United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1987
Title I: Establishment of National Postsecondary Education Trust - Parental Assistance for Tuition Investment Act of 1987 - Establishes the National Postsecondary Education Trust. Creates a Board of Trustees of the Trust, to be composed of: (1) the Secretaries of Education and the Treasury, serving ex officio; and (2) five representatives of postsecondary education institutions and five members of the general public (not more than half of whom may be from the same political party), who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Creates under the jurisdiction and control of the Board an Advance Tuition Payment Fund. Sets forth the general duties of the Board, including holding the funds of the Trust, establishing necessary policy and procedures for operating the Trust, paying money directly to postsecondary institutions, collecting necessary fees for its operation, imposing reasonable time limits on use of tuition benefits, and other related administrative matters. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury, as Managing Trustee, to invest portions of Fund moneys in interest-bearing obligations of the United States or in obligations guaranteed by the United States. Sets forth restrictions on uses of the Fund. Requires the Board to make annual reports to the Congress. Allows a purchaser to enter into an agreement with the Trust, on behalf of itself and the Federal Government, for the purchase of an advance tuition payment plan for use by a qualified beneficiary to pay a portion of the costs of tuition and fees required to attend a postsecondary education institution to which the qualified beneficiary is admitted. Sets forth required contents and design of advance tuition payment plan agreements. Directs the Trust to provide that a purchaser may purchase an advance payment tuition plan for an eligible beneficiary at any time following the beneficiary's birth. Sets forth conditions for termination of agreements and for refunds upon termination. Sets forth certain restrictions. Authorizes appropriations. Provides that at such time as the Trust is capable of self-support the annual report shall indicate no need for subsequent appropriations. Title II: Tax Treatment of Advance Tuition Payment Plans - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax deduction in an amount equal to the amount paid in cash during the year to the National Postsecondary Education Trust pursuant to any advance tuition payment plan agreement. Allows such deduction only if: (1) the taxpayer is the qualified beneficiary under the agreement and is not the dependent of another taxpayer; or (2) the taxpayer is entitled to a deduction with respect to the qualified beneficiary under such agreement for the taxable year. Limits maximum deductible payments per beneficiary to $2,000 for any taxable year and $48,000 for all taxable years. Sets forth certain adjustable gross income limitations above which such maximum deductible amounts are to be reduced. Disallows such deduction for the taxable year in which the beneficiary dies or attains age 25 or for any year thereafter. Disallows such deduction to a taxpayer who is a dependent of another taxpayer. Disallows such deduction with respect to a beneficiary who is the spouse of the taxpayer, unless the taxpayer is entitled to an exemption for the spouse and files a joint return. Deems payments to an advance tuition payment plan agreement as payments for the preceding taxable year if they are made not later than the time prescribed by law for filing the return. Provides that the deduction for payment under advance tuition payment plan agreements is also allowable to taxpayers who do not itemize deductions. Excludes from gross income any amount paid from the National Postsecondary Education Trust to any postsecondary education institution pursuant to any advance tuition payment plan agreement. Includes in the gross income of the person to whom the amount is paid any other amount paid from the National Postsecondary Education Trust which is not described in the preceding sentence. Adds a ten percent penalty tax for such refunds from the Trust, except where the beneficiary under the agreement dies.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 1987
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Japanese should: (1) lower their high tariffs and remove quotas on U.S. agricultural products; and (2) take such actions to avoid damage to the relations between the two countries.
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 1987
Declares that the Congress recognizes and supports efforts to develop the National Purple Heart Museum in Enfield, Connecticut, and encourages the people of the United States to participate in the development of such museum.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 1987
Agricultural Mortgage Marketing Act of 1987 - Amends the Farm Credit Act of 1971 to establish as a federally-chartered institution of the Farm Credit System (System) the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (Corporation). States that the Corporation shall not be liable for the debts of any other System institutions. Directs the Corporation to provide a secondary agricultural mortgage market by: (1) developing uniform underwriting, security appraisal, and repayment standards; (2) determining the eligibility of agricultural mortgage marketing facilities to contract with the Corporation for credit enhancement of specific mortgage pools; and (3) providing credit enhancement to assure repayment of principal and interest on pools of qualified agricultural mortgage loans. Sets forth provisions relating to: (1) the Board of Directors; (2) operating powers; (3) stock; (4) agricultural mortgage marketing facility certification (including revocation); (5) credit enhancement of qualified agricultural mortgage loans; (6) the required ten-percent contribution reserve (including distributions of any earnings on such reserve and loss allocation); (7) standards for qualified agricultural mortgage loans; (8) credit enhancement (including fees and limitations on liability); (9) Corporation regulation (including an annual report); and (10) exemption from Federal and State securities laws under specified conditions (including authorized investments).
