compromise, modify, or remit, with or without conditions, any such penalty. Vests jurisdiction to issue injunctions against such violations in U.S. district courts, upon application of the Attorney General acting through U.S. attorneys. Prohibits State law from requiring any alcohol and health statement, other than that required by this Act or other Federal law on any container of an alcoholic beverage, or any other package containing such container. Directs the Secretary to report promptly to the Congress any recommendations for amendments to this Act that are appropriate and in the public interest, upon finding that available scientific information would justify a change in, addition to, or deletion of all or part of such a statement after an appropriate investigation and consultation with the Surgeon General carried out after 24 months after the enactment of this Act. Directs the Secretary to promulgate regulations regarding implementation of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 1988
Declares that the Congress urges the Administration to refrain from submitting any proposal in the GATT negotiations that would consider maritime transportation activity as being within the scope of "trade in services" and to reject any proposals made by foreign nations which are similar or which would lead to a contraction of the merchant marine.
United States · United States Congress · 16 September 1988
Declares that the Air Force should continue to fly WC-130 aircraft for the purpose of collecting scientific data on hurricanes until satellites that can provide similar data are in place and functioning properly.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 1988
Authorizes the Secretary of the Air Force to convey certain lands in Okaloosa County, Florida, to the State of Florida in exchange for certain real property adjacent to the Eglin Air Force Base, including any land within the tract which may have been created by natural accretion or dumping of dredge spoil. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) ensure that public access for recreational purposes to the property adjacent to the Eglin Air Force Base continues to be permitted; and (2) except from any conveyances any existing easements for roads and public utilities. Requires the Secretary to require any lands conveyed to Florida that are not being used for educational purposes by ten years after such conveyance to revert to the United States. Requires any lands conveyed to the United States that the Secretary determines are not needed by the Department of Defense to be transferred to the National Park Service for incorporation into the Gulf Islands National Seashore.
United States · United States Congress · 10 August 1988
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the United States should: (1) rededicate itself to attaining leadership in space activities; (2) increase budget resources for the space program; (3) pursue a strong program of both manned and unmanned space activities, including development of a permanently manned space station; and (4) seek opportunities for international cooperation in space.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1988
Provides that certain regulations relating to sea turtle conservation, promulgated by the Secretary of Commerce on June 29, 1987, shall not be effective before September 30, 1988, except in the Canaveral area of Florida where they shall continue in effect.
United States · United States Congress · 14 July 1988
Resolves that the Congress should implement policies under which: (1) the Bell operating companies would be permitted to provide information services, conduct research, design and market software, and design, manufacture, and market telecommunications equipment and customer premises equipment; and (2) statutory safeguards would ensure that these Bell activities would not harm telephone service customers or competition in the information services or manufacturing industries and would prevent cross subsidies between regulated and unregulated service offerings.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 1988
President's Pro-Life Act of 1988 - Prohibits the use of Federal funds for abortions, except when continuing the pregnancy would endanger the mother's life.
United States · United States Congress · 7 July 1988
Merchant Mariner Memorial Act of 1988 - Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to convey the right, title, and interest of the United States in vessels in the National Defense Reserve Fleet to nonprofit organizations for use in funding merchant marine memorials, provided the vessels have no usefulness to the Government and are scheduled to be scrapped and the organizations agree to sell the vessels for scrap, divide the proceeds, and use them for the memorial. Requires organizations to have raised a minimum amount from non-Federal sources before enactment of this Act in order to participate in the sale. Limits an organization to one grant under this Act. Terminates this Act two years after enactment.
United States · United States Congress · 30 June 1988
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that Federal law governing the taxation of State and local government bonds should not be changed in order to increase Federal revenues.
United States · United States Congress · 30 June 1988
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Government of Nicaragua should: (1) fulfill its pledge in the Esquipulas II agreement to grant a general amnesty to all political prisoners; (2) cease inhumane torture and holding prisoners incommunicado; (3) end random arrests for purposes of political intimidation; (4) allow human rights observers in all parts of prison facilities; (5) compensate former political prisoners; and (6) cease human rights violations.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 1988
Amends Federal law concerning the Coast Guard's powers with regard to saving life and property to direct the Commandant of the Coast Guard to make full use of all available and qualified resources, including the Coast Guard Auxiliary and individuals licensed to operate towing vessels, in rendering aid in nonemergency cases. Amends the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1982 to direct the Commandant to review policies and procedures for towing and salvage of disabled vessels to minimize Coast Guard competition or interference, other than by the Coast Guard Auxiliary, with private towing activities or other commercial enterprises. (Current law contains the same provision, but without reference to the Coast Guard Auxiliary.)
