United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1991
Budget Process Reform Act - Title I: Statement of Congressional Purpose - Declares that the purpose of this Act is to facilitate rational, informed, and timely decisions by the Congress. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Federal budget process should focus the attention of policymakers and the public on the aggregate impact of Federal spending on the economy, and on the tradeoffs that must be made among priorities in order to control overall levels of spending. Declares that the budget process should contain safeguards against delay and inaction, so that temporary shut-downs of the Government may be avoided. Title II: Binding Budget Law - Requires the Congress to enact a binding budget law, in the form of a joint resolution, by April 15 of the calendar year before that in which the fiscal period commences. Requires the budget law to fit on a single page, which sets forth specific budget ceilings in major functional categories. Makes it out of order in the House of Representatives or the Senate to consider any spending bill affecting spending in a major functional category unless and until a joint resolution on the budget is enacted. Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to prohibit baseline budgeting. Requires the budget to include comparisons of current fiscal year and proposed subsequent fiscal year spending. Requires the President to submit to the Congress on or before the fifteenth day after a joint resolution on the budget is enacted a detailed budget for the fiscal period beginning on October 1 of the current calendar year. Title III: Enforcement Mechanics - Subtitle A: Supermajority Required to Break Budget Law - Requires a two-thirds majority vote in the House and the Senate to consider any spending bill prior to the enactment of the budget law. Requires the Congressional Budget Office to provide to the Congress an estimate of the costs in each major functional category of any spending bill as soon as practicable after its introduction. Limits such estimates to those bills likely to result in costs of more than $10,000,000. Requires a two-thirds affirmative vote in the House and the Senate to consider over-budget spending bills. Requires a two-thirds affirmative vote in the House and the Senate to waive any provision of this Act. Subtitle B: Limited Enhanced Rescission Authority - Amends the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to limit the President's rescission authority to spending that is above the limits of the budget law. Subtitle C: "Blank Check" Appropriations Prohibited - Declares the intent of the Congress to end open-ended, "blank check" appropriations which typically authorize spending "such sums as may be necessary." Requires fixed-dollar appropriations for every account except social security and interest on the debt. Prohibits open-ended appropriations. Requires Executive agencies to adjust benefit levels to ensure that appropriations for entitlement programs are not exceeded. Restricts budget authority and entitlement authority to one fiscal period. Subtitle D: "Pay As You Go" Requirement for New Spending - Prohibits the Congress from considering any legislation which exceeds the budget ceiling unless it offsets such increased spending with an equal amount of reductions. Requires a two-thirds affirmative vote in the House and the Senate to waive such prohibition. Title IV: Sustaining Mechanism - Makes appropriations to provide for an automatic continuing resolution if for any account an appropriation for a fiscal period does not become law before the beginning of such period. Restricts legislation providing funding to the Committees on Appropriations. Title V: Protection of Social Security - Provides that no reduction in benefits under title II of the Social Security Act (Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) shall be made as a consequence of this Act. Title VI: Timetable - Revises the timetable for the congressional budget process. Title VII: Conforming Amendments - Makes various technical and conforming amendments, including changing references to a concurrent resolution on the budget to references to a joint resolution on the budget. Title VIII: Definitions and Rules of Interpretation - Sets forth definitions for specified terms. Title IX: Effective Date - Declares the effective date of this Act to be January 1, 1993, applicable to fiscal years beginning after September 30, 1993. Applies to FY 1993 certain provisions of Federal law, including the Congressional Budget Impoundment Control Act of 1974 and the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act).
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1991
Amends Federal law to prohibit any State from imposing an income tax on the pension income of any individual who is not a resident or domiciliary of that State.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1991
Educational Grant Reform Act of 1991 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to delay initial disbursement of Pell Grants to first-year undergraduate students. Makes ineligible for participation in the Pell Grant program any institution with a high default rate on student loans. Directs the Secretary of Education to study the accreditation system for proprietary institutions of higher education. Requires such study to: (1) examine conflicts of interest with respect to such institutions' board members; and (2) determine if the current system represents public interest by accrediting institutions that educate students adequately and use public funds responsibly. Requires a report to the Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1991
Privatization of Art Act of 1991 - Amends the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965 to abolish the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Council on the Arts (NCA). Provides for transfer of all NEA property to the National Endowment for the Humanities. Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to provide for the termination of the affairs of NEA and NCA.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1991
Limits U.S. contributions to the United Nations to an amount which bears the same ratio to the total budget of the United Nations as the total population of the United States bears to the total population of all the member states of the United Nations.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1991
Permits certain veterans with service-connected disabilities who are retired members of the uniformed services to receive compensation concurrently with retired pay, without deduction from either.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1991
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to remove the limitation on the amount of outside income which a beneficiary may earn without incurring a reduction in benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1991
Social Security Earnings Test Repeal Act of 1991 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to remove the limitation on the amount of outside income a beneficiary may earn without incurring a reduction in benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1991
Legislative Line Item Veto Act of 1991 - Amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to grant the President legislative line item veto rescission authority. Authorizes the President to rescind all or part of any budget authority if the President determines that such rescission: (1) would help balance the Federal budget, reduce the Federal budget deficit, or reduce the public debt; (2) will not impair any essential Government functions; and (3) will not harm the national interest. Requires the President to notify the Congress of such a rescission by: (1) special message not later than 20 calendar days after enactment of appropriations legislation; or (2) special message accompanying the budget when such rescissions have not been proposed previously for that fiscal year. Makes such a rescission effective unless the Congress, during a review period of 20 calendar days, enacts a rescission disapproval bill. Describes: (1) information to be included in the President's message; and (2) procedures to govern consideration of rescission disapproval legislation in the Senate and the House of Representatives.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1991
Technology Transfer Improvements Act of 1991 - Amends the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 to allow each Federal agency to: (1) secure copyright on behalf of the United States in any computer software prepared in whole or in part by U.S. employees under a cooperative research and development agreement or other authority, notwithstanding provisions of Federal copyright law; and (2) grant in advance to a collaborating party licenses or assignments for the copyrights, or options thereto, retaining specified rights. Adds references to software and its author to provisions governing the distribution of royalties received by Federal agencies.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1991
Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act of 1991 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from diminishing existing allocations of spectrum (available radio frequencies) to the amateur radio service after January 1, 1991. Requires the FCC to provide replacement spectrum to the service for any frequency reallocation after such date.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1991
Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to permit the deferral of payments on student loans during professional internships of any duration (by removing a two-year limitation).
