United States · United States Congress · 30 July 1987
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from the gross income of an individual any interest received or accrued on U.S. college bonds to the extent such amount is used to pay the qualified tuition expenses (tuition, fees, books, supplies, and equipment) in connection with the post-secondary education of the taxpayer, spouse, or dependents at a qualified educational organization. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to issue U.S. college bonds, a form of savings bond, having maturities varying at one-year intervals and bearing the statement that otherwise taxable amounts deriving from redemption of the bonds may be excluded from gross income when used to pay qualifying tuition expenses.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 1987
Agricultural Nitrogen Management Act of 1987 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish an Agricultural Nitrogen Best Management Practices Task Force to: (1) develop agricultural best management practices to minimize nitrogen losses from all potential uses of agricultural nitrogen; (2) develop and disseminate to American farmers educational and training materials with respect to such practices; and (3) report to the Congress in two years on the progress of its efforts. Authorizes appropriations. Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (Clean Water Act) to require that any State assessment report or management report be developed in consultation with the task force. Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to consult with the task force in preparing annual reports and final reports to the Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 1987
Amends the Agricultural Act of 1980 to require the Secretary of Agriculture to submit an annual report to the Congress on food bank special nutrition projects. (Under current law, a final report was due on January 1, 1984.) Directs the Secretary to: (1) carry out at least one food bank demonstration project in each of the standard Federal regions; and (2) report to the Congress, not later than January 3, 1990, on such projects. Terminates the Secretary's authority with respect to the demonstration projects December 31, 1990.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 1987
Amends Internal Revenue Code provisions relating to the income tax deduction for the health insurance costs of self-employed individuals to: (1) increase from 25 percent to 100 percent the allowable deduction; and (2) make the deduction permanent (under current law it will expire after tax year 1989).
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 1987
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to accord income tax treatment as a qualified cash or deferred arrangement (401(k) plan) to a defined contribution plan established and maintained by a rural telephone cooperative. (Under current law, rural electric cooperatives, but not rural telephone cooperatives, are permitted to offer such plans to their employees.) Applies to such plans the same accounting rules as are currently applied to the plans of rural electric cooperatives.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 1987
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow rural telephone and electric cooperatives to exclude allocations in the nature of patronage dividends when determining net book income for purposes of the minimum tax.
United States · United States Congress · 28 July 1987
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should instruct the Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations to urge the Secretary General and Security Council to: (1) permit nonbelligerent ships in the Persian Gulf to fly the United Nations flag if such ships submit to inspection by United Nations observers to guarantee that no war material is being carried; (2) authorize United Nations peacekeeping vessels to escort such ships; and (3) determine what enforcement action should be taken in the event of an attack on ships under the United Nations flag. States that any such escort vessels and their crews should be provided by countries other than the Soviet Union and the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 1987
Dairy Export Incentive Program Amendments Act of 1987 - Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to allow for the use of generic certificates in the dairy export incentive program. States that if such certificates are exchanged for dairy products, such products (or an equal amount of other dairy products) must be exported.
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 1987
Taxpayers' Right to Know Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require the Secretary of the Treasury to include on the first page of instruction booklets for filing individual income tax returns a pie-shaped graph depicting the relative sizes of the following categories of Federal outlay for the immediately preceding fiscal year: (1) defense, veterans, and foreign affairs; (2) Social Security, medicare, and other retirement; (3) physical, human, and community development; (4) social programs; (5) law enforcement and general government; and (6) interest on the debt. Requires a corresponding pie-shaped graph illustrating income from: (1) Social Security, medicare, unemployment, and other retirement taxes; (2) personal income taxes; (3) corporate income taxes; (4) borrowing to cover the deficit; and (5) excise, customs, estate, gift, and miscellaneous taxes. Requires specified footnotes to the graph depicting major outlay categories.
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 1987
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit a partnership, S corporation, or personal service corporation, unless it is part of a tiered structure, to elect to have a taxable year other than the required one, but generally only if the deferral period of the taxable year elected is three months or less. (Current law requires partnerships, S corporations, and personal service corporations, in most cases, to conform their taxable years to the calendar years used by their owners.) Subjects the principals of a partnership or S corporation electing to change taxable years to additional estimated tax requirements to offset any tax deferral resulting from such election. Imposes deduction limitations on a personal service corporation that changes taxable years. Provides that an election with respect to taxable year shall be made by the partnership, S corporation, or personal service corporation and shall be binding on all partners and shareholders. Sets forth the formula for determining the additional tax requirement when a taxpayer: (1) is a partner or shareholder in at least one such entity during any applicable election years of the entity that end within the taxpayer's taxable year; and (2) has an aggregate deferred tax exceeding $200 with respect to the entity. Describes payment procedures. Requires the inclusion of specified information on returns filed by partnerships and S corporations that elect to use a non-required taxable year. Limits the tax deduction permitted to a personal service corporation for amounts paid or incurred with respect to employee-owners when such a corporation: (1) elects to have a taxable year other than the required one; and (2) fails to meet certain minimum distribution requirements regarding non-dividend amounts paid to owners.
