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![Official portrait of Rep. Murphy, Austin J. [D-PA-20]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/m001088_200.jpg)
United States · Official source
4,495 records where Rep. Murphy, Austin J. [D-PA-20] is listed as a sponsor, author, or other actor. Search with topics and years
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 1989
Imposes a civil penalty upon any person who mails to any individual or group of individuals at their place of residence: (1) any unsolicited sexually oriented advertisement; or (2) any unsolicited obscene, lewd, lascivious, indecent, filthy, or vile article, matter, thing, device, or substance.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 1989
Administrative Law Judge Corps Act - Establishes, in Washington, D.C., an Administrative Law Judge Corps (the Corps) comprised of all current administrative law judges. States that the chief administrative law judge shall be the chief administrative officer of the Corps as well as its presiding judge. Specifies the qualifications for chief judge. States that such judge shall be appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate. Directs the chief judge to submit annual reports to the President and the Congress. Establishes divisions (to number between four and ten) within the Corps, with each division headed by a division chief judge appointed by the chief administrative law judge, with the approval of the Council of the Administrative Law Judge Corps (the first division chief judge of each division shall be appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate). Sets forth qualifications for division chief judges. Identifies initial divisions and their respective areas of jurisdiction. States that the Corps' policymaking body shall be the Council of the Corps (the Council), comprised of the chief judge and the division chief judges. Authorizes the Council to determine matters of general Corps policy, including: (1) issuance of regulations for Corps proceedings; (2) creation or abolition of divisions or regional offices; (3) contractual transactions; and (4) delegation of functions to division chief judges. Establishes a Judicial Nomination Commission to submit a list of qualified nominees for positions of chief judge and division chief judges. Prescribes a procedure for recommending appointments to the President. Directs the Corps to appoint new judges from a register maintained by the Office of Personnel Management. Confers jurisdiction upon members of the Corps to adjudicate cases under specified sections of the Administrative Procedure Act. Requires cases arising under such sections to be referred to the Corps. Directs the Council to issue regulations for assigning such cases. Provides guidelines for the removal and discipline of administrative law judges. Establishes a Complaints Resolution Board within the Corps to recommend action upon complaints against the official conduct of judges. Details the membership of such Board and the procedures to be followed. Declares Board proceedings and the contents of complaints to be privileged and confidential. Exempts documents and reports considered by the Board from the disclosure and publication requirements of the Freedom of Information Act. Exempts the Board from compliance with the public meeting requirements of specified Federal law. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 1989
Urban Homestead Act of 1989 - Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to make the tenant ownership program authority permanent. Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to provide financial assistance directly to resident management corporations for homeownership technical assistance. Expands resident management corporation authority to replace purchased public housing units.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 1989
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 1992 the period during which qualified mortgage bonds and mortgage credit certificates may be issued. (Under current law, authority for these programs is due to expire as of 1990.)
