To authorize and request the President to proclaim the year 1992 as the "Year of the American Indian".
United States · United States Congress · 3 October 1991
Designates 1992 as The Year of the American Indian.
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2,139 records where Rep. Owens, Wayne [D-UT-2] is listed as a sponsor, author, or other actor. Search with topics and years
United States · United States Congress · 3 October 1991
Designates 1992 as The Year of the American Indian.
United States · United States Congress · 2 October 1991
Women in Apprenticeship Occupations and Nontraditional Occupations Act - Directs the Department of Labor (the Department) to promote an outreach program to inform employers and labor unions of the availability of technical assistance for preparing the workplace to employ women in apprenticeable occupations and other nontraditional occupations. Requires the Department to: (1) promote such program to employers through, but not limited to, the private industry councils in each service delivery area; (2) provide outreach to labor unions through, but not limited to, the building trade councils, joint apprenticeable occupations councils, and individual unions; and (3) give priority to employers in areas that have nontraditional employment and training programs specifically targeted to women. Sets forth various activities which such technical assistance provided by community-based organizations to employers and labor unions. Directs the Department to select a total of 50 employers or labor unions to receive such technical assistance. Requires each eligible community-based organization desiring to receive a competitive grant to provide such technical assistance to employers and labor unions to submit an application to the Department. Requires the Department to give priority to applications to community-based organizations that demonstrate specified types of experience and that have tradeswomen or women in nontraditional occupations as active members. Sets forth application requirements, including specified descriptions, assurances, and commitments. Directs the Department to serve as a liaison among employers, labor, and community organizations. Directs the Department to: (1) conduct a study of the participation of women in apprenticeable occupations and nontraditional occupations, examining specified topics; and (2) report to the Congress within two years on such study, with recommendations. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 2 October 1991
Commission on the Advancement of Women in the Science and Engineering Work Forces Act - Establishes the Commission on the Advancement of Women in the Science and Engineering Work Forces. Excludes the Commission from application of provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act relating to the termination of advisory committees.
United States · United States Congress · 2 October 1991
Qualified Medicare Beneficiary Enrollment Improvement and Protection Act of 1991 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to include in the annual mailing to Medicare beneficiaries: (1) a clear and simple explanation of the availability of and the requirements to qualify for Medicaid (title XIX of the Social Security Act) payment of their premiums, deductibles, and copayments under Medicare; (2) the toll-free telephone number to be established by the Secretary for information on such assistance; and (3) an initial application for such assistance. Directs the Secretary to develop a poster containing the information listed above and distribute it to service providers in order to publicize the availability of such assistance. Amends the Medicaid program to direct the Secretary to: (1) establish a process for using local Social Security Administration offices for the distribution and receipt of applications for such assistance; (2) transmit such applications to the appropriate State agency; (3) develop a form to be available at such offices which individuals may use to request additional information on or an application for such assistance; and (4) distribute such form to entities receiving grants for programs to provide services to older individuals. Requires States to provide for a process for receiving, distributing, and processing applications for such assistance and for responding to requests for information on or applications for such assistance. Allows individuals who qualified during a certain period for Medicaid payment of Medicare costs to temporarily apply for retroactive payment of any medical costs incurred but not paid under a State plan required to provide for making Medicaid payment of Medicare costs available to Medicare beneficiaries. Allows States, in determining the income level for individuals who seek to qualify for Medicaid payment of Medicare costs, to exclude expenses for medical care incurred by the individual that are not reimbursed under a public program of the State or political subdivision thereof, a health plan, or Medicare. Directs the Secretary to establish a grant program to provide outreach services to enable individuals who are entitled to receive Medicaid payment of Medicare costs to receive such assistance. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 2 October 1991
Designates the week of October 19 through 27, 1991, as National Red Ribbon Week for a Drug Free America.
United States · United States Congress · 2 October 1991
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) the President should make clear that the United States supports the restoration of the democratically elected government of President Aristide in Haiti; (2) all U.S. assistance to the Haitian Government should remain suspended until democratic government is restored; (3) the Haitian military should respect the human rights of the Haitian people; (4) the Organization of American States should be commended for condemning the coup and for its Santiago commitment creating a new automatic mechanism to respond to the interruption of legitimate elected government; and (5) the international community should take all appropriate action to restore democratic government in Haiti.
