United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1986
Liability Risk Retention Act of 1986 - Amends the Product Liability Risk Retention Act of 1981 to exempt risk retention groups and purchasing groups (businesses which organize to purchase personal risk and liability insurance on a group basis) from State laws which prohibit, regulate, or otherwise discriminate against such groups. Requires such groups' members to be similarly situated with respect to their exposure to the risk of liability. Permits risk retention groups which are not chartered, licensed, or certified as liability insurance companies by any State to continue to provide insurance to cover product liability or completed operations liability as defined before the enactment of this Act. Requires risk retention groups to comply with State trade practices laws. Allows the insurance commissioner of any State in which a risk retention group is doing business to examine the group's financial condition if the commissioner of the jurisdiction in which the group is charted has not begun such an examination. Subjects such groups to State no-fault automobile insurance requirements. Limits the authority to provide insurance under such Act to liability insurance. Requires a specified notice on all risk retention group policies. Retitles such Act the Liability Risk Retention Act of 1986.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 1986
Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1986 - Title I: Unified and Specified Commands - Amends general military law to direct the President to establish unified and specified combatant commands to perform military missions and to prescribe the force structure of such commands. Authorizes the Secretary of Defense, if a situation warrants it, to establish a special combatant command. Requires the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) to periodically (not less frequently than every other year) review the overall structure of the unified and specified combatant commands and make appropriate recommendations to the President. Directs the President to promptly notify the Congress of any action taken in response to such recommendations. Directs the Secretary of each military department to assign all forces under their jurisdiction (except forces assigned to recruiting, organizing, training, or supplying the armed forces) to unified and specified combatant commands as established under this Act. Outlines provisions concerning the command hierarchy of such assigned forces. Provides that commanders of combatant commands shall be supervised by the Chairman of JCS, and be responsible to the President and the Secretary of Defense for their missions. Makes the Secretary of each military department responsible for the support and administration of forces assigned by that department to combatant commands. Authorizes the commander of a combatant command to request the Secretary of Defense for the transfer to such commander of support or administrative functions. Directs the Secretary of Defense to include in the annual budget of the Department of Defense (DOD) a separate budget proposal for activities of each of the unified and specified combatant commands. Outlines information concerning activities of such combatant commands to be included in such proposals. Requires the commander of each such command to submit to the Chairman of JCS, for review and recommendations, annual program and budget proposals for such commands. Outlines provisions concerning the selection and tenure of combatant command subordinate commanders and staff officers. Establishes in DOD the Joint Commanders Council, consisting of the Chairman of JCS and the commanders of the combatant commands. Directs such council to advise the chairman, the President, and the Secretary of Defense on appropriate matters. Requires the Chairman of JCS to submit to the Secretary of Defense recommendation for the allocation of defense resources under the proposed national defense budget for each fiscal year, and to take certain other specified actions in connection with activities of the unified and specified combatant commands. Directs the Secretary of Defense (the Secretary) to provide for the transfer of staff personnel to the staffs of the commanders of the unified and specified commands in conformity with the reorganization under this Act. Limits the total staff size of the unified and specified commands to a number no greater than the staff size of the military departments before such transfer. Outlines considerations to be included in the initial review of the structure of the unified and specified commands. Title II: Defense Agencies - Directs the Secretary, in appropriate cases, to provide for the performance by one agency or organization of supply or service activities common to more than one military department. Directs the Secretary to periodically (and not less frequently than every two years) review the services and supplies provided by the defense agencies to ensure that such provision is more economical than the provision of such services by the military departments. Specifies various officers and directors whose views are required as part of the Secretary's review. Requires the Chairman of JCS to periodically (and not less frequently than every two years) report to the Secretary concerning the combat support agencies. Outlines information to be included in each report. Directs the Chairman to: (1) provide for the participation of the combat support agencies in joint training exercises; and (2) assess the performance of each agency in such exercise and provide for any necessary changes. Requires the chairman to develop a uniform system for reporting each such agency's readiness to perform in a war or threat to national security. Establishes in each combat support agency a combat support agency policy council. Outlines the composition of such council. Requires such council to: (1) advise the director of