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1991
Language of Government Act of 1991 - Declares English to be the official language of the U.S. Government. States that the Government has an affirmative obligation to preserve and enhance the role of English as the official language. Prohibits anyone from being denied Government services because they communicate in English. Prohibits a Government entity from making or enforcing an official act requiring the use of a language other than English. Deems anyone discriminated against for communicating to the Government in English to have been discriminated against on the basis of national origin. Makes available to a person so discriminated against all lawful remedies available under the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1991
Veterans' Compensation Amendments of 1991 - Increases the rates of: (1) veterans' disability compensation; (2) additional compensation for veterans' dependents; (3) the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans; (4) dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children; and (5) supplemental dependency and indemnity compensation for disabled adult children. Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to adjust administratively the rates of disability compensation payable to persons who are not in receipt of compensation for service-connected disability or death.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1991
National Commemorative Advisory Act - Establishes the President's Advisory Commission on National Commemoratives to: (1) establish criteria for recommending to the President that a proposed national observance be approved or disapproved; (2) review proposals for national observances submitted in accordance with procedures published by the Commission; and (3) issue recommendations to the President concerning each proposal reviewed.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that payment under a life insurance contract to an insured who is terminally ill be treated as a death benefit, making such payment eligible for exclusion from gross income. Provides that any reference to life insurance shall be treated as referring to a qualified terminal illness rider. Provides for the tax treatment of such riders. Describes such a rider as one which provides for payments to an insured upon the insured's becoming terminally ill.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a 100 percent tax on income from frozen Iraqi assets. Authorizes the President to modify such tax if the armed forces of Iraq withdraw from Kuwait within the time and in the manner determined by the President.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1991
Kiddie Tax Fairness Act of 1991 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that income from any property of a child shall not be included in the net unearned income of the child for tax purposes if such income is used for the child's educational expenses. Establishes an excise tax if such amounts are used for any purpose other than the taxpayer's educational expenses. Requires such amounts to be used before the end of the taxable year in which the taxpayer attains age 24.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1991
Repeals provisions of the Internal Revenue Code that limit the deductibility of contributions to individual retirement plans by active participants in employer-maintained retirement plans.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1991
Family Education Assistance Act of 1991 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an individual income tax deduction for contributions to a savings account established to pay the educational expenses (tuition, supplies, meals, and lodging) of the taxpayer's child or certain other relatives at an institution of higher education or a vocational school. Limits the deduction to $1,500 annually (adjusted for inflation) for each account. Disallows the deduction for contributions to an account maintained for any individual aged 19 or older. Requires any account balance to be distributed after the beneficiary attains age 30. Permits an exclusion from the gross income of the contributor or the beneficiary of account distributions used to pay educational expenses of the latter. Exempts an account from taxation (except for the tax on unrelated business income of a charitable organization), unless a contributor or the beneficiary engages in specified prohibited transactions in connection with it. Imposes a ten percent surtax on distributions not used for educational purposes. Requires the account trustee to report to the Secretary of the Treasury and to the account's beneficiary concerning the account. Imposes a penalty for failure to report. Allows taxpayers who do not otherwise itemize deductions to deduct for contributions to an education savings account. Imposes penalty taxes in connection with excess contributions or prohibited transactions associated with an account.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1991
States the sense of the Congress that the President or the Congress should immediately abrogate the Panama Canal Treaties of 1977 and the Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal and that the Congress should repeal the Panama Canal Act of 1979.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1991
Demands that the Iraqi Government: (1) comply fully with specified United Nations Security Council resolutions concerning Iraq's aggression against Kuwait; (2) withdraw from Kuwait; and (3) be responsible for all financial losses resulting from the invasion. Commends the President for his actions in responding to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait and threat to the region. Supports U.N. Security Council Resolution 678 regarding the use of "all necessary means" to uphold and implement such other U.N. resolutions, should Iraq fail to withdraw from Kuwait on or before January 15, 1991.