United States · United States Congress · 1 October 1991
Breast Cancer Screening Safety Act of 1991 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require certification in order for a facility to perform or interpret mammograms, inspect equipment, perform needle localizations or other procedures using mammography equipment, or conduct quality assurances oversight related to mammography. Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue and renew certificates for up to two years. Allows the Secretary to approve a private nonprofit organization to be an accreditation body which meets certain requirements, including inspecting facilities. Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish standards for facilities to assure the safety and accuracy of mammography; (2) specify organizations eligible to certify individuals to perform radiological procedures; (3) specify boards eligible to certify individuals to interpret screening mammograms; (4) establish standards regarding the qualifications for individuals to interpret screening mammograms; and (5) specify boards eligible to certify individuals to inspect screening mammography equipment and oversee quality assurance practices. Directs the Secretary to conduct annual announced and unannounced inspections of certified facilities. Provides for: (1) intermediate sanctions for certain violations; (2) suspension, revocation, and limitation of certificates; and (3) injunctions. Requires fees for certificate issuance and renewal, and for inspections, sufficient to cover costs. Requires annual publication of a list of facilities convicted of fraud and abuse, false billings, or kickbacks, facilities that have had certificates revoked, suspended, or limited, and facilities that have been the subject of a sanction or other similar matters. Allows the Secretary to exempt facilities in a State with more stringent requirements from compliance with this Act. Directs the Secretary to: (1) make grants for research on new methods of establishing a Mammography Registry; and (2) based on the research, establish the Registry. Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to require that screening mammographies paid for under Medicare be performed by a facility: (1) certified under this Act; and (2) in compliance with specified provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 1 October 1991
Infertility Prevention Act of 1991 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services, with regard to any treatable sexually transmitted disease that can cause infertility in women if treatment is not received for the disease, to make grants for specified activities, including counseling, screening, treatment, referrals, outreach, public information and education, training for health care providers, and data collection. Directs the Secretary to establish criteria for ensuring the quality of screening for such diseases. Limits grants to three years, with annual approval by the Secretary. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants for research on improving the delivery of services under this Act. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 1 October 1991
Cancer Screening Incentive Act of 1991 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a refundable tax credit for expenditures (not paid by insurance or otherwise) incurred by the taxpayer for qualified cancer screening tests.
United States · United States Congress · 1 October 1991
Urges the President to call upon the President of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics to begin negotiations with leaders of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia for the prompt withdrawal of Soviet troops from the Baltic States.
United States · United States Congress · 1 October 1991
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) the Congress and the President should reexamine and reduce the defense budget based on changing national security needs in the post-Cold War era; and (2) savings should be used to reduce the Federal budget deficit.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 1991
Satellite Viewers' Rights Act of 1991 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to repeal provisions requiring the Federal Communications Commission to initiate an inquiry concerning the need for a universal encryption standard that permits decryption of satellite cable programming intended for private viewing. Requires that any person who encrypts satellite delivered programming make such programming available for private viewing by home satellite antenna users and, when making such programming available through any other person for distribution through any medium, establish: (1) reasonable and non-discriminatory financial, character, technical, and service criteria and requirements under which non-cable distributors qualify to distribute such programming for private viewing by home satellite antenna users; and (2) price, terms, and conditions for the wholesale distribution of such programming which do not discriminate between the distribution of such programming to distributors for cable subscribers and distributors to home satellite antenna users, nor among different distributors to home satellite antenna users, with exceptions. Specifies that, where a person who encrypts satellite delivered programming: (1) has established a separate subsidiary for distribution to satellite antenna users, such person shall not be required to establish or license any entity on the same terms and conditions as such subsidiary (but permits an aggrieved party, for purposes of any claim of discrimination under this provision, to compare the prices, terms, and conditions established by the person who encrypts as evidence of discrimination); and (2) authorizes or licenses a distributor for a secondary satellite retransmission of such programming, such person shall establish criteria (consistent with requirements under this Act) to qualify to distribute such programming through such retransmission and establish nondiscriminatory price, terms, and conditions for such distribution. Specifies that nothing in this Act shall require any person who encrypts satellite delivered programming to: (1) authorize or license any distributor for a secondary satellite retransmission; and (2) make such programming available in any geographic area beyond which such programming has been authorized or licensed for distribution. Authorizes: (1) persons aggrieved by violations of this Act to bring a civil action; and (2) the court to grant specified relief.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 1991