that agency on policy matters relating to the operation of that agency; and (2) consider and provide advice as directed by the Secretary of Defense. Requires the director of a combat support agency, upon request, to assign a representative of that agency to the headquarters of a unified or specified combatant commands. Defines "combat support agency." Requires the Secretary of Defense to conduct a study of the functions and organizational structure of the defense agencies. Outlines determinations to be made in such study. Directs the Chairman of JCS and the Secretaries of the military departments to each conduct a study of the functions and organizational structure of the defense agencies. Requires each such study to be submitted to the Secretary of Defense. Outlines matters to be considered in each such study. Directs the Secretary of Defense, within a specified conditional deadline, to report to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees concerning the studies made of the functions and organizational structure of the defense agencies, together with recommendations. Title III: Joint Officer Subspecialty - Directs the Secretary of Defense to establish a secondary occupational specialty for officers in each branch of the armed forces, to be known as the joint subspecialty. Outlines provisions concerning the number, selection, and assignments of officers to joint subspecialties. Directs the Secretary to establish career guidelines for officers in the joint subspecialty. Directs the Secretary to revise the curriculum of schools of the National Defense University in order to enhance the education and training of officers in joint military matters. Requires officers graduating from a joint military school in a joint subspecialty to be assigned to a joint position in that officer's next duty assignment. Prohibits an officer from commanding a unified or specified combatant command unless such officer is in a joint subspecialty. Prohibits an officer from appointment as Chairman of JCS unless the officer has served as the commander of a unified or specified command. Sets forth the promotion policy for joint service officers (including faster promotions). Directs the Secretary to establish procedures for monitoring the careers of officers in the joint subspecialty or other joint officers. Revises provisions concerning the review of promotion lists by the Chairman of JCS to allow the Chairman, in a limited number of instances, to recommend for promotion officers who: (1) have served in joint assignments; and (2) were considered by a review board but not recommended for promotion. Allows the Secretary of the military department concerned to disagree with the Chairman's promotion recommendations. Requires the Secretary concerned to record their disagreement as part of their transmittal to the Secretary of Defense of the selection board's report. Requires the Secretary of Defense to resolve any such disagreements before transmitting the report to the President. Requires previous joint officer assignments for officers promoted to brigadier general or real admiral (lower half). Authorizes the Secretary to waive such prerequisite in appropriate cases. Outlines the length of duty as a joint officer required for promotion to certain grades. Requires the Chairman of JCS to advise the Secretaries of the military departments concerned with respect to duty assignments of officers in the joint subspecialty and other joint officers. Requires the Secretary of Defense to ensure that military schools strengthen the focus on joint military operations in preparing certain level officers for joint duty assignments. Directs the Secretary of Defense to make the initial selection of officers for the joint subspecialty, following certain special rules. Title IV: Military Department Organization - Directs the Secretary of Defense to reorganize the executive part of the military departments, following specified reorganization policies. Defines the executive part of each military department. Outlines the functions of the Assistant Secretaries of a military department as reorganized under this Act. Limits to 30 the size of the personal staff of the Secretary of a military department. Limits the size of the staff of each military department to 85 percent of the size of such staff before the reorganization. Requires the Secretary of Defense to provide that operation and planning responsibilities that are duplicated by the staff of the JCS shall be shifted to that staff. Requires the Secretary, as well as the Secretaries of the military departments, to provide that functions able to be performed by commands outside the Washington, D.C. area shall be reassigned to those commands. Directs the Secretary to complete implementation of this title no later than 180 days after the enactment of this Act, and to report to the Congress on such implementation 30 days after such date.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1986
Provides that the Internal Revenue Service may not, before July 1, 1987, enforce its regulations relating to substantiation requirements for the deductions attributable to the business use of vehicles. Requires the Internal Revenue Service to follow the regulations in effect prior to the enactment of the Tax Reform Act of 1984. Prohibits the issuance of any regulations with respect to the substantiation requirements before July 1, 1987.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1986