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 1987
Amends Federal provisions relating to cemeteries and memorials to remove the per-State limitation on the receipt of grant funds used for the establishment, expansion, and improvement of veterans' cemeteries. Authorizes the Administrator of Veterans Affairs (the Administrator) to make contributions to local authorities for the construction of traffic controls, road improvements, or other devices on land adjacent to a national cemetery if the Administrator determines that such a contribution is necessary for safe ingress and egress to or from such cemetery. Authorizes the Administrator to provide an approved grave liner for the interment of remains in cemeteries within the National Cemetery System and in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia. Authorizes the Administrator to provide for flat grave markers in the case of gravesites of cremated remains that are interred in the ground. Authorizes the Administrator to also provide for flat grave markers in the case of graves on land transferred to the Department of Memorial Affairs from the Department of Medicine and Surgery of the Veterans Administration for the expansion of a cemetery at the Clement A. Zablocki Veterans' Administration Medical Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Establishes in the Treasury the Foreign Currency Fluctuations, American Battle Monuments Commission, Account. States that account funds shall be used by the American Battle Monuments Commission (the Commission) to eliminate operating losses due to fluctuations in currency exchange rates of foreign countries which occur after a budget request for the Commission is submitted to the Congress. Requires any limits applicable to appropriations available to the Commission to be adjusted to take into account any such foreign currency fluctuations. Authorizes funds originally transferred from such Account to be transferred back to that Account if foreign currency fluctuations necessitate such action. Requires unobligated balances of funds appropriated to the Commission for a fiscal year to be transferred into the Account within a specified time and to be merged with and available for the same period and purposes as that Account. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to report to the Congress annually on funds made available under this provision. Authorizes appropriations to the Account.
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 1987
Veterans' Compensation Amendments of 1987 - Title I: Rate Increases - Increases the rates of veterans' disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, and the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans. Increases the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children of veterans who have died as a result of service-connected disabilities, as well as the rates of supplemental dependency and indemnity compensation for certain surviving children. Title II: Improved Benefits for Former Prisoners of War - Amends Federal veterans' benefits provisions to: (1) redefine "former prisoner of war" to include persons held by other than an enemy government during a war; and (2) allow a presumption of service-connection for peripheral neuropathy due to trauma, a spastic colon, or peptic or duodenal ulcers suffered by a former prisoner of war which become manifest to a degree of ten percent or more after active military service. Decreases from six months to 90 days the period of internment required for former prisoners of war to become eligible for dental care benefits. Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions - Directs the Administrator of Veterans Affairs to pay benefits to the surviving spouse and children of certain deceased veterans rated totally disabled at their time of death and for a specified period preceding death. Requires such benefits to be provided in the same manner as if the veteran's death was service-connected. Prohibits the payment of any such benefits to a surviving spouse unless: (1) the marriage to the veteran occurred before the expiration of 15 years after the veteran's discharge or release from active duty; (2) the surviving spouse was married to the veteran for one year or more; or (3) a child was born of the marriage. Requires any benefits to be paid under this provision to be offset by any money received from a cause of action for damages arising from the death of the veteran as described above. Provides that persons found eligible for benefits as a result of this Act shall also be deemed eligible for dependency and indemnity compensation under current Federal law. Directs the Administrator to continue to maintain and operate separately the Veterans Administration Insurance Centers located in St. Paul, Minnesota, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Prohibits the Administrator from taking any action to consolidate such centers. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the bridge currently being constructed across the Ohio River between the cities of Weirton, West Virginia, and Steubenville, Ohio, would serve as an appropriate and fitting memorial to veterans.
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 1987
Title I: Temporary Extension of Public Debt Limit - Increases the public debt limit (until September 30, 1987) to $2,358,000,000,000. Title II: Budget Process Reform - Amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to increase the permissible maximum deficit amounts for FY 1987 through 1990. Extends for one year the expiration date of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act). Title III: Economic Summit - Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President, together with the bipartisan leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives, should convene a domestic economic summit conference to address the dangerous economic situation which is created by large deficits and the ineffectual budget process. Directs the conference to report its recommendations for solutions to budgetary issues and budget process reforms to the Congress and the President.
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 1987
Federal Constitutional Convention Applications Act - Requires an application by a State for a constitutional convention to contain a certified resolution which requests a convention for: (1) the general purpose of considering amendments to the Constitution; or (2) consideration of amendments to the Constitution relating to one or more specified subjects. Sets forth a procedure for States in the adoption or rescission of a resolution requesting the calling of a convention. Provides for the transmittal of an application to the congressional committees on the Judiciary and for its printing in the Congressional Record. Declares that an application is effective for seven years after the date it is printed in the Record. Requires that both Houses of Congress agree to a concurrent resolution calling for a convention whenever they determine that at least two-thirds of the States have submitted valid applications for the calling of a constitutional convention upon the same subject.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 1987
Federal Meat Inspection Act Amendments of 1987 - Amends the Federal Meat Inspection Act to revise the definition of "misbranded" to include any meat or meat food product not labeled with its country of origin. Applies such provision to meat and meat products sold at wholesale and retail, including items subject to additional preparation after entering the United States. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to provide for exemptions by regulations covering instances when compliance is impracticable. Authorizes the Secretary either to refuse to provide or to withdraw inspection service upon the determination, after opportunity for a hearing is given, that proper labeling has not been done. Requires the Secretary to withdraw inspection upon a third violation. Provides for judicial review by the appropriate U.S. Court of Appeals of the Secretary's determinations and orders with respect to country of origin labeling.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 1987
Amends the Farm Credit Act of 1971 to provide for stockholder reconsideration, upon the request of at least five percent of the stockholders, of any decision by an association under the Farm Credit System (FCS) to voluntarily merge with another such association. Adds provisions with respect to Federal land bank association sales of inventory land to: (1) require purchasers of such real estate to buy capital stock and participation certificates in the Federal land bank from which the association receives loans; and (2) establish priorities for sales of such property. Requires FCS institutions to provide to borrowers specified information about their loans, including the procedures for restructuring a loan, interest rates, and offers to sell foreclosure property to the previous owner before sale to any other person.
United States · United States Congress · 7 July 1987
Truth in Frozen Pizza Labeling Act of 1987 - Amends the Federal Meat Inspection Act to require that labels on meat pizza products indicate any cheese substitutes or imitations used. Defines the terms "meat pizza products" and "cheese."
