United States · United States Congress · 25 March 1987
Atomic Veterans Compensation Act of 1987 - Amends Federal veterans' benefits provisions to establish (for purposes of eligibility for such benefits) a presumption of service-connection for the following diseases suffered by any radiation-exposed veteran: (1) all forms of leukemia, except chronic lymphatic leukemia; (2) polycythemia vera; (3) thyroid cancer; (4) bronchogenic carcinoma; and (5) female breast cancer. Requires all of the above diseases, in order to be considered service-connected, to have become manifest to a degree of ten percent or more within 30 years after the last date on which the veteran participated in a radiation-risk activity. Defines "radiation-exposed veterans" and "radiation-risk activity" for purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 1987
Telephone Decency Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit any obscene or indecent telephone communication, in foreign or interstate communication or in the District of Columbia, for commercial purposes to any person. (Current law prohibits such communication to any person without his or her consent or to any person under 18 years of age.)
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 1987
Defense Black Programs Oversight Act - Directs the Secretary of Defense to submit to the defense committees of the House of Representatives and of the Senate, at the same time each year as the President's annual budget is submitted, an unclassified report setting forth the total amount requested for special access programs of the Department of Defense (a program of the Department that is designated in such a manner as to conceal from public disclosure the existence or scope of the program). Directs the Secretary, no later than November 1 of each year, to provide to specified members of the defense committees notice of and justification for such special access programs. Outlines information to be included in such notice and provides access to such information by other members of the committees. Requires the Secretary to respond to any questions or concerns raised by any such committee member within 30 days. Directs the Secretary to notify the defense committees of any changes in the criteria used for making special access program designations no later than 30 days before such changes are to take effect. Requires the total amount requested and appropriated for the previous five fiscal years for such special access programs to be included in the first report to the committees required under this Act. Directs the Secretary, no later than 60 days after the enactment of this Act, to submit to the defense committees a report on the criteria used for designating a program of the Department of Defense as a special access program.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 1987
Suspends through FY 1989 the military education program for civilian technicians of the Army National Guard. Directs the Secretary of Defense, no later than December 31, 1988, to report to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees on the Military Education Program of the Army National Guard concerning the cost-effectiveness and other characteristics of such program.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 1987
Agricultural Aid and Trade Missions Act - Title I: Agricultural Aid and Trade Missions - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of State, and the Administrator of the Agency for International Development to jointly establish agricultural aid and trade missions to eligible countries to encourage such countries to participate in U.S. agricultural aid and trade programs. Outlines administrative provisions concerning the composition and compensation of the U.S. representatives to such missions. Requires the establishment of seven missions within six months, and an additional eight missions within one year after enactment of this Act. Authorizes additional future missions. Requires members of such missions to: (1) meet with representatives of government agencies of the United States and the eligible country to plan the extent to which U.S. agricultural aid and trade programs could be used in a mutually beneficial manner; (2) provide technical expertise and information with respect to U.S. agricultural aid and trade programs and agricultural commodities and other assistance available to the eligible country; and (3) assist in obtaining firm commitments for proposals for food aid programs and agreements for commodity sales under agriculture export programs. Directs each mission, no later than 60 days after its completion, to report to the President, the Agriculture Committees of the Congress, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of State, and the Administrator on its findings and recommendations in carrying out the purposes of this Act. Requires the Secretaries and the Administrator to jointly submit progress reports to the appropriate congressional committees during the two-year period beginning one year after enactment of this Act. Authorizes the use of the Commodity Credit Corporation to carry out the purposes of this Act. Title II: Expansion of Agricultural Exports and Markets - Subtitle A: Amendments to Title II of the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 - Amends the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 (ATDAA) to exempt nonemergency programs conducted by nonprofit voluntary agencies or cooperatives from any limitation on the generation and use of foreign currencies as a condition for obtaining assistance under ATDAA. Increases from five to ten percent of the aggregate value of the commodities distributed under nonemergency programs the amount that shall be used as foreign currency proceeds. Specifies uses of foreign currency proceeds from the sale or barter of commodities by such an agency or cooperative. Directs the President, no later than 45 days after submission, to take final action on a proposal submitted by a nonprofit voluntary agency or cooperative, with the concurrence of the field mission, for the delivery of commodities requested. Directs the President, no later than 30 days prior to the issuance of a final guideline issued to carry out title II of ATDAA, to provide notice of the proposed guideline to participating nonprofit agencies and cooperatives and to make such guideline available for review and comment. Subtitle B: Amendments to Section 416 of the Agricultural Act of 1949 - Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 (the Act, for purposes of this Subtitle) to specify wheat, rice, and feed grains acquired by the Commodity Credit Corporation through price support operations as eligible commodities for agricultural assistance programs under title II of ATDAA. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to make available to nonprofit and voluntary agencies and cooperatives in a country commodities that are made available to such country as a country friendly to the United States. Authorizes the Secretary to approve multiyear agreements to make commodities available for distribution or sale by recipients under the Act. Outlines the authorized uses of foreign currencies generated from commodities distributed under the Act, and increases from five to ten percent of the aggregate value of commodities and products furnished for assistance programs the amount to be obtained from the sale of such commodities and products for foreign currency proceeds. Directs the Secretary, no later than 45 days after submission, to take final action on a proposal submitted by a nonprofit and voluntary agency or cooperative, with the concurrence of the field mission, for the delivery of commodities requested. Directs the Secretary, no later than 30 days prior to the issuance of a final guideline issued to carry out the Act, to provide notice of the proposed guideline to participating nonprofit agencies and cooperatives and to make such guideline available for review and comment. Increases the minimum quantities of eligible commodities that shall be made available by the Commodity Credit Corporation for distribution under the Act. Subtitle C: Foreign Agricultural Service - Specifies the authorized number of personnel for the Foreign Agricultural Service for FY 1987 through 1989 for the performance of the various agricultural export programs of the United States. Authorizes the Secretary to contract with individuals abroad as determined necessary for the performance of export-market enhancement activities. Provides that any such individuals used shall be considered non-Federal employees. Subtitle D: Miscellaneous - Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to authorize multiyear agreements under the food for progress program. Directs the Secretary, no later than December 31, 1987, to report to the Agriculture Committees of the Congress and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on the use of authority provided under the Food for Peace Act of 1966 to provide intermediate credit financing for the establishment of facilities in the importing countries which would: (1) improve the handling, processing, and distribution of imported agricultural commodities; (2) increase livestock production; and (3) increase markets for U.S. livestock and livestock products. Amends the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 to include the promotion of conservation and study of biological diversity among the self-help measures set forth under such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 1987
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the President should: (1) recognize the legitimacy of the plight of the Namibian people; (2) urge the Government of South Africa to take actions to end its illegal occupation of that country and to implement U.N. Resolution 435; (3) take a role in pursuing the resumption of negotiations between South Africa and the leaders of the Namibian people; (4) reject any policy which links the implementation of Resolution 435 to the withdrawal of Cuban troops from Angola; and (5) call for the termination of U.S. business in Namibia until South Africa complies with Resolution 435.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1987
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the U.S. Government should negotiate with the other leading wheat exporting countries to: (1) ensure stable and equitable wheat prices through a multilateral wheat production agreement; and (2) eliminate subsidies of commercial wheat exports.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1987
President's Pro-Life Bill of 1987 - Prohibits the use of Federal funds for abortions, except when continuing the pregnancy would endanger the mother's life. Prohibits the granting of funds relating to certain population research and voluntary family programs under the Public Health Service Act to organizations providing abortions or abortion referrals, unless the life of the mother would be endangered by continuing the pregnancy.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1987
Agricultural Export Reserve Act of 1987 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the United States Trade Representative, to carry out an export expansion program for the 1987 through 1991 marketing years. Establishes an agricultural surplus Export Reserve for such program. Permits such Reserve to be used for barter for strategic and other stockpiled materials, either for direct ownership or for storage use as collateral. Sets forth policy guidelines for such Reserve, including a prohibition on its use to expand exports to any nation with which the United States does not have full diplomatic relations or against which the President has imposed a trade embargo. Establishes the Export Reserve Advisory Council to advise the Secretary and the Trade Representative on how best to use such Reserve. Requires semi-annual reports to the appropriate congressional committees.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1987