United States · United States Congress · 27 October 1990
Budget Process Reform Act - Title I: Statement of Congressional Purpose - Declares that the purpose of this Act is to facilitate rational, informed, and timely decisions by the Congress. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Federal budget process should focus the attention of policymakers and the public on the aggregate impact of Federal spending on the economy, and on the tradeoffs that must be made among priorities in order to control overall levels of spending. Declares that the budget process should contain safeguards against delay and inaction, so that temporary shut-downs of the Government may be avoided. Title II: Binding Budget Law - Requires the Congress to enact a binding budget law, in the form of a joint resolution, by April 15 of the calendar year before that in which the fiscal period commences. Requires the budget law to fit on a single page, which sets forth specific budget ceilings in major functional categories. Makes it out of order in the House of Representatives or the Senate to consider any spending bill affecting spending in a major functional category unless and until a joint resolution on the budget is enacted. Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to prohibit baseline budgeting. Requires the budget to include comparisons of current fiscal year and proposed subsequent fiscal year spending. Title III: Enforcement Mechanisms - Subtitle A: Super majority Required to Break Budget Law - Requires a two-thirds majority vote in the House and the Senate to consider any spending bill prior to the enactment of the budget law. Requires the Congressional Budget Office to provide to the Congress an estimate of the costs in each major functional category of any spending bill as soon as practicable after its introduction. Limits such estimates to those bills likely to result in costs of more than $10,000,000. Requires a two-thirds affirmative vote in the House and the Senate to consider over-budget spending bills. Requires a two-thirds affirmative vote in the House and the Senate to waive any provision of this Act. Subtitle B: Limited Enhanced Rescission Authority - Amends the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to limit the President's rescission authority to spending that is above the limits of the budget law. Subtitle C: "Blank Check" Appropriations Prohibited - Declares the intent of the Congress to end open-ended, "blank check" appropriations which typically authorize spending "such sums as may be necessary." Requires fixed-dollar appropriations for every account except social security and interest on the debt. Prohibits open-ended appropriations. Requires Executive agencies to adjust benefit levels to ensure that appropriations for entitlement programs are not exceeded. Subtitle D: "Pay As You Go" Requirement for New Spending - Prohibits the Congress from considering any legislation which exceeds the budget ceiling unless it offsets such increased spending with an equal amount of reductions. Requires a two-thirds affirmative vote in the House and the Senate to waive such prohibition. Title IV: Sustaining Mechanism - Makes appropriations to provide for an automatic continuing resolution if for any account an appropriation for a fiscal period does not become law before the beginning of such period. Restricts legislation providing funding to the Committees on Appropriations. Title V: Protection of Social Security - Provides that no reduction in benefits under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act shall be made as a consequence of this Act. Title VI: Timetable - Revises the timetable for the congressional budget process. Title VII: Conforming Amendments - Makes various technical and conforming amendments, including changing references to a concurrent resolution on the budget to references to a joint resolution on the budget. Title VIII: Definitions and Rules of Interpretation - Sets forth definitions for specified terms. Title IX: Effective Date - Declares the effective date of this Act to be January 1, 1991, applicable to fiscal years beginning after September 30, 1991.
United States · United States Congress · 23 October 1990
Designates the room numbered H-235 in the House of Representatives wing of the Capitol as the Lindy Claiborne Boggs Congressional Women's Reading Room.
United States · United States Congress · 18 October 1990
Airport System Planning Act of 1990 - Amends the Airport and Airway Improvement Act of 1982 to prohibit project grant applications from proposing airport development or airport planning except in connection with public-use airports included in an Airport Capital Improvement Plan prepared pursuant to this Act. Prohibits the approval of such an application unless the Secretary of Transportation is satisfied, among other things, that the project is reasonably consistent with airport and aviation system plans (existing at the time of the projects approval) of the State and the regional transportation planning authorities of the area in which the airport is located. Requires the Secretary of Transportation to establish performance measures for evaluating both individual airport improvement projects and the needs of the Nation's system of airports in conducting planning activities. Requires the Secretary, every four years, to conduct a national forum of Federal, State, and local officials and private sector representatives to identify and evaluate long-range problems associated with public-use airports. Directs the Secretary to transmit to the Congress and the President a strategic plan for airports. Requires the Secretary to transmit annually to the Congress and the President an Airport Capital Improvement Plan that includes: (1) a list of airport improvement projects which may receive Federal funding in the next five years; and (2) an evaluation and specific proposals to eliminate or reduce constraints on the development of such projects. Requires, upon a State's request, Federal cooperation and participation in the airport system planning of that State. Requires the Secretary to: (1) establish guidelines for forecasting aviation activity at public-use airports within each State; and (2) develop a model State statute for airport vicinity land use planning. Directs the Secretary to conduct research and establish a methodology for determining the relationship between airport system capacity enhancement alternatives and the overall performance of the national economy, including the impact of such alternatives on private sector production of goods and services and on U.S. international competitiveness.
