United States · United States Congress · 28 February 1991
Acclaims the President for his decisive leadership, unerring judgment, and sound decisions with respect to the Persian Gulf crisis. Commends and expresses appreciation to the members of the U.S. armed forces and other members of the international coalition who participated in Operation Desert Storm. Conveys sympathy and condolences to the families and friends of coalition and U.S. forces who were injured or killed during such operation. Expresses compassion for the families of noncombatants who suffered hardship and personal losses during the Persian Gulf War. Supports continued efforts to promote peace and stability in the Persian Gulf.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1991
Older Americans' Freedom to Work Act of 1991 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to remove the limitation on the amount of outside income which beneficiaries who have attained retirement age may earn without incurring a reduction in benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1991
Social Security Notch Adjustment Act of 1991 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to establish a new formula for computing the primary insurance amount of individuals who attain age 65 in or after 1982 and would otherwise be subject to the benefit computation rules of the Social Security Amendments of 1977. Extends the application of such transitional benefit computation rules to those who become eligible for benefits before 1989. (Currently those who become eligible after 1983 are subject to the benefit computation rules of the Social Security Amendments of 1977.)
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 1991
Arctic Coastal Plain Domestic Energy Leasing Act of 1991 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to implement a competitive oil and gas leasing program for the Coastal Plain Study Area of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. States that this Act shall be considered the primary land management authorization for all exploration and production activities on the Coastal Plain. Provides that no land management review shall be required except as specifically authorized by this Act. Mandates that all receipts from sales, rentals, bonuses, and royalties on leases under this Act be deposited into the Treasury. Directs the Secretary to promulgate regulations to ensure that oil and gas exploration and transportation activities are conducted to achieve the reasonable protection of animal and environmental resources (including subsistence uses of the Coastal Plain). States that the "Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, Coastal Plain Resource Assessment," prepared by the Secretary, satisfies all legal requirements for such promulgation and that no further studies or assessments shall be required. Directs the Secretary to provide impact aid and other assistance to communities on the North Slope and elsewhere in Alaska in order to ensure the public services needed to accommodate oil and gas production and transportation activities on the Coastal Plain.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1991
Reduces from less than 140 days to 30 days or less the period of active duty required before a member of a reserve component of the armed forces is entitled to a variable housing allowance. Amends the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940 to prohibit an eviction or distress of the dependents of any person who, after the execution of a lease, enters military service, for the period of active military service, regardless of the agreed rental amount, except upon a court action. Strikes the current three-month limitation on the staying of proceedings for eviction or distress.
United States · United States Congress · 18 January 1991
Constitutional Amendment - Declares that the Congress and the States shall have power to prohibit the act of physical desecration of the U.S. flag and to set criminal penalties for such act.
United States · United States Congress · 15 January 1991
Emerging Telecommunications Technologies Act of 1991 - Requires the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to conduct, at least biannually, joint spectrum planning with respect to: (1) future spectrum requirements for public and private uses and the allocation actions to accommodate those uses; and (2) actions to promote the efficient use of the spectrum. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to submit to the President and the Congress a report identifying bands of frequencies that: (1) are allocated on a primary basis for Federal Government use and eligible for licensing pursuant to the Communications Act of 1934 (the Act); (2) are not required for the present or identifiable future needs of the Government; (3) can be made available for use under the Act (other than for Government stations); (4) are most likely to have the greatest potential for productive uses; and (5) will not result in excessive costs to the Federal Government. Sets forth criteria for identifying, and recommending for reassignment, such frequencies. Requires the Secretary to submit to the Congress a report which makes a preliminary identification of reallocable bands of frequencies. Directs the Secretary to convene an advisory committee to: (1) review the bands of frequencies identified in the preliminary report; (2) advise the Secretary with respect to the bands of frequencies which should be included in the final report; (3) receive public comment on the reports; and (4) prepare and submit to the Secretary and specified congressional committees a report on recommendations for the reform of the process of allocating the electromagnetic spectrum between Federal and non-Federal use. Directs the President, after receiving the final report, to: (1) withdraw the assignment to a Government station of any frequency which such report recommends for reallocation; (2) withdraw or limit the assignment to a Government station of any frequency which such report recommends be reallocated or made available for mixed use; (3) assign or reassign other frequencies to Government stations as necessary to adjust to such withdrawal or limitation of assignments; and (4) notify the FCC and each House of Congress of the actions taken. Authorizes the President to substitute alternative frequencies in the interest of national defense, important governmental needs, public health or safety, or Federal financial considerations. Directs the FCC to submit to the President and the Congress a plan for the distribution of the reallocated frequency bands. Authorizes the President to reclaim reassigned frequencies for reassignment to Government stations. Sets forth procedures for reclaiming frequencies. Authorizes appropriations to cover the costs of reclaiming frequencies.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1991
Budget Process Reform Act - Title I: Statement of Congressional Purpose - Declares that the purpose of this Act is to facilitate rational, informed, and timely decisions by the Congress. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Federal budget process should focus the attention of policymakers and the public on the aggregate impact of Federal spending on the economy, and on the tradeoffs that must be made among priorities in order to control overall levels of spending. Declares that the budget process should contain safeguards against delay and inaction, so that temporary shut-downs of the Government may be avoided. Title II: Binding Budget Law - Requires the Congress to enact a binding budget law, in the form of a joint resolution, by April 15 of the calendar year before that in which the fiscal period commences. Requires the budget law to fit on a single page, which sets forth specific budget ceilings in major functional categories. Makes it out of order in the House of Representatives or the Senate to consider any spending bill affecting spending in a major functional category unless and until a joint resolution on the budget is enacted. Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to prohibit baseline budgeting. Requires the budget to include comparisons of current fiscal year and proposed subsequent fiscal year spending. Requires the President to submit to the Congress on or before the fifteenth day after a joint resolution on the budget is enacted a detailed budget for the fiscal period beginning on October 1 of the current calendar year. Title III: Enforcement Mechanics - Subtitle A: Supermajority Required to Break Budget Law - Requires a two-thirds majority vote in the House and the Senate to consider any spending bill prior to the enactment of the budget law. Requires the Congressional Budget Office to provide to the Congress an estimate of the costs in each major functional category of any spending bill as soon as practicable after its introduction. Limits such estimates to those bills likely to result in costs of more than $10,000,000. Requires a two-thirds affirmative vote in the House and the Senate to consider over-budget spending bills. Requires a two-thirds affirmative vote in the House and the Senate to waive any provision of this Act. Subtitle B: Limited Enhanced Rescission Authority - Amends the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to limit the President's rescission authority to spending that is above the limits of the budget law. Subtitle C: "Blank Check" Appropriations Prohibited - Declares the intent of the Congress to end open-ended, "blank check" appropriations which typically authorize spending "such sums as may be necessary." Requires fixed-dollar appropriations for every account except social security and interest on the debt. Prohibits open-ended appropriations. Requires Executive agencies to adjust benefit levels to ensure that appropriations for entitlement programs are not exceeded. Restricts budget authority and entitlement authority to one fiscal period. Subtitle D: "Pay As You Go" Requirement for New Spending - Prohibits the Congress from considering any legislation which exceeds the budget ceiling unless it offsets such increased spending with an equal amount of reductions. Requires a two-thirds affirmative vote in the House and the Senate to waive such prohibition. Title IV: Sustaining Mechanism - Makes appropriations to provide for an automatic continuing resolution if for any account an appropriation for a fiscal period does not become law before the beginning of such period. Restricts legislation providing funding to the Committees on Appropriations. Title V: Protection of Social Security - Provides that no reduction in benefits under title II of the Social Security Act (Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) shall be made as a consequence of this Act. Title VI: Timetable - Revises the timetable for the congressional budget process. Title VII: Conforming Amendments - Makes various technical and conforming amendments, including changing references to a concurrent resolution on the budget to references to a joint resolution on the budget. Title VIII: Definitions and Rules of Interpretation - Sets forth definitions for specified terms. Title IX: Effective Date - Declares the effective date of this Act to be January 1, 1993, applicable to fiscal years beginning after September 30, 1993. Applies to FY 1993 certain provisions of Federal law, including the Congressional Budget Impoundment Control Act of 1974 and the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act).