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 1988
Authorizes the Vietnam Women's Memorial Project, Inc., to construct a commemorative statue within the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to recognize and honor the women of the U.S. armed forces who served in the Vietnam war. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to select a site for the statue within the Memorial. Makes the design proposal subject to the approval of the Secretary, the National Planning Commission, and the Commission of Fine Arts. Prohibits the United States and the District of Columbia from paying any expense of constructing the statue. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) it is fitting and appropriate that such a statue be constructed at the site of the Vietnam Memorial; (2) the Secretary and each of the Commissions should give consideration to the sense of Congress that such a statue should be constructed at that site; and (3) after the addition of such statue no further commemorative works should be added to the Memorial. Requires the Secretary and Administrator of General Services to prepare, transmit to the Congress, and update periodically a list and a description of those commemorative works which have been completed and are located in the District of Columbia and its environs. Prohibits any significant modification to any commemorative work located in the District of Columbia and its environs unless specifically authorized by the Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 16 June 1988
Designates the Labor Day Weekend beginning on September 3, 1988, as National Drive for Life Weekend. Calls on people to observe that weekend with a pledge to not drink and drive.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 1988
Expresses the sense of the Congress urging Government agencies to avoid actions that would reduce amateur radio frequency allocations used for emergency communications and encouraging support for the Amateur Radio Service in its emergency communications efforts.
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 1988
Public Safety Officers' Death Benefits Amendments of 1988 - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to increase from $50,000 to $100,000 the benefits paid to survivors of public safety officers (law enforcement officers and fire fighters) who die as a result of injury sustained in the line of duty. Allows such benefits to be paid to nondependent parents as beneficiaries.
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 1988
Targeted Relief Disclosure Resolution of 1988 - Amends rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives to require each report accompanying each bill or joint resolution of a public character reported by the Committee on Ways and Means to identify: (1) each provision which is intended to provide special benefits with respect to five or fewer taxpayers, transactions, events, items of property, projects, or issuances of bonds; (2) each beneficiary of such provision; (3) the Member of Congress who sponsored the inclusion of each such beneficiary; and (4) an estimate by the Joint Committee on Taxation of the loss in revenues resulting from such provision with respect to each such beneficiary for the fiscal year for which such loss in revenues first occurs and each of the five fiscal years thereafter.
United States · United States Congress · 2 June 1988
Designates the Federal building numbered 31, at 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Maryland, which contains facilities of the National Institute on Aging, the National Cancer Institute, and other institutes in the Public Health Service as the Claude Denson Pepper Building.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 1988
Coast Guard Drug Enforcement Act of 1988 - Extends indemnification protection from penalties or damages to naval commanding officers and personnel acting under their orders aboard Navy vessels on which Coast Guard law enforcement detachments are assigned when such vessels fire at or into another vessel that does not stop following an order to do so. (Currently, such indemnification applies only to Coast Guard officers and personnel aboard Coast Guard vessels.) Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to make the Customs Forfeiture Fund available: (1) to reimburse the Coast Guard with respect to expenses for seizures and forfeitures; and (2) to reimburse the Customs Service or the Coast Guard for expenses for bringing seized vessels into compliance with environmental laws before disposing of them by sinking and for equipping vessels, vehicles, aircraft, and structures for law enforcement functions. Amends the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act to prohibit the intentional manufacture, distribution, or possession of a controlled substance aboard a vessel of any nation by a U.S. citizen or resident alien. (Currently, such prohibition applies to any person aboard a vessel of, or subject to the jurisdiction of, the United States.) Requires that claims of vessel nationality or registry be raised at the time of boarding by the Coast Guard. Authorizes the Commandant of the Coast Guard to indemnify any Coast Guard member or employee against personal liability for actions taken within the scope of his or her official law enforcement duties. Amends the Suits in Admiralty Act and Public Vessels Act to bar specified types of claims against the United States based on acts or failures to act by Federal agencies or employees. Authorizes appropriations for the Coast Guard for FY 1989.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 1988
Designates the period of July 25 through July 31, 1988, as National Week of Recognition and Remembrance for Those Who Served in the Korean War. Authorizes and requests the President to urge that the American flag be flown at half staff on July 27, 1988, in honor of those Americans who died as a result of their service in Korea.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 1988
Declares that the Congress recognizes the heroic acts of civilian construction workers who participated in the defense of Wake Island during its invasion by Japan between December 8 and December 23, 1941.