United States · United States Congress · 17 October 1990
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should declare November 2, 1990, a national day of prayer for: (1) members of American military forces and American citizens stationed or held hostage in the Middle East, and for their families; and (2) American and Iraqi authorities to bring about a just resolution of the Persian Gulf crisis.
United States · United States Congress · 1 October 1990
Four Percent Solution Budget Act - Title I: The Four Percent Solution - Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) to impose a a four-percent cap on increases in outlays from the preceding year. Extends certain provisions and the terminating date of such Act through FY 1997 (currently, FY 1993). Excludes receipts and disbursements of the Resolution Trust Corporation from the budget deficit or any other totals of the budget. Amends the Congressional Budget Act to adjust the allowable maximum deficit amounts until there is a zero deficit in FY 1997. Requires the President to issue a midyear sequester on March 15 necessary to meet deficit and outlay targets. Requires the Congressional Budget Office and the Office of Management and Budget to make specified preliminary reports to the President before the issuance of such sequester. Title II: Preparation of the Budget - Amends Federal law to revise required budget contents with respect to estimated expenditures and proposed appropriations for the current fiscal year and the next fiscal year. Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to require the starting point for deliberations in the Committees on the Budget in the House of Representatives and in the Senate on the concurrent resolution on the budget for the next fiscal year to be the estimated level of outlays for the current year in each function and subfunction. Revises content requirements for the report accompanying such resolution. Requires the Director of the Congressional Budget Office to include in the report to the Budget Committees the estimated budget outlays in all functions and subfunctions for appropriated accounts for the current fiscal year and estimated budget outlays under current law for all entitlement programs for the next fiscal year. Title III: Pay-As-You-Go Budget - Prohibits the concurrent resolution on the budget from causing: (1) total budget outlays (excluding outlays of the Resolution Trust Corporation) to exceed the outlays target for that fiscal year; and (2) the recommended level of Federal revenues (excluding revenues of the Corporation) to be less than the recommended level of Federal revenues for the preceding fiscal year (excluding revenues of the Corporation). Prohibits a concurrent resolution on the budget from: (1) providing for an outlay excess in a functional category unless it provides for a decrease in budget outlays in another functional category; or (2) providing for a reduction in the recommended level of Federal revenues below that set forth in the most recently agreed to concurrent resolution on the budget for the preceding year, unless it provides for a reduction in budget outlays below the appropriate level established for the preceding year. Allows a waiver of such prohibitions by a three-fifths vote of each House of Congress. Makes it out of order in the Senate and in the House to consider a concurrent resolution under which the recommended level of revenues for a fiscal year exceeds the appropriate level of total budget outlays for that fiscal year unless the resolution specifies the purposes for which the excess revenues are to be allocated. Makes conforming amendments to Federal law with respect to the President's budget.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 1990
Authorizes the President, in order to protect health and safety of human life, to decrease the sequester amounts specified in the order issued August 25, 1990, under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act). Requires an increase in the sequester amount in other accounts, programs, projects, or activities to the extent amounts were decreased in such order.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 1990
National Aeronautics and Space Administration Multiyear Authorization Act of 1990 - Title I: National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorizations - Authorizes appropriations to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for: (1) research and development; (2) space flight, control, and data communications; (3) construction of facilities; (4) research and program management; and (5) the Inspector General. Permits appropriations for the first two numbered categories to be used for certain items of a capital nature (other than land acquisition) required for the performance of research and development contracts, and for grants to nonprofit educational and research organizations to augment their research facilities. Prohibits the use of these funds for the construction of any major facility whose estimated cost exceeds a specified amount, unless the Administrator of NASA notifies specified congressional committees. Authorizes use of funds from one or more of the numbered categories, subject to limitations, for scientific consultations or extraordinary expenses, for facilities construction, repair, or modification, and for unforeseen programmatic facility project needs. Permits reprogramming of funds for facilities construction, subject to conditions outlined in this Act. Authorizes certain fund transfers and makes available specified funds for the construction and modification of laboratories and other installations. Requires the Administrator to notify specified congressional committees of the nature, cost, and need for such construction before expending the funds in question. Prohibits, until 30 days following congressional receipt of the Administrator's full explanation, the use of funds appropriated pursuant to this Act for any program: (1) deleted by the Congress from original requests; (2) in excess of the amount actually authorized for the particular program; or (3) not presented to either of specified congressional committees. Requires NASA to keep those committees fully and currently informed regarding all activities within their jurisdiction. Amends the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 to add to the functions of the Administration those of: (1) seeking and encouraging the fullest commercial use of space; and (2) encouraging and providing for Federal Government use of commercially provided space services and hardware. Authorizes appropriations to carry out the activities of the National Space Council, making a limited amount available for official reception and representation expenses. Requires the Council to reimburse other agencies for at least half of the personnel compensation costs of individuals detailed to it. Directs the Administrator to award to a domestic firm a contract that, under the use of competitive procedures, would be awarded to a foreign