United States · United States Congress · 1 July 1987
Nuclear Waste Policy Commission Act of 1987 - Prohibits any expenditures from the Nuclear Waste Fund (or any other source) for site-specific activities until the Nuclear Waste Policy Review Commission (established by this Act) has submitted a specified report to the Congress, and the Congress authorizes the resumption of such activities after reviewing the report. Establishes the Nuclear Waste Policy Review Commission and makes it responsible to the Congress. States that the Commission's function shall be to examine the Nation's progress in the disposal of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel and to make recommendations to the Congress. Details the scope of the Commission's review. Outlines the manner in which the Commission shall administer its affairs. Requires the Commission to submit a comprehensive report to the Congress within 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act. Authorizes appropriations to implement this Act for FY 1988 through 1990.
United States · United States Congress · 1 July 1987
Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to remove certain restrictions on the making of guaranteed loans to their students by institutions of higher education. Permits such institutions to make loans to their students if the institutions continue to hold such loans until the beginning of the loan repayment period.
United States · United States Congress · 30 June 1987
Satellite Home Viewer Copyright Act of 1987 - Amends the copyright law to require statutory licensing of secondary transmissions of a primary transmission made by a superstation if such secondary transmission is made by a satellite carrier to the public (or to a distributor to the public) for private viewing for a charge. Prohibits the carrier from altering such transmission or discriminating against a distributor. Requires the satellite carrier to deposit semiannually with the Register of Copyrights both royalty fees and a statement of account. Requires distribution of such fees to copyright owners according to the accounting and specified procedures. Requires the Copyright Royalty Tribunal to conduct a proceeding to determine distribution if a controversy exists. Requires voluntary negotiation of fees or fees set by compulsory arbitration if no voluntary agreement is filed with the Copyright Office. Authorizes judicial review of decisions of the Tribunal concerning the adoption or rejection of the arbitration. Terminates this Act on December 31, 1995.
United States · United States Congress · 30 June 1987
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the administration should oppose the implementation of the European Community directive which will limit U.S. access to such Community's agricultural markets; (2) if the European Community denies U.S. meat imports based on unsubstantiated standards or standards not applied to all Community members, the administration should adopt countermeasures; and (3) the administration should communicate to the Community that the United States views the directive as inconsistent with such Community's obligations under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.
United States · United States Congress · 29 June 1987
Telecommunications Employees' Protection Act of 1987 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to establish certain reemployment rights for employees who have lost employment as a consequence of the divestiture of the Bell system. Requires, to the extent that the dominant long distance common carrier (AT&T), the regional common carriers, the Bell operating companies, or their respective subsidiaries and affiliates (all of which shall be called the "telecommunications companies") continue to need the work of eligible protected positions performed, that such work be performed by employees of such companies. Requires the telecommunications companies (after any appropriate seniority, layoff and recall, or force adjustment provisions in applicable collective bargaining agreements have been satisfied) to afford to eligible protected employees the first right of hire for any eligible protected positions for which they are qualified by training and experience over any persons who have not theretofore been employees of such companies. Defines eligible protected employee as one who on December 31, 1983, was serving in an eligible position as an employee of one of the telecommunications companies, and who has been or is laid off or terminated for other than cause. Requires the telecommunications companies to credit eligible protected employees as possessing the training and experience they would normally have acquired in their former position had they not been laid off or terminated since December 31, 1983. Makes service credit the basis of selection if training and experience are substantially equal. Provides that, upon rehire, an eligible protected employee shall be subject to any seniority, layoff and recall, or force adjustment provisions contained in any applicable collective bargaining agreements. Requires the monthly listing of eligible protected positions in an available and accessible manner. Requires the telecommunications company which laid off or terminated them to pay moving expenses and certain reimbursement payments to eligible protected employees who must relocate in order to fill eligible protected positions. Provides for a certain base wage upon rehiring of an eligible protected employee. Provides for civil enforcement of this Act in a U.S. district court.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 1987
Hazardous Waste Reduction Act - Requires filings of the annual toxic chemical release forms required under the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 to include a toxic chemical waste reduction and recycling report for each listed toxic chemical for the preceding calendar year. Requires such report to include information on a facility-by-facility basis as to the amounts and disposition of each toxic chemical, including levels of waste reduction and recycling achieved and expected. Requires that toxic chemical waste reduction practices be delineated according to set categories, such as equipment, redesign, and substitution of raw materials. Requires the inclusion of a production index for each toxic chemical waste and a list of techniques used to identify waste reduction opportunities. Provides protection for trade secrets. Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish a central receiving facility at EPA for the storage and retrieval of waste management program information. Requires the Administrator to collect, coordinate, and consolidate data collection requirements under environmental statutes. Requires all such information to be compiled into a data base organized on an industry-by-industry basis according to Standard Industrial Classifications and on a waste stream basis. Directs the Administrator to establish a Waste Reduction and Recycling Clearinghouse Program to include information on approaches to waste reduction and recycling and information from States receiving grants for technical assistance programs. Requires the Clearinghouse to be actively involved in technology transfer and the development of waste reduction technologies. Requires the Administrator to make matching grants to States for innovative waste reduction programs. Requires such programs to make specific and targeted technical assistance available to businesses as well as for funding experts and research and providing training. Directs the Administrator to report annually to the Congress on the waste reduction information gathered pursuant to this Act. Requires such report to include a profile of waste reduction levels on an industry-by-industry basis and identify priorities as to industries, pollutants, and research. Establishes the Office of Waste Reduction within EPA to collect waste reduction plans and information from other EPA offices on an industry-by-industry basis, administer the clearinghouse and State grants programs, and carry out other related responsibilities including improving EPA's ability to evaluate multi-media waste management practices and the potential for waste reduction through information collection and retrieval. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 1987
