United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1989
Provides for all Federal civilian and military retirees to receive the full cost-of-living adjustment in annuities payable under Federal retirement systems for FY 1990. (Includes benefits payable under the Civil Service Retirement and Disability System, military retirement and survivor benefit programs, the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability System, the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System, and railroad retirement programs.)
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1989
Health Care Savings Account Act of 1989 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow employees and employers, including self-employed individuals, a 60 percent tax credit for contributions to a health care savings account for the benefit of the employee or self-employed individual. Limits total contributions to an account to the aggregate amount of hospital insurance tax paid with respect to the account beneficiary. Describes conditions that must be met by the account. Excludes from the gross income of the beneficiary any account contributions made by an employer. Exempts an account from taxation (except for the tax on unrelated business income of a charitable organization) unless the distributee engages in specified transactions in connection with it. Excludes from gross income any account distributions used to pay the eligible medical expenses of the beneficiary or qualifying spouse. Imposes a ten percent surtax on account distributions used for other than health care purposes or made before the distributee is aged 65 or older. Imposes penalty taxes in connection with: (1) excess contributions or prohibited transactions associated with an account; (2) distributions from an account that reduces a distributee's account level below a specified amount; and (3) failure to effect spousal rollover of an account upon the spouse's death. Imposes penalties for failure to make required reports concerning an account. Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to reduce the Medicare benefits of a health care savings account beneficiary by 60 percent of the maximum amount of Medicare-related expenditures that could be reasonably underwritten (by an insurance company) for the average Medicare beneficiary, given certain assumptions. Establishes special rules for individuals who cannot obtain insurance to cover their added deductible at the standard premium rates. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish rules in connection with recalculations of deductibles when a qualifying spouse becomes eligible for Medicare. Establishes catastrophic health care expense protection for certain individuals who qualify for Medicare and have met specified contribution requirements with respect to one or more health care savings accounts. Describes conditions under which a qualifying spouse becomes eligible for this protection.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1989
Amends Federal law to extend the immediate retirement provisions applicable to Federal law enforcement officers to: (1) revenue officers for the Internal Revenue Service; (2) customs inspectors for the U.S. Customs Service; (3) customs canine enforcement officers for the U.S. Customs Service; and (4) inspectors for the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1989
Denies most-favored-nation treatment for products from India. Authorizes the President to restore such treatment if he determines, and certifies to the Congress at least 30 days prior to the time such restoration takes effect, that: (1) there are no jailed prisoners who have not been charged with a specific crime and given a fair trail; (2) internationally-recognized human rights groups are being allowed to visit such prisoners; and (3) India has taken steps to curb human rights abuses.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 1989
Postal Reorganization Act Amendments of 1989 - Declares that the receipts and disbursements of the Postal Service Fund: (1) shall not be included in the totals of the Federal budget or the congressional budget; (2) shall be exempt from Federal budget limitations on expenditures and net lending; and (3) shall be exempt from any sequestration order under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) and shall not be counted for purposes of calculating the Federal deficit.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 1989
Anabolic Steroid Restriction Act of 1989 - Amends the Federal criminal code to provide criminal penalties for knowingly: (1) receiving, depositing, or causing to be deposited or delivered by mail any anabolic steroid or controlled substance for use in humans other than the treatment of disease pursuant to the order of a physician, except as otherwise permitted by law; and (2) using any communication facility in committing, causing, or facilitating a violation of such prohibition. Makes any property involved in a violation of this Act subject to forfeiture.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 1989
Truth in Social Security Accounting Act of 1989 - Amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to exclude, beginning with FY 1991, Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund receipts and outlays in Federal deficit determinations for purposes of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act).
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1989
Designates July 27, 1989, as National Korean War Veterans Recognition Day and expresses the gratitude of the Congress and the Nation for the contributions made by the Korean War veterans.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1989
Amends titles II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) and XVI (Supplemental Security Income) of the Social Security Act to permit blind beneficiaries to select the agency or organization to which they will be referred for vocational rehabilitation services. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to determine whether the agency or organization is an appropriate choice given each beneficiary's particular needs. Directs the Secretary to establish an advisory panel on rehabilitation services for the blind, a majority of which shall consist of blind consumers of rehabilitation services, to develop guidelines and standards for the provision of such services to the blind and to assist the Secretary in determining which agencies or organizations meet the needs of blind beneficiaries.
United States · United States Congress · 2 February 1989
Fairness in Bargaining Act of 1989 - Amends the Petroleum Marketing Practices Act to provide that, with respect to the sale, consignment, or distribution of motor fuel, the term "franchise" includes any contract between specified parties which is economically necessary to the operation of the franchise. Provides that the termination or non-renewal of a franchise relationship, upon expiration of an underlying lease for marketing premises, is reasonable if specified conditions exist.
