United States · United States Congress · 28 April 1988
Prohibits the Administrator of Veterans Affairs from taking into consideration any payment to any person pursuant to the settlement in the case of In re: "Agent Orange" Product Liability Litigation in determining: (1) eligibility to receive a veterans' pension; (2) the amount of any such pension; or (3) the amount of such person's attributable income for purposes of eligibility for certain medical benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 27 April 1988
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that the income tax rules requiring cost capitalization shall not apply in connection with the qualified artistic work expenses of freelance writers, artists, and photographers. Excludes from qualified expenses those related to printing, photographic plates, motion picture films, video tapes, and similar items. Applies the same exemption with respect to qualified indirect costs of certain film producers, not including any direct costs of a motion picture film or video tape.
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 · 20 April 1988
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the National Economic Commission should adopt the position that the only effective means to balance the Federal budget is to restrain the real rate of Federal spending to a level below the real rate of economic growth without increasing taxes above the current share of the gross national product, unless such revenue increases can be achieved with a reduction in tax rates.
United States · United States Congress · 12 April 1988
Recreation and Public Purposes Amendment Act of 1988 - Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to convey title, with a limited reverter provision, to lands to be used for solid waste disposal or purposes which may include, or result in the release of, hazardous substances. Provides for reversion of conveyed lands not used for the stated purposes within five years of their conveyance. Requires pricing for such conveyances to be determined in accordance with current Federal law, except that no compensation shall be required for the inclusion of only a limited reverter in the patent (conveyance agreement). Requires such document to include a provision that the lands shall not revert to the United States by operation of law if the lands are used for the stated purposes. Authorizes the Secretary to release (for a patent holder or on the Secretary's own initiative) the reverter provision contained in such patent on a finding that the lands have been or are being used for solid waste disposal or for purposes which may result in the release of hazardous substances. Provides that, upon such reverter release, such lands shall not revert to the United States by operation of law, or be subject to current Federal provisions concerning permissible uses of such properties. Authorizes the Secretary, with regard to lands leased for the above-stated purposes, to issue a patent to such lessee without compensation, on a finding that the lands have been or are being used for solid waste disposal or for purposes which may result in the release of hazardous substances. Provides the same non-reverter protection to such lessees as is provided to patent holders of such lands under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 30 March 1988
Professionals' Liability Reform Act of 1988 - Establishes certain limitations and procedures regarding professional liability actions. Preempts inconsistent State laws. Provides that nothing in this Act shall prohibit any State from developing or implementing alternative procedures for: (1) expediting the adjudication of professional liability claims; (2) resolving professional liability disputes; or (3) compensating for harm caused by professional services. Requires the claimant, in any professional liability action, to establish: (1) that the professional negligently rendered professional services and that such negligence was the proximate cause of the harm; or (2) in a claim for economic injury, that the professional negligently rendered professional services to and for the direct and intended benefit of the claimant, and such services were the proximate cause of the harm. Requires the claimant to establish that, at the time such services were provided, knowledge of the circumstances that caused the harm and a practical means to eliminate such circumstances were reasonably available. States that a professional shall not be liable in a professional liability action in which: (1) the professional's services were rendered to an agency of the Federal or State government; (2) Federal or State contract specifications existed which were material to the claim; and (3) the services rendered conformed to such specifications. Permits future damage awards exceeding $100,000 to be made by periodic payments. Requires that damage awards be offset by any amount received as compensation for the same injury. Establishes a contingency fee schedule for plaintiffs' attorneys. States that the principles of comparative liability shall apply unless persons engaged in concerted action which proximately caused the harm. Permits the awarding of punitive damages only where the conduct of the defendant: (1) manifested a malicious and reckless disregard for safety; and (2) constituted an extreme departure from accepted standards of safety. States that punitive damages may not be awarded in the absence of a compensatory award. Limits the claimant's actual recovery of punitive damages to three times the amount of compensatory damages. States that excess punitive damages shall be paid to the State or Federal government. Sets forth factors to be considered by the court in determining the amount of punitive damages, which include the financial condition of the professional. Makes any attorney who files a frivolous claim subject to pecuniary sanctions by the court. Requires each State to encourage professional organizations to form risk management programs.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 1988
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an income tax credit for farmers' or ranchers' charitable contributions of certain agricultural products. Sets the amount of the credit at ten percent of the taxpayer's choice of either the wholesale market price or the most recent sale price of the product. Describes products eligible for the credit. Disallows the credit with respect to amounts permitted as tax deductions.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1988
Imposes a civil penalty upon any person who mails to any individual or group of individuals at their place of residence: (1) any unsolicited sexually oriented advertisement; or (2) any unsolicited obscene, lewd, lascivious, indecent, filthy, or vile article, matter, thing, device, or substance.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1988
Space Settlement Act of 1988 - Amends the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 to include as part of the national space program's policy and purpose the congressional declaration that the extension of human life into extraterrestrial space for the purposes of advancing science, exploration, and development will enhance the general welfare on earth and will eventually lead to space settlements (human communities with substantial independence from earth) that will further accomplish scientific purposes. Directs the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to: (1) obtain, produce, and disseminate technological and other information addressing the significant issues associated with the establishment of space settlements; and (2) report biennially to the President and to the Congress on specified topics relating to space settlements, including applied technologies, international cooperation, finance, and pertinent sociopolitical and legal concerns. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1988
Requests the President to issue a proclamation commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act, which occurs on June 25, 1988. (The Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act, formerly known as the Wagner-O'Day Act, provides employment and ancillary support services to blind and handicapped individuals.)