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 1989
Waives time limitations relating to the award of a medal of honor to a named individual for acts of heroism during World War I.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 1989
Waives time limitations relating to the award of a medal of honor to a named individual for acts of heroism during World War II.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 1989
Designates September 3 through September 9, 1989, as National Wilderness Week.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 1989
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that individual school districts should incorporate youth service programs as course electives in secondary school curricula.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 1989
Commends the Board of Immigration Appeals for its decision to allow Joseph Patrick Doherty to apply for U.S. asylum. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Attorney General should approve Joseph Patrick Doherty's asylum application and release him on bond pending the application's review.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1989
Amends the National Trails System Act to designate as components of the National Trails System: (1) the California National Historic Trail, extending from Independence and Saint Joseph, Missouri, and Council Bluffs, Iowa, to various points in California and Oregon; and (2) the Pony Express National Historic Trail, extending from Saint Joseph, Missouri, through Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, and Nevada to Sacramento, California.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1989
Competition in Government Spare Parts Procurement Act - Amends Federal law on armed forces procurement to require a solicitation for sealed bids or competitive proposals to include, in the case of spare or repair parts (other than for small purchases), a copy of all technical data that is: (1) necessary in order to provide the part the supply of which is being solicited; and (2) owned by the United States or which the United States has the right to use, release, or disclose. Amends the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 to establish the same requirement for nondefense procurement. Provides additional authority to the Secretary of Defense to waive the payment of costs for the release of technical data under the Freedom of Information Act. Mandates such waiver if any citizen or U.S. corporation requests such data in order to enable any offer to provide the product to which the technical data relate, or to determine whether to request source approval to qualify to make an offer. Authorizes the Secretary to require the citizen or corporation to pay a refundable deposit to cover the cost of complying with the request. Establishes similar authorities for nondefense procurement. Directs the Secretary to require by regulation that the head of an agency, in preparing a solicitation for a property procurement contract, identify those spare or repair parts for which future procurements exceeding a total amount of $10,000 over the life of the property procured are likely to be needed. Directs the Secretary to require that any contract awarded pursuant to such solicitation provide that the United States have the right to use (or have used) all technical data related to any such part in any future procurement of such part. States that such technical data rights do not apply to contracts awarded to small business concerns. Amends the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act to establish the same technical data rights for nondefense reprocurements. Directs the Secretary of Defense to prescribe regulations which require the purchase from contractors of production special tooling and production special test equipment acquired or fabricated in the performance of contracts for the purpose of fabricating or testing the spare or repair part for which future procurements are likely to exceed $10,000. Amends the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 to establish similar requirements. Requires the solicitation of bids or proposals separately in the case of a defense and nondefense procurement of an individual spare or repair part in which the contract amount will exceed $100,000. Amends the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act to require the advocate for competition of an executive agency to establish a program of training and education assistance for staff specialists in engineering, technical operations, contract administration, financial management, supply management, and utilization of small business concerns. Requires the program to emphasize improving the skills of such staff in the areas of engineering and manufacturing. Repeals the three-year time limit during which the Secretary of Defense may challenge a use or release restriction asserted with respect to technical data by a contractor or subcontractor. Declares that nothing precludes the Secretary from using or releasing technical data when a contracting officer has upheld the validity of a challenge (even pending appeal) to a contractor's asserted use or release restriction. Amends the Regulatory Flexibility Act to repeal provisions which bar judicial review of regulatory flexibility analyses. Amends the Small Business Act and the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act to require executive agencies to furnish the Secretary of Commerce for publication a notice of solicitation for bids or proposals for a contract for property or services expected to exceed $10,000 (currently, $25,000). Requires additional information to be included in such notice with respect to the machining operations necessary to produce the item. Declares that the date on which a notice is published by the Secretary is the date of actual publication of such notice, and an executive agency may not presume notice is published merely by the passage of a certain period of time. Requires any determination that it is unreasonable to specify standards to document such unreasonableness with a cost comparison. Prohibits the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of the military department concerned from requiring a spare or repair part to meet any standard that is more stringent than a standard for an identical part approved by the Government for commercial use, unless the Secretary specifies in writing the additional standard and the justification for it.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1989
Ozone Protection and CFC Reduction Act of 1989 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose an excise tax on: (1) any ozone-depleting chemical sold or used by its manufacturer, producer, or importer; and (2) any substance sold or used by its importer if its manufacture or production included the use of any ozone-depleting chemical. Fixes a tax rate equal to a base amount, adjusted annually for inflation, times the ozone-depletion factor for the pertinent chemical, as determined in accordance with this Act. Describes the criteria to be used for determining which substances will be considered as ozone-depleting chemicals for purposes of this tax. Presents an initial list of such chemicals. Exempts from the tax: (1) certain products containing a de minimis amount of ozone-depleting chemicals; and (2) chemicals diverted or recovered in the United States as part of a recycling process.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1989
Makes the legal defense of discretionary function provided under specified Federal law inapplicable to any legal or administrative proceeding for damages arising out of U.S. violation of occupational safety or health standards or U.S. negligence at any workplace owned or operated by or under contract with the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1989
Family Living Wage Act - Amends Internal Revenue Code provisions governing the earned income tax credit to: (1) increase from $5,714 to $7,000 the amount of earned income subject to the credit; (2) increase the basic credit from 14 percent to 15 percent; and (3) permit an additional credit (to apply to not more than four children) of five percent for each dependent school age child between age six and age 16 and ten percent for each preschool age child. Reduces the amount of the credit for taxpayers with adjusted gross income over $40,000. Indexes amounts relating to the credit beginning in 1992. 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. Permits the credit with respect to handicapped children under age 15 only if the taxpayer elects not to include the child within the framework of the earned income credit. Repeals provisions of the Family Support Act of 1988 that revise the way in which the earned income credit is treated in the context of needs analysis for purposes of State plans for aid and services to needy families with children under title IV of the Social Security Act.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1989
Designates September 1989 as Partnerships in Education Month.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1989
Grants a Federal charter to the National Academies of Practice, the purpose of which is to honor persons of the health care professions.
