United States · United States Congress · 12 July 1989
Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to provide a lump sum payment of $100,000 (adjusted to reflect the annual percentage change in the Consumer Price Index) to public safety officers (law enforcement officers and fire fighters) who become permanently and totally disabled as a result of a catastrophic injury sustained in the line of duty. Prohibits the payment of both a lump sum disability payment and a lump sum death benefit.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 1989
Requests: (1) the Soviet Union to release the prison records of Raoul Wallenberg and account for his whereabouts; and (2) the President to pursue such release and accounting through diplomatic actions with the Soviet Union.
United States · United States Congress · 29 June 1989
Directs the American Battle Monuments Commission to establish a memorial on Federal land in the District of Columbia or its immediate area to honor World War II veterans and to commemorate U.S. participation in that conflict. Directs the Commission to plan, design, construct, and oversee the operation of the memorial. Specifies that such design shall provide for accessibility by, and accommodations for, the physically handicapped. Establishes the World War II Memorial Advisory Board to: (1) promote the establishment of the memorial and encourage the donation of private funds for construction maintenance; (2) assist and cooperate with the Commission in the selection of the site and design for the memorial; and (3) transmit annual reports on its activities to the Congress. Authorizes the Commission to solicit private contributions for such memorial. Establishes a fund in the Treasury which shall be made available to the Commission to carry out this Act. Authorizes Federal funding, in addition to such private funds, for site preparation, design, planning, establishment, construction, maintenance, and operation of the memorial. Authorizes assistance from specified Federal departments and agencies, including the Library of Congress. Authorizes Federal property to be transferred to the Commission. Authorizes the Commission to purchase suitable property within the District of Columbia for the establishment of such memorial. Urges the Government to encourage 50th anniversary commemorations of the U.S. role in World War II. Urges the Smithsonian Institution and other Federal museums to develop commemorative exhibitions to be shared with academic institutions.
United States · United States Congress · 29 June 1989
Directs the President to impose an embargo on trade with Syria. Requires the President to instruct the U.S. Executive Director of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development not to vote in favor of any action to be taken by the Bank that would benefit Syria. Declares that the Congress calls upon the President to: (1) bring to the attention of the Secretary General of the United Nations, and to pursue before the Security Council of the United Nations, the matter of Syrian-sponsored terrorism; (2) demand that the United Nations undertake measures against such country for such terrorism; and (3) seek multilateral cooperation in imposing sanctions against Syria to obtain a cessation of that nation's sponsorship of terrorism.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 1989
Designates October 29, 1989, as Fire Safety at Home Day: Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery. Directs the President to issue a proclamation to urge people to change the batteries in their smoke detectors when they reset their clocks from daylight savings time.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1989
Christopher Columbus Coin and Fellowship Act - Title I: Christopher Columbus Quincentenary Coins - Christopher Columbus Quincentenary Coin Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue not more than a specified number of five dollar gold coins, one dollar silver coins, and half dollar clad coins emblematic of the quincentary of the discovery of America. Sets forth certain features of such coins and provides for their design, issuance, and sale. Terminates the minting of such coins after June 30, 1993. Requires the Secretary to deposit surcharges from the sale of such coins in the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Fund for use by the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation. Declares that no law governing procurement or public contracts shall be applicable to the procurement of goods and services necessary for carrying out this Act, except that this provision shall not relieve any person from complying with any law relating to equal employment opportunity. Title II: Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation - Christopher Columbus Fellowship Act - Establishes the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation to award fellowships to outstanding individuals to encourage new discoveries in all fields of endeavor for the benefit of mankind. Establishes the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Fund. Directs the Foundation to report to the President and to the Congress annually on its operations.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1989
Requires the head of each Federal agency to establish a program under which agency employees shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the adoption of a child. Allows a reimbursement only: (1) after the adoption becomes final; (2) if, at the time of adoption, the child is under 18 years of age and unmarried; and (3) if appropriate, written application has been filed as may be required. Provides that a reimbursement shall be payable only if, or to the extent that, similar benefits have not met the full amount of adoption expenses. Prohibits a reimbursement from exceeding $2,000. Provides for determining reimbursement amounts when both adopting parents are Federal employees. Prohibits the denial of a reimbursement from being based on the marital status of the applicant. Allows the Office of Personnel Management to issue general guidelines for the uniform administration of this Act. Makes this Act applicable to Postal Service employees.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1989
Constitutional Amendment - Declares that the Congress and the States shall have power to prohibit the act of desecration of the U.S. flag and to set criminal penalties for that act.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1989
Constitutional Amendment - Declares that the Congress and the States may by law prohibit and establish criminal penalties for an act of misuse or improper display of the U.S. flag.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1989