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1991
Veterans' Compensation Amendments of 1991 - Title I: Compensation Rate Increases - Increases the rates of: (1) veterans' disability compensation; (2) additional compensation for veterans' dependents; (3) the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans; (4) dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children; and (5) supplemental dependency and indemnity compensation for disabled adult children. Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to adjust administratively the rates of disability compensation payable to persons who are not in receipt of compensation for service-connected disability or death. Title II: Miscellaneous Program Amendments - Authorizes the Secretary to accept gifts, devises, and bequests which enhance the Secretary's ability to provide services and benefits. Allows the payment of parents dependency and indemnity compensation less frequently than monthly if the amount of the annual benefit is less than four percent of the maximum annual rate payable. Prohibits a readjustment in the rating schedule from causing a veteran's compensation amount to be reduced unless an improvement in the veteran's disability is shown to have occurred. Makes the presumptive period (the period after service in a radiation-risk activity during which a disease must become manifest in order to be considered service-connected and, therefore, compensable as disability compensation) for leukemia 40 years (currently, 30). Creates a 40-year presumptive period for members of the reserves who were exposed to atmospheric detonation of a nuclear device during active duty or inactive duty for training and who contract specified diseases or illnesses within such period. States as an exception the disease of leukemia, which is given a 30-year manifestation period in such reserve members. Increases the amount of Veterans' Mortgage Life Insurance available to a veteran owning a home to the lesser of $90,000 or the amount of the loan outstanding on the home. (Currently, the amount is the lesser of $40,000 or such amount.) Increases from one to two years the required time after discharge or release permitted to qualify for National Service Life Insurance (for service-disabled veterans). Title III: Agent Orange - Veterans Agent Orange Exposure and Vietnam Service Benefits Act of 1991 - Provides that the disease of chloracne in Vietnam veterans shall be considered to have been service-connected if such disease became manifest to a ten percent or more degree of disability within one year after the last date on which the veteran performed such service in Vietnam. Presumes the following diseases to be service-connected for veterans who performed active service in Vietnam during the Vietnam era, notwithstanding that there is no record of evidence of such disease during the period of such service: (1) non-Hodgkins lymphoma; (2) soft-tissue sarcoma; and (3) melanoma and basal cell carcinoma. Provides a presumption of service-connection in the case of a Vietnam veteran suffering from a disease associated with effects of exposure to certain dioxins or other herbicide agents during such service in Vietnam. Directs the Secretary to prescribe regulations listing a positive association between any disease and the biological effects of exposure to an herbicide agent in Vietnam. Requires the Secretary to update such list continually. Requires the Secretary, in prescribing and revising such list, to obtain by contract the determinations and estimates of a contract scientific organization. Requires such organization to: (1) determine which diseases have any degree of association with the biological effects of exposure to an herbicide agent; and (2) estimate the extent of association between each such disease and each such biological effect. Requires the organization to determine such association specifically with respect to non-Hodgkins lymphoma, each soft-tissue sarcoma, lung cancer, and each other cancer. Outlines contract provisions required in such agreements between the Secretary and the scientific organization, including surveys, evaluations, and periodic determinations. Requires such scientific organization to provide reports to the Secretary and the Senate and House Veterans' Affairs Committees regarding its determinations and evaluations. Requires such organization to determine, in the case of a positive association, whether there is a reasonable basis for concluding that a Vietnam veteran with the highest level of exposure to that herbicide agent in Vietnam was exposed to such agent under the circumstances necessary for such biological effects. Requires a report from the organization to the Secretary and the veterans' committees when there is no such reasonable basis found. Requires the Secretary to make certain determinations and follow-up reports after receiving such reports from the contract scientific organization, including the issuance of a report to the veterans' committees and the promulgation of positive association regulations if necessary. Requires benefits to be continued even though a disease is removed from the regulations listing diseases having positive associations. Terminates such provisions ten years after the first day of the fiscal year in which a scientific organization transmits its first report to the Secretary. Provides special effective dates. Directs the Secretary to compile and analyze all clinical data that: (1) is obtained by the Department in connection with examinations and treatment of veterans for disabilities related to exposure to certain herbicides or to service in Vietnam; and (2) is likely to be scientifically useful in determining the association, if any, between the disabilities of such veterans and their exposure to such herbicides and other toxic substances. Requires the Secretary to submit an annual report to the veterans' committees concerning such analysis and its results. Directs the Secretary to consult with the Director of the National Institutes of Health Research and Grants Division (NIH) before compiling and analyzing such information. Requires the Director of NIH to review each annual report submitted by the Secretary and transmit to the Secretary an evaluation of the contents of each report. Directs the Secretary to establish and maintain a system for the collection and storage of voluntarily contributed samples of blood and tissue of veterans who performed active service in Vietnam during the Vietnam era. Outlines provisions concerning the security and authorized uses of such specimens, as well as limitations on the acceptance of such samples. Requires the Secretary to consult with the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to the extent that an agreement has been reached with the NAS serving as the contract scientific organization for the Secretary. Requires the Secretary to consult with the Director of the Medical Follow-up Agency in the event of no agreement with NAS. Directs the Secretary to establish a program to provide for the conduct of studies of the feasibility of conducting additional scientific research on health hazards resulting from: (1) exposure to dioxin; (2) exposure to other toxic agents in herbicides used in support of U.S. and allied military operations in Vietnam during the Vietnam era; and (3) active military, naval, or air service there. Requires the Secretary to report to the veterans' committees on the results of such studies. Requires the Secretary to consult with the NAS before undertaking such studies and requires the NAS to review such studies and report recommendations to the Secretary and the veterans' committees to the extent provided under any agreement between the Secretary and NAS. Amends the Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 1988 to require the Secretary to annually furnish updated information to veterans listed in the Department of Veterans Affairs' Agent Orange Registry on health risks resulting from exposure to dioxin or other toxic agents in herbicide as a result of service in Vietnam during the Vietnam era. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to report to the veterans' committees on the research being conducted to develop treatments for psychological absorption of dioxin and other toxic agents used in herbicides by the United States in Vietnam, including research relating to exposure to dioxin and other toxic agents outside Vietnam. Extends through December 31, 2000, the eligibility for hospital and nursing home care for veterans exposed to toxic substances in Vietnam. Amends the Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 1988 to authorize direct consultation between the Ranch Hand Advisory Committee and Department of the Air Force scientists conducting the Ranch Hand Study (a study of the long-term health effects of exposure to phenoxy herbicides and contaminants). Requires the preparation and submission of annual reports and a final report in connection with such study.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1991
Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to permit the deferral of payments on student loans during professional internships of any duration (by removing a two-year limitation).