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
Low Income Housing Preservation Act of 1989 - Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to make grants to States to purchase and maintain eligible low-income housing. Authorizes FY 1989 through 1991 appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1989
Designates February 16, 1990, as Lithuanian Independence Day.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1989
Designates October 7 through October 14, 1989, as National Week of Outreach to the Rural Disabled.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1989
Designates April 30, 1989, as National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution Centennial Day.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1989
Designates the month of March 1989 as Women's History Month.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1989
Designates March 25, 1989, as Greek Independence Day: A National Day of Celebration of Greek and American Democracy.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1989
1991 Mount Rushmore Commemorative Coin Act - Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to issue a specified number of five-dollar gold coins, one-dollar silver coins, and half-dollar clad coins in commemoration of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Provides that such coins shall be considered legal tender. Requires the Secretary to begin issuing such coins on January 1, 1991. Directs the Secretary to obtain silver for the minting of such coins from stockpiles established under the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act and to obtain gold pursuant to authority under existing law. Provides that the design of such coins shall be selected by the Secretary after consultation with the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Society of Black Hills. Specifies the sales price of such coins as the face value plus costs. Requires that all sales of such coins include a surcharge of $35 per coin for five-dollar coins, $7 per coin for one-dollar coins, and $1 for half-dollar coins. Requires that of the total surcharges received by the Secretary from the sale of such coins: (1) 50 percent shall be returned to the Treasury for purposes of reducing the national debt; and (2) 50 percent shall be paid to the Society to assist efforts to improve the Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Authorizes the Comptroller General to audit such payments. Requires the Secretary to ensure that the minting and issuance of such coins shall not result in any net costs to the Government.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1989
American Flag Fidelity Act - Prohibits the importation of U.S. flags that are manufactured in a foreign country.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 1989
Federal Employee Discrimination Complaint Procedures Act of 1989 - Amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to revise provisions dealing with procedures for handling allegations of employment discrimination engaged in by an entity of the Federal Government. Directs the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to require each Federal Government entity to try to resolve allegations of discrimination by consulting with the individuals making the allegation. Requires the Commission to notify and make an investigation of the Federal entity which is alleged to have engaged in discrimination. Requires the charge filed to be in writing under oath or affirmation and specifies its contents and filing deadline. Authorizes the Commission to bring a civil action for temporary or preliminary relief. Requires the Commission to determine whether reasonable cause exists not later than 90 days after a charge is filed and to notify the parties of the determination. Requires the Commission, if it finds reasonable cause, to use informal methods of conference, conciliation, and persuasion. Allows the aggrieved individual, if the Commission does not make a determination within the time limit or if the Commission finds reasonable cause but a conciliation acceptable to the individual is not agreed to within 120 days of filing the charge, to: (1) request that the charge be adjudicated by an administrative law judge of the Commission; or (2) commence a civil action in U.S. district court. Requires the Commission, if it finds no reasonable cause, to dismiss the charge. Allows the aggrieved individual, in such case, to commence a civil action in U.S. district court. Provides for standards and procedures regarding the determination of whether there is reasonable cause to believe a charge is true. Applies provisions of Federal law governing adjudications under administrative procedure to adjudications by an administrative law judge of the Commission. Sets time limits for appointing such judge, concluding the hearing, and determining the charge. Provides for issuance of subpoenas. Requires the administrative law judge, if the charge is true by a preponderance of the evidence, to issue an order to cease and desist, to take affirmative action, and to provide other relief. Allows a party aggrieved by the judge's order to appeal to the Commission and requires that the Commission affirm, reverse, or modify the order not later than 90 days after appeal. Allows an individual aggrieved by an order or a determination or by the failure of the Commission to act on an appeal to commence a civil action for judicial review in a U.S. court of appeals. Authorizes the Commission to commence a civil