firm, if certain conditions exist. Directs the Administrator to submit to specified congressional committees certain reports relating to the Advanced Solid Rocket Motor. Declares it to be U.S. policy to use the space shuttle: (1) for purposes that require the presence of man or the unique capabilities of the shuttle; or (2) when other compelling circumstances exist, including those related to national security or foreign policy. States that the policy does not preclude carrying secondary payloads that do not require the presence of man if consistent with the requirements of research, development, demonstration, scientific, commercial, and educational programs authorized by the Administrator. Requires the Administrator to submit to the Congress a plan for implementing the policy. Directs the Administrator to: (1) review proposed manned space flight missions with regard to identifying the human factors knowledge base necessary and developing a schedule of when specified components of information will need to be acquired or developed; (2) develop a strategic plan for life sciences research and technology development, including a crew certification plan and a life sciences implementation plan; and (3) verify the physiological technical feasibility of the life sciences implementation plan. Directs the National Space Council to conduct a study and report to the Congress on International Cooperation in Planetary Exploration with regard to; (1) developing an inventory of technologies and intentions of all national space agencies; (2) seeking ways to enhance the planning and exchange of information; (3) preparing a proposal for efficient use of resources; (4) developing priority goals for needs that could not be achieved by any individual country; (5) exploring the possibilities of international unmanned probes and international manned missions; and (6) devising strategies for cooperation that would prevent unwanted transfer of technology. Establishes within the Department of Commerce an Office of Space Commerce to coordinate space-related issues, programs, and initiatives within the Department. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary of Defense and the Administrator of NASA to jointly establish a National Aero-Space Plane program to develop a primarily air breathing single-stage-to-orbit and long-range hypersonic cruise research flight vehicle. Prescribes the respective responsibilities of the Secretary and the Administrator. Directs the Secretary and the Administrator to develop and submit to the Congress a management plan that includes goals, tasks, schedules, and resource procurement strategies. Requires the Secretary to be responsible for at least two-thirds, and the Administrator to be responsible for not more than one-third, of the costs of the program. Amends the Commercial Space Launch Act to authorize appropriations to carry out the Act. Amends provisions requiring a license for private space launch operations to declare that a license is not required if an agency assumes responsibility for the launch. Directs the Secretaries of Defense and Transportation and the Administrator to jointly develop regulations establishing criteria for such assumption. Requires the Secretary of Transportation to encourage States, as well as the private sector, to acquire, by lease, sale, or other transaction, excess U.S. launch property. Directs the Administrator to contract with the National Academy of Public Administration for a review of the organizational and institutional preparedness of NASA to undertake major new initiatives in science and human exploration. Requires the contract to include a report: (1) estimating the human resources required to carry out this title; (2) describing the structure of NASA; (3) describing the role and relationship of other Federal agencies, Federal laboratories, and the private sector in carrying out the Nation's space program; and (4) recommending administrative changes. Declares that it is U.S. policy to: (1) conduct space activities in a manner that does not increase orbital space debris; and (2) engage other spacefaring nations to develop an agreement to ensure that such debris is not increased. Authorizes the Administrator to spend excess funds appropriated for orbiter production to maintain the space shuttle orbiter production line and related production lines of orbiter subcontractors. Requires, in any agreement entered into by NASA for an Industrial Application Center, that the center be allowed to retain all client income without any deductions from appropriated funds received or to be received by that center. Requires the Administrator to contract with the National Academy of Public Administration for a cost and benefit analysis of the Shuttle-C program. Requires any automotive stirling engine demonstration program sponsored by NASA to utilize natural gas and, if not natural gas, methanol or ethanol. Title II: Launch Services Purchase - Launch Services Purchase Act of 1990 - Requires NASA to purchase launch services for its primary payloads from commercial providers. Allows exceptions on a case-by-case basis if the Administrator determines that: (1) the payloads requires the unique capabilities of the space shuttle; (2) cost effective commercial services to meet mission requirements are not reasonably available; or (3) the use of commercial services poses an unacceptable risk of loss of a unique scientific opportunity. Requires the determination to be made at Preliminary Design Review and prohibits it from being delegated. Allows launch vehicles to be acquired or owned by NASA, except for historical displays, only as required by such exceptions or for conducting research, development, and testing of launch technology. Requires contracts to provide launch services to NASA to be awarded on the basis of full, fair, and open competition. Requires NASA to limit its requirements for submission of cost or pricing data in support of a bid or proposal. Requires performance specifications, not detailed Government design or construction specifications, to be used. Prohibits acceptance of commercial payloads for launch as primary payloads on the space shuttle unless: (1) the payload requires unique shuttle capabilities; or (2) launching on the shuttle is important for national security or foreign policy purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1990