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1991
Language of Government Act of 1991 - Declares English to be the official language of the U.S. Government. States that the Government has an affirmative obligation to preserve and enhance the role of English as the official language. Prohibits anyone from being denied Government services because they communicate in English. Prohibits a Government entity from making or enforcing an official act requiring the use of a language other than English. Deems anyone discriminated against for communicating to the Government in English to have been discriminated against on the basis of national origin. Makes available to a person so discriminated against all lawful remedies available under the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1991
Veterans' Compensation Amendments of 1991 - Increases the rates of: (1) veterans' disability compensation; (2) additional compensation for veterans' dependents; (3) the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans; (4) dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children; and (5) supplemental dependency and indemnity compensation for disabled adult children. Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to adjust administratively the rates of disability compensation payable to persons who are not in receipt of compensation for service-connected disability or death.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1991
Extends the time for performing certain tax-related acts by reason of service in a combat zone for those individuals performing Desert Shield services. Declares such extended time to be the period during which such individual performs such services and the next 60 days thereafter. Allows the payment of interest on any overpayments due such individuals, starting April 15. (Generally, interest will be paid only on refunds made more than 45 days after a return is filed.) Applies this Act for any period of continuous hospitalization outside the United States attributed to an injury incurred while performing Desert Shield services.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that payment under a life insurance contract to an insured who is terminally ill be treated as a death benefit, making such payment eligible for exclusion from gross income. Provides that any reference to life insurance shall be treated as referring to a qualified terminal illness rider. Provides for the tax treatment of such riders. Describes such a rider as one which provides for payments to an insured upon the insured's becoming terminally ill.
United States · United States Congress · 27 October 1990
Budget Process Reform Act - Title I: Statement of Congressional Purpose - Declares that the purpose of this Act is to facilitate rational, informed, and timely decisions by the Congress. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Federal budget process should focus the attention of policymakers and the public on the aggregate impact of Federal spending on the economy, and on the tradeoffs that must be made among priorities in order to control overall levels of spending. Declares that the budget process should contain safeguards against delay and inaction, so that temporary shut-downs of the Government may be avoided. Title II: Binding Budget Law - Requires the Congress to enact a binding budget law, in the form of a joint resolution, by April 15 of the calendar year before that in which the fiscal period commences. Requires the budget law to fit on a single page, which sets forth specific budget ceilings in major functional categories. Makes it out of order in the House of Representatives or the Senate to consider any spending bill affecting spending in a major functional category unless and until a joint resolution on the budget is enacted. Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to prohibit baseline budgeting. Requires the budget to include comparisons of current fiscal year and proposed subsequent fiscal year spending. Title III: Enforcement Mechanisms - Subtitle A: Super majority Required to Break Budget Law - Requires a two-thirds majority vote in the House and the Senate to consider any spending bill prior to the enactment of the budget law. Requires the Congressional Budget Office to provide to the Congress an estimate of the costs in each major functional category of any spending bill as soon as practicable after its introduction. Limits such estimates to those bills likely to result in costs of more than $10,000,000. Requires a two-thirds affirmative vote in the House and the Senate to consider over-budget spending bills. Requires a two-thirds affirmative vote in the House and the Senate to waive any provision of this Act. Subtitle B: Limited Enhanced Rescission Authority - Amends the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to limit the President's rescission authority to spending that is above the limits of the budget law. Subtitle C: "Blank Check" Appropriations Prohibited - Declares the intent of the Congress to end open-ended, "blank check" appropriations which typically authorize spending "such sums as may be necessary." Requires fixed-dollar appropriations for every account except social security and interest on the debt. Prohibits open-ended appropriations. Requires Executive agencies to adjust benefit levels to ensure that appropriations for entitlement programs are not exceeded. Subtitle D: "Pay As You Go" Requirement for New Spending - Prohibits the Congress from considering any legislation which exceeds the budget ceiling unless it offsets such increased spending with an equal amount of reductions. Requires a two-thirds affirmative vote in the House and the Senate to waive such prohibition. Title IV: Sustaining Mechanism - Makes appropriations to provide for an automatic continuing resolution if for any account an appropriation for a fiscal period does not become law before the beginning of such period. Restricts legislation providing funding to the Committees on Appropriations. Title V: Protection of Social Security - Provides that no reduction in benefits under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act shall be made as a consequence of this Act. Title VI: Timetable - Revises the timetable for the congressional budget process. Title VII: Conforming Amendments - Makes various technical and conforming amendments, including changing references to a concurrent resolution on the budget to references to a joint resolution on the budget. Title VIII: Definitions and Rules of Interpretation - Sets forth definitions for specified terms. Title IX: Effective Date - Declares the effective date of this Act to be January 1, 1991, applicable to fiscal years beginning after September 30, 1991.
United States · United States Congress · 23 October 1990
Designates the room numbered H-235 in the House of Representatives wing of the Capitol as the Lindy Claiborne Boggs Congressional Women's Reading Room.
United States · United States Congress · 16 October 1990
Salutes and congratulates the people of Poland as they commemorate the 200th anniversary of the adoption of the Polish Constitution on May 3, 1991. Directs the Library of Congress to commemorate the anniversary with appropriate ceremonies.