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 1988
Expresses U.S. policy that Nicaragua should undertake specified reforms, such as reinstating due process and fair trials, ending torture, conducting free elections, allowing an uncensored free press, ensuring the right to strike and to publish for unions, allowing the Catholic Church to reopen its offices, and ending the forced relocation of Indians and Creoles. Urges all countries in Central America to continue to work toward achieving the democratic principles and processes specified in the August 7, 1987, Central American peace accord.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 1988
Bridge Administration Transfer Act - Transfers from the Secretary of Transportation to the Secretary of the Army, with specified exceptions, the administration of bridges and causeways over navigable waters, including all related authority, functions, and duties. Declares October 1, 1989, as the effective date of such transfer. Makes conforming amendments to the Rivers and Harbors Appropriations Act of 1899, the Truman-Hobbs Act, the General Bridge Act of 1946, and the International Bridge Act of 1972. Directs the Secretary of the Army to submit a compilation to the Congress of Federal laws relating to waterway structure administration, together with recommendations for consolidation or amendments.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 1988
Amends safety equipment requirements of Federal maritime law to require that each uninspected vessel operating on the high seas or on the Great Lakes be equipped with the prescribed number and type of alerting and locating equipment, including emergency position indicating radio beacons. (Current law applies similar requirements only on fishing, fish processing, or fish tender vessels.) Increases the civil penalty which may be imposed for violation of this and other statutes and regulations relating to uninspected vessels.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 1988
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the United States Trade Representative (USTR) should continue to pursue the U.S. complaint against Japan's obstructive citrus and beef import practices with the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) Council seeking a decision that Japan is in violation of the GATT; (2) the USTR is urged to initiate an investigation of the enforcement of U.S. trade rights or unfair trade practices in response to the petition filed by the Florida Citrus Mutual and others; (3) the USTR should pursue such investigation of the alleged unfair trade practices; (4) the President should use his authority under the Trade Act of 1974 to restore trade benefits due the U.S. citrus industry which arise from Japan's imposition of quantitative restrictions on U.S. oranges and orange juice; and (5) the President should take action to obtain the recommendation of the GATT Contracting Parties that Japan eliminate or bring into conformity with GATT its citrus and beef import practices with respect to U.S. imports.
United States · United States Congress · 5 May 1988
Expresses the sense of the Congress that Federal departments and agencies should use the most recent population data in determining the amount of benefit received by State, county, or local government.
United States · United States Congress · 4 May 1988
Designates specified land as the Manassas National Battlefield Addition. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to acquire land within the boundaries of the Addition and to administer such lands as part of the Manassas National Battlefield Park, Virginia. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 3 May 1988
Expresses the sense of the Congress that certain officers and the crew of the U.S.S. Bonefish should be recognized and commended for their efforts to save their fellow shipmates when an explosion and fire threatened their submarine.