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a deduction for amounts paid by or on behalf of an individual to an individual health services account. Limits the amount of the allowable deduction to any individual for any taxable year to $2,000. Defines "individual health services account" as a trust created or organized exclusively to pay qualified health expenses of the distributee. Sets forth various requirements for the trust. Defines "qualified health expenses" as amounts paid for: (1) care of the distributee at a skilled nursing facility; (2) care of the distributee at an intermediate care facility; (3) care at any other long-term facility which provides nursing or custodial care; (4) home health care of the distributee prescribed by, and under the supervision of, a qualified physician; (5) Medicare supplemental policies for the distributee; or (6) health services supplemental policies for the distributee. Defines a "health services supplemental policy" as a health insurance policy or other health benefit plan offered by a private entity to an individual which provides reimbursement for expenses incurred, or services for, catastrophic and long-term care. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to establish minimum requirements and standards for the certification of health services supplemental policies and procedures for the Secretary to certify policies submitted to the Secretary. Requires any amount distributed from an individual health services account to be included in the gross income of the distributee for the taxable year in which the distribution is received. Imposes a ten percent penalty on distributions which are not used exclusively for qualified health expenses. Permits the exclusion of ten percent of a distribution from an individual health services account where the distribution is used exclusively to pay qualified health expenses of the distributee, if the distributee has attained the age of 59 and one-half. Provides that only 80 percent of any distribution used exclusively to pay for Medicare supplemental policies or health services supplemental policies shall be included in income of the distributee, regardless of the age of the distributee. Provides that an individual health services account will be exempt from taxation unless the distributee engages in prohibited transactions with the account. Treats as a distribution from the account any portion of the account used as security for a loan. Provides that the individual health services account will terminate on the death of the distributee. Allows the deduction for amounts paid to a health services savings account to be taken in arriving at adjusted gross income. Imposes a tax penalty on excess contributions to an individual health services account, on prohibited transactions, and on failure to file certain information reports. Directs the Secretary, in consultation with various interested groups, to report to the Congress, not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, on a regulatory program to provide for the application of minimum standards with respect to health services supplemental policies. Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide Medicare benefits for catastrophic care. Provides that each individual enrolled under Medicare shall be deemed to have elected this coverage unless the individual files a notice that such coverage is not wanted. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to determine the monthly actuarial rate for enrollees for the catastrophic coverage option. Provides that the monthly premiums for each individual covered under this month shall be the amount equal to the monthly actuarial rate for enrollees.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1986
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Postmaster General should issue a postage stamp honoring American servicemen and civilians still unaccounted for as a result of the conflict in Indochina.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1986
Terrorist Prosecution Act of 1986 - Amends the Federal criminal code to create a Federal criminal offense for terrorist acts committed against U.S. nationals abroad. Makes it an offense for any person in an act of international terrorism to assault, strike, wound, imprison, or make other violent acts upon the person or liberty of any U.S. national. Specifies punishment for such persons found guilty of murder, manslaughter, attempted murder, or conspiracy. Establishes criteria for the imposition of the death penalty for certain Federal offenses. Requires the Government to: (1) serve notice upon the defendant when it seeks imposition of the death penalty; and (2) set forth 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 convicted of such an offense. Allows the defendant and the Government to present any relevant information, regardless of its admissibility under the rules of evidence. Permits such information to be excluded where its probative value is substantially outweighted by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of issues, or misleading of the jury. Specifies certain mitigating factors (including the defendant's age and inability to appreciate his or her conduct) and aggravating factors (including the intentional killing of the victim, previous convictions, and the nature of the offense) for jury consideration. Requires the court to instruct the jury not to consider the race, color, national origin, creed, or sex of the defendant when sentencing. States that the death penalty shall not be carried out on pregnant women. Establishes procedures for the appeal of a death sentence. Requires the court of appeals, upon consideration of the trial record, information submitted during the sentencing hearing, and the procedures of such 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. Requires the court to provide a written explanation of its determination.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1986
Provides that any requirement to substantiate a deduction under the Internal Revenue Code with respect to the business use of a vehicle must be based on regulations in effect before the Tax Reform Act of 1984.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1986
Amends the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 to authorize the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to accept gifts or donations to build a manned space shuttle which may be named Challenger II.