United States · United States Congress · 5 October 1990
Civil Rights Amendments Act of 1990 - Amends the Civil Rights Act of 1968 to increase the penalties for violating the fair housing provisions of such Act. Sets forth specific penalties for fair housing violations that result in property damage exceeding $100, involve the use or attempted use of fire, or are committed with the use of, or while the perpetrator is carrying, a firearm.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 1990
Comprehensive Energy Self-Sufficiency Act of 1990 - Declares it the policy of the United States to encourage cost effective energy conservation and to facilitate research and development of domestic energy resources. Title I: Conservation and Energy Efficiency - Amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA) to provide that the permissible State-regulated electric utility charges shall be such that a utility's return on energy investments is commensurate with returns earned on other utility investments of similar risk. Requires the Secretary of Energy to report to the President and the Congress regarding specified effects of least-cost energy planning upon electric utility rates. Requires the Tennessee Valley Authority to use least cost planning in its decision-making regarding increased electric power demand. Amends the National Enregy Conservation Policy Act (NECPA) to set a deadline by which each Federal agency must: (1) install energy conservation measures in Federal buildings with a specified payback period; (2) submit a list of projects to the Secretary which meets such payback criterion and which indicates total energy and cost savings involved; and (3) have substantially completed at least 25 percent of such projects or as many as would account for 25 percent of total energy savings. Directs the Secretary to develop guidelines for the selection of energy service contractors. Directs the Secretary to provide financial assistance to support a voluntary, national window rating program to develop a window energy ratings and labels. Directs the Federal Trade Commission to prescribe labeling rules for windows and window systems. Authorizes approriations. Amends NECPA to direct the Secretary to: (1) promulgate procedural guidelines enabling the States to assign energy efficiency ratings to residential buildings; and (2) establish a technical assistance program to State and local governments adopting energy efficiency rating systems or building codes. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income: (1) the value of any subsidy provided by a public utility to a customer for the purchase or installation of any energy or water conservation measures; and (2) the value of any qualified transportation benefit provided by an employer. Restores the tax credit for residential energy conservation expenditures where heating oil is the primary source of heating. Title II: Renewable Energy Sources - Amends the Federal Power Act to prohibit the issuance of licenses for certain hydroelectric project works to anyone but the owner. Amends PURPA and the Federal Power Act to remove the size limitations placed upon hydroelectric generating facilities eligible for PURPA regulatory benefits. Amends the Internal Revnue Code to extend: (1) the time during which credit will be granted for producing fuel from nonconventional source; (2) excise tax rate reductions will apply to alcohol fuel mixtures; (3) credit will be applied for alcohol used as fuel. Title III: Electric Power - Competitive Wholesale Electric Generation Act of 1990 - Authorizes public utility holding companies that are exempt from the provisions of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 to acquire business interests in generators used exclusively for selling electric energy at wholesale (exempts wholesale generators). Declares that the ownership of exempt wholesale generators shall not result in the owner's being considered as primarily engaged in the sale or generation of electric power under the Federal Power Act. Preserves the ratemaking authority of the States. Amends the Federal Power Act to direct the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), before approving rates agreed to between a public utility and a wholesale seller, to require the purchasing utility to certify that the rate conforms with least-costing planning schemes. Defines circumstances under which electric energy charges by a public utility exempt wholesale generator will be considered unjust and unreasonable. Authorizes appropriations for electronic switching research. Directs the Secretary of Energy to report to the Congress on legislative and regulatory reforms and incentives for more reliable electric transmission transfer capability within the reliability councils comprising the North American Electric Reliability Council. Title IV: Natural Gas - Directs FERC to: (1) issue regulations to expedite pipeline certifications; and (2) report to certain congressional committees on recommended reforms to facilitate increased deliverability of natural gas to consumers. Amends the Mineral Leasing Act to repeal the current 60-day waiting period requirement after notification of certain congressional committees before certain pipeline rights-of-way may be granted. Title V: Oil -Subtitle A: Use of MMT in Unleaded Gasoline - Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to approve the use of methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT) in unleaded gasoline. Subtitle B: Tax Incentives for Oil and Natural Gas Exploration and Production - Part I: National Energy Security Tax Credits - Amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to establish a crude oil and natural gas exploration and development tax credit. Allows a 20 percent credit for qualified investments. Establishes a marginal production income tax credit for producers who maintain economically unproductive oil wells. Applies the credit to domestic crude that is: (1) from stripper well property; (2) heavy oil; (3) oil recovered through a tertiary recovery method; or (4) harsh environment oil (produced from Arctic areas in submerged lands). Fixes the credit at 20 percent of the qualified cost (determined in accordance with a formula set forth in this Act) of each barrel produced by the producer during the taxable year. Part II: Additional Exploration and Production Incentives - Amends the IRC to treat certain geological and geophysical costs and surface casing costs as intangible drilling and development costs that a taxpayer may elect to capitalize or to deduct for income tax purposes. Precludes a percentage depletion income tax deduction for proven oil and gas wells from application of the net income limitation percentage depletion. Increases from 65 percent to 100 percent the taxable income limitation on the percentage depletion deduction for oil and gas property. Affirms natural gas found in tight sands formations as a qualified fuel with respect to the credit, without exceptions. Defines "tar sands" for purposes of such credit. Part III: Amendments to the Alternative Minimum Tax - Repeals provisions that identify intangible drilling costs as a tax preference item for purposes of determining alternative minimum tax liability and corporate preference reductions. Part IV: Miscellaneous Tax and Administrative Amendments - Declares Revenue Ruling 77-176 (and other rulings that reach similar results) to be inapplicable with respect to the income tax treatment of mineral sharing arrangements. (The Revenue Ruling address situations in which a driller receives from a lessee an operating interest in oil and gas property as consideration for drilling a well on the leased tract.) Revises provisions governing the time when economic performance occurs for the purpose of income tax deductions or credits in connection with removal of offshore oil or gas production facilities. Specifies expressly the types of oil and gas exploration and development costs that are exempt from the required application of uniform cost capitalization rules. Subtitle C: Recovery Depletion Allowance; Research and Development Credit - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to set a depletion allowance of 27.5 percent in connection with domestic oil and natural gas recovered through enhanced recovery techniques. Reduces this percentage (but not below 15 percent) as the average annual removal price during the calendar year exceeds $30 (indexed for inflation). Terminates this provision with respect to production after 2009. Increases from 50 percent to 100 percent the net income limitation on percentage depletion in connection with incremental tertiary oil or natural gas. Permits a ten percent income tax credit for research to discover or improve tertiary recovery methods for domestic crude oil or natural gas. Subtitle D: Arctic National Wildlife Refuge - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to implement a competitive oil and gas leasing program for the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. States that this subtitle shall be considered the primary land management authorization for all exploration and production activities on the Coastal Plain. Provides that no land management review shall be required except as management specifically authorized by this subtitle. Mandates that all receipts from sales, rentals, bonuses, and royalties on leases under this subtitle be deposited into the Treasury. Directs the Secretary to promulgate regulations to ensure that oil and gas exploration and transportation activities are conducted to achieve the reasonable protection of animals and environmental resources (including subsistence uses of the Coastal Plain). States that the "Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, Coastal Plain Resource Assessment," prepared by the Secretary, satisfies all legal requirements for such promulgation and that no further studies or assessments shall be required. Directs the Secretary to provide impact aid and other assistance to communities on the North Slope and elsewhere in Alaska in order to ensure the public services needed to accommodate oil and gas production and transportation activities on the Coastal Plain. Title VI: Coal - Directs the Secretary of Energy to establish research and demonstration goals for the timely development of: (1) coal production, transportation, and use technologies; and (2) cost-effective advanced coal-based technologies to be available for widespread commercial use after the year 2010, and which can control sulfur and nitrogen oxides at greater proficiency levels than are currently available; and (3) cost-effective energy production systems which use coal and achieve greater efficiency in the conversion of coal to useful energy. Requires the Secretary to submit an assessment to the Congress of the commercial development potential of technologies for non-fuel use of coal. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to restore investment credits for pollution devices required by the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. Title VII: Nuclear - Nuclear Standardization and Safety Reform Act of 1990 - Subtitle A: Standardization and Licensing - Amends the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to direct the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to establish procedures for the preapproval of a limited number of standardized facility designs for production or utilization facilities for a ten-year period. Authorizes the Commission to design approval requests for any major subsystem that represents discrete elements of a production or utilization facility. Requires the Agency to specify by regulation the criteria and requirements for any subsystem approval. States that a design approval shall be considered to be a license. Sets forth guidelines for the issuance of a design approval, including ten-year renewal terms. Authorizes the Director to issue a site approval permit for a ten-year period even if an application for a construction permit or operating license has not been filed. Outlines the site approval procedure and the procedures for facility construction permits and operating licenses. Subtitle B: Conforming Amendments - Makes conforming Amendments to the Act. Subtitle C: Amendments of PUHCA - Amends the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 to allow the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to grant exempt status to certain public utility holding companies which would otherwise meet specified criteria but for their control of utility assets pursuant to a management agreement approved by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Permits the acquisition of public utility assets or securities without SEC approval if the acquiring public utility controls assets pursuant to a management agreement approved by the NRC. Subtitle D: Effective Date - Sets forth the effective date of this title. Title VIII: National Energy Strategy Implementation - Amends the Department of Energy Organization Act to direct the President to submit a proposed National Energy Policy Plan to the Congress by a specified deadlilne. Amends the Department of Energy Act to revise procedural guidelines for congressional consideration of an implementing bill for such Plan. Title IX: Impact of Federal Actions on Energy Security - Mandates that all Federal agencies shall: (1) develop measures to ensure that energy security concerns are given appropriate consideration in decisionmaking; and (2) include in their legislative proposals a detailed statement regarding the impact of such proposals upon energy production, transportation, or use, and alternatives to the proposed action. Title X: Outer Continental Shelf - Subtitle A: Revised Outer Continental Shelf Leasing Program - Requires the Secretary of the Interior to submit to the Congress a revised Outer Continental Shelf leasing program which includes plans for the expeditious development of oil and gas resources consistent with environmental safeguards. Subtitle B: Revenue Sharing - Outer Continental Shelf Revenue Sharing Act of 1990 - Establishes the Outer Continental Shelf Revenue Sharing Fund. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to: (1) pay specified amounts into the Fund; and (2) provide each coastal State with an Outer Continental Shelf revenue sharing block grant. Requires a recipient coastal State to submit an assessment of the expenditure of funds provided by the block grants.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 1990
Authorizes the President, in order to protect health and safety of human life, to decrease the sequester amounts specified in the order issued August 25, 1990, under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act). Requires an increase in the sequester amount in other accounts, programs, projects, or activities to the extent amounts were decreased in such order.
United States · United States Congress · 24 September 1990
Family Planning Reauthorization Act of 1990 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize appropriations for projects, training, and information and materials related to family planning.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 1990
Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 1990 - Amends the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (the Act) to require that the Federal share, under provisions concerning planning priority area activities for persons with developmental disabilities (PWDDs) and provisions concerning university affiliated programs, of projects targeting people who live in (currently, projects located in) urban or rural poverty areas not exceed 90 percent. Allows the non-Federal share of any project under such planning provisions (currently, any project under the Act) to be provided in kind. Modifies requirements regarding the contents of an annual report by each State Planning Council to the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Changes from April 1 to July 1 the due date for an annual report by the Secretary to the President, the Congress, and the National Council on Disability (currently, the President, the Congress, and the National Council on the Handicapped) and modifies requirements regarding the report's contents. Requires that representatives of the Administration on Children, Youth and Families, the Administration on Aging, and the Health Resources and Services Administration be included on an interagency committee established under existing provisions. Requires open committee meetings and publication of meeting notices and agendas. Modifies requirements regarding State plan contents and accompanying assurances. Requires a limited portion of a State allotment to be available to pay up to one-half of the expenditures for the administration of the State plan (currently, for the exercise of the functions of the State designated agency). Allows State contributions under these provisions to be counted as part of that State's non-Federal share of allotments. Allows the State Planning Council, after October 1, 1990, to request review by the Governor of the designation of the designated State agency. Removes certain reporting requirements applicable to each State Planning Council and each Governor. Requires each State Planning Council to use information developed under specified provisions in developing the State plan. Requires that each State Planning Council serve as an advocate for all PWDDs by carrying out priority area activities. Requires (currently, allows) each State Planning Council to prepare and approve a budget using amounts paid to the State under the provisions relating to planning priority area activities to fund activities under such provisions and to hire staff and obtain the services of such personnel as necessary. Requires each State Planning Council to hire a director and to develop and submit the State plan after consultation with (currently, develop the State plan jointly with) the State designated agency. Revises the formula for determining the amount of allotments under provisions relating to planning priority area activities for PWDDs. Authorizes appropriations. Requires that a State system for protection and advocacy of individual rights of PWDDs (the system) annually: (1) develop a statement of objectives and priorities (currently, a statement of objectives); and (2) provide for comment by the public and specified others (currently, by the public). Modifies requirements regarding the right of the system to access to all records of certain PWDDs. Changes the notice and appeal requirements which must be met before a State may redesignate the agency implementing the system. Directs (currently, authorizes) the Secretary, whenever appropriations exceed previous year appropriations by more than the increase in the Consumer Price Index, to increase allotments for State systems according to a specified formula. Provides for the selection of members of a multimember governing board of a State system. Declares that: (1) the Act does not preclude a system from bringing a suit on behalf of PWDDs against a State or its agencies or instrumentalities; and (2) amounts received pursuant to such suits and used by the system are limited to furthering the purposes of provisions relating to protection and advocacy of individual rights for PWDDs and shall not be used to augment payments to legal contractors or to award personal bonuses. Directs the Secretary, notwithstanding any other provision of law, to pay allotments directly to any system which complies with such provisions relating to protection and advocacy. Authorizes appropriations for allotments under such provisions. Adds to the list of purposes of grants to university affiliated programs (UAPs) that of training personnel to address the needs of PWDDs in the areas of positive behavior management, assistive technology, and programs in other areas of national significance. Requires grants to UAPs to be: (1) in a specified amount, subject to waiver and exception; (2) awarded on a competitive basis; and (3) awarded for a period of three years. Directs the Secretary to require technical and qualitative review of grant applications by peer review groups as established under existing provisions and using specified criteria. Prohibits using the grants for administrative expenses or to carry out provisions relating to grants to UAPs to assist in the administration and operation of UAPs. Specifies the mandatory and permissive uses for grants for positive behavior management, assistive technology, and programs in other areas of national significance. Requires that recipient UAPs establish consumer advisory committees. Requires UAPs, in order to be eligible for funding under these provisions, to have: (1) been operated for at least one year; and (2) demonstrated the capacity to develop an effective training program during the first year the program is operated. Extends through FY 1993 the requirement that the Secretary consider four applications for grants for UAPs or satellite centers for each fiscal year in addition to those receiving grants for the preceding fiscal year. Directs the Secretary to solicit and allows the Secretary to approve applications that encompass multiple universities. Requires such UAPs and centers to be geographically distributed so as to serve States that are underserved as of October 29, 1990. Allows the Secretary, in certain circumstances, to consider applications from States already served by a UAP or center. Adds references to on-site visits and inspections to provisions requiring technical and qualitative peer review. Requires such peer review to be coordinated with certain other peer review. Authorizes appropriations for UAPs. Adds references to improving supportive living and quality of life opportunities which enhance recreation, leisure, and fitness to the list of projects of national significance. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants and enter into contracts for technical assistance and demonstration projects which expand or improve the functions (currently, the advocacy functions) of the State Planning Council, and for other purposes similar to existing provisions. Authorizes appropriations to carry out provisions relating to projects of national significance.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 1990
Expresses the sense of the Congress that, in the event of hostilities between the United States and Iraq, it shall be U.S. policy to pursue Saddam Hussein and others determined responsible for acts against foreign civilians and diplomats held against their will in Kuwait and Iraq in violation of international law by seeking their prosecution and punishment as war criminals under the auspices of an international tribunal.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 1990
Amends the Railroad Retirement Solvency Act of 1983 to extend for two years provisions for the transfer of tier 2 railroad retirement benefit taxation revenues from the general fund of the Treasury to the Railroad Retirement Account.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 1990
Small Business Access to Surplus Federal Property Act of 1990 - Amends the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 to authorize the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) (the Administrator) to transfer surplus Federal property to a State agency for distribution to small business concerns within such State. Amends the Small Business Act to make it the duty of the SBA to provide each State agency designated to receive transfers of surplus Federal property a comprehensive list of small business concerns in the State, along with annual updates which include guidelines for identifying such businesses. Directs the Administrator to report annually to the President and the Congress on the transfer of surplus Federal property to small business concerns.