action in a U.S. court of appeals to enforce an order of an administrative law judge or of the Commission. Empowers the Commission, in order to enforce such an order, to order that any employee charged with complying with such order not be paid for service as an employee until the order has been complied with. Sets forth rules with regard to review by the court of appeals. Confers jurisdiction of actions on U.S. district courts, subject to exception. Authorizes the court, on finding unlawful discrimination, to issue injunctions, order affirmative action (including reinstatement or hiring, with or without back pay), or order other equitable relief. Limits back pay to two years. Declares that specified provisions of Federal law relating to the jurisdiction of courts in matters affecting employers and employees shall not apply to actions commenced under the provisions amended by this Act. Makes applicable to such actions provisions governing appeals of final decisions and interlocutory decisions. Authorizes the court to allow the prevailing party, other than the Commission or a Federal entity (including the head of the entity), a reasonable attorney's fee. Provides for the payment of interest on any monetary relief awarded. Makes provisions amended by this Act, as in effect prior to the effective date of this Act, applicable to employment at the Library of Congress. Gives attorneys appointed under existing provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 the authority to appear for and represent the Commission in court cases against a Federal entity, notwithstanding provisions relating to the Attorney General and to the General Counsel of the Commission. Provides for the transfer to the Commission of civilian personnel who are employed by a Federal entity to investigate, or recommend the disposition of discrimination charges against, a Federal entity. Declares that the amendments made by this Act shall not be construed to supersede or modify specified provisions of Federal law relating to grievance procedures as covered in collective bargaining agreements.
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
Elder Cottage Housing Opportunity Act - Amends the Housing Act of 1959, the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968, and the National Housing Act to provide assistance for the purchase and installation of elder cottage housing opportunity units.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 1989
Low-Income Housing Revitalization Act - Amends Internal Revenue Code (IRC) provisions relating to the low-income housing credit to: (1) increase the credit from four percent to nine percent with respect to new buildings that are federally subsidized; (2) reallocate unused credit amounts among other States for their housing credit agencies; and (3) permit carryover to the succeeding year of a housing credit amount, if it is reasonably likely that the building will be put into service then. Extends the low-income housing credit through 1991. Amends IRC accounting provisions to exempt low-income housing credit activities from limitations on passive losses. Revises the accelerated cost recovery system in connection with low-income residential rental property to reduce the applicable recovery period from 27.5 to 20 years. Disallows an income tax deduction for any expense relating to residential rental units that violate State or local building, health, or safety codes and are not brought into compliance. Requires the regulatory agency that notifies a taxpayer of the substandard conditions to file an information return with respect to affected taxpayers. Excludes deductions for business expenses, interest on indebtedness, and taxes from calculations to determine the passive loss limitation in connection with rental real estate activity relating to a qualified low-income housing project in which a noncorporate taxpayer actively or materially participates.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 1989
Authorizes the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity to establish a monument on Federal land in the District of Columbia to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. Excepts such monument from the prohibition on the construction of works commemorating individuals who have died within 25 years. Provides that U.S. funds may not be used to establish the monument.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 1989
Women in Development Act of 1989 - Requires the Administrator of the Agency for International Development (AID) to take specific steps to strengthen the Agency's women in development policy, including: (1) incorporating the active participation of local women and local women's organizations in its development activities; (2) instructing Agency staff and contractors to collect sex-disaggregated data and to insure that country strategies, projects, and programs are designed so that the percentage of women receiving assistance in proportion to the higher of their traditional participation in the targeted activities or their proportion of the population; (3) insuring that project and program evaluations include an assessment of the extent to which the project integrates women in the development process and of the project's impact on women; (4) increasing the number and responsibility of women in professional positions within AID; and (5) establishing within AID a task force on women in development. Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to require that a minimum (currently, maximum) of $10,000,000 in funds made available for foreign assistance programs be used for programs to promote the participation and integration of women in the development process in developing countries. Specifies that a certain amount of such funds shall be made available as matching funds to support activities designed to better integrate women into AID programs. Requires the Administrator to report to the Congress annually on the implementation of this Act. Authorizes appropriations to be made available for the United Nations Development Fund for Women and the United Nations International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 1989