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 1987
Diplomatic Reciprocity and Security Act - Title I: Soviet Embassy in the United States and United States Embassy in the Soviet Union - Declares that the United States withdraws from the agreement with the Soviet Union concerning embassies in Moscow and Washington. Authorizes the President to waive such withdrawal if he determines, and reports to the Congress, that: (1) it is vital to the national security of the United States not to withdraw from the embassy agreement; (2) the U.S. Embassy in Moscow can be safely and securely occupied by the United States and used for its intended purposes; and (3) steps have been or will be taken to eliminate, no later than October 1, 1989, the damage to U.S. national security due to electronic surveillance from Soviet facilities at the Mount Alto site in Washington, D.C., and from other Soviet facilities in the United States. Provides that if the withdrawal from the embassy agreement takes effect the Mount Alto site may not be available for use by a foreign mission for any purpose. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the current arbitration process between the United States and the Soviet Union should be expanded to include Soviet reimbursement of the full costs incurred by the United States as a result of the intelligence activities of the Soviet Union directed at the new United States Embassy in Moscow. Requires the Secretary of State to achieve, by October 1, 1989, reciprocity in certain matters for U.S. diplomatic and consular posts in the Soviet Union. Specifies such matters as: (1) the payment of fair market value for goods and services in the Soviet Union; (2) full access to goods and services in the Soviet Union, including utilities; and (3) obtaining real property in the Soviet Union which is equivalent in terms of quantity and quality to the real property used by diplomatic and consular posts of the Soviet mission to the United States. Authorizes the Secretary to take certain measures, including the closing of Soviet diplomatic or consular offices, in order to achieve reciprocal treatment concerning real property. Requires the Secretary to report annually to the Congress concerning actions taken or planned to achieve such objectives. Requires the Secretary to submit to the Congress a report discussing whether the number of personnel of Soviet state trading enterprises in the United States should be reduced. Title II: Improving State Department Personnel Practices and Organization to Counter Hostile Intelligence Threats - Requires the Secretary of State to require periodic counterintelligence scope polygraph interviews of the Diplomatic Security Service. Requires the Secretary to develop and implement a special personnel security program for personnel of the Department of State assigned to U.S. diplomatic and consular posts in high intelligence threat countries who are responsible for security at those posts and for any individuals performing guard functions at those posts. Requires the Secretary to convene an Accountability Review Board in any case of a serious breach of security involving intelligence activities of a foreign government directed at a U.S. mission abroad. Prohibits, after September 30, 1989, employment of any national of a Communist country as a foreign national employee at U.S. diplomatic and consular missions in any Communist country. Exempts from such prohibition any foreign national employee who is not permitted access to: (1) U.S. Embassy or consulate grounds, vehicles, or buildings located in the compound of the Embassy or consulate; and (2) the residence, wherever located, of the chief of mission or the deputy chief of mission. Expresses the willingness of the Congress to provide additional funds to the Department of State for the expenses of employing U.S. citizens to replace foreign nationals dismissed as a result of such prohibition. Requires the Secretary to terminate the retirement benefits of foreign national employees who the Secretary reasonably believes engaged in intelligence activities directed against the United States. Allows the Secretary to waive such requirement on a case-by-case basis if he determines that it is vital to U.S. national security to do so and reports such waiver in advance to the appropriate committees of the Congress. Requires the Secretary to submit to the Congress a report discussing the advisability of employing foreign nationals at foreign service posts abroad. Establishes within the Department of State the position of Under Secretary of State for Security, Communications, Construction, and Missions. Provides that such Under Secretary shall be responsible for: (1) the Bureau of Diplomatic Security; (2) the Office of Communications; (3) the Office of Foreign Buildings; and (4) the Office of Foreign Missions. Replaces the current position of Director of the Office of Foreign Missions with the position of Assistant Secretary of State for Foreign Missions. Title III: Additional Measures to Protect Against Hostile Intelligence Threats - Authorizes additional appropriations for the Department of State to carry out the diplomatic security program. Requires the Secretary of State to conduct periodic surveys to determine the weaknesses in the programs, practices, and procedures for protecting classified information at U.S. diplomatic and consular posts, giving priority attention to posts in Communist countries. Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to prohibit the acquisition of real property by or on behalf of the foreign mission of an unfriendly country if: (1) in the judgment of the Secretary of Defense, the acquisition of that property might improve the capability of that country to intercept communications involving U.S. diplomatic, military, or intelligence matters; or (2) if in the judgment of the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the acquisition of that property might improve the capability of that country to engage in intelligence activities directed against the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 1987
Star Schools Program Assistance Act - Amends the Education for Economic Security Act to add a title establishing a star schools program. Cites the new title as the Star Schools Program Assistance Act. Empowers the Secretary of Education to make demonstration grants of up to a fiscal year maximum of $20,000,000 per grant to eligible telecommunications partnerships for the development, construction, and acquisition of telecommunications facilities and equipment and for technical assistance. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1988 through 1992, subject to fiscal year limitations. Mandates that at least 50 percent of funds under this Act for any fiscal year be used for the cost of facilities, equipment, teacher training or retraining, technical assistance, or programming for certain local educational agencies. Sets forth eligibility criteria to identify eligible telecommunications partnerships, which must be organized on a statewide or multistate regional basis and be either: (1) a public agency or corporation established to provide education-related telecommunications networks to certain educational or health institutions or to industries; or (2) a partnership that will provide a telecommunications network and whose membership includes certain specified educational entities (especially elementary and secondary schools eligible for funds under title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 or such eligible schools operated by the Department of the Interior for Indian children) or public or private organizations experienced with telecommunications. Authorizes eligible partnerships to submit a grant application: (1) describing the telecommunications facilities, equipment, and technical assistance for which aid is being sought; (2) demonstrating that the services offered will increase the availability of courses of instruction in mathematics, science, and foreign languages; (3) describing teacher training policies to be implemented to ensure the effective use of the relevant facilities; (4) providing assurances that the financial interest of the United States in the telecommunications facilities and equipment will be protected for their useful life; (5) assuring that a significant portion of the facilities, equipment, technical assistance, and programming will be made available within local educational agencies having a high percentage of educationally deprived students; (6) describing how traditionally underserved students will participate in the benefits of such technology; and (7) containing other assurances and information as required by the Secretary. Directs the Secretary, in approving applications, to assure an equitable geographic distribution of grants and to give priority to certain applicants, including those partnerships that: (1) have the capacity to serve the broadest range of targeted institutions; (2) have substantial academic and teaching capabilities; (3) will serve a multistate area; and (4) demonstrate strength in mathematics, science, and foreign language resources which by distribution through the partnership will offer new educational opportunities, especially to traditionally underserved populations and to areas with limited access to such resources; and (5) will meet the needs of individuals traditionally excluded from careers in mathematics and science because of discrimination, inaccessibility, or economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Requires each grantee to report to the Secretary concerning courses and materials to be transmitted by satellite to educational institutions and teacher training centers and to specify the locus and time of such transmissions. Directs the Secretary to: (1) compile and prepare for dissemination a listing and description of the courses and materials submitted by each grantee; and (2) distribute such list to all State educational agencies. Authorizes the Office of Technology Assessment, upon request, to: (1) conduct a thorough evaluation of the use of the telecommunications system supported by the grants awarded under this Act and report to the Congress on such evaluation; and (2) study and evaluate the cost of designing, building, and launching a satellite for educational purposes, including an analysis of potential users' ability to repay such costs. Requires a report to the Congress if such study indicates that potential users would be able to repay such costs within ten years.
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 1987
Provides that each item of any joint resolution making continuing appropriations that is agreed to in the same form by both Houses of the Congress shall be enrolled as a separate bill or joint resolution for presentation to the President (line-item veto).