United States · United States Congress · 11 September 1990
Reduces from less than 140 days to 30 days or less the period of active duty required before a member of a reserve component of the armed forces is entitled to a variable housing allowance. Amends the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940 to prohibit an eviction or distress of the dependents of any person who, after the execution of a lease, enters military service, for the period of active military service, regardless of the agreed rental amount, except upon a court action. Strikes the current three-month limitation on the staying of proceedings for eviction or distress.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1990
Medicare Controlled Substances Accountability Act of 1990 - Amends part A (Hospital Insurance) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to cut Medicare payments under part A for inpatient hospital and extended care services provided in a State by one-half if the State does not implement a controlled substance accountable prescription system. Requires that such system: (1) prohibit a health care practitioner from prescribing certain controlled substances without writing the prescription on a form, provided by the State, which identifies such practitioner; and (2) require such practitioner to maintain a readily retrievable record of such transactions. Requires every person who dispenses such controlled substances to maintain a two-year record of such transactions, including the information contained on prescription forms, and provide information in such record to the State at least every two months. Makes the system inapplicable to drugs dispensed directly by a practitioner to a user and drugs dispensed by oral prescription in emergency situations. Limits the use of system information to the enforcement of laws under the Medicare program, title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act, the Controlled Substances Act, or a State controlled substances Act. Requires States and the Secretary of Health and Human Services to maintain active programs to process system information and investigate potential violations of law identified by such information.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1990
Productive Investment Incentive Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a business expense deduction for up to $250,000 (currently, $10,000) of depreciable business assets if property is used as an integral part of manufacturing, production, or extraction. Reduces such allowance by the amount by which the cost of such property exceeds $1,000,000 (currently, $200,000) for a taxable year. Excludes such depreciation deduction from the alternative minimum tax.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1990
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an itemized deduction for the qualified nursing educational expenses paid or incurred by a licensed practical or vocational nurse enrolled in a course of study leading to qualification as a registered nurse. Allows such deduction in computing adjusted gross income.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1990
Airline Passengers Defense Act of 1990 - Directs the Secretary of Transportation to establish in the Department of Transportation an Office of Airline Passenger Advocacy. Establishes the Office of Airline Passenger Advocacy Advisory Group. Amends the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to prohibit air carriers from cancelling a flight within 72 hours of its scheduled departure time for any reason, except for safety reasons or the absence of any passengers at such departure time. Requires air carriers which cancel such flights for safety-related reasons to report to the Secretary on the cancellation, the reasons for it, and actions taken to resolve the safety-related problem. Requires air carriers to notify their passengers of any delays of 15 minutes or more in the departure or arrival of scheduled flights. Requires an air carrier which cancels a flight in violation of this Act, or alters stopping places of such flight for any reason other than safety, to compensate passengers. Prohibits on-time performance of regularly scheduled flights from being 30 percent or less in any consecutive three-month period. Requires the Secretary to establish in the Office of Airline Passenger Advocacy a toll-free telephone number system for receiving passenger complaints relating to air service. Sets forth requirements relating to: (1) ticket information; and (2) lost or damaged baggage claims. Sets forth civil penalties for economic cancellations and consistently delayed flights by air carriers.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1990
Illinois Wilderness Act of 1990 - Designates the following lands in the Shawnee National Forest, Illinois, as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System: (1) Bald Knob Wilderness; (2) Bay Creek Wilderness; (3) Burden Falls Wilderness; (4) Clear Springs Wilderness; (5) Garden of the Gods Wilderness; (6) Lusk Creek Wilderness; and (7) Panther Den Wilderness. Designates the East Fork Area and the Eagle Creek Area of the Shawnee National Forest as special management, mining, and prospecting areas. Sets a time limit for such prospecting and mining. Provides that these areas shall be designated as wilderness and components of the National Wilderness Preservation System 20 years after enactment of this Act (or eight years after enactment if no prospecting for fluorspar and associated minerals has been done).