Designates March 7 through March 13, 1989, as Deaf Awareness Week.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 1989
Designates the week of November 12 through November 18, 1989, as Geography Awareness Week.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 1989
Designates May 7 through May 14, 1989, as Jewish Heritage Week.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 1989
Designates the week of October 1 through October 7, 1989, as National Health Care Food Service Week.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1989
Amends Internal Revenue Code provisions governing the earned income tax credit to: (1) increase from $5,714 to $6,810 the amount of earned income subject to the credit; and (2) increase the credit percentage from 14 percent to 21 percent (30 percent for taxpayers with two or more dependent children in the household). Decreases the amount of the credit for taxpayers whose adjusted gross income exceeds $10,740. Indexes all relevant dollar amounts beginning in 1991. Allows advance tax credit payments by employers to employees who provide certification of eligibility. Amends provisions governing the dependent care credit to: (1) make it refundable; (2) increase from $10,000 to $20,000 the threshold adjusted gross income triggering a reduction of the credit amount and decrease from $2,000 to $1,000 the increment applied in such reductions; and (3) disallow the credit with respect to federally-funded employment-related expenses. Disregards certain governmental assistance payments in determinations of: (1) dependency for personal exemption purposes; and (2) eligibility for the earned income credit. Revises the income tax rate schedule to add an explicit 33 percent bracket applicable to taxpayers with high income ($78,350 or more for joint filers). Retains a 28 percent rate with respect to capital gains. Amends title XX (Grants to States for Services) of the Social Security Act to allot to States funds, in increasing amounts, for social services for FY 1991 through 1993 and thereafter. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to study and report to specified congressional committees on the feasibility of an advance payment system with respect to the dependent care tax credit.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1989
Social Security Transitional Benefit Computation Act of 1989 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to alter the 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 · 7 February 1989
Amends the Federal Salary Act of 1967 to abolish the Commission on Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Salaries.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1989
Steel Import Stabilization Extension Act - Amends the Steel Import Stabilization Act to extend such Act for a five-year period.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1989
Job Training Partnership Accountability Act of 1989 - Amends the Job Training Partnership Act (the Act) to establish additional fiscal controls and procurement accountability requirements. Defines "profit" to mean any revenue in excess of expenditures. Increases the maximum portions of specified program funds for a service delivery area which may be used for administrative costs, or for a combination of administrative costs and work experience program costs. Requires the Secretary of Labor to define all cost categories comprehensively. Establishes procurement standards with which all recipients, subrecipients, or service providers receiving funds under the Act must adequately demonstrate that they have complied. Directs the Secretary to issue various regulations relating to such standards, prohibiting conflicts of interest or restrictions of competition, and requiring recipients to perform a cost analysis and price analysis in connection with each procurement action, including contract modifications. Requires each recipient, subrecipient, and service provider to maintain records of revenues and expenditures, for the duration of the grant, subgrant, contract, or other agreement. Requires all expenditures of funds received under the Act to be recorded and reported in the proper cost categories. Requires the Secretary to issue a notice of proposed rulemaking within three months, allow at least 60 days for public comment, and issue final regulations within six months.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1989
Designates May 25, 1989, as National Tap Dance Day.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1989
Designates the week beginning September 17, 1989, as Emergency Medical Services Week.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1989
Designates the second Sunday in October 1989 as National Children's Day.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1989
Designates the week of May 1 through May 7, 1989, as National Drinking Water Week.