Repeals specified provisions of the Tax Reform Act of 1986 that eliminated income averaging. Provides 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 permit qualified farmers to use income averaging. Defines "qualified farmer" as a person: (1) actively engaged in the trade or business of farming; (2) whose gross income for the three preceding taxable years is at least 50 percent attributable to farming; (3) whose farming business or trade has been substantially affected in the first preceding taxable year by a natural disaster in the United States or by a major disaster or emergency so designated by the President; and (4) whose farming enterprise has sustained, as a result of such disasters, at least a 30 percent loss of normal per acre or per animal production, based on specified criteria.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1987
Employee Educational Assistance Act of 1987 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent the income tax exclusion for employee educational assistance programs. (Present law terminates such exclusion as of December 31, 1987.) Requires, for every taxable year beginning after 1988, an annual cost of living adjustment of the maximum excludable amount. Waives the maximum excludable amount for any educational assistance furnished by certain educational institutions to graduate students engaged in teaching or research activities for such organization.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1987
Establishes the Veterans Administration as an executive department redesignated as the Department of Veterans' Affairs. Makes technical and conforming changes, including the redesignation of the Administrator of Veterans Affairs as the Secretary of Veterans' Affairs.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1987
WIC Food for Life Resolution - Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) should receive increasing appropriations until all eligible persons are being served; and (2) an outreach program should be conducted to identify persons eligible for WIC assistance.
United States · United States Congress · 17 March 1987
Amends Federal veterans' benefits provisions to increase the per diem rates paid to States for the provision of domiciliary and nursing home care to veterans in State homes. Grants the Administrator of Veterans Affairs authority, after July 1, 1987, to award transition-year grants to States for construction of facilities furnishing domiciliary or nursing home care to veterans.
United States · United States Congress · 17 March 1987
Performing Arts Labor Relations Amendments - Amends the National Labor Relations Act to exclude specified types of employers and performers in the performing arts from coverage under unfair labor practice provisions prohibiting specified contracts or agreements between employers and labor organizations and prohibiting specified actions of labor organizations to force or require cessation of dealings with others, joining of labor or employer organizations, or recognition of or negotiation with labor organizations not certified as representative. Permits such employers, excluding employers in the broadcasting or motion picture industries, to: (1) agree with a labor organization to make membership in such organization a condition of performing arts employment; and (2) make agreements with a labor organization covering performing artists even if the majority status of the organization has not yet been established. Defines "employer" to include purchasers of musical performance services. Defines "employee" to include independent contractors engaged to perform musical services.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1987
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the one percent loan origination fee charged by the Veterans Administration (VA) to veterans obtaining a home loan guaranteed by the VA should not be increased.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1987
States that the Congress expresses: (1) its firm commitment to the Veterans Administration (VA) home loan program and to the veterans and service personnel it has served; (2) its appreciation to the thousands of VA employees serving the program; and (3) its recognition of the importance of the VA home loan program.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1987
Amends part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of title IV of the Social Security Act to require the withholding of child support payments from the non-custodial parent's wages upon the issuance or modification of a child support order. (Currently, such withholding need not occur until one month of nonpayment has elapsed.) Directs States to establish binding guidelines for child support award amounts. (Currently, such guidelines need not be binding.) Creates a rebuttable presumption that the child support award resulting from the application of such guidelines in a judicial or administrative child support proceeding is correct. Requires States to review and update all child support orders at least once every two years to ensure that they continue to comply with child support award guidelines. Gives the Federal Parent Locator Service and State child support enforcement agencies access to all employment security information in the possession or control of existing data networks. Conditions a State's eligibility for payments under titles IV or XIX (Medicaid) of the Act on its compliance with federally prescribed child support enforcement procedures.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1987
Defense Savings Act - Establishes the Bipartisan Commission on the Consolidation of Military Bases (the Commission) to: (1) review the military importance of all major military installations; and (2) identify which such installations can be closed or realigned without impairing the security of the United States. Outlines administrative procedures concerning membership, staff, meetings, and powers of the Commission. Directs the Commission, within 180 days after the enactment of this Act, to submit to the President, the Secretary of Defense, and each House of the Congress a final report on the findings and conclusions of the Commission. Terminates the Commission 30 days after the submission of such report. Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to take certain specified action with respect to the implementation of the Commission's recommendations.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1987