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1990
Small Business Employee Training and Education Investment Act of 1990 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a credit to a small business for a percentage of the qualified training and education expenses paid or incurred for employees. Specifies rules for determining such credit. Allows employees of small businesses a nonrefundable credit of 30 percent of the educational expenses paid by the employee.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 1990
Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1990 - Prohibits a governmental authority from restricting any person's free exercise of religion unless: (1) the restriction is in the form of a rule of general applicability that doesn't intentionally discriminate against religion or among religions; and (2) the governmental authority demonstrates that application of the restriction to a person is essential to furthering a compelling governmental interest and the least restrictive means of doing so. Authorizes a party aggrieved by a violation of such prohibition to obtain relief, including attorney fees, in a civil action.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 1990
Economic Growth and Venture Capital Act of 1990 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce the individual and corporate capital gains rate from 34 percent to 15 percent. Reduces such tax to 7.5 percent for low- and middle-income taxpayers. Requires indexing, based on the gross national product deflator, of the adjusted basis of certain assets (corporate stock and tangible property that is a capital asset of property used in a trade or business) that have been held for more than one year at the time of sale or other transfer, solely for the purpose of determining gain or loss. Provides for indexing the limitation on capital losses of noncorporate taxpayers.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 1990
Financial Crimes Prosecution and Recovery Act of 1990 as Reported By the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives - Title I: Enhanced Criminal Penalties - Amends Federal criminal law to establish criminal penalties (including imprisonment) for the concealment of assets from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) (acting as conservator or receiver) and the Resolution Trust Corporation (RTC) acting as conservator or receiver. Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to prohibit certain felons convicted of dishonesty or breach of trust from controlling or participating in the affairs of a depository institution for a minimum ten-year period. Amends Federal criminal law to establish criminal penalties (including imprisonment) for obstructing any examination of a financial institution. Increases to 30 years (currently, 20 years) the maximum prison term for bank fraud and embezzlement. Establishes a ten-year statute of limitations for the prosecution of racketeering offenses involving financial institutions. Extends money laundering prohibitions to include funds from specified bank crimes. Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to promulgate guidelines for increased penalties for certain bank crime convictions in which the defendant derived more than $1,000,000 in gross receipts from the offense. Provides for restoration of forfeited property and for restitution to bank crime victims. Sets forth maximum criminal fines and minimum imprisonment terms for certain continuing financial crime enterprises (i.e., certain violations committed by at least four persons acting in concert). Title II: Protecting Assets from Wrongful Disposition - Authorizes the Attorney General to obtain a court order enjoining or restraining the alienation of disposition of property obtained as a result of a banking law violation. Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to set forth attachment procedures. Amends Federal bankruptcy law to provide that the trustee shall be deemed to have assumed a debtor's commitment to a Federal depository institution regulatory agency to maintain the capital of an insured depository institution (thus precluding the trustee from rejecting such commitment as an executory contract which can be avoided as a discharge in bankruptcy). Exempts a Federal depository institution regulatory agency acting as conservator for an insured depository institution from the requirement of proving reasonable reliance upon a false writing supplied by a debtor who is an institution-affiliated party. Prohibits a discharge in bankruptcy for debts resulting from the debtor's failure to fulfill a commitment to a Federal financial institution regulatory agency to maintain the capital of an insured depository institution. Exempts a Federal depository institution regulatory agency acting as conservator for an insured depository institution from the requirement of a timely nondischargeability request (including notice and hearing) when seeking to recover a debt relating to malfeasance. Declares that for specified cases of deceitful conduct, any institution-affiliated party of an insured depository institution (or credit union) shall be deemed to have been acting in a fiduciary capacity with respect to any debt owed to a Federal banking regulatory agency (thus making such debt nondischargeable in bankruptcy). Makes it a prerequisite of a bankruptcy reorganization plan that the debtor will: (1) maintain any commitment to a Federal banking regulatory agency to maintain the capital of an insured depository institution; and (2) continue to be obligated for any debt to such agency for failure to fulfill such commitment. Makes certain debts owed by an institution-affiliated party to an insured depository institution under Federal receivership nondischargeable under a consumer debt bankruptcy plan. Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to empower the FDIC (acting as conservator) to avoid fraudulent conveyances by a debtor institution-affiliated party. Prohibits an insured depository institution which does not meet minimum Federal capitalization requirements from making golden parachute payments, covered benefit payments, or certain payments in anticipation of insolvency to an institution-affiliated party without prior written Federal agency approval. Cites conditions under which insured depository institutions may make golden parachute payments and covered benefits payments with FDIC approval. Amends the Federal criminal code to revise civil and criminal forfeiture guidelines for: (1) property affecting a financial institution; and (2) fraudulent offenses involving the sale of assets held by Federal banking regulatory agencies. Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to prohibit certain convicted felony debtors whose default to an insured financial institution in receivership will cause substantial loss from acquiring any asset of the institution (except with respect to repayment). Title III: Improved Procedures for Handling Banking-Related Cases - Amends Federal criminal law to authorize wiretaps for bank fraud and related offenses. Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to set forth reciprocal assistance guidelines for foreign investigations by Federal banking agencies and investigations on behalf of foreign banking authorities. Amends the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 (FIRREA) to extend to ten years (currently, five years) the statute of limitations for commencing a civil action for Federal bank law violations. Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the National Credit Union Act to grant the FDIC, the RTC, and the NCUA subpoena authority. Title IV: Structural Reforms to Improve the Federal Response to Crimes Affecting Financial Institutions - Establishes within the Office of the Deputy Attorney General in the Department of Justice a Financial Institutions Fraud Unit, headed by a Special Counsel who shall report directly to the Deputy Attorney General. Terminates such Office five years after enactment of this Act. Empowers the Special Counsel to investigate and prosecute criminal activity involving the financial services industry. Directs the Attorney General to establish: (1) financial institutions fraud task forces; and (2) a senior interagency group to assist in identifying the most significant financial institution fraud cases, to allocate investigative and prosecutorial resources, and to expedite interagency coordination and prosecution of financial institutions fraud. Amends Federal criminal law to authorize the Secret Service (under the direction of the Secretary of the Treasury) to detect and arrest persons who violate banking laws with respect to financial institutions and the Resolution Trust Corporation (RTC). Title V: Reporting Requirements - Directs the Attorney General to report quarterly to the Congress regarding financial institution crimes. Requires the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts to present annual statistical tables to the Congress on the business imposed on the Federal courts by the savings and loan crisis. Title VI: National Commission on Financial Institution Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement - Establishes the National Commission on Financial Institution Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement to make investigations and recommendations regarding specified aspects of the savings and loan crisis. Requires the Commission to submit a final report to the President and the Congress within one year after enactment of this Act. Terminates the Commission 30 days after the submission of such final report. Authorizes appropriations. Title VII: Authorizations - Amends the FIRREA to authorize appropriations to the Attorney General and the Federal Court System for bank crime cases.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 1990
Developmental Disabilities Assistance Amendments of 1990 - Amends the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act to authorize appropriations with regard to persons with developmental disabilities for: (1) allotments to States for provision of services; (2) allotments to States for a system to protect legal and human rights; (3) grants to university affiliated programs, satellite centers, and university associated entities; and (4) projects of national significance. Removes provisions authorizing appropriations for certain fiscal years for certain types of projects within university affiliated programs. Modifies the required contents of annual reports on intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded. Changes from April 1 to July 1 the due date for an annual report by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to the President, the Congress, and the National Council on the Handicapped regarding persons with developmental disabilities. Allows each State Planning Council to prepare and approve an annual budget and requires each Council to use the funds made available to it to employ such staff, obtain the services of such personnel, and carry out such activities as it determines necessary. Requires each State protection and advocacy system to obtain the approval of the Secretary, at least once every three years, of a plan outlining the system's priorities. Requires each university affiliated program to use funds from grants under specified provisions to establish and operate an advisory council.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 1990