Calls on the President to: (1) decry the violence in Yugoslavia and affirm U.S. policy for a peaceful resolution through democratic negotiations and adherence to a ceasefire; (2) assert that no border changes that have occurred through force and without benefit of negotiation, and no groups occupying territory obtained through violent means, shall be recognized; (3) affirm his commitment to maintaining the international embargo on arms to all combatants in the conflict; (4) instruct the U.S. representatives of each international financial institution to support U.S. goals in completing and maintaining a ceasefire; (5) request the United Nations (UN) Secretary General to assist the European Community (EC)-sponsored negotiations (or initiate negotiations should the EC negotiations fail), to dispatch a contingent to monitor and enforce any ceasefire, and to assist in the completion of a long-term settlement to the conflict; (6) raise in the UN General Assembly the assessment of multilateral economic sanctions against any party disrupting the ceasefire or refusing to take part in negotiations; and (7) insist that all parties to the conflict approve the presence of a peacekeeping force in Yugoslavia to monitor a negotiated ceasefire.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 1991
Authorizes claims for damages against the United States for personal injury or death of a member of the armed forces serving on active duty or on full-time National Guard duty. Provides that the personal injury or death must have arisen out of noncombatant medical or dental care furnished in a fixed medical facility operated by the United States. Offsets the amount of Government benefits for members of the armed forces or veterans for personal injury or death by the amount of any awards or judgments from such claims.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 1991
Designates the week of August 10 through August 16, 1992, as National Parents of Murdered Children Week.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 1991
Congratulates the Government and people of Greece, and the municipal government and people of Athens, on the 2500th anniversary of the establishment of democracy in the city of Athens.
United States · United States Congress · 24 September 1991
Medicare EKG Payment Restoration Act of 1991 - Amends part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to: (1) reestablish separate payment for the interpretation of electrocardiograms (EKGs) that are ordered or performed during an office visit or consultation with a physician; and (2) require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish separate fee schedule amounts for EKG interpretations and to adjust the relative values established for office visits to or consultations with a physician to reflect the establishment of such separate fee schedule amounts. Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish practice guidelines for the use of EKGs for dissemination along with other educational information relating to the use of EKGs to physicians; (2) develop a profile of the use of EKGs by physicians; and (3) conduct a study and report to the Congress on the utilization and costs of EKGs.
United States · United States Congress · 17 September 1991
Designates November 1991 as National Accessible Housing Month.
United States · United States Congress · 17 September 1991
Designates 1992 as the Year of the Gulf of Mexico. Directs all Federal and State agencies which have responsibility for matters affecting the Gulf to work to increase public awareness regarding the immeasurable value of this resource and current conditions which threaten its aesthetic and economic value.
United States · United States Congress · 17 September 1991
Declares that the U.S. Government should support the struggle of the Armenian people to achieve freedom and independence.
United States · United States Congress · 16 September 1991
National Commission on Intergovernmental Mandate Reform Act - Establishes the National Commission on Intergovernmental Mandate Reform to: (1) document all federally mandated programs; (2) identify such programs that result in no net cost or minimum net cost to the Federal Government and that may be partially or totally eliminated with a resulting cost savings to State and local governments and no financial loss to the Federal Government; (3) submit to the President and the Congress recommendations specifying the federally mandated programs to be totally or partially eliminated along with the criteria for making such a determination and recommendations specifying the methods by which such programs can be reformed in order to relieve the financial burdens on State and local governments, and Federal, State, and local taxpayers; and (4) review other matters relating to the reform of federally mandated programs that the Commission considers appropriate.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 1991
Designates October 30, 1991, as Refugee Day.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1991
National Air and Space Museum Expansion Site Selection Act of 1991 - Establishes the National Air and Space Museum Expansion Site Advisory Panel to conduct a national competition for the evaluation of possible expansion sites for the National Air and Space Museum. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution to select the site after considering the recommendation of the Panel. Terminates the Panel 30 days after such selection. Requires the General Accounting Office to review and evaluate the selection by the Board of Regents and report to the Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1991
Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary Notification Act of 1991 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services' annual notice to Medicare beneficiaries to: (1) notify such beneficiaries of the availability of and the requirements to qualify for Medicaid (title XIX of the Act) payment of their premiums, deductibles, and copayments under Medicare; and (2) contain an initial application for such assistance. Requires participating physicians and hospitals to post conspicuously a notice of the availability of such assistance. Amends the Medicaid program to State plans to provide for the establishment and operation of a toll-free hotline to provide information on such assistance.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1991