Amends rule XXI of Rules of the House of Representatives to prohibit any appropriation from being reported in any joint resolution continuing appropriations, or from being in order as an amendment thereto, for any expenditure not previously authorized by law, except to continue appropriations for public works and objects which are already in progress. Prohibits any provision which changes existing laws from being reported in any joint resolution continuing appropriations except germane provisions which retrench expenditures by the reduction of money covered by the bill, which may include those recommended to the Committee on Appropriations by direction of any legislative committee having jurisdiction over the subject matter. Prohibits an amendment to a joint resolution continuing appropriations from being in order if changing existing law. Declares that, except as provided by this Act, no amendment shall be in order during consideration of a joint resolution continuing appropriations proposing a limitation not specifically contained or authorized in existing law for the period of the limitation. Sets forth floor procedure for consideration of an acceptable joint resolution continuing appropriations. Prohibits the House from considering any joint resolution continuing appropriations, or amendments thereto, which covers a period of more than 90 calendar days. Prohibits any item of appropriation set forth in any joint resolution continuing appropriations from exceeding the lesser of the amount set forth for such item in the House-passed or Senate-passed general appropriation bill for the fiscal year. Declares that if there is no House-passed or Senate-passed bill containing such item, then such item shall be at the rate at which it would have been assuming the continuation of current law. Prohibits the waiver of any provision of this resolution except by two-thirds vote of the Members present and voting. Declares this resolution applicable with respect to joint resolutions continuing appropriations for FY 1989 or any subsequent fiscal year.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 1987
Directs the Postal Service to establish a program under which change-of-address forms may be transmitted to appropriate State election authorities for voter registration purposes. Directs the Postal Service to prescribe regulations under which a State may participate in such program. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 1987
Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a program to encourage the use of program crop acreage (with respect to wheat, feed grains, upland cotton, and rice) to create wildlife sanctuaries, as well as habitat and feed and storage areas for game and wildlife. Provides that when the owner or operator of a farm, upon notice to the Secretary, converts all or any portion of any program crop acreage base established for the preceding crop year to targeted game and wildlife uses, the converted land shall be counted toward any acreage reduction program with respect to preserving the program crop base acreage and program payment yield of the farm. Permits the person who converted the program crop base acreage to a permissible wildlife/game use to resume program crop production on the affected acreage upon 120 days' written notice to the Secretary.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1987
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that any Federal legislation enacted to increase financial assistance to the Farm Credit System (FCS) should: (1) enable FCS banks and associations to offer loans at lower interest rates than would be possible without the assistance; (2) ensure the continued participation of borrowers in the management and control of the FCS; (3) require FCS entities to reduce loan repayment obligations as necessary if the reduction is less costly than foreclosure or legal actions with respect to debtors unable to make payments; and (4) encourage FCS banks and associations to take part in State mediation programs conducted by independent arbitrators and to offer delinquent borrowers opportunities to restructure their loans.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1987
Constitutional Amendment - Requires the Congress and the President, prior to each fiscal year, to agree, by enactment of a joint resolution, on an estimate of total receipts for that fiscal year. Prohibits outlays for that year from exceeding such estimated receipts unless the Congress, by a three-fifths rollcall vote of each House, provides for a specific excess of outlays over receipts. Requires the Congress, whenever actual outlays exceed actual receipts for any fiscal year, to provide by law for the repayment of such excess in the ensuing fiscal year. Requires a three-fifths rollcall vote of each House to increase the public debt. Directs the President to submit to the Congress a proposed budget for each fiscal year in which total outlays do not exceed total receipts. Requires the approval by a majority of the total membership of each House by rollcall vote before any bill to increase revenue may become law. Waives this article for any fiscal year in which a declaration of war is in effect. Declares that total receipts shall include all receipts of the United States, except those derived from borrowing, and total outlays shall include all outlays of the United States, except those for repayment of debt principal.
United States · United States Congress · 16 June 1987
Amends the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982 to repeal the authority granted governmental entities to impose restrictions based on safety considerations upon truck tractor-semitrailer vehicles wishing to use Federal-aid Primary System highways. Prescribes the considerations a governmental entity must demonstrate to the Secretary of Transportation in order to be authorized to restrict commercial motor vehicle access to Federal highways designed to be a width of ten feet or more. Permits a governmental entity to restrict access upon highways designed to be less than ten feet wide.
United States · United States Congress · 16 June 1987
Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to make the following ineligible to receive production adjustment payments or price support program loans, payments, or benefits with respect to any commodity produced on a U.S. farm: (1) foreign nationals owning or operating such a farm; and (2) corporations at least ten percent of whose beneficial ownership is held by foreign nationals.