United States · United States Congress · 2 February 1989
Federal Employees Long-Term Care Insurance Act - Directs the Office of Personnel Management to arrange for the optional conversion of a portion of a Government employee's life insurance policy to long-term care insurance.
United States · United States Congress · 2 February 1989
Bicentennial House Restoration Amendments of 1989 - Amends rule I of the Rules of the House of Representatives to direct the Speaker of the House, immediately after the reading of a veto message and without intervening motion or business, to state the question on reconsideration of the vetoed measure. Directs the Speaker to provide for the visual coverage of House proceedings on a uniform basis throughout each day's session. Requires the Speaker to announce a legislative program at the beginning of each congressional session which includes: (1) target dates for the consideration of specified major budgetary, authorization, and appropriation bills; (2) an indication of those weeks during which the House will be in session; (3) those weeks set aside for district work periods; and (4) the target date for the adjournment of that session. Amends rule X to require each standing committee, not later than March 1 in the first session of a Congress, to adopt its oversight plans in a meeting open to the public. Authorizes the Speaker of the House to appoint special ad hoc oversight committees to review specific matters within the jurisdiction of two or more committees. Amends rule XI to require each committee to include in its biennial report to the House a separate section summarizing its legislative and oversight activities during that Congress. Amends rule X to direct the Speaker of the House to initially refer each bill, resolution, or other matter to one committee of principal jurisdiction. Eliminates the Speaker's authority to refer any such matter initially to two or more committees for concurrent consideration. Requires standing committees to be elected by the House within seven legislative days (currently, seven calendar days) after the commencement of a Congress. Requires standing committees to hold organizational meetings not later than three legislative days after election. Requires the membership of each committee (except the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct), select committee, and conference committee (and each subcommittee, task force, or subunit thereof) to reflect the ratio of majority to minority Members. Provides that such ratio be reflected for standing committees at the beginning of each Congress, and for select and conference committees at the time of appointment. Prohibits any standing committee from establishing more than six subcommittees, and any Member serving at any one time on more than four subcommittees. Defines "subcommittee" as any subunit of a standing committee established for a period of more than six months. Amends rule XI to prohibit the vote by any member of any committee or subcommittee from being cast by proxy. Requires open committee meetings unless disclosure of matters to be considered would endanger national security, tend to defame, degrade or incriminate any person or otherwise violate any law or rule of the House, or involve committee personnel. Provides that a majority of members of each committee or subcommittee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business. Requires committee rollcall votes on a motion to report any bill or resolution of a public character to include the names of Members voting for or against such measure. Requires each nonrecord vote to include the names of those Members actually present at the time the bill or resolution is ordered reported. Prohibits Rules Committee reports from being considered on the subsequent calendar day of the same legislative day. Prohibits the Rules Committee from reporting any order of business resolution which prohibits a motion to recommit, including instructions in the form of an amendment, unless it is a Senate measure for which a House-passed measure has been substituted. Prohibits the consideration of any resolution reported from the Committee on Rules providing for the consideration of any bill or joint resolution which limits the right of Members to offer germane amendments unless the chairman of the Committee has announced in advance that less than an open amendment process might be recommended by the Committee. Prohibits the consideration of any order of business resolution reported from the Committee on Rules which provides that the House shall be considered to have automatically adopted a motion, amendment, or resolution, or to have passed a bill, joint resolution, or conference report, unless the consideration of such order of business resolution is agreed to by not less than two-thirds of the Members voting, and the yeas and nays shall be considered as ordered when the Speaker puts the question on consideration. Prohibits the consideration of any budget waiver resolution reported by the Committee on Rules unless an explanatory statement accompanies it. Prohibits the House from considering any primary expense resolution until the Committee on House Administration has reported and the House has adopted a resolution establishing the committee staff personnel ceiling for the year. Requires such committee to specify in any primary or supplemental expense resolution the number of staff positions authorized therein. Authorizes the House to consider any supplemental expense resolution in excess of such ceiling by a vote of two-thirds of the Members present. Prohibits the overall staff ceiling of the 101st Congress from exceeding 90 percent of the total committee staff personnel employed at the end of the 100th Congress. Amends rule XIV to establish a Commemorative Calendar comprised of unreported bills and resolutions respecting commemorative holidays and celebrations. Provides for the call of the Commemorative Calendar on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. Amends rule XV to require an automatic rollcall vote on any bill or joint resolution making appropriations, providing revenue, or adjusting the rate of pay of Members, or on final adoption of any concurrent resolution on the budget which provides an increase in the statutory debt limit. Amends rule XXI to establish procedures for the consideration of any bill or joint resolution making continuing appropriations for a period of 30 days or less. Establishes limitations for the consideration of reconciliation bills. Requires bills or resolutions which authorize the enactment of new budget authority to be reported on or before the May 15 preceding the fiscal year to which such authority applies. Amends rule XXIV to include the Pledge of Allegiance in the daily order of business. Amends rule XXVII to establish new procedures for the consideration of motions to suspend the rules. Prohibits such motion if the measure or matter would enact new budget or spending authority in excess of a specified amount. Requires the printing in the Congressional Record, and weekly update thereafter, of a motion to discharge a committee from consideration of a bill or resolution when 100 Members have signed such motion. Amends rule XXXVIII to grant a House conferee three calendar days in which to file supplemental, minority, or additional views. Establishes procedures for the consideration of legislation granting the President special rescission authority with respect to any budget authority for which an authorization has not been enacted. Provides for application of certain labor laws to the House. Directs the Committee on Rules to report to the House by December 31, 1989, on realigning the jurisdictions of House committees.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1989
National Observance Advisory Act - Establishes the President's Advisory Commission on National Observances to: (1) establish criteria for recommending to the President that a proposed national observance be approved or disapproved; (2) review proposals for national observances submitted in accordance with procedures published by the Commission; and (3) issue recommendations to the President concerning each proposal reviewed.