Pollution Prevention, Community Recycling, and Incinerator Control Act - Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to prohibit the issuance of permits for construction or expansion to municipal solid waste incinerators. Prohibits Federal agencies, State or local governments, or other waste management jurisdictions from issuing permits to such incinerators after December 31, 1999, unless the applicant demonstrates and the State finds that: (1) an annual waste composition analysis of the solid waste generated within the area to be served by the facility is conducted by the applicant and by entities from which the facility accepts waste; (2) such entities divert specified percentages of glass, paper, metals, plastics, and yard and food waste to waste management methods other than incineration; (3) the facility will not interfere with diversion rates; (4) it is not feasible to manage the remaining solid waste through source reduction, reuse, or recycling; (5) the facility will not adversely affect the environment or human health and is not situated in a nonattainment area identified under the Clean Air Act; (6) the facility will not harm the local economy; (7) the full cost of the facility over its entire life will be less costly than reducing, recycling, or composting waste; (8) the waste management jurisdiction conducts a public participation process (including a technical assistance grant to local community groups concerned about the project); (9) the proposed construction or expansion is approved by the unit of local government in whose boundaries the facility would be sited; (10) firms operating the facility are in compliance with environmental and public health statutes, have paid outstanding fines for violations of such statutes, and make disclosure statements available; and (11) an approved environmental impact statement is completed. Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to: (1) promulgate standards for waste composition analyses; and (2) review diversion rates triennially and require higher rates, if feasible. Treats ash from municipal solid waste incinerators as a hazardous waste under the Solid Waste Disposal Act. Requires such ash to be managed in a monofill containing only such ash and designed to: (1) prevent the migration of constituents during the operation of the facility; and (2) prevent the infiltration of precipitation during any closure or postclosure monitoring period. Provides for compliance with such requirement by existing incinerators within three years of the enactment of this Act. Prohibits the use of such ash for any purpose. Prohibits the incineration of household hazardous waste, batteries, chlorinated plastics, consumer electronics, and yard waste in such incinerators. Prohibits the issuance of permits or prior approval for the construction or expansion of hazardous waste incinerators unless: (1) waste composition analyses are conducted by the applicant and generators of waste to be incinerated at the facility; (2) specified toxics use reduction requirements have been met and the facility will not interfere with the implementation of such requirements; (3) the facility will not adversely affect the environment or human health; (4) the facility will not harm the local economy; (5) there is no safer disposal or treatment technology available for any of the wastes; (6) the waste management jurisdiction conducts a public participation process (including a technical assistance grant to local community groups concerned about the project); (7) the proposed construction or expansion is approved by the unit of local government in whose boundaries the facility would be sited; (8) firms operating the facility are in compliance with environmental and public health statutes, have paid outstanding fines for violations of such statutes, and make disclosure statements available; and (9) an approved environmental impact statement is completed. Requires hazardous waste generators, as part of the permit process, to report annually on the use, and reduction of the use, of toxic or hazardous substances at their facilities. Directs permit applicants to demonstrate that the State in which the incinerator is located, and each State in which generators of hazardous waste to be incinerated at the facility are located, are implementing toxics use reduction programs. Applies this Act's requirements to any facility that burns hazardous waste.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1991
Middle East Private Investment Corporation Act - Establishes the Middle East Private Investment Corporation to issue guarantees of loans for and other investments made by investors for or in projects in friendly countries and in the Middle East area. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should enter into negotiations with other countries in order to establish a Middle East development bank that would provide financing for projects that will promote peaceful economic and social development in the Middle East.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1991
Amends the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to make it unlawful to smoke on any flight of an aircraft of the United States. Imposes a civil penalty on any passenger who tampers with any smoke detector located in any lavatory aboard such an aircraft.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1991
Semiconductor Investment Act of 1991 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to classify the depreciable life for semiconductor manufacturing equipment as three-year property.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to expand current provisions concerning civil damages for certain unauthorized collection actions to allow taxpayers to sue for civil damages if in the determination of tax the Internal Revenue Service carelessly disregards tax law. Repeals the "substantially justified" test for determining whether a taxpayer may recover costs and fees incurred as part of an administrative or court proceeding. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the interest rate for overpayment of tax from two percent to three percent (making such rate equal to the interest rate for underpayment of tax).