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 1987
FmHA 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. Requires the Secretary to continue to release living and operating expenses to a borrower until FmHA takes title and possession of the land and determines that such borrower is ineligible for leaseback of the property. 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. Revises farmland disposition provisions to establish the following order of priority: (1) sale or lease with purchase option to previous owners of such land; (2) sale or lease with purchase option to previous operators of such land; and (3) sale or lease with purchase option to family-farm sized operators. Revises homestead protection provisions to: (1) include out buildings 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. Suspends collection activities until the Secretary has issued final loan restructuring regulations. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the Secretary should ensure through FmHA that farmland held in inventory which is suitable for use by eligible persons be properly classified and offered for sale to eligible buyers; and (2) such land should be classified as suitable unless the Secretary demonstrates that it is unlikely that it could be profitably farmed.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 1987
Amends Federal veterans' benefits provisions to direct (current law authorizes) the Administrator of Veterans Affairs to pay travel expenses of certain veterans and their eligible dependents to or from a Veterans Administration facility or other authorized place in connection with rehabilitation, counseling, or medical treatment or care. Defines those veterans entitled to such payment, including: (1) those veterans financially unable to meet such travel costs; and (2) those veterans unable to bear the cost of special transportation necessitated due to a medical disability. Limits such payments in the case of travel by a privately-owned vehicle to the cost of similar public transportation for such travel. Limits such payment to the actual cost incurred for such travel.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 1987
Reclamation States Ground Water Protection and Management Act of 1987 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to publish criteria for assessing the adequacy of groundwater protection and management programs of the Reclamation States (Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming). Requires to include programs to protect the integrity of such resources, programs for mapping and classifying aquifer systems, and monitoring programs. Directs the Secretary to identify Reclamation States with significant groundwater problems and assess the adequacy of their protection and management programs. Requires the Secretary to make public both the criteria developed and the States identified. Prohibits the development of a reclamation project in an identified State unless such State has an approved program. Authorizes States to revise Secretary-approved programs, subject to the Secretary's approval. Directs the Secretary to review such programs periodically, notifying a State of any intention to withdraw approval. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress on what assistance the U.S. Geological Survey Cooperative Research Program can provide States in developing groundwater protection and management programs.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 1987
Davis-Bacon Reform Act of 1987 - Amends the Davis-Bacon Act to increase from $2,000 to $250,000 the threshold amount subjecting certain contracts to such Act and requiring them to specify the minimum wages to be paid to laborers and mechanics. Directs the Secretary of Labor to establish as the prevailing wage for a class of laborers or mechanics the entire range of wages being paid to a corresponding class of such workers in the particular urban or rural subdivision of the State in which the work is to be performed. Sets out the means for determining such prevailing wage in cases when more than a single wage is being paid to corresponding classes of workers. Excludes from the computation of wages the basic hourly rates of pay for workers on local Federal projects. Establishes a separate classification for helpers of laborers or mechanics, with their prevailing wages to be determined on the basis of the corresponding class of helpers. Prohibits the division of contracts into units of $250,000 or less for purposes of avoiding wage computation under such Act. Directs the Secretary of Labor and the U.S. Comptroller General to submit to the Congress annual reports describing the effects of the Davis-Bacon Act, the Copeland Act, and this Act on local wages and on local and national economies. Amends the Copeland Act to require certain contractors or subcontractors to furnish compliance statements concerning weekly wages at the beginning, midpoint, and conclusion of the period covered by the contract, instead of every week as the wages are paid.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 1987
Declares that the President should designate and send to Vietnam a special presidential representative to negotiate with the Government of Vietnam for: (1) an agreement for the resolution of all outstanding humanitarian issues between the two countries; and (2) an agreement for establishment of technical resolution offices in the capitals of both countries to implement the agreement on humanitarian issues.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1987
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to define the preproductive period of an animal, for income tax inventory cost capitalization purposes, as beginning at the birth of the animal or, if later, at the time of its acquisition by the taxpayer.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1987
Farmers Tax Equity Act of 1987 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to define "large animal processors" and include them among the types of corporations required to use an accrual method of accounting to compute taxable income. Excludes such entities from eligibility for exception to these accounting requirements under most circumstances. Defines a "single purpose commodity storage structure" and includes such structures and single purpose livestock structures, as well as the work space appurtenant to each type of structure, as 15-year property for purposes of the accelerated cost recovery system used to determine the income tax deduction for depreciation. Repeals IRC provisions that disallow the inclusion of noncorporate taxpayer losses from certain tax shelter farm activity in computations to determine alternative minimum taxable income. Amends IRC provisions relating to the income tax deduction for health insurance costs of self-employed individuals to: (1) make the deduction permanent (under current law it expires after tax year 1989); and (2) increase, by annual increments of 25 percent (to 100 percent for tax year 1990 and thereafter), the percentage of such costs allowable as a deduction. Repeals specified provisions of the Tax Reform Act of 1986 that eliminated income averaging. Provides that the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 shall be applied and administered as if such provisions had not been enacted. Amends the IRC to restore income averaging for a person: (1) actively engaged in the trade or business of farming, including aquaculture; and (2) whose average annual gross income for the three preceding taxable years is at least 50 percent attributable to farming. Amends the IRC to revise the treatment of activities of members of a taxpayer's family in determining a taxpayer's material participation in farming activity for purposes of passive loss and credit limitations. Exempts property used predominantly in a farm activity that does not involve the production of plants or animals whose preproductive period exceeds two years from provisions that require a taxpayer who elects to deduct preproductive expenses to apply straight line depreciation rules to the remainder of the taxpayer's farming property. Defines the preproductive period of livestock to be used for breeding purposes to begin at the animal's birth and to end when the animal is able to breed. Repeals specified provisions of the Tax Reform Act of 1986 that extended limitations on tax deductions for certain prepaid farm supply expenses to certain non-farm-related taxpayers with excess prepaid farm supplies. (Prior law applied only to farming syndicates.) Exempts from the percent reductions applicable to investment credit carryforwards any investment credit related to property used in a farming business when the affected taxpayer's average gross income for the three preceding taxable years is at least 50 percent attributable to such business.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1987