Federal Management Reform Act of 1990 - Establishes within the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) the Chief Financial Officer of the United States. Sets forth financial management and general management functions of the Chief Financial Officer. Directs the Chief Financial Officer to prepare for each five-year period a Government-wide financial management plan for submission to the President and the Congress which describes financial management activities to be conducted by the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Financial Officers of departments and independent establishments, and Federal agencies to improve the financial management of the Government. Sets forth requirements for such plans. Establishes in OMB the Office of Federal Financial Management to be headed by an Administrator who shall be the deputy to and principal advisor of the Chief Financial Officer. Establishes in each Federal department and independent establishment an Office of the Chief Financial Officer to be headed by the Chief Financial Officer of the department or independent establishment. Sets forth the functions of such Chief Financial Officers which include cooperating with the Chief Financial Officer of the United States in preparing the five-year financial management plans authorized by this Act. Specifies the Federal agencies that constitute an "independent establishment" for purposes of this Act. Requires the heads of each department and independent establishment to annually prepare and submit audited financial statements to the Chief Financial Officer of the United States. Requires the Inspector General of each department and independent establishment to submit an annual report on the audit of the financial statements to the head. Permits the Comptroller General to review any audit of a financial statement conducted under this Act by an Inspector General or external auditor. Requires the Comptroller General to report to the Congress, the Chief Financial Officer of the United States, and the head of each department or independent establishment which prepared the statement regarding the results of the review along with appropriate recommendations. Directs the President to order the transfer to the Office of Federal Financial Management of Federal executive agency powers which the President determines are properly related to the functions of that Office along with personnel, property, and records as appropriate. Requires the head of each department and independent establishment to submit to the OMB Director for approval a proposal for reorganizing the department or establishment. Requires such heads to implement the proposals upon approval.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1990
Small Business Tax Incentive Act of 1990 - Title I: Treatment of Costs of Providing Nondiscriminatory Public Accommodations - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for small businesses for the expense of providing public accommodations access to the disabled. Makes such tax credit a part of the general business credit for eligible small businesses. Reduces the tax deduction for expenditures to remove architectural and transportation barriers to the handicapped and elderly. Title II: Other Provisions - Repeals a provision that disallows the income tax deduction of 25 percent of the health insurance costs of self-employed individuals after tax year 1989 (thus extending the deduction permanently). Revises provisions regarding the review of the impact of tax regulations on small businesses with respect to procedures in promulgating final regulations. Requires the booklets of instructions for individual income tax returns to include pie-shaped graphs showing the relative sizes of the major outlay and income categories.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1990
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) 1991 should be considered as Rebuild America Year; (2) a national effort to rebuild the infrastructure of the United States should be undertaken to provide assistance to States and localities in meeting core infrastructure needs; (3) the multibillion dollar balances in the Highway and Airport and Airway Trust Funds should be spent to rebuild the infrastructure of the United States; (4) the President should work with the Congress to establish a comprehensive national infrastructure policy and to revitalize and supplement existing programs to achieve this goal; (5) the Federal Government along with State and local governments and the private sector should share their expertise and support in formulating and developing a national effort to rebuild the infrastructure of the United States; and (6) the President and the Congress should dedicate appropriate funding to implement a national effort to rebuild the infrastructure of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 1990
Expresses the sense of the Congress that Walker Percy of Covington, Louisiana, be remembered as one of the finest writers and contributors to the culture of the United States of the 20th century.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 1990
Financial Crimes Prosecution and Recovery Act of 1990 as Reported By the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives - Title I: Enhanced Criminal Penalties - Amends Federal criminal law to establish criminal penalties (including imprisonment) for the concealment of assets from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) (acting as conservator or receiver) and the Resolution Trust Corporation (RTC) acting as conservator or receiver. Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to prohibit certain felons convicted of dishonesty or breach of trust from controlling or participating in the affairs of a depository institution for a minimum ten-year period. Amends Federal criminal law to establish criminal penalties (including imprisonment) for obstructing any examination of a financial institution. Increases to 30 years (currently, 20 years) the maximum prison term for bank fraud and embezzlement. Establishes a ten-year statute of limitations for the prosecution of racketeering offenses involving financial institutions. Extends money laundering prohibitions to include funds from specified bank crimes. Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to promulgate guidelines for increased penalties for certain bank crime convictions in which the defendant derived more than $1,000,000 in gross receipts from the offense. Provides for restoration of forfeited property and for restitution to bank crime victims. Sets forth maximum criminal fines and minimum imprisonment terms for certain continuing financial crime enterprises (i.e., certain violations committed by at least four persons acting in concert). Title II: Protecting Assets from Wrongful Disposition - Authorizes the Attorney General to obtain a court order enjoining or restraining the alienation of disposition of property obtained as a result of a banking law violation. Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to set forth attachment procedures. Amends Federal bankruptcy law to provide that the trustee shall be deemed to have assumed a debtor's commitment to a Federal depository institution regulatory agency to maintain the capital of an insured depository institution (thus precluding the trustee from rejecting such commitment as an executory contract which can be avoided as a discharge in bankruptcy). Exempts a Federal depository institution regulatory agency acting as conservator for an insured depository institution from the requirement of proving reasonable reliance upon a false writing supplied by a debtor who is an institution-affiliated party. Prohibits a discharge in bankruptcy for debts resulting from the debtor's failure to fulfill a commitment to a Federal financial institution regulatory agency to maintain the capital of an insured depository institution. Exempts a Federal depository institution regulatory agency acting as conservator for an insured depository institution from the requirement of a timely nondischargeability request (including notice and hearing) when seeking to recover a debt relating to malfeasance. Declares that for specified cases of deceitful conduct, any institution-affiliated party of an insured depository institution (or credit union) shall be deemed to have been acting in a fiduciary capacity with respect to any debt owed to a Federal banking regulatory agency (thus making such debt nondischargeable in bankruptcy). Makes it a prerequisite of a bankruptcy reorganization plan that the debtor will: (1) maintain any commitment to a Federal banking regulatory agency to maintain the capital of an insured depository institution; and (2) continue to be obligated for any debt to such agency for failure to fulfill such commitment. Makes certain debts owed by an institution-affiliated party to an insured depository institution under Federal receivership nondischargeable under a consumer debt bankruptcy plan. Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to empower the FDIC (acting as conservator) to avoid fraudulent conveyances by a debtor institution-affiliated party. Prohibits an insured depository institution which does not meet minimum Federal capitalization requirements from making golden parachute payments, covered benefit payments, or certain payments in anticipation of insolvency to an institution-affiliated party without prior written Federal agency approval. Cites conditions under which insured depository institutions may make golden parachute payments and covered benefits payments with FDIC approval. Amends the Federal criminal code to revise civil and criminal forfeiture guidelines for: (1) property affecting a financial institution; and (2) fraudulent offenses involving the sale of assets held by Federal banking regulatory agencies. Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to prohibit certain convicted felony debtors whose default to an insured financial institution in receivership will cause substantial loss from acquiring any asset of the institution (except with respect to repayment). Title III: Improved Procedures for Handling Banking-Related Cases - Amends Federal criminal law to authorize wiretaps for bank fraud and related offenses. Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to set forth reciprocal assistance guidelines for foreign investigations by Federal banking agencies and investigations on behalf of foreign banking authorities. Amends the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 (FIRREA) to extend to ten years (currently, five years) the statute of limitations for commencing a civil action for Federal bank law violations. Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the National Credit Union Act to grant the FDIC, the RTC, and the NCUA subpoena authority. Title IV: Structural Reforms to Improve the Federal Response to Crimes Affecting Financial Institutions - Establishes within the Office of the Deputy Attorney General in the Department of Justice a Financial Institutions Fraud Unit, headed by a Special Counsel who shall report directly to the Deputy Attorney General. Terminates such Office five years after enactment of this Act. Empowers the Special Counsel to investigate and prosecute criminal activity involving the financial services industry. Directs the Attorney General to establish: (1) financial institutions fraud task forces; and (2) a senior interagency group to assist in identifying the most significant financial institution fraud cases, to allocate investigative and prosecutorial resources, and to expedite interagency coordination and prosecution of financial institutions fraud. Amends Federal criminal law to authorize the Secret Service (under the direction of the Secretary of the Treasury) to detect and arrest persons who violate banking laws with respect to financial institutions and the Resolution Trust Corporation (RTC). Title V: Reporting Requirements - Directs the Attorney General to report quarterly to the Congress regarding financial institution crimes. Requires the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts to present annual statistical tables to the Congress on the business imposed on the Federal courts by the savings and loan crisis. Title VI: National Commission on Financial Institution Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement - Establishes the National Commission on Financial Institution Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement to make investigations and recommendations regarding specified aspects of the savings and loan crisis. Requires the Commission to submit a final report to the President and the Congress within one year after enactment of this Act. Terminates the Commission 30 days after the submission of such final report. Authorizes appropriations. Title VII: Authorizations - Amends the FIRREA to authorize appropriations to the Attorney General and the Federal Court System for bank crime cases.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 1990
Prohibits the receipts and disbursements of the Highway Trust Fund (for both the Federal Aid Highway program and the Mass Transit Account) and the Airport and Airway Trust Fund which are allocable to the transportation-related operations of such Funds from being included in either the Federal budget as submitted by the President, or in the congressional budget. Exempts such trust funds from any general statutory budget limitation. Amends the Airport and Airway Improvement Act of 1982 to require the Secretary of Transportation to estimate: (1) the amount of unfunded aviation authorizations at the close of the next fiscal year; and (2) the net aviation receipts for the 24-month period beginning at the close of such fiscal year. Prescribes adjustment procedures for certain unfunded aviation authorizations and for aviation apportionments. Requires the Secretary to report such estimates to specified congressional committees. Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) to exempt specified Airport and Airway Trust Fund and Highway Trust Fund activities from any sequestration order issued under a certain section of the Act. Amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to: (1) exclude receipts and disbursements allocable to transportation-related operations of the Funds in calculating the Federal budget deficit; and (2) prohibit the Congress from considering specified changes to such Funds.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 1990