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 · 7 February 1989
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the U.S. Government should reassess current policy and pursue a negotiated settlement to the civil war in El Salvador.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1989
American Heritage Trust Act of 1989 - Title I: American Heritage Trust - Establishes the American Heritage Trust, comprised of the Land and Water Conservation Fund and the Historic Preservation Fund, to provide funding for the preservation of America's natural, historical, cultural, and outdoor recreational areas. Title II: Land and Water Conservation Fund - Amends the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act to require the Secretary of the Treasury to invest a portion of the Land and Water Conservation Fund in public debt securities. Requires that the interest from such investments be used for the preservation of the Nation's recreational areas. Requires any excess interest to be credited to the Treasury. Sets forth a formula for the allocation of such interest income to the Federal Government and the States. Sets forth specified requirements with respect to the apportionment of such income to local and State governments, Indian tribes, and Alaska Native Village Corporations. Title III: Historic Preservation Fund - Amends the National Historic Preservation Act to extend the Historic Preservation Fund through 2015. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to invest a portion of such Fund in public debt securities. Requires that the interest from such investments be used for the preservation of historic sites. Provides for allocation of a percentage of annual appropriations for State historic preservation trust funds. Title IV: Miscellaneous Provisions - Requires the owner of any site that benefits from moneys derived from the American Heritage Trust to install a sign indicating that fact. Requires the Secretary of the Interior, within 18 months after enactment of this Act, to provide for a contest for elementary or secondary school children for the design of a symbol to represent such Trust and for use in such signs.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1989
Directs the Comptroller General to conduct an annual audit of the Federal Reserve Board, the Federal Advisory Council, the Federal Open Market Committee, and all Federal Reserve banks and their branches. Requires the Comptroller General, within six months after the end of each fiscal year, to report to the Congress on the results of such audit.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1989
Comprehensive Health Care Improvement Act of 1989 - Title I: Qualified Health Insurance Plans - Part A: Definitions and Standards for Qualified Plans - Defines a "plan of health coverage" as any plan or combination of plans, including combinations of self-insurance, individual accident and health insurance policies, group accident and health insurance policies, coverage under a nonprofit health service plan, or coverage under a health maintenance organization (HMO) subscriber contract. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish standards for qualified plans and procedures for the review and certification of plans of health coverage as qualified plans. Provides that a plan shall be certified as an "A" qualified plan if it meets State requirements and meets the following minimum standards: (1) the minimum benefits for a covered individual equal at least 80 percent of the covered expenses in excess of an annual deductible not exceeding $250 per person or $250 for each of two members of a covered family; (2) the coverage includes a limitation of $3,000 per person and $6,000 for a covered family on total annual out-of-pocket expenses for covered expenses; (3) the coverage is subject to a $1,000,000 maximum life-time benefit; and (4) the $3,000, $6,000, and $1,000,000 limitations are not subject to change or substitution by use of an actuarially equivalent benefit. States that covered expenses are the usual and customary charges of a physician or chiropractor. Lists covered and excluded services. Deems HMOs providing certain services to be providing an "A" qualified plan. Certifies as a "B" qualified plan a plan which meets the requirements of an "A" plan, except that the annual deductible does not exceed $1,000 per person. Directs the Secretary, to the extent feasible, to provide for the review and certification by the insurance commissioner of each State of qualified plans to be offered in the State. States that the sale of plans is in and affects interstate commerce and that, in order to properly regulate such sales, it is necessary to regulate such sales in intrastate, as well as interstate, commerce. Requires every plan of health coverage sold to be labelled as "qualified" or "nonqualified" on the front of the policy. Requires each advertisement or promotion for a plan to specify whether the plan