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1988
Postal Reorganization Act of 1988 - Declares that the receipts and disbursements of the Postal Service Fund: (1) shall not be included in the totals of the Federal budget or the congressional budget; (2) shall be exempt from Federal budget limitations on expenditures and net lending; and (3) shall not be counted for purposes of calculating the Federal deficit. Repeals certain limitations on postal borrowing authority. Increases the limitations on postal borrowing authority.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1988
Truth in Government Spending Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to include on the first page of instruction booklets for individual income tax returns a graphic presentation, in a prescribed form, depicting the following fiscal year information on an individual taxpayer basis: (1) the previous balance of the public debt and resultant interest incurred; and (2) purchase and payments information with respect to specific categories, including defense, agricultural subsidies, foreign aid, criminal justice, welfare, social security, and Medicare.
United States · United States Congress · 9 March 1988
Amends the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to prohibit the issuance of an airman's certificate to any person whose certificate has been revoked for activities relating to controlled substances. (Current law limits such prohibition to a five-year period beginning on the date of revocation.)
United States · United States Congress · 9 March 1988
Declares that the President should: (1) posthumously award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Charles E. Thornton, Lee Shapiro, and Jim Lindelof in honor of their efforts to document the Afghan struggle for freedom; and (2) present the award to those individuals' families on March 21, 1988, the start of the new year in Afghanistan.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1988
Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Water Rights Settlement Act of 1988 - Provides for the settlement of water rights claims of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community in Arizona. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to designate 7,000 acre-feet of the additional active conservation capacity that will result from previously authorized modifications to Roosevelt Dam on the Salt River for the reregulation of the Community's water entitlement under the Kent Decree of March 10, 1910. Directs the Secretary to amend the Bartlett Dam Agreement of June 3, 1935, to require the Salt River Valley Water Users' Association to increase the total Community allotment of developed water on December 31 each year if specified conditions are met. Ratifies the contracts between the Association and: (1) the Carrick and Mangham Aqua Fria Lands and Irrigation Company dated February 3, 1927; and (2) the Roosevelt Water Conservation District dated October 24, 1924. Authorizes and directs the Secretary to revise the subcontract of the Roosevelt Water Conservation District for agricultural water service from the Central Arizona Project (CAP) to include an addendum authorizing conversions of agricultural water to municipal and industrial uses. Requires the Secretary to acquire 22,000 acre-feet of water from the main stream of the Colorado River in Arizona to establish initial allocations to non-Indian entities. Directs the Secretary to contract to deliver Colorado River water to specified Arizona cities in exchange for water provided by such cities to the Community in accordance with a water rights agreement entered into by the Community on February 12, 1988, with certain exceptions. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes and directs the Secretary to amend the CAP water delivery contract between the United States and the Community to: (1) extend the contract and provide for its subsequent renewal; (2) authorize the Community to lease CAP water to be delivered to the city of Phoenix pursuant to such contract; and (3) achieve certain terms and conditions. Prohibits the United States from imposing specified charges upon the Community with respect to CAP water to be delivered to the city of Phoenix under such contract. Directs the Secretary to adjust CAP operation, maintenance, and replacement charges to the Community to an amount equal to the average costs of water delivered to the Community by the Association. Directs the Community and the Secretary to lease to the city of Phoenix up to 13,300 acre-feet of CAP water, with the lease specifically providing that: (1) the city of Phoenix shall pay all operation, maintenance, and replacement costs of such water after a specified date; and (2) capital costs associated with the water delivered shall be nonreimburseable and the city of Phoenix shall not be obligated to pay any other charges. Prohibits the sale, lease, transfer, or use of water received by the Community under this Act off the Community's reservation. Provides for construction and rehabilitation of facilities to deliver water to Community reservation lands. Extinguishes