Organic Food Standards Development Act of 1990 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to hold public hearings and conduct a study enabling the Secretary to make recommendations to the House Committee on Agriculture and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry within two years of this Act's enactment concerning: (1) national standards as to what shall constitute organic production of food; (2) the costs and impact of an organic food labeling program; (3) the need for a producer-financed national program of organic food research, promotion, and consumer education; and (4) the most appropriate organic food regulatory mechanisms.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 1990
Criminal Alien Deportation Amendments of 1990 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to replace the definition of "aggravated felony" with definitions for "class 1 felony" and "class 2 felony." Establishes a time frame for filing petitions for judicial review of deportation orders for aliens convicted of class 1 or 2 felonies. Bars reentry of aliens convicted of class 1 or 2 felonies for 20 years or ten years, respectively. Limits the period of time counted toward suspension of deportation for aliens who have committed class 2 felonies. Makes specified provisions currently applicable to aggravated felonies applicable to class 1 felonies. Sets forth procedures for notices of deportation hearings and in absentia hearings. Prohibits, unless the Attorney General determines that sufficient resources for deportation do not exist, any alien from departing voluntarily from the United States at his own expense in lieu of deportation if such alien has, within the previous ten years, been granted a date by which he must depart voluntarily and has failed to depart. Provides that any such alien who has failed to depart shall be deportable. Requires defenses with respect to the deportation of an alien to be raised in the alien's response to the order initiating deportation proceedings. Exempts from such requirement applications for asylum or withholding of deportation which arise because of a change in circumstance in the country of the alien's nationality after the initiation of deportation proceedings. Sets forth requirements with respect to motions to reopen or reconsider proceedings against an alien. Exempts from such requirements the same circumstances granted exemptions from defense requirements. Sets forth procedures for administrative appeals. Permits only one administrative appeal to be made with respect to motions to reopen or reconsider deportation proceedings. Sets forth conditions under which such appeals shall be considered frivolous. Prescribes civil penalties for submission of frivolous appeals. Permits attorneys who submit two or more frivolous appeals in one year to be barred from representing parties in deportation proceedings for a specified time period. Provides aliens with up to 14 days from the time the alien first appears before the Attorney General in deportation proceedings in order for the alien to secure counsel. Prohibits aliens who have been convicted of class 1 or 2 felonies from applying for, or being granted, asylum. Excludes aliens convicted of class 1 felonies from the definition concerning good moral character. Grants Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) officers and employees the power to make arrests for offenses against the United States and to carry firearms. Directs the INS Commissioner to provide for the fingerprinting and photographing of each alien 14 or over against whom a deportation proceeding is commenced. Requires the Attorney General to report to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees on: (1) information, for each of the 36 months preceding this Act's enactment, on the number of deportation orders issued per month and the percentage of orders executed; and (2) the number of aliens whose deportation hearings have been conducted and the percentage that such number represents of the total number of deportable aliens eligible for such hearings since November 18, 1988. Conditions the admittance of returning resident aliens on such aliens not having been convicted of a class 1 or 2 felony for which a term of more than two years of imprisonment was imposed. Eliminates an exemption from deportation for an alien convicted of a crime and for whom a court has made a recommendation that such alien not be deported. Makes ineligible to receive a visa and excludes from admission into the United States an alien convicted of a class 2 felony who departs voluntarily from the United States at his own expense. Provides for the transfer of a specified amount of funds from the Immigration Examinations Fee Account to the Executive Office for Immigration Review in the Department of Justice for purposes of removing backlogs in the preparation of transcripts of deportation proceedings.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 1990
Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to declare that the Congress recognizes that prompt U.S. assistance is necessary to alleviate the emergency in Lithuania caused by the Soviet blockade. Directs the Administrator of the Agency for International Development to: (1) furnish humanitarian assistance to Lithuania during such emergency; and (2) solicit donations of humanitarian assistance for Lithuania and cooperate with private relief agencies attempting to provide such assistance. Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to provide all necessary airlift and sealift to transport such assistance as soon as an agreement between the United States and the nations surrounding Lithuania has been concluded. Urges the President to begin negotiations with the nations surrounding Lithuania regarding the importation of critical humanitarian assistance. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 1990
Designates August 1, 1990, as Helsinki Human Rights Day. Authorizes and requests the President to: (1) reassert American commitment to the Helsinki Accords; (2) raise the issue of noncompliance with such Accords with any signatory nation which may be in violation; (3) convey to all signatories of such Accords that respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms is vital to progress in the ongoing Helsinki process; and (4) develop new proposals to advance the human rights objectives of the Helsinki process, including the self-determination of peoples.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 1990
Ice Enforcement and Prevention Act of 1990 - Amends the Controlled Substances Act and the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act to set forth penalties for offenses involving crystalline methamphetamine. Requires: (1) the Department of Education and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to jointly develop model, community-based curricula for disseminating comprehensive information on methamphetamine, crystal methamphetamine, and chemically related stimulants and to distribute such curricula to every primary and secondary school in the country; and (2) the Department to establish at least four statewide or regional methamphetamine prevention demonstration programs, including one project in States that are experiencing serious methamphetamine abuse problems. Authorizes appropriations for such demonstration programs. Requires the Director of NIDA to prioritize the development of a drug to treat addictions to amphetamine, methamphetamine, crystal methamphetamine, and chemically related stimulants. Requires the Director of Health and Human Services to investigate the syndrome that results from methamphetamine addiction at birth and to develop a protocol for treating newborns afflicted with methamphetamine addiction.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 1990
Federal Reduction-in-Force Assistance Act of 1990 - Requires Federal agencies to inform their employees of: (1) the potential for, and the likely scope of, a major reduction in force at least 180 days in advance; and (2) their actual dates of separation from service due to such a reduction in force at least 120 days in advance. Allows such notice to be waived if the President certifies to appropriate congressional committees that notice is not feasible due to legitimate unforeseen circumstances. Provides that whenever a Federal agency determines that it must implement a major reduction in force at any of its facilities, the head of the agency shall: (1) use all legal means to minimize the number of involuntary separations necessary; and (2) prepare an analysis relating to whether to request permission from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to offer early retirement to its employees. Allows such an analysis to be waived for a particular reduction in force under the same procedure for waiving notifications of a reduction in force. Requires Federal agencies to complete such an analysis and report to OPM on whether or not to request authority to provide early retirement at least 180 days prior to a major reduction in force. Requires the interagency and intra-agency displaced employee lists and programs of all Federal agencies to allow persons at least 72 hours to consider job offers before terminating such persons from the particular list or program. Provides that such programs shall not prohibit employees from registering and using such programs once employees have received such notifications, except that employees may be disqualified from the programs for violating program rules. Prohibits a reduction in the annuities of retired Federal employees temporarily employed at a facility which: (1) OPM has certified as undergoing a major reduction in force; (2) is in danger of not performing its mission because workers are leaving before their planned duties; and (3) cannot reasonably hire adequate non-annuitant temporary employees. Terminates such prohibition once OPM determines that nonannuitant employees can be hired or such a reduction has been completed.
![Official portrait of Rep. Madigan, Edward R. [R-IL-21]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/m000041_200.jpg)