United States · United States Congress · 20 February 1986
Expresses the sense of the Congress that volunteer work should be taken into account by employers when hiring and listed on employment application forms.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1986
Authorizes and requests the President to present, on behalf of the Congress, gold medals to Anatoly and Avital Shcharansky in recognition of their supreme dedication and total commitment to human rights and freedoms. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to determine the design of the medals. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary to sell bronze duplicates of the medals.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1986
Authorizes the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution to plan, design, and construct facilities for the National Air and Space Museum at Washington Dulles International Airport for expansion of the Museum. Authorizes the Board of Regents to receive and use private donations for carrying out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1986
Sheltered Workshop Employment Amendment of 1986 - Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to exclude from income for food stamp program purposes earnings received by handicapped or disabled persons in sheltered workshops.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1986
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Secretary of State should consider the issuance of a travel advisory to warn U.S. citizens of the dangers to travel in any country in which such citizens are attacked by terrorists supported by Libya if the government of that country fails to close Libyan official missions.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1986
General Aviation Tort Reform Act of 1986 - Amends the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to provide uniform rules for negligence and products liability claims arising from general aviation accidents. Allows any person claiming damages from such an accident to bring a products liability action against the general aviation manufacturer if: (1) the product was defective when it left the control of the manufacturer; (2) the defective condition was the proximate cause of the harm; (3) the condition would not have been corrected by actions described in directives issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or the manufacturer; and (4) the aircraft was being used for a purpose and in a manner for which it was manufactured. Provides an alternative method to establish manufacturer liability where the manufacturer failed to provide reasonable warnings (unless such warnings would not have affected the conduct of the product user). Provides a third method to establish manufacturer liability where: (1) the manufacturer made an express warranty with respect to the product; (2) the warranty related to that aspect of the product which caused the harm; (3) the product failed to conform to the warranty; and (4) such failure was the proximate cause of the harm. States that all actions for damages arising from a general aviation accident shall be governed by the principles of comparative responsibility. Provides that defendants in such actions are severally but not jointly liable for damages (except that manufacturers of airframes and systems or components of aircraft may be jointly and severally liable under certain circumstances). Provides a 12-year limitation on liability of manufacturers. States that express warranties running for a longer period of time and the duty to provide additional warnings shall not be affected by such limitations. Allows awards of punitive damages. Prescribes a statute of limitations for such actions. Preempts State laws to the extent that this Act establishes applicable rules or procedures. Grants Federal district courts (concurrently with State courts) original jurisdiction (without regard to the amount in controversy) in all civil actions for damages arising out of a general aviation accident. Allows the removal of State actions to an appropriate Federal district court by any defendant. Prescribes venue restrictions. Expresses the intent of the Congress that orders to pay reasonable expenses, including attorney's fees, be enforced.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1986
Child Abuse Victims Rights Act of 1986 - Amends the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Statute to extend its coverage to the sexual exploitation of children. Authorizes a civil suit for treble damages for any persons injured personally or in their business or property by violations of RICO relating to the sexual exploitation of children. Amends the Federal criminal code to provide a mandatory life sentence for any person who kidnaps an individual under the age of 18. Imposes the death penalty in any case where such victim dies as a result of the kidnapping. Increases the penalties for offenses involving the sexual exploitation of children. Provides for a mandatory minimum sentence for second offenders. Extends the statute of limitations for certain offenses involving the sexual exploitation of children. Requires the Attorney General, within one year, to submit a report to the Congress recommending possible changes in the Federal Rules of Evidence, the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and other courtroom prosecutorial and investigative procedures which would facilitate the participation of child witnesses in cases involving child abuse and sexual exploitation. Specifies a list of considerations including: (1) the use of closed-circuit cameras, two-way mirrors, and other out-of-court statements; (2) the use of judicial discretion to circumscribe the use of harassment or confusing questions; (3) the use of videotape in investigations; (4) the possibility of streamlining investigative procedures; and (5) improved training of prosecutorial and investigative staff in the special problems of child witnesses. Requires the Attorney General to modify the classification system used by the National Crime Information Center in its Interstate Identification Index, and by the Identification Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with respect to offenses involving the sexual exploitation of children, to include the age of the victim and the relationship of the victim to the offender. Requires such classification to use a uniform definition of a child.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1986
Amends the Export Administration Act of 1979 to prohibit exporting any item on the U.S. Munitions List to any country which the Secretary of State determines engages in or provides support or sanctuary for international terrorism. Prohibits exporting to such a country: (1) goods, technology, or other information that could make a significant contribution to the military potential of that country or that could enhance the ability of such country to support international terrorism; and (2) any aircraft. Prohibits rescinding a determination that a country supports international terrorism, unless the Secretary of State, at least 60 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 12 months; and (2) the country has made explicit assurances that it will not support international terrorism in the future. Directs the President to try to secure international cooperation in prohibiting such exports to such countries. Directs the Secretary of State, within 90 days of enactment of this Act, to compile a list of countries providing support to international terrorism and a list of the goods, technology, and other information which shall not be exported to such countries.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1986
Declares that each standing committee of the House of Representatives may, within two days of adoption of this resolution, submit to the House Budget Committee alternatives to the President's sequestration order under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act), insofar as such order affects laws within the jurisdiction of the committee. Requires the Budget Committee, within four days of adoption of this resolution, to report a resolution containing instructions to committees sufficient to achieve the total level of deficit reduction contained in the President's sequestration order for FY 1986. Provides that such instructions shall require that each committee (and each subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations) achieve the same level of deficit reduction with respect to programs under its jurisdiction as would have been saved under the President's order. Requires committees to submit recommendations to the Budget Committee by February 21, 1986, sufficient to meet deficit reductions. Requires the Budget Committee to promptly report a reconciliation bill carrying out such recommendations. Authorizes the Budget Committee to include legislative language within the jurisdiction of any noncomplying committee. Requires such reconciliation bill to include a provision which states that if it is enacted on or before March 1, 1986, then the sequestration order for FY 1986 is null and void. Establishes procedures for floor consideration of such reconciliation bill, including limitation on debates and amendments.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1986
Let's Be Frank About The Frank Resolution - Amends rule XLVI of the Rules of the House of Representatives to require the quarterly publication in the Congressional Record of the volume and postage costs of franked mass mailing by each Representative during such quarter.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 1986
Requires the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to install a plaque on the first permanent manned space station in honor of the space shuttle Challenger's crew.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 1986
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend the Hazardous Substance Response Trust Fund (Superfund) excise taxes on crude oil and petroleum products for the 180-day period beginning on February 3, 1986. Permits repayable advances to be made to such fund during the 180-day period beginning on February 3, 1986.