certain water rights claims of owners of allotted land within the reservation. Authorizes the Community to waive and release all present and future claims of water rights. Authorizes specified appropriations to satisfy all Community claims against the United States for failure to deliver water from the Salt and Verde Rivers. Directs the Community's governing body to set up a trust fund to provide a source of revenue for evaluating, planning, administering, and constructing water development facilities and for other economic and community development. Prohibits making per capita payments to Community members from such Fund. Directs the Secretary and the State of Arizona to pay specified amounts into the Fund. Relieves the Secretary of any further duties related to the fund and releases the United States from the liability for any claim arising from the Community's use of moneys from the fund at the time of transfer of payments by the Secretary into the Fund. Authorizes appropriations. Waives any claims of sovereign immunity by the United States or the Community arising out of any lawsuit relating to the interpretation or enforcement of the agreement of February 12, 1988, where the United States or the Community are named as parties, and authorizes the joining of the United States or the Community in such litigation. Ratifies such agreement, and authorizes and directs the Secretary to perform all obligations under the agreement. Authorizes appropriations necessary to reimburse the Community for the amount by which increases in the normal cost per acre-foot of stored water received from the Association exceed the rate of inflation.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 1988
Designates the week of June 26 through July 2, 1988, as National Safety Belt Use Week. Authorizes and requests the President to: (1) urge the people to wear safety belts and use child safety seats; and (2) encourage State and local governments and concerned organizations and officials to promote greater use of these safety devices.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 1988
AIDS Youth Education Act of 1988 - Amends part B (Federal-State Cooperation) of title III (General Powers and Duties of Public Health Service) of the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants for educating and counseling certain youths with respect to the prevention of exposure to, and the transmission of, the etiologic agent for acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Describes the youths as those who: (1) are homeless; (2) are unemancipated minors away from home for a significant period without parental consent; (3) engage in intravenous substance abuse or in prostitution; (4) are homosexual or bisexual males; or (5) engage in sexual activity with such unemancipated minors or with any individual who is homeless, engages in intravenous substance abuse or prostitution, or is a bisexual or homosexual male. Sets forth preferences in making grants. Requires applicants to agree to: (1) provide outreach services for the youths; and (2) use educational materials and confidential counseling procedures that are appropriate for the age and cultural context of the youths and that emphasize the behavioral changes necessary to prevent exposure to, and the transmission of, the etiologic agent for AIDS. Permits grantees to expend the grant to train individuals to carry out the education and counseling provided for in this Act. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1989 through 1991.
United States · United States Congress · 18 February 1988
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should commence negotiations with Mexico to establish, not later than five years after the adoption of this resolution, a free trade area between the United States and Mexico.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 1988
Amends the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 to prohibit the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency from granting a permit to a municipality to dump sewage sludge into the ocean after 1988, unless it enters into a compliance agreement with the Administrator before 1989 containing a schedule for the full implementation of an alternative sludge disposal system within five years of such agreement. Prohibits continued ocean dumping, unless the Administrator is notified of such dumping and the municipality is in compliance with its schedule for the implementation of an alternative sludge disposal system. Directs the Administrator to make biannual reports to the Congress regarding schedule compliance. Fines municipalities which violate compliance or notification requirements or dump sludge at unauthorized ocean sites. Places such fines in a newly-created Clean Ocean Fund for enforcement, monitoring, and research activities related to ocean dumping.
United States · United States Congress · 3 February 1988
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt from the required application of uniform inventory cost capitalization rules any animal produced in a farming business, regardless of the animal's preproductive period.