Prohibits U.S. assistance to Malaysia. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct U.S. executive directors of the International Monetary Fund, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the International Development Association to oppose all loans to such country. Denies nondiscriminatory treatment (most-favored-nation treatment) to Malaysia. Authorizes the President to waive such prohibitions if Malaysia: (1) agrees to be a country of first asylum to those persons fleeing Vietnam by boat; and (2) terminates the practice of pushing asylum seekers back out to sea.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 1990
Criminal Alien Deportation Amendments of 1990 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to replace the definition of "aggravated felony" with definitions for "class 1 felony" and "class 2 felony." Establishes a time frame for filing petitions for judicial review of deportation orders for aliens convicted of class 1 or 2 felonies. Bars reentry of aliens convicted of class 1 or 2 felonies for 20 years or ten years, respectively. Limits the period of time counted toward suspension of deportation for aliens who have committed class 2 felonies. Makes specified provisions currently applicable to aggravated felonies applicable to class 1 felonies. Sets forth procedures for notices of deportation hearings and in absentia hearings. Prohibits, unless the Attorney General determines that sufficient resources for deportation do not exist, any alien from departing voluntarily from the United States at his own expense in lieu of deportation if such alien has, within the previous ten years, been granted a date by which he must depart voluntarily and has failed to depart. Provides that any such alien who has failed to depart shall be deportable. Requires defenses with respect to the deportation of an alien to be raised in the alien's response to the order initiating deportation proceedings. Exempts from such requirement applications for asylum or withholding of deportation which arise because of a change in circumstance in the country of the alien's nationality after the initiation of deportation proceedings. Sets forth requirements with respect to motions to reopen or reconsider proceedings against an alien. Exempts from such requirements the same circumstances granted exemptions from defense requirements. Sets forth procedures for administrative appeals. Permits only one administrative appeal to be made with respect to motions to reopen or reconsider deportation proceedings. Sets forth conditions under which such appeals shall be considered frivolous. Prescribes civil penalties for submission of frivolous appeals. Permits attorneys who submit two or more frivolous appeals in one year to be barred from representing parties in deportation proceedings for a specified time period. Provides aliens with up to 14 days from the time the alien first appears before the Attorney General in deportation proceedings in order for the alien to secure counsel. Prohibits aliens who have been convicted of class 1 or 2 felonies from applying for, or being granted, asylum. Excludes aliens convicted of class 1 felonies from the definition concerning good moral character. Grants Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) officers and employees the power to make arrests for offenses against the United States and to carry firearms. Directs the INS Commissioner to provide for the fingerprinting and photographing of each alien 14 or over against whom a deportation proceeding is commenced. Requires the Attorney General to report to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees on: (1) information, for each of the 36 months preceding this Act's enactment, on the number of deportation orders issued per month and the percentage of orders executed; and (2) the number of aliens whose deportation hearings have been conducted and the percentage that such number represents of the total number of deportable aliens eligible for such hearings since November 18, 1988. Conditions the admittance of returning resident aliens on such aliens not having been convicted of a class 1 or 2 felony for which a term of more than two years of imprisonment was imposed. Eliminates an exemption from deportation for an alien convicted of a crime and for whom a court has made a recommendation that such alien not be deported. Makes ineligible to receive a visa and excludes from admission into the United States an alien convicted of a class 2 felony who departs voluntarily from the United States at his own expense. Provides for the transfer of a specified amount of funds from the Immigration Examinations Fee Account to the Executive Office for Immigration Review in the Department of Justice for purposes of removing backlogs in the preparation of transcripts of deportation proceedings.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 1990
Ice Enforcement and Prevention Act of 1990 - Amends the Controlled Substances Act and the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act to set forth penalties for offenses involving crystalline methamphetamine. Requires: (1) the Department of Education and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to jointly develop model, community-based curricula for disseminating comprehensive information on methamphetamine, crystal methamphetamine, and chemically related stimulants and to distribute such curricula to every primary and secondary school in the country; and (2) the Department to establish at least four statewide or regional methamphetamine prevention demonstration programs, including one project in States that are experiencing serious methamphetamine abuse problems. Authorizes appropriations for such demonstration programs. Requires the Director of NIDA to prioritize the development of a drug to treat addictions to amphetamine, methamphetamine, crystal methamphetamine, and chemically related stimulants. Requires the Director of Health and Human Services to investigate the syndrome that results from methamphetamine addiction at birth and to develop a protocol for treating newborns afflicted with methamphetamine addiction.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1990
Authorizes appropriations for FY 1991 to the Department of Defense Base Closure Account to be used for environmental restoration at military installations scheduled to be closed under current law. Makes such Account the exclusive source of funding for such environmental restoration. Establishes an interagency task force and requires the Secretary of Defense to report to the Congress the findings and recommendations of the task force regarding ways to improve, coordinate, and streamline interagency action concerning environmental restoration activities at military installations that are being closed.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 1990
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the memory of Walt Disney should be honored on the 35th anniversary of his contribution to the American dream (the opening of Disneyland).
![Official portrait of Rep. Packard, Ron [R-CA-48]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/p000005_200.jpg)