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1991
Audio Home Recording Act of 1991 - Amends Federal copyright law to: (1) set forth definitions relating to digital audio recording devices and media; and (2) prohibit certain copyright infringement actions based on the manufacture, importation, or distribution of a digital or analog audio recording device or medium, or the use of such device or medium for making phonorecords, except when done for commercial advantage. Sets forth a mandatory recordation and filing procedure for the importation, manufacture, or distribution in the United States of digital audio recording devices or media. Requires importers and manufacturers to file quarterly and annual statements of account with the Register of Copyrights (the Register). Mandates Register verification of such statements. Sets forth verification guidelines. States that verification audit costs shall be borne by interested copyright parties. Sets forth confidentiality guidelines with respect to such mandatory statements of accounts. Prescribes royalty payment guidelines for digital audio recording devices and media imported, manufactured, or distributed in the United States. Requires that royalty payments be deposited into the Treasury. Identifies interested copyright parties entitled to royalty payments. Prescribes royalty payment allocation and distribution procedures. Permits alternative royalty collection and distribution arrangements to be negotiated among interested copyright and manufacturing parties. Maintains the Copyright Tribunal jurisdiction over such negotiated arrangements insofar as nonparticipant interests are affected. Prohibits: (1) the importation, manufacture, and distribution of any digital audio recording device or audio interface device that does not conform to certain standards and specifications to implement the Serial Copy Management System; and (2) the circumvention of such System. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to publish in the Federal Register a certain Technical Reference Document which sets forth the standards and specifications pertinent to the Serial Copy Management System. Authorizes the Secretary to implement such System according to the prescribed guidelines. Sets forth civil remedies for violations of this Act, including impoundment, remedial modification and destruction of non-complying devices, and binding arbitration.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1991
Designates October 1991 as Ending Hunger Month.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1991
Military Retirement Equity Act of 1991 - Permits retired members of the armed forces to be paid retirement pay concurrently with compensation for any service-connected disability if the person's entitlement to such retirement pay is based solely on: (1) age; (2) length of service; or (3) both. Reduces the amount of retirement pay, in the case of individuals receiving both types of pay, by a specified percentage of the disability compensation which decreases as the disability rating increases. Prohibits any reduction in the retirement pay of a disabled person when the disability rating is total. Expresses the sense of the Congress that, once the Federal budget deficit has been reduced, the Congress should reexamine and eliminate any offset of retired pay by a veteran's disability compensation.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1991
Police Corps and Law Enforcement Training and Education Act - Establishes within the Department of Justice (DOJ) an Office of the Police Corps and Law Enforcement Education to be headed by a Director. Requires a State that desires to participate in the Police Corps program to designate a lead agency and submit a State plan containing assurances with respect to: (1) lead agency cooperation with other State and local agencies; (2) the State advertising of the assistance available; (3) State screening and selection of law enforcement personnel for participation in the program; and (4) compliance with other specified requirements. Authorizes the Director to award college scholarships (including direct payments to institutions and reimbursement of educational costs) to participants who agree to work for four years in a State or local police force after completion of a baccalaureate program and police corps training, subject to specified conditions. Sets forth provisions with respect to: (1) scholarship assistance for dependent children of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty; (2) the selection of participants; (3) minority recruitment; and (4) leaves of absence. Requires the Director to establish programs to provide basic law enforcement training to State Police Corps program participants. Authorizes such programs to be carried out: (1) at up to three training centers established and administered by the Director; or (2) by contracting with existing State training facilities. Requires participants to attend two eight-week training sessions at such training centers and to meet certain performance standards in order to remain in the Police Corps program. Requires the Director to pay participants a weekly stipend during training. Provides for the swearing in of participants as members of the police force to which they are assigned after completing Federal training and meeting the requirements of that police force. Authorizes the Director, upon a showing of good cause, to permit a participant to complete the service obligation in an equivalent alternative law enforcement service, if the police force of which the participant is a member subjects the participant to discipline which would preclude completion of four years of service on that force. Requires a State, in order to participate in the Police Corps program, to submit a plan for implementing such program to the Director for approval. Requires such plan to: (1) include assurances that participants will receive effective training and leadership; (2) provide that program participants shall be assigned to community and preventive patrol in geographic areas with the greatest need for additional law enforcement personnel; and (3) prohibit participant assignment to any local police force whose size has declined by a specified portion or which has members who have been laid off but not retired. Requires the Director to report annually on the Police Corps program to the Attorney General, the President, and specified congressional officials. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1991