Constitutional Amendment - Declares that the Congress may by law prohibit and establish criminal penalties for an act of desecration, misuse, or improper display of the U.S. flag.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1989
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that individuals throughout the United States should observe Independence Day, July 4, 1989, as Take Pride in the Flag Day to celebrate the 213th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the 201st anniversary of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1989
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives with respect to its concern over the Supreme Court's decision in Texas v. Johnson and its commitment to preserving the honor and integrity of the flag. Condemns all actions intended to desecrate the flag. Urges the American people to continue to display proudly the U.S. flag.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 1989
Designates September 1989 as National Minority Health Awareness Month. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) make publicly available information on minority health problems and minority health professionals' careers and contributions; and (2) present public service announcements on health promotion and disease prevention among minority Americans.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 1989
Constitutional Amendment - Declares that the Congress and the States shall have power to prohibit the act of desecration of the U.S. flag and to set criminal penalties for that act.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 1989
National Ground Water Research Act of 1989 - Directs the President to coordinate Federal ground water research, monitoring, and protection activities through the establishment of an Interagency Ground Water Research Committee. Requires the Committee to appoint an Education Committee to review the academic and related institutional capabilities for education and training of ground water research related professionals and to identify opportunities for improving such education and training. Directs the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the U.S. Geological Survey, to prepare a report assessing ground water quality and quantity information systems and data collection and monitoring. Requires the Secretary to submit such report to the Congress with biennial updates. Directs the Secretary to conduct a national ground water assessment program to assist State and local governments in ground water protection and remediation of contamination and depletion and in the design of monitoring programs, including recommendations for protocols to assist such governments in meeting their data collection responsibilities under specified Federal environmental statutes. Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish and coordinate a research, development, and demonstration program for ground water protection and remediation of contamination, to include surveys, the development of cost-effective prevention, detection, and remediation techniques, and the provision of technical assistance. Sets forth demonstration project selection criteria and procedures, based upon the seriousness of the contaminant addressed and a project's applicability to other locations and circumstances. Requires that such project be monitored and evaluated by the Administrator. Authorizes the Administrator to pay the costs of such evaluation, but limits Federal cost sharing for the project in general. Requires the Administrator to publish an environmental profile for each significant ground water contaminant. Requires such profiles to include risk assessment analyses to assess the risk to human health and the environment within a range of concentrations of such contaminants. Directs the Administrator to implement research programs for the development of information necessary to conduct risk assessments and make risk management decisions regarding the presence of such contaminants in ground water. Establishes a timetable for the publication of such profiles. Requires the Administrator, in publishing such profiles, to give priority to the most toxic contaminants. Directs the Secretary and the Administrator each to establish a technical assistance program to serve other Federal and governmental agencies, including assistance for research, surveys, training, and technology transfer. Directs the Secretary, acting through the U.S. Geological Survey, to establish and maintain a National Groundwater Information Clearinghouse. Directs the Administrator to establish a ground water research committee for ground water resources. Directs the Science Advisory Board established by the Environmental Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 1978 to review and report to the Congress on EPA's ground water research programs. Authorizes the Administrator to establish and maintain research fellowships. Directs the Administrator to make grants for ground water research institutes. Requires that funds be equitably distributed throughout the United States and that one of the institutes be the National Center for Ground Water Research, a consortium between Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Rice Universities. Limits the Federal share to 50 percent of costs and earmarks funds for technology transfer. Requires the Administrator to review and evaluate such institutes and subjects the institute's research to peer review. Directs the President to report annually to the Congress on activities carried out under this Act. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1990 through 1992. Authorizes the Administrator to make grants to States to support the development and implementation of State strategies designed to detect, prevent, and correct ground water contamination and control sources of contaminants. Sets forth allotment requirements. Limits such grants to 50 percent of a project's total cost. Authorizes appropriations for such grants for FY 1990 through 1992.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 1989
Constitutional Amendment - Declares that the Congress and the States shall have power to prohibit the act of desecration of the U.S. flag and to set criminal penalties for that act.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 1989
Constitutional Amendment - Declares that the Congress and the States shall have power to prohibit the act of desecration of the U.S. flag and to establish criminal penalties for that act.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 1989