United States · United States Congress · 16 June 1987
White House Conference on Small Business Authorization Act - Calls upon the President to conduct a National White House Conference on Small Business once every four years to: (1) increase public awareness of the contributions of small business; (2) identify small business problems; (3) examine the status of minority and women small business owners; (4) assist small business in carrying out its role as the Nation's job creator; (5) develop specific recommendations for executive and legislative action; and (6) review the status of recommendations adopted at the preceding Conference. Authorizes and directs Federal departments, agencies, and instrumentalities to provide support and assistance to the planning of such Conferences. Requires a final report of each Conference, within six months from the date a Conference is convened, to be submitted to the President and the Congress. Requires the Small Business Administration to report annually to the Congress for the next three years following the submission of the final report of the Conference. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1987
Veterans' Housing Rehabilitation and Program Improvement Act of 1987 - Amends Federal veterans' benefits provisions to extend through FY 1989 the applicability of the veterans' loan origination fee (a fee paid by veterans for housing loans made to them by the Administrator of Veterans Affairs). Directs the Administrator to determine current and anticipated amounts in the Veterans' Administration Loan Guaranty Revolving Fund, and to cancel collection of the veterans' loan origination fee if the Fund exceeds a certain level. Decreases from 60 to 30 percent of the loan the loan amount guaranteed by the Veterans Administration (VA) on loans made to qualifying veterans for the purchase or construction of homes. Repeals a specified provision of Federal law guaranteeing the payment of a specified amount of each housing loan made to a veteran. Similarly decreases from 60 to 30 percent the loan amount guaranteed by the VA on loans made to veterans for the purchase of manufactured homes and lots for homes. Repeals a specified provision requiring the guaranty of a specified amount of each such loan. Requires the Administrator, upon receipt of a foreclosure notice to a veteran on a housing loan guaranteed by the VA, to contact the veteran concerned to provide such veteran with information about: (1) alternatives to foreclosure; and (2) the veteran's and the VA's liability with respect to the loan, unless the Administrator has assurances that the lender has adequately advised the veterans with respect to such matters. Authorizes the payment of added interest to a lender on a defaulted loan when there is a delay in a foreclosure sale caused by the VA or by the exercise of forbearance by the lender at the request of the Administrator. Directs the Administrator to make direct loans to eligible veterans in American Samoa in amounts equal to amounts provided to such veterans by the Government of American Samoa. Removes the requirement of occupancy by the veteran for eligibility for loan refinancing through the VA, and for the guarantee of loans to a veteran for the purchase of manufactured homes or lots for homes. Removes the requirement of home occupancy in nearly all cases of loans guaranteed to veterans, except for the case in which a loan is guaranteed to a veteran while such veteran is in active status with the armed forces, at which time the occupancy requirement will be met if such veteran's spouse and all of their dependent children occupy such home. Authorizes the Administrator, in order to assist homeless veterans and their families in acquiring shelter, to enter into agreements with an organization, any political subdivision of a State, or the District of Columbia, in which the Administrator sells real property acquired by the Administrator as the result of a default on a veteran's loan as guaranteed by the VA. Authorizes the Administrator to enter into such agreements only if: (1) the Administrator determines that such action will not adversely affect the VA or any of its funds or programs in any way; (2) the entity which purchases the property agrees to utilize the property solely as a shelter primarily for homeless veterans, complies with all zoning requirements, and makes no incompatible use of the property purchased; and (3) the Administrator determines that there is little likelihood of the property being sold for a price sufficient to reduce the liability to the VA of the veteran who defaulted on the guaranteed loan. Further authorizes the Administrator, in order to assist veterans to obtain training pursuant to the Veterans' Job Training Act, to convey to the persons previously described such real property and improvements therein for an amount not less than 75 percent of its fair market value if the purchasers agree to: (1) use veterans in a program pursuant to such Act in the rehabilitation of residences on such real property; and (2) provide a priority to veterans in the sale of such rehabilitated residences. Requires the Administrator to reduce a veteran's liability under a guaranteed loan defaulted on by the amount equal to the reduction in the sale price of the property below the fair market value of the property. Authorizes the Administrator to include, as part of a loan to finance a purchase of property acquired by the Administrator as a result of a defaulted loan guaranteed by the Administrator, an amount to be used for the purpose of rehabilitating the property to be purchased with the loan. Provides that, if a veteran disposes of residential property securing a guaranteed, insured, or direct housing loan obtained by the veteran and the veteran notifies the holder of the loan before disposing of the property, the veteran shall be relieved of all further liability to the Administrator on account of such loan (including liability for any loss resulting from the default of any subsequent purchasers) if: (1) the loan is current; (2) the purchaser agrees to abide by the original loan agreement; and (3) the purchaser qualifies from a credit standpoint in an amount equal to the unpaid balance of the loan. Requires the holder, if he or she determines that the loan is not current or that the purchaser of such property does not meet the above credit requirements, to notify the veteran and the Administrator of such determination, and notify the veteran that the veteran may appeal the determination to the Administrator. Directs the Administrator, upon request of the veteran, to review such determination and make his or her own determination on the matter. Requires the holder to approve such a property transfer if the Administrator determines that the loan is current and that the new purchaser is qualified for the loan. Authorizes the holder to make an immediate demand of all loan principal if the veteran disposes of property to a transferee without the loan being current or without such transferee being credit-qualified. Authorizes the holder to make such demand also if the holder disposes of property secured under a loan guarantee without notifying the loan holder or the Administrator of such transfer. Requires any loan holder who has knowledge of a property transfer by a veteran to notify the Administrator of such transfer or impending transfer. Directs the Administrator to require that each contract entered into with a veteran under a guaranteed-loan agreement contain provisions implementing the above requirements. Authorizes the Administrator to provide assistance to a veteran for the purpose of avoiding the foreclosure of a housing loan made to that veteran and guaranteed by the Administrator. Allows such assistance only if specified conditions are met (relating to lateness of payment and the belief that the veteran will soon be able to resume such payments on his/her own). Requires a loan made under this provision to be made to the holder of the primary loan (the holder of the original loan made to the veteran), such loan to be applied first to any delinquent payments and then to future payments such as taxes, assessments, etc. Authorizes the Administrator to make more than one loan under this provision to each veteran, but limits to $8,400 the total to each veteran. Outlines further administrative provisions relating to the making of such assistance loans, including security for the loan as well as the determination of the loan interest rate. Requires any veteran receiving such an assistance loan to execute an agreement to repay the loan within a reasonable period of time as determined by the Administrator. Provides that the Administrator's decision on any question of law or fact regarding such loan assistance shall be final and conclusive, without recourse to any courts or other Federal official. Prohibits the Administrator from making any such assistance loan after the two-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act. Amends Federal veterans' benefits regarding the use of appraisers in the VA home loan guaranty program to require any such appraiser employed by the VA to successfully complete a written test, submit a sample appraisal, certify to an appropriate number of years of experience as an appraiser, and submit recommendations from other appraisers. Revises provisions concerning appraisals made by lenders to require the appraiser to forward an appraisal report to the Administrator for review, at which time the Administrator shall determine the reasonable value of the property and notify the veteran of such determination. Authorizes the Administrator to allow certain lenders to determine the reasonable value of the property. Directs the appraiser selected by the Administrator, in such a case, to forward the appraisal report directly to the lender for review, and the lender, upon request, to furnish a copy of such appraisal to the veteran concerned. Directs the Administrator to exclude from a veteran's liability under a defaulted loan procedure certain interest and charges incurred with respect to such a loan arising 30 days or more after the veteran has made an offer to transfer the property to another purchaser, and the Administrator has refused to accept such offer.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1987
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that the income tax exclusion from gross income for qualified scholarships shall include scholarships or fellowship grants received for travel, research, and living expenses.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1987
Urges the President to seek: (1) a meeting of the United Nations Security Council to establish a United Nations peacekeeping naval force for the purpose of protecting shipping in the Persian Gulf; and (2) an end to Iran-Iraq War. Urges the members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and all members of the Security Council to support the establishment of such a naval force.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1987
States that in the interest of decreasing the growing gap between taxes owed and taxes collected: (1) the administration and the Congress should substantially increase appropriate resources for the taxpayer assistance and enforcement divisions of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS); and (2) the IRS should implement specified recommendations to improve taxpayer services and to enhance enforcement efforts.