Jobs for Employable Dependent Individuals Act - Amends the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) to entitle each State to the payment of a bonus for the successful job placement of certain employable dependent individuals. Makes the following persons eligible to be counted for an incentive bonus: (1) a head of a household who has received benefits continuously under part A (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) (AFDC) of title IV of the Social Security Act or under cash and medical assistance to refugees under the Immigration and Nationality Act, or a blind or disabled person who has received benefits continuously under title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI) of the Social Security Act, for at least two years prior to participation in education, training, and support activities designed to provide jobs for such individuals, and who has no work experience for the year preceding the year for which the eligibility determination is made; or (2) a head of a household who receives benefits at the time determination of eligibility is made under AFDC, under cash and medical assistance to refugees, or a blind or disabled individual who receives benefits under the SSI program, who has not attained 22 years of age, has not completed secondary school or its equivalent (except that this does not apply to blind or disabled persons), and has no work experience for the year preceding the year for which the eligibility determination is made. Requires that such individual: (1) participate in education, training, and support activities designed to provide jobs for such individuals; (2) be placed in nonsubsidized employment (or in the case of a blind or disabled individual, in employment or supported employment) for at least one year after such participation; (3) receive from such employment an income equal to or greater than the cash benefits under the relevant aid program; and (4) no longer qualify for such aid benefits. Provides that the amount of the incentive bonus paid to each State will be equal to: (1) 40 percent of the placement bonus base for each successful placement; (2) 50 percent for the second continuous year of such employment; and (3) 60 percent for the third year. Includes in such calculation only placements in excess of those during FY 1986 or another base period agreed upon by the Governor and the Secretary of Labor (Secretary). Sets forth a formula for the determination of the placement bonus base for each category of eligible recipient. Sets forth State application requirements. Requires adequate verification of placements for approval of applications. Directs the Governor to reserve an amount equal to the amount the State receives for incentive bonuses and to: (1) set aside up to 15 percent of the amount so reserved in each fiscal year for distribution to specified participating entities to support the costs of establishing and maintaining systems necessary for the operation of the incentive bonus program; and (2) distribute the remainder to participating agencies, private industry councils in service delivery areas (SDAs), and service providers, including community-based organizations, that contribute to the incentive bonus program. Limits use of these remainder funds to the following activities designed for the job preparation and job placement of participants: (1) outreach; (2) basic and remedial education, including English language training; (3) training and supportive services, including child care; and (4) transportation. Directs the Secretary to evaluate the incentive bonus program and to report the results to the Congress within three years after this Act's enactment. Directs the Secretary and the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue jointly regulations relating to the safeguarding and sharing, among certain participating entities, of pertinent information concerning programs under the incentive bonus program. Reallots unexpected funds exceeding 20 percent of a State's JTPA fiscal year allocation for certain training services for the disadvantaged, plus any balance from the prior year, to States that did not have such excess funds. Requires the Secretary to reallot such monies in accordance with States' need for the ability to use the funds for the incentive bonus program. Directs the Secretary to: (1) provide improved information and technical assistance on performance standards adjustment approaches; (2) collect data that more adequately identify hard-to-serve individuals and long-term welfare dependency; (3) provide guidance on setting performance goals at a service provider level that encourage increased service to targeted persons; and (4) reexamine performance standards to ensure that they provide maximum flexibility in serving the hard-to-serve, especially long-term welfare recipients. Establishes a basic measure for performance applicable to certain adult education programs. Directs the Secretary to prescribe standards to determine whether the basic measure is being achieved. Lists factors to be included in such standards. Subjects the new programs established under this Act to the JTPA's requirements relating to the submission of a plan, plan review and approval procedures, and performance standards. Requires the Secretary, in prescribing performance standards relating to the placement of certain employable dependent individuals, to weight the placement of such persons in accordance with the average costs of successful placement of such persons compared to the average cost of successful placement of individuals eligible for other specified services for disadvantaged persons.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1987
General Aviation Standards Act of 1987 - Amends the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 (relating to aviation accident investigations) to apply such Act, with specified exceptions, to any action for damages for harm arising out of a general aviation accident brought against a general aviation manufacturer, owner, or operator of a general aviation aircraft, or a person who supports or maintains such aircraft. Establishes guidelines for uniform standards of liability of general aviation manufacturers for general aviation accidents. States that all actions for harm arising out of a general aviation accident shall be governed by the principles of comparative responsibility. Establishes, with specified exceptions, a limitation of actions period of 12 years from delivery of aircraft or harm-causing part to the purchaser for general aviation civil liability brought against a general aviation manufacturer. Declares admissible as evidence certain income tax and payroll tax liability for purposes of establishing financial harm arising out of a general aviation accident. Permits the award of punitive damages if a claimant establishes by clear and convincing evidence that the harm suffered was the direct result of conduct manifesting conscious, flagrant indifference to safety. Establishes a two-year limitation of actions period for actions arising out of a general aviation accident. Confers original jurisdiction upon the Federal district courts, concurrently with State courts, for all civil actions for harm arising out of a general aviation accident. Provides procedures for removal from State to Federal district courts of such actions. Declares that this Act supersedes any State law regarding recovery of damages for harm arising out of a general aviation accident. Declares the intent of the Congress that sanctions be strictly enforced for violations of Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, including orders to pay to the other party the reasonable costs of legal fees.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1987
Amends the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 to remove specified accounts related to railroad retirement funds, taxes, and revenues from inclusion in the Federal budget totals submitted by the President or the Congress, and to exempt such accounts from any general budget limitation imposed by law on Federal expenditures and net lending (budget outlays). Amends the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act to prohibit from inclusion in the Federal budget totals submitted by the President or the Congress certain railroad unemployment insurance accounts, taxes, and funds, and to exempt them from any general statutory budget limitations imposed upon Federal expenditures and budget outlays. Amends the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 to direct the Railroad Retirement Board (the Board) to submit an annual budget program to the Office of Management and Budget which shall include separate statements of the Board's requested appropriations. Directs the President to include such requested amounts (without revision) in the budget transmitted to the Congress. Amends the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 and the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act to provide that the Board's authority to determine the number of individuals it shall employ shall not be subject to review by other Federal administrative or accounting personnel. Precludes regulations promulgated by the Board from being subject to review by other Federal administrative or accounting personnel.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1987
Amends Federal law regarding railroad line operation and construction to prescribe the contents of a rail carrier's application to the Interstate Commerce Commission (the Commission) for approval of additional railroad line acquisition or construction. Grants affected States a specified time within which to submit a written protest to the Commission. Requires the Commission, upon timely receipt of such protest, to review the proposed transaction in order to determine whether it will serve the public convenience and necessity. Prohibits the Commission from approving the proposed transaction unless the application indicates that the carrier selling the railroad line is required to reacquire and resume common carrier transportation responsibilities over such line if, within two years after sale, the acquiring carrier ceases to provide transportation service. Directs the Commission to determine a fair and reasonable refund to be paid by a carrier reacquiring a line to the carrier which has ceased to provide service. Prohibits the Commission from granting an applicant an exemption from Commission review unless: (1) an application for abandonment of the affected line has been approved; or (2) the length of trackage involved in the transaction is less than 50 miles.