United States · United States Congress · 2 February 1988
Amends the Toxic Substances Control Act to change to November 1, 1989 (or February 1, 1990, if no regulations have been promulgated by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency) the date by which a local educational agency (LEA) must submit an asbestos management plan developed pursuant to regulations under such Act to the Governor of the State. Changes to August 1, 1990, the date by which each LEA must begin the implementation of such plan. Changes to May 1, 1989, the date by which the LEA must inspect for asbestos-containing material in each school building under its authority. Changes to November 1, 1989, the date by which such LEAs must implement an operation and maintenance plan with respect to friable asbestos-containing material in school buildings. Changes to February 1, 1990, the date by which LEAs must develop an asbestos management plan for submission to the Governor of the State.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 1988
Requires that amounts withheld by an employer from an absent parent's wages for child support enforcement purposes under part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of title IV of the Social Security Act be paid to the appropriate State agency or entity within ten days after the payment of such wages. Imposes a late payment fee on employers who do not meet such deadline.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 1988
Commends the President, Secretary of State, and Administrator of the Agency for International Development for their response to the drought and food emergency in Ethiopia and other nations of sub-Saharan Africa, and urges them to continue efforts to preclude the onset of famine and to ensure the timely delivery of medical and other emergency relief supplies. Declares that: (1) the Government response to these food emergencies should include initiatives to prevent the dislocation of large numbers of persons across national borders and/or into relief camps; and (2) the plight of the refugees or displaced should be addressed by emphasizing the provision of basic human needs, such as food, water, and shelter.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 1988
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Congress should freeze the Federal budget for FY 1989. States that discretionary programs in the Federal budget for FY 1989 should be frozen at FY 1988 levels.
United States · United States Congress · 17 December 1987
Deplores the Soviet Government's active persecution of religious believers in the Ukraine and its forcible liquidation of the Ukrainian Orthodox and Ukrainian Catholic Churches. Sends greetings to the Ukrainian people on the Millennium of Christianity in the Ukraine. Urges the President, the Secretary of State, the U.S. delegation to the United Nations, and the U.S. delegation to the Vienna Review Meeting of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe to continue to speak out forcefully against violations of religious liberty everywhere and, specifically, in the Ukraine. Calls upon the Soviet Government to release all those imprisoned for their religious beliefs. Discourages U.S. officials from attending the commemoration of the Millennium in the Soviet Union so long as individuals remain imprisoned for their religious beliefs and the Ukrainian Catholic and Ukrainian Orthodox churches remain outlawed. Urges the U.S. Government to call on the Soviet Government to ban its prohibition of the Ukrainian Orthodox and Ukrainian Catholic Churches.
United States · United States Congress · 10 December 1987
Designates January 28, 1988, as National Challenger Center Day. (The Challenger Center is an institution offering children and teachers activities and information derived from American space research.)
United States · United States Congress · 9 December 1987
Requires that, for the purpose of the income tax deduction for medical expenses, expenditures for the acquisition, training, and maintenance of a service animal used to assist a handicapped individual be treated in the same manner as corresponding expenditures in connection with guide dogs for the blind. (Under Internal Revenue Service revenue rulings, these latter expenditures are treated as deductible.)
United States · United States Congress · 8 December 1987
Expresses the sense of the Congress that, in celebration of the millennium of the Christianization of Kievan-Rus', the Soviet Union should: (1) comply with its international obligations and allow Christians to practice their faith without harassment; (2) grant a general amnesty for all Christians who have been imprisoned because of their religious beliefs; (3) allow religious believers to practice their faith freely; (4) permit unlimited publication, distribution, and importation of religious materials; and (5) allow closed churches to reopen, new churches to be built, and theological seminaries to open or expand.