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 1987
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 1992 the period during which qualified mortgage bonds may be issued. (Under current law, authority to issue these bonds expires as of 1989.)
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 1987
Repeals specified provisions of the Tax Reform Act of 1986 that restrict the types of scholarships and fellowship grants that may be excluded from gross income for income tax purposes. States that the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (IRC) shall be applied and administered as if such provisions had not been enacted. Amends the IRC to allow an income tax deduction for interest on a qualified educational loan incurred to pay the educational expenses of the taxpayer, spouse, or dependent. Eliminates the current requirement that such indebtedness be secured by an interest in real property.
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 1987
Voluntary Education Demonstration Program Act - Authorizes the Director of the Peace Corps to carry out a training and educational benefits demonstration program. Provides that eligible students must: (1) have completed two years of study at an institution of higher education; (2) agree to enter the Peace Corps for a period of two years; and (3) be selected pursuant to a competitive process. Describes the selection process, training, and educational benefits. Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress on an evaluation of such program. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1988 through 1993.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 1987
Veterans' Administration Health-Care Amendments of 1987 - Title I: Health Care Provisions - Amends Federal veterans' benefits provisions to direct (current law authorizes) the Administrator of Veterans Affairs (the Administrator) to provide certain medical services to eligible veterans. Revises the definition of "nursing home care" for purposes of such provisions, to include services delivered in skilled, intermediate care, and combined facilities, but to exclude domiciliary or residential care. Revises the definition of "Veterans' Administration facilities" to include public or private facilities at which the Administrator provides recreational activities for patients receiving care under a specified provision of Federal law. Authorizes the Administrator to contract-out with non-Veterans Administration (VA) facilities for the provision of nursing home care to veterans in a public or private nursing home in the community, and for hospitalization of a person for observation and examination to determine eligibility for benefits, when the VA is unable to provide such services adequately. Authorizes the Administrator to furnish such medical services as needed for any person: (1) for a disability for which a person receives disability compensation; or (2) for a disability where disability compensation is suspended, but only to the extent that such person's continuing eligibility is provided for in the judgment or settlement of an action concerning such suspension. Prohibits the Administrator, before a date to be determined, from relocating any VA readjustment counseling centers that are situated apart from VA health-care facilities. Authorizes the Administrator (current law directs) to take certain action regarding the transition from offering veterans' readjustment counseling in facilities located apart from VA health-care facilities to offering such services in VA health-care facilities. Extends to September 30, 1991, the contract adult day health care program. Directs the Administrator to conduct a study, and submit specified reports on, the cost efficiency of furnishing adult day health care over nursing home care, and the advantages and disadvantages of furnishing such care through facilities not under the jurisdiction of the Administrator and through facilities that are under the jurisdiction of the Administrator. Adds veterans sojourning or residing in Canada to those eligible for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care while abroad. Repeals a specified provision of the Veterans' Health Care Amendments of 1979 requiring annual reports from the Administrator concerning the contracting-out of health care. Directs the Administrator to conduct a pilot program to provide care and treatment and rehabilitative services in halfway houses, therapeutic communities, psychiatric residential treatment centers, and other community-based facilities to homeless veterans suffering from chronic mental illness disabilities. Requires the Administrator to approve each such program before putting it into operation. Terminates the authority for such pilot program on September 30, 1988. Directs the Administrator, no later than May 1, 1988, to report to the Senate and House Veterans' Affairs Committees on the experience of the VA under the pilot program and the recommendations of the Administrator as to whether such program should be continued. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1988 for such program, earmarking a specified amount of such authorized funds for quality control management and monitoring of such program. Repeals a specified provision of current Federal law relating to the provision of treatment and rehabilitation for chronically mentally ill veterans. Title II: Health Care Personnel - Amends Federal provisions relating to health-care personnel within the VA's Department of Medicine and Surgery (the Department) to provide pay increases for specified health-care personnel within such Department. Increases the hours considered to be weekend duty eligible for premium pay for nurses in the Department. Revises other provisions concerning miscellaneous medical personnel matters. Revises provisions concerning the composition and convening of disciplinary boards for medical personnel of the Department. Requires any determination made by such board to be made only after notice and an opportunity for a fair hearing. Requires a majority of the members of a disciplinary board to be employees in the same category of position as the employee who is the subject of the charges. Defines a "covered disciplinary action" for purposes of such boards as a disciplinary action: (1) arising from performance or conduct during a person's tenure with the VA; and (2) proposing that such person be removed, suspended for more than 14 days, or given a demotion involving the loss of grade or pay. Makes technical changes to Federal provisions concerning the Health Professional Scholarship Program. Excludes temporary research personnel from any ceiling on full-time employees of the VA or any other ceiling applicable to employees of the VA. Provides for the employment of two (currently one) Associate Deputy Chief Medical Directors, who shall act as assistants to the Chief and the Deputy Chief Medical Director of the Department. Revises provisions relating to the appointment, reappointment, or extension of employment of any person appointed to a position in the Department. Requires the first two years of employment of a person appointed to a medical personnel position in the Department to be a probationary period, allowing the record of such employee to be reviewed at any time during such period by a board appointed under regulations prescribed by the Secretary. Requires the board to make recommendations to the Chief Medical Director concerning each such employee, and allows the Chief Medical Director to accept, reject, or modify such recommendations, requiring a statement of reasons if the Chief Medical Director takes actions not recommended by the board. Provides for the payment of on-call pay for medical personnel of the Department required to be on call for a period other than the employee's regular hours of duty, at a specified rate. Revises provisions relating to the waiver of certain licensing requirements of certain medical personnel if such person is to be employed only in a research or academic post where there is no direct responsibility for the care of patients, or if such person is to serve in a foreign country where he or she is fully licensed under the laws of such country. Title III: Administration