Hidden Budget Accountability Act - Directs the President to submit with the annual Federal budget transmitted to the Congress a presentation of the estimated budget outlays and requested budget authority, by agency and function, for programs that are included in the budget in a manner designed to conceal their existence and scope. Requires the first budget submitted after enactment of this Act to set forth: (1) estimated budget outlays and requested budget authority for such programs included in the budget for each of the five previous years; and (2) the actual amounts appropriated by agency and function for such programs for each of such years.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1987
Amends the Veterans' Job Training Act to extend the time periods for initial application and commencement of training for eligible veterans under such Act. Extends: (1) the authorization of appropriations under such Act through FY 1989; and (2) the availability of amounts appropriated under such Act through FY 1991.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1987
Commemorates the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 as one of the fundamental legal documents of the United States. Authorizes and requests the President to issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe the bicentennial of the Northwest Ordinance.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1987
Prohibits the United States from carrying out a test of the Space Defense System (antisatellite weapon) involving the miniature homing vehicle against an object in space until the President certifies to the Congress that the Soviet Union has conducted, after enactment of this Act, a test against an object in space of a dedicated antisatellite weapon. Provides that such prohibition expires on October 1, 1988. Declares that the President should seek with the Soviet Union a mutual and verifiable treaty which limits the testing, deployment, and use of any antisatellite weapon.
United States · United States Congress · 9 March 1987
Public Rangelands Fee Act of 1987 - Sets forth a formula, beginning with grazing year 1987, for determining fees for domestic livestock grazing on public rangelands. Bases the formula on appraised base value, expressed in dollars per head or pair month, and the forage value index. Prohibits annual fee adjustments greater or less than 33.3 percent.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1987
Omnibus Family Decency Protection Act of 1987 - Amends the Federal criminal code to provide criminal penalties for the distribution of obscene matter. Subjects such obscene material, and any property derived from such material, to forfeiture. Provides criminal penalties for obscene television broadcasts. Requires any person who produces, distributes, or sells any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct to maintain records containing proof of ages of the persons depicted and consent forms from such persons. Provides criminal penalties for violations of such recordkeeping requirements. Provides criminal penalties for producing a visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct using performers between the ages of 18 and 21. Provides criminal penalties for using a computer network to exchange information concerning visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to provide criminal penalties for making an obscene or indecent telephone communication for commercial purposes. (Current law provides such criminal penalties if made to a minor or to a person without his or her consent.) Amends the National Labor Relations Act to make the employment of any person to participate in a commercial sexual performance an unfair labor practice. Amends the Mann Act to make certain offenses gender neutral.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1987
Irrigation Subsidy Reform Act of 1987 - Amends the Reclamation Projects Act of 1939 to require the Secretary of the Interior to charge full cost for the delivery of water used in the production of any surplus agricultural commodity.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1987
Child Protection Act of 1987 - Amends the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Statute to extend its coverage to the sexual exploitation of children. Allows any person injured personally or in his business or property by such violations to bring a civil suit for treble damages. Amends the Federal criminal code to require a mandatory life sentence in kidnapping offenses involving the murder of a minor. Establishes mandatory minimum sentences for the sexual exploitation of minors. Provides that the period of any applicable limitation for the commencement of prosecution for certain offenses involving the sexual exploitation of children shall not begin until the child has reached the age of 18 years. Directs the Attorney General to submit a report to the Congress detailing possible changes in the Federal Rules of Evidence, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, and other procedures which would facilitate the participation of child witnesses in cases involving child abuse and sexual exploitation. Directs the Attorney General to modify the classification system used by the National Crime Information System and the Federal Bureau of Investigation with respect to offenses involving the sexual exploitation of children by: (1) including the age of the victim and the relationship of the victim to the offender; and (2) using a uniform definition of a child.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1987