Partnerships for Wildlife Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish the Wildlife Conservation and Appreciation Fund to provide financial assistance to designated State agencies in carrying out fish and wildlife conservation and appreciation projects which meet certain eligibility standards. Places limits on such Federal assistance. Prohibits designated State agencies from being eligible to receive matching funds from the Fund if such agency diverts revenue from activities it regulates for any purpose other than the management and conservation of fish and wildlife. Prohibits Fund amounts from being provided to assist a State in carrying out such a project unless the amount appropriated to the Fund has been matched wholly by a contribution made to the Fund by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation or other private entities or persons. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 1991
Provides that each party to a sales and service contract that provides for the use of arbitration to resolve controversies shall have the option to reject arbitration as the means of settling a controversy. Requires the arbitrator, in making an award in any controversy arising out of or relating to such a contract, to provide the parties with a written explanation of the reasons for the award. Allows any such award to be vacated by a court order whenever the court finds that the arbitrator disregarded, misapplied, or misinterpreted State law.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 1991
Amends the National Park Foundation Act to authorize the National Park Foundation to: (1) design and license an Official Sponsor of America's National Parks symbol and symbols for Official Sponsor of various individual national park units; and (2) establish an annual license fee for the use of such symbol by any private corporation. Limits the number of corporations licensed to manufacture or use the symbol. Permits moneys received by the Foundation under this Act to be expended only for resource management and improvement of services and facilities within the national park system. Provides for civil penalties for unauthorized uses of the symbol. Designates the 25th day of August of each year as National Park Day.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 1991
Designates May 1992 as National Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Month.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 1991
Establishes a Joint Committee on the Organization of the Congress to: (1) make a full and complete study of the organization and operation of the Congress; and (2) recommend improvements in such organization and operation with a view toward strengthening its effectiveness, simplifying its operations, improving its relationships with other branches of the Government, and improving the orderly consideration of legislation. Requires a report to the Senate and the House of Representatives not later than the adjournment sine die of the 102d Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 1991
Designates September 18, 1991, as National Biomedical Research Day.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 1991
Medicare Physician Payment Reform Amendments of 1991 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to revise the transition rules for phasing in the resource-based relative value scale (RB RVS) method of payment for physician services to prohibit adjustments for asymmetry in the transition and for behavioral responses. Declares spending under this Act to be an emergency requirement under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) and exempt from sequestration.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 1991
Recognizes and grants a Federal charter to the Military Order of the World Wars, a nonprofit corporation organized under the laws of the District of Columbia.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 1991
Calls on the Government of Vietnam to: (1) make public the names of all individuals who continue to be held in "reeducation" camps or prisons in connection with suspected opposition to the Government; (2) release immediately all remaining long-term detainees from such camps or prisons; (3) grant exit permission to all Vietnamese who qualify for resettlement in the United States through the U.S. Special Released Reeducation Center Detainees Resettlement Program; and (4) end immediately all arrests or rearrests of detainees.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 1991
Repeals provisions prohibiting Federal payments in lieu of taxes to units of local government for entitlement land that was owned or administered by a State or local government and was exempt from real estate taxes when it was conveyed to the U.S. Government.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 1991
Designates November 1991 as National Red Ribbon Month.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 1991
Condemns Syria's denial of Syrian Jews' right to travel freely and calls upon the Syrian Government to: (1) immediately grant Syrian Jews the right to travel freely without imposing a fee; and (2) release all Jewish prisoners who were charged or suspected of traveling illegally. Urges the President to encourage U.S. allies and trading partners to make similar pleas to the Syrian Government. Calls upon the United Nations to send an official delegation to Syria to investigate the present condition of Syrian Jews.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 1991