of Health-Care System - Provides a six-year statute of limitations for actions brought by the United States against a veteran for recovery of the cost of furnishing care and services to a veteran for a non-service-connected disability. Excludes certain medical personnel of the Department from immunity from suit under specified Federal law which prohibits certain Federal employees from suing or being sued, thereby authorizing suits against such personnel for negligent or wrongful acts or omissions committed while an employee of the Department. Authorizes the Administrator to settle any claim against such employees under tort laws, to the extent delegated to the Administrator by the Attorney General. Prohibits the Administration from transferring any interest in real property owned by the United States and administered by the Administrator which is valued in excess of $50,000 to another Federal agency or to a State, unless such transfer is specifically authorized by law after the date of enactment of this Act. Makes technical revisions to Federal provisions regarding the financial management of the veterans' canteen service. Provides that persons employed in the canteen service and compensated from a revolving fund established for the provision of such service may not be considered to be employees of the VA for purposes of the determination of VA employee ceilings. Exempts certain specified VA fund accounts from the operation of any sequestration order issued or enacted for any fiscal year after FY 1985. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to implement such exemption, and, no later than 60 days after enactment of this Act, report to the appropriate congressional committees on any action taken to implement such provision. Directs the Administrator to carry out a pilot program to determine hospital management efficiency within the VA. Requires the Administrator to designate five medical centers to participate in the pilot program. Requires the Administrator to consult with the Senate and House Veterans' Affairs Committees before making such designation. Authorizes the Director of a designated medical center to waive or alter any applicable management and administration laws pertaining to such center in order to improve the efficiency and economy of such medical center. Directs the Administrator to ensure that a designated medical center does not incur a budget reduction during the period of the pilot program due to improved efficiency or economy of operation achieved under this provision. Directs the Administrator to submit to the Congress an annual report on the pilot program. Terminates such pilot program on September 30, 1990. Directs the Administrator to establish and operate, as part of the Department, an outpatient clinic in central or southern New Jersey. Requires the Administrator to begin the site location process for such clinic no later than 30 days after the enactment of this Act. Title IV: Miscellaneous - Sets forth the effective date for amendments made by this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 1987
Wheat and Feed Grain Programs Improvement Act of 1987 - Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to establish the loan rate for the 1987 corn crop at $2.40 per bushel. (Currently such rate is based on a percentage of the preceding five years' average price.) Establishes the loan rate for the 1988 wheat crop at $2.85 per bushel. (Currently such rate is based on a percentage of the preceding five years' average price.)
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 1987
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit institutions of the Farm Credit System an income tax deduction for any reasonable addition to reserves for bad debts. Applies this deduction in lieu of the deduction generally applicable to worthless debts.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 1987
Amends rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives to require each House committee that reports legislation requiring employers to provide new employee benefits to include in such report an analysis of the impact of the legislation on employers (especially small businesses), the economy (in terms of international competitiveness), and employees (in terms of lost jobs).
United States · United States Congress · 3 June 1987
Prohibits the proposed enhancement or upgrade in the sensitivity of technology of, or the capacity of, Maverick missiles for Saudi Arabia, as described in the May 29, 1987, certification from the President to the Congress under the Arms Export Control Act.
United States · United States Congress · 2 June 1987
Fair Farm Credit Amendments of 1987 - Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to require the Secretary of Agriculture to restructure, rather than foreclose, a delinquent Farmers Home Administration (FmHA) loan if foreclosure costs would exceed restructuring costs. Requires the Secretary, if the estimated liquidation value of the securing property exceeds 70 percent of the loan value, to provide independent support for such estimate. Requires the Secretary to pay losses incurred when a guaranteed lender restructures a loan as provided for by this Act. Revises provisions relating to membership on county committees and elections of committee members. Revises farmland disposition provisions to give previous owners or operators the right of first refusal with respect to a lease of the property and preference with respect to the awarding of management contracts governing the property. Requires that previous owners be given written notice of the potential sale or lease of the property. Requires the Secretary to continue to release living and operating expenses to a borrower until the FmHA takes title and possession of the land and determines that such borrower is ineligible for leaseback of the property. Revises homestead protection provisions to: (1) include outbuildings in homestead property; and (2) extend authority beyond the current December 23, 1988, cut-off date. Requires the Secretary to provide all FmHA borrowers with written descriptions of available loan service programs. Authorizes the Secretary to allow deferral of principal and interest on outstanding loans or to forego foreclosure upon his or her own initiative (under current law a borrower must request such actions). States that interest which accrues during the loan deferral period shall bear no interest (current law permits the Secretary to decide this issue). Sets forth considerations and conditions that the Secretary must implement in determining whether a borrower is eligible for a deferral and in establishing the deferral period. Permits retroactive restructuring of loans. Requires the Secretary to participate in any program of credit dispute resolution required under State law before initiating collection activity. Directs the Secretary to permit a borrower to redeem real property acquired through legal process during the year following the date of judgment or the period prescribed under State, whichever is longer. Applies State law to the redemption process. Suspends collection activities during a 90-day transition period after enactment of this Act. Provides that emergency loans made to family farmers shall be refinanced at the same interest rates as FmHA real estate or operating loans made for the same purpose. Amends the Farm Credit Act of 1971 to require Farm Credit System (FCS) institutions (Federal land banks, Federal land bank associations, Federal intermediate credit banks, and production credit associations) to inform delinquent borrowers about the availability of loan restructuring. Sets forth procedures with respect to loan restructuring. Limits mandatory loan restructuring to situations in which the present value of borrower payments under a restructured loan would exceed the liquidation value of the relevant property (less liquidation costs). Permits appeals of an institution's determinations as to loan restructuring. Requires FCS institutions to submit quarterly reports to the Farm Credit Association (FCA) containing specified details about delinquent loans and loan restructuring activity. Directs the FCA, in turn, to transmit such data to specified congressional committees.