United States · United States Congress · 28 April 1987
Rural Letter Carriers Tax Simplification Act - Provides that, for taxable years beginning after 1986, rural mail carriers are permitted to compute the amount of the income tax deduction for use of their automobiles in performance of mail services: (1) by using a standard mileage rate for all miles of such use equal to 150 percent of the basic standard rate; or (2) without applying the limitation on deductions generally applicable in cases when the business use of the automobile accounts for 50 percent, or less, of its use. Prohibits the use of 150 percent of the basic standard mileage rate in determining the allowable deduction if the taxpayer claims an investment tax credit or depreciation deduction for such automobile.
United States · United States Congress · 27 April 1987
Farmers Home Administration Guaranteed Loan Improvements Act of 1987 - Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to permit leaders and subsequent loan holders to sell the guaranteed portion of certain Farmers Home Administration (FmHA) loans provided that: (1) all related fees due the Secretary of Agriculture are fully paid; and (2) the loan has been fully disbursed to the borrower. Authorizes the issuing of pool certificates representing ownership of the guaranteed portion of such FmHA loans. Directs the Secretary to: (1) provide for the central collection of registration information; (2) provide for specified seller-buyer disclosure; (3) regulate market makers in pool certificates; (4) require market makers to service all pools and provide the Secretary with payment and default information; and (5) report annually to the appropriate congressional committees regarding secondary market operations.
United States · United States Congress · 23 April 1987
Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require foods to include on their labeling the presence and amount of any palm, palm kernel, or coconut oil along with a statement that such oil(s) is a saturated fat.
United States · United States Congress · 23 April 1987
Amends Federal veterans' benefits provisions to extend until October 1, 1990, the period for transition from the provision of readjustment counseling services for veterans in facilities set apart from general Veterans Administration (VA) health-care facilities to the provision of such counseling services primarily through VA general health-care facilities. Extends until April 1, 1988, the deadline for a report to the Congress by the Administrator of Veterans Affairs concerning the effectiveness of providing such readjustment counseling to veterans. Extends by one year various other reporting dates required of the Administrator under the readjustment counseling program. Revises certain reporting requirements of the Administrator under such program. Directs the Administrator to maintain in operation until October 1, 1988, the same number of readjustment counseling centers as were in operation on April 1, 1987. Amends the Veterans' Health Care Amendments of 1983 to extend until October 1, 1987, the deadline for a report to the Congress by the Administrator on the results of a study of post-traumatic stress disorder and other post-war psychological problems of Vietnam veterans.
United States · United States Congress · 23 April 1987
National Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Act of 1987 - Title I: Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research - Establishes a ten-year coordinated program, to be known as the National Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Program, which will be implemented by the Secretaries of Health and Human Services and Agriculture. Establishes an Interagency Board for Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research to facilitate the implementation of such program. Authorizes the Secretaries to appoint an Administrator of Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research to coordinate such program. Sets forth the functions of the Secretaries with respect to such program, including: (1) establishing matching grants programs for specified nutritional and dietary purposes; and (2) submitting an annual report to the President for transmittal to the Congress. Requires the Secretaries to prepare and implement a comprehensive national nutrition monitoring and related research plan which shall: (1) assess and report on U.S. nutritional and dietary trends; (2) assess and report on low-income food and household expenditures; (3) sponsor and conduct research; (4) develop and update a national dietary and nutritional status data bank; (5) assist State and local agencies in developing procedures and networks for nutrition monitoring and surveillance; and (6) focus the activities of Federal agencies. Requires the plan to allocate the project functions and activities among the various Federal agencies and offices involved. Provides that the comprehensive plan shall be carried out during the period ending with the close of the ninth fiscal year following the fiscal year in which the final comprehensive plan is submitted. Requires the Secretaries to provide for and coordinate such scientific research and development as may be necessary to support the coordinated program and comprehensive plan. Authorizes appropriations. Title II: National Nutrition Monitoring Advisory Council - Establishes an 11-member Advisory Council to: (1) provide scientific and technical advice on the development and implementation of all components of the coordinated program and the comprehensive plan; (2) evaluate such program and plan; and (3) submit an annual report to the Secretaries. Title III: Dietary Guidance -Directs the Secretaries, by the start of 1990 and every five years thereafter, to publish and review dietary guidelines for the general public.
United States · United States Congress · 22 April 1987
PRO Due Process and Equity Amendments of 1987 - Amends part B (Peer Review) of title XI of the Social Security Act to give Medicare (title XVIII of the Act) providers 30 days to request a hearing, and such time as is thereafter needed to exhaust administrative and judicial remedies, before the decision of the Secretary of Health and Human Services to exclude the provider from Medicare participation takes effect, provided that such delay does not pose a severe and immediate threat to the health of Medicare beneficiaries. Provides that where the Secretary finds such an immediate threat to exist, the provider shall be immediately excluded from Medicare participation and be given a hearing within 30 days. Directs the Secretary to act upon the recommendations regarding a provider's noncompliance with title XI requirements within five days of their submission if the PRO finds such noncompliance to pose an immediate threat to the health of Medicare beneficiaries, and, in any other case, within 120 days of the submittal of the recommendations. Entitles Medicare providers to a reconsideration by PRO of that organization's denial of payment for services provided, and to further review where such reconsideration is adverse to the provider and certain jurisdictional criteria are satisfied. Requires PROs to notify providers regarding any changes in the services reviewed or the review standards applied by PROs at least 30 days before such changes take effect. Requires the Secretary to emphasize PRO educational activities as much as its sanctioning activities when entering into, reviewing, or terminating PRO contracts. Directs PROs to make at least 50 percent of their review of small rural hospitals on-site reviews and take into account professionally recognized local health care standards as well as national and State standards in conducting such reviews. Prohibits the finalization of a provider payment denial until at least 30 days after the PRO gives the provider reasonable notice of the proposed denial and a reasonable opportunity to discuss such denial. Requires a PRO to include at least one hospital representative on its governing body. Requires the random review of physician care to be conducted so that there is an equal likelihood and intensity of review for each physician sampled.