Amends the National Trails System Act to designate the American Discovery Trail extending from Pt. Reyes, California, through Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, the District of Columbia, and Maryland to Cape Henlopen State Park, Delaware, for study for potential addition to the National Trails System.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 1991
Toxic Cleanup Equity and Acceleration Act of 1991 - Amends the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 to absolve municipalities or other persons from liability to any person other than the United States for claims of contribution or other response costs or damages related to the generation or transportation, or arrangement for the transportation, treatment, or disposal of municipal solid waste or sewage sludge unless there is a basis for liability under provisions governing owners or operators. Prohibits the President from initiating or maintaining an action against any person (other than owners or operators) in the absence of exceptional circumstances. Provides that exceptional circumstances exist where the President obtains evidence that: (1) the release of hazardous substances on which liability is based is not that ordinarily found in municipal solid waste or sewage sludge and the hazardous substances were derived from a commercial, institutional, or industrial process or activity; (2) the total contribution to the site of hazardous substances from such activities is insignificant in terms of volume and toxicity when compared to the volume and toxicity of the municipal solid waste and sewage sludge; or (3) absent the contribution of such substances, the contribution of hazardous substances from the municipal solid waste and sewage sludge would be a significant cause of the release that will result in the response action. Authorizes the President, when the release involves trash from commercial, institutional, or industrial sources, to require persons handling such materials to provide evidence that the general composition and toxicity of the trash are similar to those of waste generated by households. Authorizes a municipality, whenever an administrative or judicial action is brought against the municipality for acts or omissions concerning the handling of municipal solid waste or sewage sludge, to request the President to settle the municipality's potential liability for response costs or damages to natural resources. Prohibits an action from being commenced or pursued during the period the President is considering the settlement request. Limits permissible reasons to fail to reach a settlement to one or more of the following: (1) the settlement offer from the municipality does not meet the cost allocation criteria; (2) the municipality refuses to agree to settlement terms required in consent decrees; or (3) insufficient information exists to permit a cost allocation. Provides that if the President completes a settlement with a party other than the municipality requesting a settlement, such settlement creates a rebuttable presumption that the President cannot invoke insufficient information as a reason for failing to settle with the municipality concerning matters addressed in the other party's settlement. Provides that settlements shall: (1) require the municipality to pay for costs based on the quantity of hazardous constituents in municipal solid waste and sewage sludge, subject to a certain condition; (2) limit a municipality's payments if such payments would force a municipality to dissolve, declare bankruptcy, or default on debt obligations; and (3) be reached even in the event that a municipality may be liable for response costs or damages in other actions. Requires the President to provide a covenant not to sue with respect to the facility concerned to any municipality which has entered into a settlement. Directs the President to prepare a nonbinding preliminary allocation of responsibility (based on the quantity of hazardous constituents in municipal solid waste and sewage sludge) upon the request of a municipality. Applies this Act to all administrative or judicial actions commenced before this Act's effective date, unless a final court judgement has been rendered or a court-approved settlement agreement has been reached.
United States · United States Congress · 23 July 1991
Amends the Federal Power Act to provide a definition of the term "fishway."
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 1991
Petroleum Marketing Competition Enhancement Act - Amends the Petroleum Marketing Practices Act to prohibit a refiner from: (1) selling motor fuel to a customer for resale (customer) at a price higher than the refiner's adjusted retail price for the same or a similar grade or quality of motor fuel sold from a direct operated outlet in the same geographic area (sale of fuel at higher prices); and (2) entering into a scheme or agreement to set, change, or maintain maximum retail prices of motor fuel, except with respect to a refiner's retail sales at its direct operated outlets. Requires that: (1) in comparing a refiner's adjusted retail price to a refiner's price to other customers, adjustments be made to account for differences in freight, taxes, and inspection fees, whether or not the items are separately listed as part of the price; and (2) if a refiner includes consumer credit as part of its price, an adjustment for the cost of such credit be made in comparing the prices. Sets forth enforcement provisions, including: (1) proceedings by the Attorney General (establishes fines ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 for each violation, and authorizes civil actions and equitable relief); (2) private civil actions, including class actions, (and establishes a right to jury trial); and (3) proceedings by State attorneys general. Allows a person bringing an action to enforce provisions concerning the sale of fuel at higher prices to establish a prima facie case by showing that the refiner has sold motor fuel to a customer at a price that is higher than: (1) 94 percent of its consumer retail price per gallon (or, in the event of a sale to a branded wholesaler, 90 percent); or (2) the refiner's consumer retail price per gallon less the most recently available