Torture Victim Protection Act of 1987 - Amends the United Nations Participation Act of 1945 to impose civil liability on anyone who, under actual or apparent authority of any foreign nation, subjects any person to torture or extrajudicial killing. Grants jurisdiction over such cases to U.S. district courts only after claimants have exhausted all available remedies in the place where the conduct giving rise to the claim occurred.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1987
Consumer Rail Equity Act - Reaffirms the intent of the Congress that the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976 and the Staggers Rail Act of 1980 be implemented in a manner which provides both greater competitive alternatives and adequate railroad revenues. Directs the Interstate Commerce Commission, when determining the existence or absence of effective competition, to consider only transportation competition for movement of the same commodity from the same point of origin to the same destination. States that a presumption of overall effective competition is not established by the fact that a railroad faces effective competition with respect to either a point of destination or a point of origin. Shifts the burden of proof regarding transportation rate reasonableness from the shipper to the rail carrier establishing the challenged rate. Declares that it is Federal policy to encourage and promote competitive transportation rates for domestically produced coal and other commodities in order to increase their competitive position in domestic and export markets. Directs the Commission to establish a rail cost adjustment factor which includes changes in railroad productivity, volume, and output mix. Directs the Commission to recompute and republish the Rail Cost Adjustment Factor according to prescribed guidelines. Provides that certain rail carrier rates shall be reduced to the extent of any subsequent decreases in rail cost adjustment factors. Confirms the Commission's authority to promulgate rates set forth in a specified adjudication. Includes within the standards used to determine railroad revenue adequacy: (1) identification of revenues, expenses, and investment base reasonably related to rail transportation service; (2) straight-line depreciation of assets reasonably related to rail transportation service, minus deferred tax reserves resulting from accelerated depreciation; and (3) actual cost of debt capital and reasonable estimates of the current cost of equity capital. Requires the Commission, when making revenue adequacy determinations, to consider specified indicators of a rail carrier's financial status. Requires the Commission to determine, on an annual basis, which rail carriers are earning adequate or inadequate revenues and to determine for each rail carrier the revenues required to achieve or maintain revenue adequacy. Allows (current law requires) the Commission to exempt persons from application of this Act when: (1) such application is not necessary to implement Federal transportation policy; and (2) the Commission finds there is no market dominance involved in the affected transaction. Mandates that the rates and practices application to such exempt persons shall not be considered a matter subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission. Requires any rail carrier providing service under certain line rates to participate in competitive joint rail rates through practicable interchange connections (or publish a competitive proportional rate) if requested to do so by a rail carrier (or shipper or receiver) who has an actual or practicable interchange connection. Directs the Commission, upon petition of any interested party, to require certain terminal facilities owned by a rail carrier in interstate or foreign commerce to be used by another rail carrier if the Commission finds: (1) it is in the public interest to do so; and (2) that the owner of such terminal facility will not suffer substantial impairment of its own business interests. Directs the Commission to require, upon petition by an interested party, that rail carriers enter into reciprocal switching agreements if such an agreement is in the public interest or necessary to provide alternative competitive rail service. Directs the Commission to establish reciprocal switching compensation at a level not to exceed the current percentage of the actual variable costs for such service (unless the carrier demonstrates that a higher level is reasonable and necessary). Revises railroad line abandonment procedures to provide that a rail carrier must wait one year before resubmitting a previously denied abandonment application, unless a substantial change in circumstances can be shown. Requires the Commission to hold hearings in communities affected by a proposed railroad line abandonment if requested to do so by community protestants. Requires the Commission to base its abandonment determination upon financial data regarding the facility proposed to be abandoned rather than upon financial data regarding industry-wide averages. Directs the Commission, when considering any application for a certificate of abandonment or discontinuance, to disregard the impact on traffic volume of any surcharge imposed under specified parts of this Act (unless the surcharge improves the financial performance of the line). Subjects to Commission review any State decision regarding intrastate rates, rules, and practices if a party to such State proceedings petitions for Commission review. Requires the Commission to take action on such petition within 120 days of its receipt. Authorizes the Commission to vacate a State decision found inconsistent with this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1987
Directs the Postal Service to restore the reduced rates applicable to mailings of fewer than 5,000 copies of publications to counties adjacent to the county of publication. Limits to 20,000 the number of copies of such publications which may be mailed under reduced rates within the county of publication.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1987
Expresses the sense of the Congress that volunteer work should be listed on employment application forms and taken into account by employers when hiring.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1987