is "qualified" or "nonqualified." Part B: Requiring Offering of Certain Qualified Plans - Requires each employer employing an average of ten or more employees annually to make available a plan or combination of plans of health coverage which: (1) has been certified as an "A" or supplemental plan; (2) is a qualified convertible plan; and (3) permits coverage of an employee's spouse and children. Defines a "qualified convertible plan" as a plan of health coverage which: (1) permits each enrolled individual to continue coverage for one year and then to convert the plan to any individual qualified plan without the addition of underwriting restrictions if, for any reason, the individual leaves the group; and (2) permits, in the case of the death of the individual in whose name the contract was issued, other individuals covered under the plan to continue coverage without the addition of underwriting restrictions. Sets forth civil penalties for noncompliance. Excludes from the term "employee," for purposes of this provision, certain new, part time, part year, young, bargaining unit, and nonresident alien employees. Part C: Offering of Comprehensive Health Insurance by States - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to require the establishment and operation of a comprehensive health association in each State and a comprehensive health plan in each State, in accordance with this part of this Act. Defines a "comprehensive health insurance plan" to mean policies of insurance and contracts of HMO coverage offered by an association through the writing carrier in the State. Defines the "writing carrier" as the insurers and HMOs approved to administer the comprehensive health insurance plan. Provides that each State commissioner of insurance, consistent with any regulations the Secretary may promulgate: (1) may formulate general policies to advance the purposes of this title; (2) shall supervise the creation of the State comprehensive health association; (3) shall approve the selection of the writing carrier by the association in the State and approve the association's contract with the writing carrier, including the State plan coverage and premiums to be charged; (4) may appoint advisory committees with respect to implementation of this part; (5) shall conduct periodic audits to assure the general accuracy of the financial data submitted by the writing carrier and the association in the State; (6) shall contract with the Federal Government and may contract with any other unit of government to ensure coordination of the State plan of the association with other governmental assistance programs; (7) may undertake, directly or through contracts with other persons, studies or demonstration programs to develop awareness of the benefits provided under this Act, so that residents of the State may best avail themselves of the health care benefits provided hereunder; (8) may contract with insurers and others for administrative services; and (9) may adopt, amend, suspend, and repeal rules as reasonably necessary to carry out and make effective the provisions and purposes of this part. Requires each State to provide for the establishment of a comprehensive health association with membership consisting of all insurers, fraternal beneficiary associations, other entities offering health policies, and HMOs authorized or licensed to do business in the State. Exempts each association from State taxation. Provides for a board of directors of each association. Requires that all members of an association: (1) maintain their membership in the association as a condition of doing accident and health insurance, self-insurance, or HMO business in the State; and (2) enter into a reinsurance contract with the association as required by this part. Exempts members of an association, in the performance of their duties as members, from Federal and State antitrust laws. Authorizes each association to provide for the reinsuring of risks incurred as a result of issuing qualified plans by members of the association. Requires each member which elects to reinsure its risks to determine the categories of coverage it elects to reinsure in the association. Provides that the categories consist of: (1) individual qualified plans, excluding group conversions; (2) group conversions; (3) group qualified plans with fewer than 50 employees or members; and (4) major medical coverage. Requires each association through its comprehensive health insurance plan to offer: (1) policies which provide the benefits of "A" and "B" qualified plans; and (2) HMO contracts in those areas of the State where an HMO has agreed to make the coverage available and has been selected as a writing carrier. Requires the comprehensive health insurance plan for a State to be open for enrollment by individuals residing in the State, who can enroll by submitting a certificate of eligibility to the writing carrier which certifies the applicant's name, address, age, length