Constitutional Amendment - Declares that the Congress and the States shall have power to prohibit, and to establish criminal penalties for, acts of physical abuse, destruction, and desecration of the U.S. flag.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 1989
Constitutional Amendment - Declares that the Congress and the States shall have power to prohibit the act of desecration of the U.S. flag and to set criminal penalties for that act.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 1989
Constitutional Amendment - Declares that the Congress and the States shall have power to prohibit the act of desecration of the U.S. flag and to set criminal penalties for that act.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 1989
Constitutional Amendment - Declares that: (1) the misuse or desecration of the symbol, emblem, seal, or flag of the United States or of the several States is not protected speech under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution; and (2) the Congress and the legislatures of the several States shall have power to enforce the Article proposed by this Joint Resolution.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 1989
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Supreme Court decision to overturn statutes that protect the flag from desecration is without merit and the flag must be protected from any attempt to mutilate, damage, destroy, or desecrate it in any manner.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 1989
Emergency Chinese Adjustment of Status Facilitation Act of 1989 - Waives the two-year home country residence requirement for nationals of the People's Republic of China in the United States on a student (J) visa. Continues the legal status of nonimmigrant nationals of the People's Republic of China in the United States for adjustment or change of status purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 1989
Spending Control Enhancement Act of 1989 - Adds a title to the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to authorize the President to rescind all or part of any budget authority provided in an appropriations bill by notifying the Congress of the rescission by a special message within ten calendar days after enactment of the Act in question. Makes such rescission effective unless the Congress, within ten days after receiving the special message, completes action on a bill disapproving the proposal. Describes: (1) information to be included in the President's message; and (2) procedures to govern consideration of rescission disapproval legislation in the Senate and the House of Representatives.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 1989
Designates August 1, 1989, 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, in particular, the Soviet Union, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, the German Democratic Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Romania; (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) convey to U.S. allies the necessity of unity regarding such Accords.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 1989
Urges the administration to refrain from submitting any proposal to include maritime transportation in the forthcoming General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) discussions regarding trade in services industries and to oppose any proposals by foreign nations which are similar or which could result in a contraction of the U.S.-flag merchant marine.
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 1989
Hazardous Materials Transportation Act Amendments of 1989 - Amends the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (the Act) to require the Secretary of Transportation to issue regulations requiring any generator of a shipment of hazardous materials to transmit a manifest of its contents and the license plate or other identifying number of the carrier to the central reporting system and data center. Requires the Secretary to enter into a contract under which a private entity shall establish a central reporting system and data center to provide law enforcement and firefighting personnel with information and advice on dealing with emergencies connected with the transportation of hazardous materials (currently the Secretary is required to establish and maintain such a system and data center). Prohibits the appropriation of Federal funds for such system and data center. Permits the private entity to impose a fee for manifesting such a shipment if the generator is a Federal agency. Directs the Secretary to study the flow of hazardous materials in the United States. Requires the Secretary, in collaboration with the private entity, to report the results of such study to the Congress. Increases both civil and criminal penalties for violations under the Act. Sets forth specified terms and conditions with respect to the private entity's establishment and maintenance of the reporting system and data center.
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 1989
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to enter into an agreement for the transfer of specified monkeys used in research at the Institute for Behavioral Research in Silver Spring, Maryland, to Primarily Primates, Inc., an animal sanctuary in San Antonio, Texas, the teaching zoo known as Moorpark College in Moorpark, California, or the San Diego Zoo in San Diego, California.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 1989
Amends the Internal Revenue Code with respect to the allocation and apportionment of qualified research and experimental expenditures to sources within and outside the United States for income tax purposes. Requires that any such expenditures made solely to meet a political jurisdiction's legal requirements concerning products or processes unlikely to yield extrajurisdictional income be allocated only to income within that political jurisdiction. Increases from 50 to 67 percent the amount of research and experimental expenditures that a company must allocate to income from U.S. sources. Requires companies to report on a consolidated basis with respect to the expenditures associated with these source rules.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 1989
Authorizes the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to present a bronze medal to individuals: (1) who were members of the armed forces and were present in Hawaii on December 7, 1941; and (2) who participated in combat operations that day against Japanese military forces attacking Hawaii. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to strike such medals. Authorizes the Secretary to provide for the sale of bronze duplicates of the medal. Authorizes appropriations which are to be reimbursed out of the proceeds from sales of the medals.