United States · United States Congress · 3 December 1987
Harmonized Tariff Schedule Implementation Act - Expresses congressional approval for the accession by the United States to the International Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System. Requires the President to submit a copy of each legal instrument embodying the Convention to the Congress on the date it becomes available. Provides that neither the entry into force with respect to the United States of the Convention nor the enactment of this Act may be construed as creating any private right of action. Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to prevent the authority to terminate trade agreements from applying to the Convention. Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to rename Title I as the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States and to require the President to proclaim the modifications to such tariff schedule needed to implement staged rate reductions authorized by the Congress in the Trade Act of 1974, the United States-Israel Free Trade Area Implementation Act of 1985, and the applicable provisions of statutes enacted, executive actions taken, and final decisions rendered after August 31, 1987, and before the effective date of such tariff schedule. Provides that the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, with certain exceptions, shall have the status of statutory provisions enacted by the Congress. Requires any proclamation, notice, or decision containing a reference to the tariff classification of any article to include a reference to the classification of that article under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule. Requires the United States International Trade Commission to recommend to the President modifications in such tariff schedule needed to: (1) conform to and promote the uniform application of the International Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System; (2) ensure that such tariff schedule is kept up-to-date; and (3) alleviate administrative burdens and make technical rectifications. Requires the Commission, in formulating recommendations regarding the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, to consider the views of Federal agencies and the public. Directs the Commission to submit such recommendations to the President. Provides that the Commission's recommendations for modifications to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule must: (1) be consistent with the Convention and sound nomenclature principles; and (2) ensure substantial rate neutrality. Requires that any change to a rate of duty be necessitated by nomenclature modifications based on such recommendations and prohibits modifications from altering existing conditions of competition for the affected U.S. industry. Authorizes the President to proclaim modifications based on the Commission's recommendations if he determines that they: (1) conform with U.S. obligations under the Convention; and (2) do not run counter to the national economic interest. Delays such modifications from taking effect until the expiration of a 60-day lay-over period beginning on the date the President submits a report to the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee. Requires the Commission to compile the Harmonized Tariff Schedule and publish it in a format containing: (1) the current Harmonized Tariff Schedule; (2) a statistical enumeration of U.S. imports and exports; and (3) other matters needed to implement the purposes enumerated in the Preamble to the Convention. Requires the Secretary of Commerce to compile U.S. import and export trade statistics and make them conform to the Convention's nomenclature. Requires the United States Trade Representative, before formulating any U.S. position on the Convention, to consider information from the private sector and Federal agencies. Provides that the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Commerce, and the Commission, subject to the policy direction of the Trade Representative, shall, with respect to activities of the Customs Cooperation Council relating to the Convention: (1) be primarily responsible for formulating Government positions on technical and procedural issues; and (2) represent the United States. Requires the Department of Agriculture to provide technical advice to the Department of the Treasury and the Department of Commerce. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Commission, in preparing technical proposals for the U.S. contribution to the Convention, to: (1) solicit the views of interested parties in the private sector and Federal agencies; (2) establish procedures for reviewing inquiries and complaints concerning articles produced in and exported from the United States; (3) establish procedures for ensuring the dispute settlement and other procedures of the Convention are utilzied to promote U.S. interests; and (4) establish procedures for submitting classification questions to the Harmonized System Committees of the Customs Cooperation Council. Requires the Commission to publish: (1) summary records of the Harmonized System Committee; and (2) the Explanatory Notes, Classification Opinions, and other instruments of the Customs Council relating to the Convention. Requires the Government to take whatever actions are necessary to conform with the tariff classification system of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule all proclamations, regulations, rulings, and other written actions that: (1) are in effect on the day before the effective date of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule; and (2) contain references to the tariff classifications of articles under the old Schedules. Provides that the validity or effect of the written actions of the Government shall not be affected by: (1) the failure to make such conforming changes; or (2) the repeal of the old Schedules. Provides that the review of the proposed conversion of the Generalized System of Preferences program to the Convention tariff nomenclature initiated by the U.S. Trade Representative shall satisfy the requirements of specified provisions of the Trade Act of 1974 regarding: (1) lists of articles to be considered for duty-free treatment; and (2) the designation or suspension of a beneficiary developing country. Makes the date for designating beneficiary developing counries in 1988 September 1 (currently, July 1). Authorizes the President to proclaim changes in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule to conform it to the old Schedules when he determines that the conversion of an import restriction on agricultural articles or the rate of duty on sugars, sirups, and molasses in specified headnotes from the old Schedules to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule results in: (1) an article that was previously subject to the restriction being excluded or covered by such headnote; or (2) an article not previously subject to the restriction being included or covered by such headnote. Prohibits such changes in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule from occurring after June 30, 1989. Provides that this Act may not be considered to divest the courts of jurisdiction over: (1) any protest against the decision of a customs officer covering articles entered before the effective date of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule; or (2) any petition by an American manufacturer, producer, or wholesaler requesting the appraised value, classification, or rate of duty on specified imported merchandise covering articles entered before the effective date of the Harmononized Tariff Schedule. Provides for the liquidation of articles which are the subject of unsuccessful protests or petitions. Prevents this Act from affecting the jurisdiction of the courts with respect to articles entered after the effective date of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule. Requires the Commission to initiate an investigation of final judicial decisions covered by such protest and petition that: (1) are published in the two-year period beginning on September 1, 1987; and (2) would have affected tariff treatment if they had been published during the conversion of the old Schedules into the format of the Convention. Requires the Commission to report the results of such investigation to the President, the House Ways and Means Committee, and the Senate Finance Committee by March 1, 1990. Directs the President to: (1) review all changes to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule recommended by the Commission; and (2) proclaim which changes are necessary to conform the Harmonized Tariff Schedule to the final judicial decisions. Provides that such changes shall be effective for: (1) entries made on or after the date of a proclamation issued by the President; and (2) entries made on or after the effective date of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule if the importer applies to the customs officer concerned for liquidation or reliquidation within 90 days of such proclamation. Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to add to the list of articles which may be considered for modification of duties, digital processing units for automatic data processing machines. Requires the Commission to prepare a report on the operation of this Act during the 12-month period commencing on the effective date of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule and to submit such report to the Congress and to the President.