Declares that the Congress applauds the recent initiative by the heads of state of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras and congratulates them on the significant contribution made by such initiative toward ending armed conflict and reinforcing democracy in Central America. Declares that the Congress supports such initiative and looks forward to the summit meeting in Guatemala as the next phase in this effort of the Central American heads of state to forge a lasting peace in Central America.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 1987
Directs the Secretaries of the Army and the Air Force to prescribe regulations to ensure that National Guard technicians are protected from certain adverse employment actions (i.e. removal, suspension, grade reduction, or furlough) in the same manner as are Federal employees.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 1987
Agricultural Commodity Distribution Act of 1987 - Amends the Agriculture and Food Act of 1981 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to take specified actions to improve the distribution and quality of surplus commodities donated by the Department of Agriculture for school and other nutrition assistance programs. Directs the Secretary to establish an advisory council, whose authority shall terminate on September 30, 1992, on the distribution of such donated agricultural commodities.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 1987
Agricultural Loan Assistance Act of 1987 - Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to require Federal banking agencies to permit an agricultural bank to: (1) amortize over ten years any loss on a qualified agricultural loan that the bank would otherwise be required to show on an annual financial statement for 1987 through 1991; and (2) reappraise the value of any real estate or other real or personal property that the bank acquired coincident to making a qualified agricultural loan and that it owned on January 1, 1987, and any additional property that it acquired before January 1, 1992, and to amortize over ten years any loss resulting from such reappraisal that it would otherwise be required to show on its annual financial statements. Allows such amortization only if there is no evidence that fraud or criminal abuse by the bank led to such losses.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 1987
Medicare Diabetic Foot Disease Prevention Act - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide coverage under part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of the Medicare program for therapeutic shoes furnished to individuals with severe diabetic foot disease.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 1987
Emergency Farm Credit Act of 1987 - Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to require Federal banking agencies to permit an agricultural bank to amortize over ten years any loss on a qualified agricultural loan that the bank would otherwise be required to show on an annual financial statement for 1984 through 1988. Allows such amortization only if there is no evidence that fraud or criminal abuse by the bank led to such losses. Requires a participating agricultural bank to maintain in its loan portfolio a percentage of agricultural loans not lower than such percentage as of January 1, 1985.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 1987
Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to provide that it shall not be in order for either House of Congress to consider any legislation which would impose any requirement on State or local governments which is likely to result in an annual cost to such governments of $50,000,000 or more for any particular program, project, or activity, except for legislation which complies with any sequestration order issued under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act). Requires the report of the Committee on the Budget of each House accompanying the concurrent resolution on the budget to identify changes in Federal aid programs for State and local governments on a program-by-program basis.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 1987
Interstate Sales Tax Collection Act of 1987 - Allows any State or political subdivision to require retailers engaged in business in that State to collect a State and local sales or use tax on the sale or use of tangible personal property shipped or delivered into that State or political subdivision. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require interstate retailers to file information returns with the Internal Revenue Service for the purpose of assisting States in the collection of such sales or use taxes. Authorizes disclosure of such information to State tax officials. Imposes penalties for failure to file such information returns.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 1987
Authorizes the President, on behalf of the Congress, to present a gold medal to Mrs. Jesse Owens in recognition of the late Jesse Owens' athletic achievements and humanitarian contributions to public service, civil rights, and international goodwill. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to sell bronze duplicates of the medal.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 1987
Afghan Adjustment Act of 1987 - Provides for the adjustment to permanent resident status of specified nationals of Afghanistan who have resided in the United States since January 1, 1986.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1987
Employee Polygraph Protection Act - Prohibits any employer from using any lie detector test or examination in the work place, for both pre-employment testing and testing in the course of employment. Requires the Secretary of Labor to prepare and have printed notices setting forth this prohibition. Requires employers to post these notices. Provides penalties for violations of this Act. Exempts Federal, State, and local employees from the Act's coverage.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1987