United States · United States Congress · 22 April 1987
Medicare Rural Hospital Amendments of 1987 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to extend, until October 1990, the adjustment of payments made to sole community hospitals which experience a five percent decrease in patient volume over two successive cost reporting periods, unless such decrease in patient volume is due to hospital actions taken to reduce capacity or case load. Requires the Prospective Payment Assessment Commission (Commission) to report to the Congress on March 1, 1988, on a study into the appropriateness of the criteria used in designating hospitals as sole community hospitals. Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress on a study into the feasibility and impact of eliminating separate urban and rural prospective payment rates for hospital services. Requires the Commission to collect information and report to the Congress on March 1, 1988, concerning whether an adjustment to the area wage index (used to adjust prospective payment rates to account for the wage differential between urban and rural areas) is warranted to account for variations in the occupational mix of hospital employees. Requires information on the wages and hours of employment for employees in hospital occupational categories to be collected for purposes of the annual update of the area wage index. Bases outlier payments for a fiscal year on a percentage of the total prospective payment system (PPS) payments made for the second previous fiscal year. (Currently, outlier payments represent a percentage of the total PPS payments estimated to be made for the same fiscal year). Directs the Commission to report to the Congress by FY 1989 on a study into the impact on urban and rural hospitals of the criteria used to determine eligibility for outlier payments. Requires the Secretary to analyze the appropriateness of different annual percentage changes in prospective payment rates for urban and rural hospitals. Authorizes the Secretary, beginning in FY 1989, to provide for different annual percentage changes in prospective payment rates for urban and rural hospitals. Sets forth certain factors that a rural hospital which is adjacent to an urban area must establish in order to have the urban wage index applied in the determination of its prospective payments. Sets aside 25 percent of the funds appropriated pursuant to the Social Security Act, beginning with FY 1988, for research and demonstration projects relating to the delivery of or access to health care, to projects relating to the delivery of or access to health care in rural areas.
United States · United States Congress · 22 April 1987
Expresses the sense of the Congress that Medicare (title XVIII of the Social Security Act) reconciliation legislation should take into account the special needs of rural hospitals which are not currently taken into account under the Medicare hospital prospective payment system.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 1987
Farmers Home Loan Buy Back Act of 1987 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture, in administering the sale of specified Farmers Home Administration rural development obligations as provided for under the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986, to give the issuers the right of first refusal. Sets forth sale price provisions.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 1987
Ethanol Motor Fuel Act of 1987 - Mandates that in any calendar year beginning with calendar year 1988, the total quantity of motor fuel sold annually in U.S. commerce by wholesale distributors shall contain, on the average, not less than a specified percentage of ethanol by volume. Sets forth a computation formula for measuring the percentage of ethanol in motor fuel sold by a wholesale distributor. Requires wholesale distributors of motor fuel to report to the Secretary of Energy regarding ethanol sales and credits. Imposes a civil penalty on wholesale distributors for violation of the ethanol-blended fuel requirements. Directs the Secretary of Energy to establish a program to promote ethanol use in motor fuel.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 1987
Amends the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to permit Rural Electrification Administration borrowers to prepay Federal Financing Bank loans without penalties if: (1) private capital is used to replace such loans; and (2) any savings will be used to avoid future rate increases, passed on to customers, or used to improve the borrower's financial strength.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 1987
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the member nations of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) should: (1) negotiate further reductions in tariffs and strengthen the rules governing nontariff barriers; (2) establish rules governing the use of safeguard actions (including voluntary restraint agreements and marketing arrangements) to ensure that such actions contribute to trade adjustment without shifting the burden to other trading countries; (3) develop rules governing agricultural trade (including the elimination of export subsidies and barriers to agricultural markets) and foreign investment; (4) establish enforceable mechanisms for the protection of intellectual property; and (5) strengthen and streamline the GATT dispute settlement procedures.
United States · United States Congress · 8 April 1987
Community, Employee, and Stockholder Right-to-Know Act - Title I: Amendments to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 - Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to authorize the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) to suspend the effectiveness of the offer for, or request or invitations of tenders for, a security if the SEC determines that the required information statement filed with the SEC is lacking in specified information or that the information does not provide full disclosure concerning such security. Maintains such suspension until a determination following a hearing. Requires such hearing to be held within ten days after the date of suspension, and a determination to be made within three days following the completion of the hearing. Requires the SEC to permanently suspend an offer found to contain inadequate information concerning the security, subject to the offeror's right to remedy the inadequate information provided in the offer. Prohibits the offeror from taking any action concerning the offer of a security while such offer's validity is being determined by such a hearing. Prohibits any offeror from acquiring any equity securities of any class of any issuer at any time within two years following the last purchase of securities pursuant to an offer for securities of that class, unless the holders of the equity securities are afforded a reasonable opportunity to dispose of the securities to the offeror upon substantially equivalent terms as those provided in the earlier offer. Provides that all shares acquired in violation of this Act or in violation of any order of the SEC will be denied voting rights for one year after acquisition, with the issuer having the right to call the shares for redemption at book value per share. Includes, as part of the information required to be filed with the SEC by any person acquiring more than five percent of a class of securities, the following information: (1) a description of any securities which are being offered in exchange for the equity securities of the issuer; (2) whether such person will effect a merger or consolidation with any other person or change the location of the principal executive office or of a material portion of an acquired business's activities; or (3) whether such person will make any other specified major change in the business, corporate structure, management, or personnel for the entity in which the security represents an interest. Directs the SEC to promulgate rules and regulations to prohibit: (1) the sale by any principal stockholder to the offeror of any equity securities for a consideration greater than that to be paid to other stockholders pursuant to an agreement not disclosed to other stockholders; (2) the refusal by the issuer to permit an offeror who is a stockholder of record to examine its list of stockholders and use such information to make or mail solicitations of tender offers to such stockholders; and (3) the solicitation of any acceptance or rejection of an offer before the filing of the information statement required under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Provides that certain reporting requirements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 shall apply to a control share acquisition. States that all securities acquired by a person in violation of certain required shareholder approval requirements shall be denied voting rights for one year after acquisition, with the issuer having the option to call the securities for redemption at book value. Requires a person proposing to make a control share acquisition to deliver to the issuer of the securities involved a statement in such form as the SEC may prescribe, containing information relating to the specifics of such proposed acquisition and changes in voting power which would be the result of such proposed acquisition. Requires a special meeting of the stockholders, between 30 and 55 days after the receipt of such statement, to vote on the proposed control share acquisition. Allows the acquiring person to consummate the proposed control share acquisition only if both of the following occur: (1) the proposed control share acquisition is approved by a majority vote of the stockholders at the special meeting called for such purpose; and (2) the proposed control share acquisition is consummated within 180 days after shareholder approval. Allows an acquiring person to examine the most recent stockholder register for the purpose of communicating with stockholders to obtain authorization for such a control share acquisition. Title II: Plant Closing and Mass Layoff Notification - Prohibits an employer from ordering a plant closing or mass layoff until the end of a 90-day period after the employer serves written notice of such a proposal to: (1) the representative(s) of the affected employees (or, if there is no such representative, to each affected employee); and (2) to the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (the Service). Allows an employer to order such plant closing or mass layoff before the required 90-day period if unavoidable business circumstances prevent the employer from waiting. Defines "plant closing or mass layoff" as an employment loss of 50 or more employees at any site during any 30-day period. Prohibits an employer from ordering a plant closing or mass layoff unless the employer has: (1) met at reasonable times with the employees' representative(s); (2) consulted in good faith with such representative(s) concerning possible alternatives to such closing or layoffs; and (3) consulted with the State governor and the chief administrative officer of the unit of local government within which such closing or layoff is to occur. Requires the employer to engage in such consultations during the entire 90-day notification period. States that an employer shall be held to have failed to consult in good faith if the employer has failed to disclose to employee representative(s) relevant information necessary to thoroughly evaluate the proposed plant closing or mass layoffs. Requires any such information disclosed to employee representatives(s) to be protected from public disclosure in order to protect the position of the employer with respect to its competition. Requires the Service to provide any necessary assistance required under this Act concerning such proposed closings or layoffs. Expresses the sense of the Congress than an employer who is not required to comply with the notice and consultation requirements outlined in this Act should still, to the extent possible, provide notice to, consult with, and disclose necessary information to its employees about a proposed plant shutdown or permanent reduction in the workforce.