United States · United States Congress · 2 June 1987
Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to provide for public financing of general election campaigns for the House of Representatives. Authorizes candidates for the House of Representatives to accept amounts from the House of Representatives Campaign Trust Fund (established by this Act). Prohibits candidates from accepting contributions from all sources, including the Trust Fund, in excess of $300,000 ($350,000 if the candidate is not an incumbent) of which not more than one-half may be accepted from nonparty multicandidate political committees or from separate segregated funds of corporations, labor unions, and national banks. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish the House of Representatives Campaign Trust Fund. Authorizes taxpayers to designate a surcharge to the Trust Fund of any specified amount over the taxpayer's liability. Authorizes expenditures from the Trust Fund to candidates who certify to the Federal Election Commission that they have received contributions during a two-year election cycle aggregating not less than $25,000, in contributions of $100 or less from individual contributors. Allows a tax credit of 50 percent of the qualified political contributions made by a taxpayer for the taxable year. Limits such tax credit to $50 ($100 in the case of a joint return).
United States · United States Congress · 2 June 1987
Farm Loan Mediation Act of 1987 - Prohibits the Secretary of Agriculture from making loans under the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to persons in States not having a loan mediation system. Sets forth program provisions.
United States · United States Congress · 2 June 1987
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to establish within the Department of State a Visa Review Board to review the cases of certain aliens who have been denied visas, including cases of special immigrants, immediate relatives, preference status immigrants, and specified nonimmigrants.
United States · United States Congress · 28 May 1987
International Debt Recovery Act of 1987 - Amends the International Lending Supervision Act of 1983 to provide that in the establishment of capital adequacy levels for banking institutions, the appropriate Federal banking agencies shall require increased capital for such institutions exposed to country debt that has been classified by bank regulatory agencies in certain high risk categories, subject to specified conditions. Provides that the ultimate collectibility of debt shall be presumed, and increased capital shall not be required, in the case of countries that are demonstrating clear progress toward financial recovery and restored creditworthiness as indicated by specified factors. Provides that for countries not demonstrating such progress toward financial recovery and creditworthiness, the capital adequacy requirements shall be based on an evaluation of risk encompassing such factors as: (1) interruptions in debt servicing; (2) past and projected economic performance; and (3) secondary market valuation of the country's debt. Amends the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 to exempt from the prohibition on ownership or control by a bank holding company of voting shares of a nonbanking organization the acquisition of shares in a company which does no business in the United States except as an incident to its international or foreign business if: (1) the shares are acquired as a result of or in connection with a conversion or exchange of restructured obligations, principal, interest, or any other proceeds of any restructured obligations or obligations issued in exchange for any new money contributions, or any other obligation the repayment of which in nonlocal currency and immediately available funds is prohibited under local law; (2) the bank holding company has received prior approval by the Federal Reserve Board for transactions in excess of the smaller of $50,000,00 or two percent of capital or, for all other transactions, provided prior notice to the Board; and (3) the shares are not held for more than ten years or, if later, five years after the investment may be legally repatriated in its entirety subject to the Board's authority to extend such period for good cause. Requires the Federal bank regulatory agencies to report semiannually to the specified congressional committees concerning steps taken to implement this Act, including specified information concerning the category of debt of various countries and the exposure and capital and reserve position of the 24 largest U.S. banks.
United States · United States Congress · 27 May 1987
Title I: Establishes the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area along the Mississippi River in the St. Paul-Minneapolis Metropolitan Area, Minnesota. Establishes the Mississippi River Coordinating Commission to assist Government authorities in developing and implementing a management plan for such lands and waters. Requires the Commission to submit a plan, within three years, to the Governor of Minnesota and the Secretary of the Interior for review and approval. Requires the Secretary to monitor such Area in the interim. Terminates the Commission after ten years. Transfers Federal property within the Area to the Secretary, except for Army Engineer facilities for navigation and other buildings or structures currently in use. Requires Federal entities to notify and receive the approval of the Secretary before engaging in any activities in or affecting such Area. Authorizes the Secretary to acquire land and interests in such Area, as specified. Requires the Secretary to review local plans and ordinances and their enforcement to assure conformance to the plan. Permits the Secretary to acquire lands without the owner's consent after appropriate notice and opportunity to cure a nonconforming plan or ordinance. Permits owners of acquired improved residential property to retain the right to residential use for 25 years or the owner's death. Sets forth other terms and conditions for such use. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants for land acquisition and to provide technical assistance for programs. Authorizes appropriations. Title II: Tri-Rivers Management - Directs the Secretaries of the Army and the Interior to appoint representatives to a Tri-Rivers Management Board to coordinate development of the Mississippi, St. Croix, and Minnesota Rivers within the St. Paul-Minneapolis Metropolitan Area, Minnesota. Authorizes appropriations.
![Official portrait of Rep. Penny, Timothy J. [D-MN-1]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/p000215_200.jpg)