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 1987
Dwight David Eisenhower Commemorative Coin Act of 1987 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue not more than a specified number of one dollar silver coins in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Dwight David Eisenhower. Sets forth certain features of such coins and provides for their design, issuance, and sale. Terminates the minting of the coins after December 31, 1990. Requires the Secretary to deposit in the Treasury all surcharges received from the sale of the coins, to be used to reduce the national debt.
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 1987
Antiterrorism and Arms Export Amendments Act of 1987 - Amends the Arms Export Control Act to prohibit the U.S. Government and U.S. persons from exporting or facilitating the export of any munitions item to any country which: (1) has repeatedly provided support for international terrorism; or (2) grants sanctuary from prosecution to any individual or group which has committed an act of international terrorism. Authorizes the President to waive such prohibition upon making specified certifications. Imposes criminal penalties for willful violations of such prohibition. Imposes civil penalties for violations of such prohibition and provides for enforcement of such civil penalties. Requires that the possibility of supporting international terrorism shall be a consideration in the issuance of arms export licenses or in arms sales. Amends the Export Administration Act of 1979 to provide that a validated license shall be required for the export of goods or technology to a country if the Secretary determines that: (1) such country grants sanctuary to or has repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism; and (2) such exports would contribute to the military potential of such country, would be destined to a military end-user or for military end use in such country, or would enhance the ability of such country to support acts of international terrorism. Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to prohibit the provision of any assistance under such Act, the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954, the Peace Corps Act, or the Export-Import Bank Act to any country which the Secretary determines: (1) has repeatedly provided support for international terrorism; or (2) grants sanctuary from prosecution to any individual or group which has committed an act of international terrorism. Authorizes the President to waive such prohibition upon making specified certifications. Prohibits rescinding a determination that a country supports international terrorism, unless the Secretary of State, at least 90 days before the rescission would take effect, certifies to the Congress that: (1) the country has not provided support for international terrorism for the preceding six months; and (2) the country has made explicit assurances that it will not support international terrorism in the future. Amends the Arms Export Control Act and the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to require the President to notify the Congress of third country transfers of items: (1) sold under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program; (2) exported pursuant to a munitions license; or (3) provided under the Military Assistance Program (MAP). Directs the President to include in required quarterly reports to the Congress concerning military exports a listing of all defense articles or defense services transferred by the Department of Defense to other agencies of the U.S. Government. Prohibits the transfer of any munitions item by the U.S. Government to any foreign country, group, or person under the authority of a presidential determination that such a transfer is important to the national security of the United States as a significant anticipated intelligence activity, unless the President notifies certain congressional committees of such a transfer in accordance with the procedures set forth in the National Security Act of 1947 for the reporting of any intelligence activities. Revises requirements for reporting the use of foreign assistance funds where it is inadvisable to specify the nature of the use of such funds to require that such a report be transmitted to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives rather than to the Speaker of the House. Amends the Hostage Act to specify that the President may not use any means otherwise prohibited by law in attempting to cause the release of U.S. citizens imprisoned by foreign governments. (Current law specifies that the President may not use any means amounting to acts of war.)
United States · United States Congress · 4 November 1987
Elects the following Members of the House of Representatives to the specified House Committee: (1) Mr. Konnyu to the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries; and (2) Mr. Shays to the Committee on Government Operations and the Committee on Science, Space and Technology.
![Official portrait of Rep. Kolbe, Jim [R-AZ-8]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/k000306_200.jpg)