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1989
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an income tax deduction for interest on any indebtedness incurred to pay the educational expenses of the taxpayer, spouse, or dependent. (Under current law, such a loan must be secured by an interest in real property.)
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 1989
Repeals provisions of the Tax Reform Act of 1986 that place limitations on: (1) individual retirement account (IRA) deductions for active participants in certain pension plans; and (2) nondeductible contributions to individual retirement plans. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit a nonworking or the lesser-earning spouse filing a joint income tax return to include the spouse's compensation in calculations made to determine the maximum amount permitted as a deduction for qualified retirement contributions (thus permitting such a taxpayer to deduct up to $2,000).
United States · United States Congress · 24 January 1989
Repeals provisions of the Tax Reform Act of 1986 that establish nondiscrimination requirements for coverage and benefits under certain statutory employee benefit plans. (The consequence is the repeal of section 89 of the Internal Revenue Code.)
United States · United States Congress · 20 January 1989
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an individual taxpayer a refundable income tax credit, in an amount based on adjusted gross income (minimum credit of $150), for each dependent below the age of compulsory school attendance in the State where the taxpayer resides. Sets the maximum credit amount as the total employee tax withheld from the taxpayer's wages during the year under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act. Disallows application of the nonrefundable dependent care income tax credit with respect to a taxpayer's dependents under age 13, unless the child is physically or mentally incapable of self-care.
United States · United States Congress · 20 January 1989
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Secretary of Labor, in cooperation with the ACTION Agency, should publicize and promote projects under the Retired Senior Volunteer Program and the Older American Community Service Employment Program that encourage and recruit older individuals to provide child care services in community-based child care centers.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1989
United States Coast Guard Bicentennial Medal Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to design, strike, and sell a medal in commemoration of the bicentennial of the U.S. Coast Guard in 1990. Requires the design of the medal to be selected by the Secretary of the Treasury after consultation with the Secretary of Transportation and the Commission of Fine Arts.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1989
Amends the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to prohibit smoking on passenger-carrying aircraft in interstate or intrastate transportation. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to promulgate regulations to implement this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1989
Amends the Tax Reform Act of 1986 and the Technical and Miscellaneous Revenue Act of 1988 to delay until 1990 the effective date of the new nondiscrimination requirements (Internal Revenue Code section 89) for coverage and benefits under certain statutory employee benefit plans.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1989
Amends the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 to prescribe the extent to which Federal agency activities directly affecting the coastal zones must be consistent with approved State management programs. Allows Federal activities to be inconsistent with State coastal zone management programs only if to be consistent would violate Federal law or if substantial unforeseen obstacles are encountered. Describes what is encompassed by "directly affecting activities."
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1989
Constitutional Amendment - Proclaims the English language to be the official language of the United States. Prohibits the United States or any State from requiring the use of any other language. States that this article shall not prohibit any law, program, or policy to: (1) provide educational instruction in a language other than English for the purpose of making students proficient in English; (2) teach a foreign language to students who are already proficient in English; (3) protect public health and safety; or (4) allow translators for litigants, defendants, or witnesses. Authorizes the Congress and the States to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
United States · United States Congress · 19 January 1989
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Federal excise taxes on gasoline and diesel fuel should not be increased as a means of reducing the Federal deficit.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1989
Authorizes the President, on behalf of the Congress, to present a gold medal to Joe Kittinger in recognition of his accomplishments as an aviation pioneer. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to provide for the sale of bronze duplicates of the medal.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1989
Amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to exclude, beginning with FY 1990, Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund receipts and outlays in Federal deficit determinations for purposes of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act).