United States · United States Congress · 8 April 1987
Declares that the House of Representatives: (1) calls for the immediate release of all the children detained under state of emergency regulations in South Africa; and (2) pending the release of the children, calls on South Africa to permit parental access to the children, make public their names and their location, provide them with adequate food, clothing, and protection, and permit an international organization to verify the above and make sure that such children are not abused or tortured.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 1987
Pension Portability Act of 1987 - Title I: Rules Generally Applicable to Simplified Employee Pensions - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to define a "simplified employee pension plan" as a pension plan consisting of one or more individual retirement accounts or annuities that meet certain requirements of the Internal Revenue Code. Directs the Secretary of Labor to prescribe an alternative method of compliance with requirements for simplified employee pension plans. Establishes participation and vesting requirements for such plans. Requires each simplified employee pension plan and portable pension plan to provide that: (1) the distribution of the accrued benefit with respect to each participant will be only in a permitted retirement income form; (2) no distribution may be made without the consent of the participant or beneficiary; and (3) the benefit will be distributed in accordance with a timely application in accordance with the terms of the plan. Describes a standard retirement income form for simplified employee pension plans as: (1) a qualified joint and survivor annuity; (2) any other joint life annuity, including a cash refund annuity; (3) a single life annuity, including a refund annuity; or (4) any series of substantially equal periodic payments described under the Internal Revenue Code. Allows participants to elect a form of distribution other than distribution over life expectancy, if such spousal consent requirements are met. Requires the administrator of a simplified employee pension plan, prior to making a distribution, to provide to the individual who is to receive the distribution a written explanation of: (1) the provisions under which the distribution may be subject to tax or penalty under the Internal Revenue Code; and (2) the terms and conditions of the applicable permitted retirement income form, the participant's rights with respect to electing other forms of distribution, and spousal rights. Declares that for simplified employee pension plans a beneficiary means a spouse of the participant or any other person designated by the participant or by the terms of the plan. Specifies conditions under which spousal consent requirements are to be met. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make conforming amendments. Exempts simplified employee pension plans from specified funding provisions of ERISA. Authorizes employees to elect alternative salary reduction arrangements under such plans where the employer may make elective contributions to the pension on behalf of the employee or directly to the employee in cash for any year. Specifies the maximum salary reduction amount. Establishes rules governing employer contributions, including participation requirements, the method of determining employer contributions and compensation amounts, and tax reporting requirements. Allows employees to establish simplified employee pension plans with respect to separate lines of business. Title II: Portable Pensions - Amends the Internal Revenue Code and ERISA to define a portable pension plan as an arrangement of one or more individual retirement accounts or annuities which: (1) meets the requirements of a simplified employee pension; and (2) provides for the transfer of plan investment accumulations to other tax-qualified plans. Makes provisions relating to favorable tax treatment inapplicable to cash distributions from rollovers from portable pension plans. Preserves the five-year income averaging treatment for lump sum distributions from portable pension plans which are separately accounted for under such plans. Provides that amounts exceeding the maximum rollover allowable shall not be taxable if such amounts are transferred to a portable pension plan in a direct trustee-to-trustee transfer. Establishes special rules for portable pension plans under ERISA. Relieves the administrators of such plans of liability for reliance in good faith on information provided by an employer, participant, or beneficiary which constitutes a misrepresentation or mistake of fact. Sets forth the responsibilities of the plan sponsor, administrator, and employer. Requires a portable pension plan to: (1) meet employee self-directed account regulations; (2) designate a fiduciary; and (3) provide at least one investment option in U.S. securities. Directs the Secretary and the Secretary of the Treasury to prescribe by regulation one or more prototype portable pension plans. Amends ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the direct transfer to a portable pension plan from any other pension plan of the entire nonforfeitable benefit of a participant under such other pension plan.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 1987
Amends Federal provisions relating to the National Guard to include positions held by civilian technicians of the National Guard within the competitive service. Provides that service performed by such technicians prior to the effective date of this Act shall be considered competitive service for purposes of eligibility for certain Federal benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 1987
Encourages State and local governments and local educational agencies to provide quality daily physical education programs for all children from kindergarten through grade 12.
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 1987
Makes permanent the income tax credit for qualified research expenditures by repealing the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code that would terminate such credit for expenses incurred or paid after 1988.
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 1987
Education for Economic Security Amendments of 1987 - Amends the Education for Economic Security Act to rename title II as the Critical Skills Improvement Act of 1987 (which may be cited as the Critical Skills Act). Authorizes the Secretary of Education to make title II grants to States for strengthening the skills of teachers and the quality of instruction in mathematics and science in elementary and secondary schools. Authorizes appropriations for title II for FY 1988 through 1993. Sets forth formulas for title II allocation of funds to States and for within State distribution. Sets forth State and local application requirements. Sets forth provisions for State and local educational agency use of title II funds. Sets forth teacher training activities for which such State and local funds may be used. Sets forth provisions for participation of children and teachers from private schools. Directs the Secretary to provide technical assistance and to develop procedures for State and local program evaluations. Directs the Secretary to submit to the Congress an annual summary of State program evaluations. Reserves certain funds for national programs. Directs the Secretary to make grants for programs of national significance in mathematics and science instruction, giving special consideration to those programs providing special services to historically underserved and underrepresented populations in the fields of mathematics and science.