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 1986
Requests the Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature of the International Astronomical Union to officially designate seven of the ten moons recently discovered by the Voyager-2 spacecraft near the planet Uranus in the names of the seven astronauts who died in the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger.
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 1986
Authorizes the L-5 Society to establish a memorial on Federal land in the District of Columbia or its environs to honor America's astronauts, especially those astronauts who gave their lives in pursuit of knowledge for all mankind. Requires the L-5 Society to select, subject to the approval of the Commission of Fine Arts and the National Capital Planning Commission, the site, design, and plans for the memorial. Terminates the authority to establish the memorial if its construction is not begun within five years with non-Federal funds sufficient to ensure its completion.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 1986
Prohibits any benefits payable from the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund, including cost-of-living increases, during calendar year 1987 from being subject to reduction or suspension by statute or presidential order.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 1986
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that citizens or residents of the United States who are in a foreign country in violation of an executive order shall not be permitted to exclude from income the foreign earned income from sources within such country or the housing expenses allocable for housing in such country.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1986
Summer Youth Employment, Training, and Education Act of 1986 - Amends the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) to require the addition of an education component to the summer youth employment and training programs under part B of title II (Training Services for the Disadvantaged) of JTPA. Requires that each service delivery area (SDA) be allotted an amount equal to at least 90 percent of the amount available to such area for the summer youth program in the preceding fiscal year. Requires ratable reductions in the allocation to each SDA if appropriations are not sufficient to provide such amount to each SDA. Requires that allotments to States and allocations to SDAs be: (1) made in accordance with provisions for prompt allocation of funds; and (2) available for planning purposes before the beginning of the summer months for which allotted and allocated. Requires that summer youth program funds be used so that participants spend a portion of their time on individualized, self-paced, remedial and basic academic and functional competency development and achieve specified types of performance standards established and developed in each SDA. Requires that the portion of a participant's time spent on such competency development be in addition to, and not in place of, regular employment under the summer youth program. Prohibits summer youth program funds from being used to provide employment to any individual who fails to comply with attendance standards established by the SDA with respect to such education components. Prohibits summer youth program funds from being used to compensate or reward participants for attendance at such education components, except under specified provisions which require that a portion of matching funds be used to provide bonuses to participants for achievement of academic and functional competence. Specifies that planning for summer youth programs does not have to be conducted during the summer months. Sets forth matching fund requirements for summer youth programs. Requires each private industry council (PIC), for each program year beginning after June 30, 1987, to make available from non-Federal sources an amount for use in such programs equal to at least one and one-half percent of the amount made available under JTPA for such programs in that SDA for the applicable program year. Limits, for any program year beginning after June 30, 1987, such matching amounts to not less than $20,000 and not more than $100,000 per SDA. Requires each PIC to notify the State of the PIC's matching amount by April 1 of the preceding program year. Requires each State, for program years beginning after June 30, 1987, to reserve three percent of its allotment under part A (Adult and Youth Programs) of title II of JTPA for allocation among PICs in proportion to the matching amounts made available by such PICS for such program years. Requires that such matching amounts be used to: (1) support the education and training components of the summer youth programs; (2) provide bonuses to participants for achievement of academic and functional competence; and (3) after complying with (1) and (2), create additional employment opportunities under the summer youth programs. Allows matching amounts to be in cash or in-kind, but requires that in-kind matching amounts be in the form of state-of-the-art basic and remedial education materials and equipment suitable for use for summer youth programs for the applicable program year. Requires each SDA to maintain complete records on the improvements in academic and functional competency attained by participants in the summer youth programs. Requires that such records be compiled by reference to State and locally determined general education diploma and basic education competency requirements. Requires each SDA to submit summaries of such records to the State. Requires States to submit annual reports on such summaries to the Secretary of Labor. Directs the Secretary to include an analysis of such reports in the Secretary's annual report to the Congress on employment and training programs. Provides that a specified portion of the State allotment under JTPA which is currently available for State education programs shall also be available to carry out matching requirements for summer youth programs.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1986
Expresses disapproval of the refusal of the U.S.S.R. to recognize the sovereignty of the Baltic Republics. Designates the 14th day of June 1986 as Baltic Freedom Day. Authorizes and requests the President to submit the issue of Baltic self-determination to the United Nations.