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1989
Social Security Earnings Test Elimination Act of 1989 - 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 a beneficiary may earn without incurring a reduction in benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1989
Permits certain veterans with service-connected disabilities who are retired members of the uniformed services to receive compensation concurrently with retired pay, without deduction from either.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1989
National Security and Classified Information Protection Act of 1989 - Amends the Federal criminal code to make the knowing disclosure of classified information to an unauthorized person by present and former Federal officials and employees a criminal offense.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1989
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to prohibit the admission into the United States of an alien infected with the etiologic agent for acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1989
Authorizes the President, on behalf of the Congress, to present a gold medal to the family of the late Arnold Raphel, the U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan, in recognition of his dedicated public service. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to provide for the sale of bronze duplicates of the medal.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1989
Promotion of Democracy in Angola Act of 1989 - Prohibits the United States or any U.S. person from making a loan or other extension of credit to Angola or to any organization owned or controlled by Angola. Exempts loans or credits for which an agreement is entered into before enactment of this Act. Directs the President, 90 days after enactment of this Act, to issue regulations prohibiting any U.S. person from making any investment in Angola. Exempts: (1) certain loans and extensions of credit; (2) investments of earnings from a business in Angola established before enactment of this Act which are made in that business; and (3) the purchase on a registered national securities exchange of securities in such a business. Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to add Angola to the list of communist countries which may not receive assistance under such Act. Prohibits imports from, and exports to, Angola, except for exports of international disaster relief assistance. Directs the President to provide for enforcement of this Act. Imposes penalties for violations of this Act. Requires the provisions of this Act to terminate if the President certifies to the Congress that Angola: (1) is making a concerted and significant effort to comply with internationally recognized human rights; (2) has entered into discussions with its non-communist opposition; (3) has established certain laws; (4) has held free and fair elections by November 1, 1988; and (5) all troops from communist countries have withdrawn from Angola.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1989
Authorizes the President, on behalf of the Congress, to present a gold medal to the family of Brigadier General Herbert Wassom in recognition of the dedicated public service of General Wassom. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to provide for the sale of bronze duplicates of the medal.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1989
Guardianship Rights and Responsibilities Act of 1989 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to reduce the Federal share of Medicaid payments available to States which fail to adopt, within two years of this Act's enactment, the rights, standards, and duties concerning guardianship that are set forth in this Act. Requires that an individual who is the subject of a guardianship petition: (1) be provided with an adequate and timely notice, in large print and plain language, of all pending guardianship proceedings, rights afforded in the course of such proceedings, and the possible consequences of a determination of incapacity; (2) have the right to counsel; and (3) have the right to have the question of incapacity heard by a jury and to file an appeal against a determination of incapacity and a guardianship order. Requires that determinations of incapacity be made only when the subject of the guardianship petition is present at such hearing, unless such person waives the right to be present or is physically unable to be present, and be based on clear and convincing evidence of incapacity to administer his or her own affairs. Sets forth the training and services which court personnel in guardianship hearings must receive and provide. Prohibits an incapacity determination in a guardianship proceeding from being considered prima facie evidence of insanity or inability to function in a non-institutionalized setting. Requires that the personal preferences of a ward in the selection of a guardian be taken into account when feasible and the ward be entitled to participate in all decisions affecting such ward during the guardianship to the extent such ward's functional limitations make such participation possible. Requires that a guardianship be imposed on a ward in the least restrictive manner commensurate with the ward's functional limitations. Prohibits the appointment of a person as a guardian unless such person: (1) completes, or agrees to enroll in and complete, court-supervised training in the legal, economic, and psychosocial needs of wards; and (2) has filed a guardianship plan with, and had the plan approved by, the court. Requires a guardian to keep the court which issued the guardianship order informed of the ward's affairs and whereabouts and use the ward's funds only for the administration of the guardianship and the ward's benefit. Provides that a court in a State into which a ward moves shall be notified of the existence of a guardianship, and receive information on and assume jurisdiction over, such guardianship. Authorizes such court to require the guardian to submit a new petition for guardianship. Directs courts to conduct annual reviews of guardianship orders they have issued. Requires private professional guardians to meet guardian certification requirements which are consistent with this Act's requirements. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award two-year demonstration grants to eligible States for the establishment and operation of a guardianship advocate program under which individuals are hired and trained as court employees serving as guardianship advocates and investigators. Requires that preference in awarding grants be given to States which provide assurances that their program will continue to operate after the expiration of such grant. Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress on such programs within three years after the final demonstration grant is awarded. Authorizes appropriations for such grants.