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 1988
Drug-Free America Act of 1988 - Amends the Controlled Substances Act to establish criteria for the imposition of the death penalty when, during the course of a continuing criminal enterprise drug offense, an individual knowingly causes the death of another. Requires the Government, for such offense, to serve notice upon the defendant a reasonable time before trial or acceptance of a plea, disclosing that it intends to seek the death penalty and the aggravating factors upon which it will rely. Requires a separate sentencing hearing before a jury, or the court upon motion by the defendant, when the defendant is found guilty or pleads guilty to such offense. Allows the defendant and the Government to present any information relevant to sentencing without regard to the rules of evidence, but permits information to be excluded if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading of the jury. Directs the court, or the jury by unanimous vote, to impose the death penalty upon finding that such sentence is justified based on consideration of both aggravating and mitigating factors. Sets forth some mitigating factors to be considered by the jury or the court when imposing its sentence. Includes as aggravating factors: (1) the intentional nature of the act which resulted in the victim's death; (2) previous convictions for offenses for which life imprisonment or death is authorized; and (3) the especially heinous, cruel, or depraved nature of the offense. Requires the court to instruct the jury not to consider the race, color, national origin, creed, or sex of the defendant in its consideration of the sentence. Allows the court to impose a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for such offenses when the death penalty is not imposed. Establishes procedures for appeal from a death sentence. Requires the Court of Appeals, upon consideration of the record and the information and procedures of the sentencing hearing, to affirm the decision if: (1) the sentence was not imposed under the influence of passion, prejudice, or arbitrariness; and (2) the information supports the finding of aggravating factors or the absence of mitigating factors. Requires the court to provide a written explanation of its determination. Provides increased criminal penalties for the possession of a mixture or substance which contains cocaine base (crack). Establishes recordkeeping and reporting requirements for the manufacture, distribution, importation, and exportation of listed precursor and essential chemicals. Prohibits the distribution of such chemicals unless the recipient provides a certification of lawful use and proper identification. Establishes exemptions from such requirements: (1) for the distribution of such chemicals between agents or employees within a single facility; (2) for the delivery of such chemicals to or by common carriers; (3) if the Attorney General determines that such requirements are not necessary for the enforcement of this Act; and (4) if products containing such chemicals are lawfully marketed under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Establishes an import-export permit requirement for listed precursors and a declaration requirement for listed essential chemicals. Includes as precursor chemicals: (1) N-Acetylanthranilic acid; (2) Anthranilic acid; (3) Ergotamine tartrate; (4) Ergonovine maleate; (5) Phenylacetic acid; (6) Ephedrine; (7) Pseudoephedrine; (8) Benzyl cyanide; (9) Benzyl chloride; and (10) Piperidine. Includes as essential chemicals: (1) Potassium permanganate; (2) Acetic anhydride; (3) Acetone; and (4) Ethyl ether. Establishes a mechanism and criteria for adding or deleting chemicals from such lists. Prohibits the transfer of commercial tableting and encapsulating machines unless a certification of lawful use and proper identification are provided. Establishes reporting requirements for such transfers. Establishes criminal penalties for the unlawful: (1) possession, manufacture, distribution, sale, importation, or exportation of a precursor or essential chemical; and (2) possession, manufacture, distribution, or importation of drug manufacturing equipment, tableting or encapsulating machines, and gelatin capsules. Subjects all listed precursor and essential chemicals, drug manufacturing equipment, tableting and encapsulating machines, and gelatin capsules which have been imported, exported, manufactured, possessed, or distributed in violation of such Act (as well as all conveyances and equipment) to forfeiture to the United States. Directs the Attorney General to maintain an active program, both domestic and international, to curtail the diversion of precursor and essential chemicals. Grants the Attorney General subpoena power with respect to precursor and essential chemicals. Provides additional civil penalties for certain Controlled Substances Act violations involving heroin or cocaine. States that individuals who have been convicted of violations involving a controlled substance, or of criminal violations regarding certain reporting or recordkeeping requirements, shall be ineligible for any license or permit issued under the authority of the United States for a specified period of time. Provides that any permit or license held at the time of the conviction shall be revoked. Amends the Public Health Service Act to require States receiving Alcohol and Drug Abuse and Mental Health Services Block Grants to make grants for demonstration projects which provide treatment services to expectant mothers. Establishes in the Executive Office of the President the Office of the Director of National Drug Control Policy to be headed by a Director, who shall be responsible for: (1) developing, reviewing, implementing, and enforcing U.S. policy with respect to drug control and abuse; (2) directing and coordinating U.S. efforts to halt the importation, manufacture, distribution, and use of illicit drugs; and (3) preparing a National and International Drug Control Strategy. Terminates the National Drug Enforcement Policy Board 90 days after the appointment of the Director. Makes conforming amendments to the Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1984 and the Drug Abuse Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation Act. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1988 through 1996. Makes supplemental appropriations for Coast Guard drug enforcement activities. Authorizes Coast Guard vessels and aircraft to fire at or into vessels which are liable to seizure or examination that do not bring-to after being ordered to do so by an authorized vessel or aircraft. Grants the commanding officer of the authorized vessel or aircraft immunity for such actions. Allows the Commandant of the Coast Guard to indemnify members or employees of the Coast Guard against any claim arising out of an act committed within the scope of their official drug enforcement duties. Amends the Controlled Substances Act to extend jurisdiction over possession offenses to U.S. vessels and aircraft (and vessels and aircraft subject to the operation of the law of the United States). Subjects any U.S. citizen or resident on board any vessel to Federal criminal penalties for manufacturing, possessing, or distributing a controlled substance. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the suppression of international narcotics trafficking is a major security objective of the United States and the most important national security objective within the Western Hemisphere. Allows the Secretary of Defense to provide equipment to, or assign members of the armed forces to assist, foreign governments in the enforcement of drug laws. Provides for the assignment of members of the armed forces to assist Federal agencies in drug interdiction activities. Requires the Secretary to prepare a plan to implement such provision. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to evaluate alternatives to the use of deadly force as a means of forcing suspected drug-smuggling aircraft entering the United States to land. Requires the Secretary to submit such recommendations to the Congress in the form of proposed legislation. Directs the Secretary to submit proposed legislation to the Congress relating to special restrictions and inspections for vessels and aircraft arriving from drug-producing countries. Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to modify the factors to be considered by the President when determining whether to certify a country as having cooperated with United States drug interdiction programs. Directs the President to consider whether such countries have taken the steps necessary to eliminate the laundering of drug-related profits. Amends Federal law to include electronic fund transfers within the definition of "money instruments." Amends the National Forest System Drug Control Act of 1986 to provide additional law enforcement authority for the Forest Service in dealing with Controlled Substances Act violations by: (1) removing the limitation on the number of Service personnel who may exercise specified law enforcement powers; and (2) permitting the exercise of such powers by Service personnel outside of the boundaries of the National Forest System. Grants the Service authority, with respect to the specified law enforcement powers, to: (1) coordinate investigations and enforcement activities and prepare national and regional strategy plans in coordination with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and (2) cooperate with the Attorney General in carrying out the seizure and forfeiture provisions of the Controlled Substances Act as such activities relate to the manufacture, distribution, or dispensing of controlled substances within the System. Establishes criminal penalties for polluting Federal lands while manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing a controlled substance. Amends the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 to grant the Postal Service certain seizure and law enforcement authority with respect to Controlled Substances Act violations. States that all moneys and proceeds from such seizures shall be deposited in the Postal Service Fund (and later withdrawn and paid into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund). States that any person convicted of a drug-related offense shall be ineligible for any form of student assistance provided under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965. Requires any person applying for such assistance to file a statement with the institution certifying that the person has not been convicted of a drug-related offense. Requires the Secretary of Education to prescribe methods for verifying such statements. Amends the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1986 to require State educational agencies to distribute funds for State and local programs for drug abuse education and prevention programs on the basis of relative enrollments in public and private, nonprofit schools (currently, on the basis of the relative number of children in the school-age population) within an area. Requires local applications for funds for a three-year period to include a description of: (1) the extent and nature of the current drug and alcohol problem in the schools of the applicant; (2) the applicant's drug and alcohol policy; and (3) how the applicant will monitor program effectiveness. Requires applicants to submit a progress report to State educational agencies for the preceding two years in order to receive funds for the third year. Requires the report to show reasonable progress toward accomplishing program objectives or a modified plan to meet such objectives. Requires States to report annually to the Secretary with specified information on programs funded under this Act. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1988 through 1991 to carry out the provisions of such Act. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1989 to the building and facilities account, Federal Prison System, for the construction, acquisition, remodeling, and equipping of prisons. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the National Institute of Justice should conduct a research project to obtain, on a voluntary basis, and analyze urine samples from individuals who are arrested to determine whether they use controlled substances. Amends the Federal criminal code to make regular drug testing and refrainment from any use of controlled substances mandatory conditions of parole and probation. Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to require Drug Law Enforcement Program grant recipients to provide additional matching funds. Amends the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to exclude any individual who uses or is addicted to illegal drugs from the definition of an individual with handicaps, for purposes of specified provisions. Amends specified Federal law which prohibits discrimination against Federal employees or applicants for Federal employment to provide that such prohibition shall not be construed to permit or require the employment of an individual who uses illegal drugs.
United States · United States Congress · 19 April 1988
Declares that the Congress acknowledges and appreciates the commitment, devotion, and sacrifices of present and former military families. Designates November 21, 1988, as National Military Families Recognition Day.
![Official portrait of Rep. Hutto, Earl [D-FL-1]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/614392eda14fdfa465b6134131323bf2_200.jpg)