average retail operating expenses per gallon (and, in the event of a sale by a refiner to a branded wholesaler, also less the most recently available average wholesale operating expenses per gallon for the State in which the consumer retail price was charged). Specifies that: (1) in the event that the relevant State has not conducted an annual survey (pursuant to this Act) to determine the average retail or average wholesale operating expenses, the average operating expenses for the retail and wholesale petroleum industry, as determined by the Secretary of Energy, shall be used; and (2) such prima facie case may be overcome by a preponderance of evidence that the refiner's actual retail and average wholesale operating expenses, if applicable, are less than the evidence presented by the plaintiff to establish such prima facie case. Directs the Secretary to conduct an annual survey to determine the average retail and average wholesale operating expenses per gallon for the petroleum industry. Permits a State or State agency to authorize an annual State survey to reflect local conditions with respect to motor fuels sold to the public in that State. Directs that any such survey regarding: (1) retail operating expenses and actual wholesale operating expenses be based upon all direct and indirect expenses attributable to the sale of a gallon of motor fuel to the public by direct and nondirect operated outlets; and (2) wholesale operating expenses be based on all direct and indirect expenses attributable to the wholesale sale of a gallon of motor fuel by a refiner or a branded wholesaler to a branded dealer.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 1991
Clean Domestic Fuels Enhancement Act of 1991 - Title I: Nonvehicular Oil and Natural Gas Provisions - Directs the Secretary of the Energy to expand research and demonstration programs regarding: (1) certain natural gas recovery and cofiring techniques; and (2) natural gas heating and cooling technologies. Authorizes appropriations for such programs and for Federal fuel cells research and development. Amends the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Technology Competitiveness Act of 1989 to direct the Secretary to: (1) solicit proposals for, and provide financial assistance to, joint ventures for fuel cell technology demonstration; and (2) conduct a program to promote the early commercial application of fuel cell systems for the production of electricity by demonstrating such systems in Federal buildings. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes specified aggregate appropriations for enhanced oil recovery research and development. Directs the Secretary to implement a research, demonstration and commercialization program for high efficiency heat engines. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the National Academy of Sciences to study and report to the Congress on factors affecting the domestic natural gas industry and its role in worldwide gas production. Amends the Internal Revenue Code with respect to domestic oil and natural gas production. Allows independent producers to deduct from alternative minimum taxable income intangible drilling costs in the same amount as allowed in computing ordinary income. Allows the enhanced oil recovery credit to be offset against the minimum tax. Title II: Alternative Fuels and Fuel Economy - Authorizes appropriations for research and development of natural gas vehicles. Directs the Secretary to implement a research and demonstration program on techniques related to improving natural gas and other alternative-fuel vehicle technology. Authorizes appropriations. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide an investment tax credit for certain property, facilities, and vehicles related to clean-burning fuels. Amends the Natural Gas Act to declare its provisions inapplicable to the sale or transportation of Vehicular Natural Gas (VNG) by an entity that is: (1) not otherwise a natural gas company; or (2) subject primarily to regulation by a State commission. Declares that a company shall not be considered a gas utility company under the purview of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 solely because it owns or operates facilities used for retail distribution of vehicular natural gas. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into coopertive agreements and joint ventures with governmental or regional transit authorities to demonstrate the feasibility of using alternative-fueled vehicles. Authorizes appropriations. Sets forth a timetable for the attainment of certain percentages of alternative-fueled vehicles in Federal agency fleets and certain State government fleets. Requires the Secretary of Labor to implement a technician training and certification program with respect to the installation of equipment which allows either dual-fuel vehicles, or alternative-fueled vehicles. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary of Energy to implement a program and provide financial assistance for the development and commercialization of natural gas and other alternative fuels for use in passenger fleets, light-duty trucks, and heavy-duty trucks. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish: (1) carbon dioxide emission target levels for specified motor vehicle model years; and (2) a fee and rebate program related to carbon dioxide emissions compliance standards. Directs the Secretary of Energy to: (1) conduct a study to determine whether the use of alternative fuels in nonroad vehicles would contribute substantially to reduced reliance on imported energy sources; (2) institute certain programs to promote VNG; and (3) report to the Congress on selected aspects of Federal, State and local governmental policies concerning alternative-fueled vehicles. Declares that the Clean Air Act shall not apply to vehicles converted to operate exclusively on alternative fuels until the effective date of certain EPA rules. Prohibits enforcement of any State anti-tampering rule with respect to any vehicle converted to operate exclusively on clean alternative fuels.