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 1987
Indochinese Refugee Resettlement and Protection Act of 1987 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to establish a specific time period in which the President must consult with the Congress regarding emergency refugee admissions. States that the Secretary of State shall have sole authority to admit certain South Asian refugees. Prohibits denial of refugee status to aliens who are otherwise eligible for immigrant classification. Allocates a specified number of FY 1988 through 1990 refugee admissions for: (1) East Asians; and (2) the Orderly Departure Program (from Vietnam). Expresses the sense of the Congress that under the leadership of the United States renewed efforts should be made to settle Indochinese refugees who have lived in camps for at least three years. Allocates specified numbers of FY 1988 through 1990 East Asian entries for: (1) persons who have lived in refugee camps for at least three years; and (2) other camp residents. Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to allocate specified amounts from FY 1988 and 1989 authorizations for education, economic, and military training border projects in Thailand. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the international community should increase efforts to protect Indochinese refugee camps in Thailand from cross-border attacks, and that international personnel should be present on a 24-hour-a-day basis at camp "Site 2" in Thailand.
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 1987
Amends the Federal criminal code to make it unlawful for an employer to monitor an employee's work phone call unless a repeating audible warning tone is utilized. Allows any person whose call is monitored in violation of this Act to recover civil damages.
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 1987
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from self-employment income, for Social Security tax purposes, certain payments under the conservation acreage reserve program. Prohibits an income tax deduction for expenses incurred as a result of participation in such program.
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 1987
Public Pension Parity Act of 1987 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income amounts received under a government pension that are not attributable to services covered under the social security system. Limits the amount of such exclusion to the amount of maximum excludable social security benefits reduced by the social security benefits received during the taxable year which were excluded from gross income. Defines the "maximum excludable social security benefit" as the individual benefit an individual could receive if fully covered by the Social Security Program, one and one-half times such amount for joint returns, or three-fourths such amount for married individuals filing separately.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 1987
(Measure passed House, amended) Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the President should express to West Germany that the United States expects it to comply with its treaty obligations by prosecuting terrorist Mohammed Hamadei on all charges including those involving the hijacking of TWA flight 847 and the murder of Robert Stethem; (2) refusal of extradition by West Germany at this time does not exclude the United States from reinstating its extradition request should circumstances so warrant; and (3) any action by West Germany that involves the exchange of Hamadei for German nationals being held hostage by terrorists shall be unacceptable to the Congress and will affect relations between the two countries.
United States · United States Congress · 31 March 1987
Satellite Television Fair Marketing Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit the encrypting of satellite programming from the Public Broadcasting Service and the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service. Requires anyone who encrypts satellite delivered programming for private viewing to: (1) make it available for private viewing by home satellite antenna users; (2) establish reasonable character and financial criteria for distributors of satellite delivered programming and not discriminate in prices, terms, or conditions among distributors offering similar distribution services; and (3) conduct such encryption according to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) - approved standards designed to comply with specified criteria. Requires the FCC-approved standards to provide the public interest benefits of a universal encryption system permitting decryption by cable television subscribers and home satellite users. Authorizes aggrieved persons to commence civil actions to enforce this Act. Requires the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to conduct a study of pricing and distribution terms of satellite television programming to determine whether the programming market is developing competitively. Authorizes the FTC to establish remedies necessary to produce adequate competition. Requires the FCC to begin a rulemaking proceeding on improving access to network signals for rural Americans.
United States · United States Congress · 30 March 1987
Higher Education Technical Amendments Act of 1987 - Amends provisions of the Higher Education Act of 1965 relating to: (1) the selection criteria for institutional challenge grant eligibility, including provisions for the waiver of certain requirements in certain cases when the Secretary of Education determines that such a waiver will substantially increase higher education opportunities appropriate to the needs of American Indians; (2) the value of a principal residence for the purpose of computations to determine Pell grant eligibility in certain cases involving dislocated workers or displaced homemakers; (3) the definition of "untaxed income and benefits" for the purpose of computing annual adjusted family income for Pell grant eligibility determinations; (4) the formula used in assessing institutional need for purposes of the allocation of funding for supplemental educational opportunity grants; (5) authorizations for FY 1987 through 1991 for the high school equivalency and the college assistance migrant programs; (6) special child care services for disadvantaged college students; (7) per student aggregate loan limits; (8) variable interest rates on supplemental and PLUS loans, and limitation, repayment, and refinancing criteria applicable to such loans; (9) PLUS loan deferments; (10) consolidation loans; (11) insurance program agreements to qualify loans for interest subsidies; (12) guaranty agreements for reimbursing loans; (13) the computation of the interest rate on loans under the income contingent direct loan demonstration project; (14) the financial needs assessment of students, including provisions governing the discretion of a student financial aid administrator to make necessary adjustments to allow for the treatment of individual students with special circumstances; and (15) the eligibility of preschool teachers for the Congressional Teacher Scholarship program. Amends the Higher Education Amendments of 1986 relating to: (1) effective dates; and (2) the conduct of certain required studies. Amends the General Education Provisions Act concerning the disposition of certain funds received by the Center for Education Statistics.
United States · United States Congress · 26 March 1987
Petroleum Marketing Practices Act Amendments of 1987 - Amends the Petroleum Marketing Practices Act to provide that, with respect to the sale, consignment, or distribution of motor fuel, the term "franchise" includes any contract between specified parties which is economically necessary to the operation of the leased marketing premises. Provides that the termination or non-renewal of a franchise relationship, upon expiration of an underlying lease for a marketing premises, is reasonable in the event that the franchisor: (1) has an option to renew or purchase an underlying lease or premises and, at least 90 days before such option expires, provides the franchisee with the name, address, and phone number of the owner or lessor; and (2) agrees not to terminate the franchise relationship solely because of the lease and option expiration during any term during which the franchisee is able to retain possession of the premises as a result of entering into an agreement with the owner or lessor.
United States · United States Congress · 26 March 1987
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to permit a State to exclude from coverage service performed by election officials or election workers if the remuneration paid for such service: (1) is less than $300 in a calendar year; or (2) is less than $100 in a calendar quarter.
![Official portrait of Rep. Penny, Timothy J. [D-MN-1]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/p000215_200.jpg)