United States · United States Congress · 6 June 1989
White House Conference on Homelessness Act - Directs the President to call a National White House Conference on Homelessness. Provides for State and regional conferences. Requires a report to the President and to the Congress. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 1 June 1989
Amends the Federal criminal code to require a minimum sentence of five years' imprisonment, without an opportunity for parole, for the unlawful possession of a firearm by any person: (1) who has been convicted of a crime punishable by more than a year imprisonment; (2) who is a fugitive from justice; (3) who is an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance; (4) who has transported in interstate commerce any stolen firearm; or (5) who has received any stolen firearm. Increases from $5,000 to $10,000 and from five years to ten years the fine and term of imprisonment, respectively, for violation of Federal firearm laws. Increases the penalties for possession of a firearm in connection with a crime of violence or drug trafficking.
United States · United States Congress · 31 May 1989
National Commission on Medicare Reform Act of 1989 - Establishes the National Commission on Medicare Reform, which shall conduct a comprehensive review of the Medicare program (title XVIII of the Social Security Act) and make recommendations to the Congress and President, within one year and 30 days after this Act's enactment, on methods for limiting the growth of Medicare spending while preserving the quality of patient care under the program.
United States · United States Congress · 25 May 1989
Aviation Security and Terrorism Commission Act of 1989 - Establishes the Commission on Aviation Security and Terrorism to investigate events leading up to and surrounding the destruction of Pan American World Airways flight 103 on December 21, 1988, and the destruction of Korean Air Lines flight 007 on August 31, 1983. Terminates the Commission 30 days after it makes required reports.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 1989
Older Americans' Freedom to Work 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 beneficiaries who have attained retirement age may earn without incurring a reduction in benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 1989
Cable Competition Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to authorize a State or cable television franchising authority to regulate the rates that a cable operator may charge for the provision of lifeline television services for any franchising area which is not provided with cable service by two or more cable operators. Defines the "lifeline television service" as the provision of: (1) channels of the three major networks; (2) a public television channel; and (3) one channel carrying each independent local television station. Repeals a provision of such Act which prohibits a telephone company from providing video programming in its telephone service area. Allows a telephone company to: (1) provide video programming directly to subscribers; or (2) provide rental arrangements to any entity which is owned or controlled by, or under common control with, such telephone company for the provision of such video programming. Directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to prescribe regulations to ensure that: (1) the economic risks of video programming business of a telephone company are not borne by telephone service ratepayers in any way; and (2) a common carrier providing video services allocates costs in a manner which protects basic telephone ratepayers from subsidizing the provision of cable video programming. Prohibits a telephone company from providing video programming services if prohibited from doing so by Federal antitrust laws. Makes it unlawful for any person (including a common carrier) to purchase or otherwise acquire control of a cable system without the permission of the franchising authority for that cable system. Prohibits a franchising authority from granting such authority unless: (1) it determines that cable subscribers will benefit from such acquisition; (2) it determines that the number of channels, the signal quality, and the types of services will be expanded; and (3) the person acquiring the cable system agrees to include an obligation to achieve such expanded benefits and services for its customers. Requires a cable operator to: (1) provide cable system access to any program service, except under specified conditions; (2) provide cable system access to any unaffiliated program service under the same rates, terms, and conditions as provided to an affiliated program; and (3) comply with regulations prescribed by the FCC which ensure such access. States that any regulations prescribed by the FCC shall not relieve a common carrier who provides cable service from any regulations under the above Act or any other regulations concerning open network architecture plans and related requirements. Makes it unlawful for any person affiliated with a cable operator who provides programming to any cable operator to engage in any unjust or unreasonable discrimination in charges, practices, regulations, facilities, or services against any person seeking to obtain such programming for distribution over another capable system or over any other medium capable of making the programming available for private viewing. Empowers U.S. district courts with jurisdiction to enforce such prohibitions. Directs the FCC to initiate a proceeding to investigate: (1) the extent to which affiliated persons are engaged in producing and distributing video programming for carriage on cable television systems; and (2) the degree to which such operations result in higher rates for television service or unfair or anticompetitive acts or practices with respect to such programming. Requires the FCC to report immediately to the Attorney General or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) any acts or practices found during such investigation that appear to violate any law within the jurisdiction of the Attorney General or the FTC. Directs the FCC to report to the Congress on the results of such investigation within one year after the enactment of this Act. Directs the FCC to initiate a proceeding to investigate: (1) the extent to which video programming is being delivered to residents of rural areas by means of cable television systems and other media; and (2) methods which might be used to improve and extend the delivery of such programming by such media. Directs the FCC to report the results of such investigations to the Congress within one year after enactment of this Act.
![Official portrait of Rep. McGrath, Raymond J. [R-NY-5]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/m000458_200.jpg)