United States · United States Congress · 21 January 1986
Directs the President to convene a domestic economic summit conference concerning the economic situation created by large Federal deficits. Requires the conference to report to the Congress a comprehensive plan to reduce projected deficits.
United States · United States Congress · 19 December 1985
Pharmaceutical Export Amendments of 1986 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to permit the export of certain drugs (including biological products) intended for human or animal use even though such drugs have not been approved or licensed for use in the United States. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish and update a two-tiered list of countries with adequate governmental health authorities which in the first tier includes developed regulatory procedures and tests with experienced scientific personnel and in the second tier includes sufficient ability to assure consistency of labeling information. Permits shipments to nonlist countries if differing health conditions there make such shipments desirable, e. g. tropical diseases. Permits the export of an unapproved drug to a second tier country if such drug is approved for use in any first-tier country and not banned for use in any first-tier country. Prohibits the export of drugs denied approval on the basis of safety and efficacy or whose manufacture in the United States has been determined to be contrary to U.S. health and safety. Sets forth other criteria and restrictions on the export of such drugs, including notice requirements on shipments and notice of and opportunity to cure deficiencies in such shipments. Permits the Secretaries of Agriculture and Health and Human Services to prohibit noncomplying shipments and shipments otherwise permitted if either Secretary determines a shipment would present an imminent hazard to the public health of the recipient country. Requires the Comptroller General to report biennially to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Congress on the extent to which drugs unauthorized for a country are being received by such country and the extent to which labeling is consistent. Directs the Secretary to contract for a study to be submitted to the Congress within five years on the economic and international health impact of this Act. Includes conditions prevalent in a developing country among the criteria for orphan drugs.
United States · United States Congress · 19 December 1985
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) the President should continue to express to the Soviet Union U.S. opposition with respect to the harassment and arrests of Hebrew teachers and Jewish activists in the Soviet Union; and (2) the Soviet Union should comply with its commitments under specified international human rights agreements and cease its persecution of individuals on the basis of their Jewish faith.
United States · United States Congress · 18 December 1985
Rural Satellite Dish Owners Protection Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit encryption of any satellite cable programming for private viewing beginning 30 days after enactment of this Act, unless: (1) the encryption complies with Federal Communications Commission standards; (2) decryption devices are available for lease or purchase by all interested persons within 60 days after request at a reasonable price relative to manufacturing and distribution costs; and (3) monthly subscription fees for such programming do not exceed fees assessed to cable subscribers within the same vicinity. Provides for the civil enforcement of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 18 December 1985
Amends rule XV of the Rules of the House of Representatives to prohibit the House from passing or adopting any bill or joint resolution making appropriations or providing revenue except by a rollcall vote.
United States · United States Congress · 11 December 1985
National Groundwater Contamination Research Act - Requires the Director of the Geological Survey to establish and conduct a national water quality assessment program to assess groundwater and surface water resources, both current and projected. Requires the program to identify contaminated and uncontaminated but vulnerable groundwater. Requires the program to conduct synoptic surface water quality studies. Requires the Director to conduct an expanded toxic substances hydrology program to determine the movement and transformation of toxic substances in water. Authorizes Federal grants for such research out of the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 on a matching basis for FY 1986 through 1989. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1986 through 1989.
![Official portrait of Rep. Kolbe, Jim [R-AZ-8]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/k000306_200.jpg)