of residence, dependents to be insured, and type of coverage desired. Provides that upon certification the individual can enroll in a State's comprehensive health insurance plan by payment of the State plan premium to the writing carrier. Requires each member of an association to share the claims expenses for approved plans and the operating and administrative expenses incurred by the association, pursuant to the terms of the individual reinsurance contracts executed by the association with each member. Sets forth a method to determine each member's share of expenses. Authorizes any member of an association in a State to submit for approval to the State commissioner the policies of accident and health insurance or the HMO contracts which are being proposed to serve in the comprehensive health insurance plan. Authorizes the association to select approved policies and a contract to be the comprehensive health insurance plan based upon the member's proven ability to handle large group accident and health insurance cases, claims paying capacity, and estimate of total charges for plan administration. Requires each writing carrier to: (1) perform all required administrative and claims payment functions; and (2) report monthly to the association and State commissioner. Exempts premiums received by a writing carrier for the comprehensive health insurance plan from State taxation. Requires each association in a State to disseminate information to State residents regarding the existence of the comprehensive health insurance plan and the means of enrollment. Requires each writing carrier to pay an agent's referral fee, in an amount to be determined by the association, to each insurance agent referring an applicant to the State comprehensive health insurance plan, if the application is accepted. Title II: Program of Assistance to States for Assisting Low-Income Individuals to Purchase Comprehensive Health Insurance - Comprehensive Health Insurance Assistance Act of 1989 - Adds a new title XXI to the Social Security Act entitled "Grants to States for Assistance to Low-Income Individuals in the Purchase of Comprehensive Health Insurance." Authorizes appropriations under title XXI to enable each State to provide assistance to low-income individuals in the purchase of comprehensive health insurance under title XXI. Specifies the amount authorized for each fiscal year. Requires the sums made available under this title to be used to make payments to States which have submitted, and have been approved by the Secretary, State plans for comprehensive health insurance assistance to low-income individuals. Directs the Secretary to pay each State with an approved plan, from the sums appropriated, an amount equal to 50 percent of the sums expended which are attributable either to assistance under the plan to low-income individuals or to plan administration. Prohibits such amount, during any quarter, from exceeding the product of $2.50 and the State's population. Requires a State plan for comprehensive health insurance assistance to low-income individuals, in order to be approved by the Secretary, to meet specified criteria. Title III: Program of Assistance to States for Assisting Individuals Who Incur Catastrophic Expenses for Health Care - Catastrophic Health Care Expenses Assistance Act of 1989 - Amends the Social Security Act to add a new title XXII entitled "Grants to States for Assistance to Individuals Incurring Catastrophic Expenses for Health Care." Authorizes appropriations for each fiscal year to enable each State to furnish medical assistance for catastrophic illness. Requires a State to have submitted and have approved by the Secretary a plan for medical assistance for catastrophic illness. Directs the Secretary to pay each State with an approved plan, from the sums appropriated, an amount equal to 50 percent of the sums expended which are attributable either to payments made under the plan to eligible individuals or to plan administration. Prohibits such amount, during any quarter, from exceeding the product of $0.625 and the State's population. Sets forth circumstances in which payment with respect to expenses is prohibited. Lists requirements for a State plan to be approved by the Secretary. Defines an "eligible individual" as an individual who incurs an obligation to pay, in a consecutive 12-month period, expenses (including dependent's expenses) exceeding the greater of $3,000 (or such lower amount as the State may establish) or 30 percent of household income up to $25,000, plus 40 percent of household income between $25,000 and $40,000, plus 50 percent of household income in excess of $40,000 (or such lower respective percentages of such incomes, or of such higher incomes as the State may establish).
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1989
Authorizes and requests the President to designate the weeks beginning on November 19, 1989, and November 18, 1990, as National Family Week.