Amends the National Housing Act to make authority permanent for: (1) title I financial institution insurance for housing renovation and modernization; (2) general mortgage insurance; (3) low and moderate income and displaced families mortgage insurance; (4) mortgage co-insurance, including rental rehabilitation and development projects; (5) mortgage insurance for armed forces' civilian employees and defense housing for impacted areas; (6) mortgage insurance for land development; (7) mortgage insurance for medical and dental group practice facilities; (8) mortgage insurance commitment limitations; and (9) graduated payment and indexed mortgage insurance. Amends the Housing Act of 1964 to make authority permanent for urban rehabilitation loan authority. Amends the Housing Act of 1949 to make authority permanent for: (1) insured loans for rental and cooperative housing and related facilities for elderly persons and families in rural areas; and (2) mutual and self-help housing grant and loan authority. Amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1986 to make national flood insurance authority, including emergency implementation provisions, permanent.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1987
Firefighter National Labor-Management Relations Act - Establishes within the Department of Labor the Firefighters National Labor-Management Relations Commission. Grants firefighters the right as employees to: (1) form, join, or assist employee organizations; (2) participate in collective bargaining with employers through representatives of their own choosing; and (3) engage in other activities, individually or in concert, to establish, maintain, or improve terms and conditions of employment and other matters of mutual concern relating thereto. Grants firefighter employee organizations the right to: (1) have access at reasonable times to areas in which employees work, use the employer's bulletin boards, mailboxes, and other communication media, use the employer's facilities at reasonable times for meetings concerned with the exercise of the rights guaranteed by this Act (except that if an exclusive representative has been recognized such access and use shall be denied to other employee organizations until a lawful and timely challenge to the majority status of the representative is raised); and (2) have deducted from the salary of employees, upon receipt of an appropriate authorization form, an amount for membership fees and dues. Requires, if an exclusive representative has been recognized, each employee who is not a member of the organization to pay an amount equivalent to that share of dues, fees, or assessments paid by a member. Requires employers to recognize an employee organization designated by the majority of employees as the exclusive bargaining representative of all the employees for collective bargaining purposes, unless the employer entertains a good faith doubt as to the validity or accuracy of the evidence demonstrating majority support in a unit, or as to the appropriateness of the claimed unit. Provides for investigations by the Commission whenever a petition is filed: (1) by an employer alleging a good faith doubt as to majority support in an appropriate unit, that a claimed unit is inappropriate, or that more than one employee organization claims to represent a substantial number of the employees in a bargaining unit; (2) by an employee organization alleging that 30 percent of the employees in a bargaining unit wish to be represented by such organization; or (3) by or on behalf of the unit alleging that the exclusive representative no longer represents a majority. Directs the Commission to provide for a hearing if a substantial question of representation exists and to direct an election if there is a controversy concerning representation. Directs the Commission to certify any employee organization which received a majority of votes in such election as the exclusive representative of such employees. Sets forth criteria to determine the appropriateness of a bargaining unit. Sets forth procedures for conduct of hearings, decisions, and review. Sets forth provisions for determinations as to outcome of elections. Provides that representatives selected by employees in a unit appropriate for collective bargaining purposes shall be the exclusive representative of all employees in such unit to bargain on wages, hours, and terms and conditions of employment. Grants individual employees or groups of employees the right at any time to present grievances to its employer and have them adjusted without the intervention of the bargaining representative as long as the adjustment is not inconsistent with the terms of the collective bargaining contract. Requires that the bargaining representative be given an opportunity to be present at such adjustment. Provides that any employee representative in existence on the date of enactment of this Act shall continue without the requirement of an election and certification until a question concerning representation is raised or the unit is found to be inappropriate. Prohibits any challenge to the appropriateness of the unit until expiration of any collective bargaining agreement in effect on the date of enactment of this Act. Sets forth an impasse procedure using an arbitration panel. Sets forth unfair labor practices. Makes it unlawful for an employer to: (1) impose or threaten to impose reprisals on any employee, discriminate or threaten to discriminate against any employee, otherwise interfere with, restrain, or coerce any employee because of the exercise of rights guaranteed by this Act; (2) dominate, interfere with, or assist in the formation or administration of any employee organization; (3) encourage or discourage membership in any employee organization by discrimination in regard to hiring, tenure of employment, or any term or condition of employment; (4) deny to any employee organization the rights guaranteed to it by this Act; (5) refuse or fail to collectively bargain in good faith with an exclusive representative, if requested to do so; or (6) otherwise fail to comply with any provision of this Act. Makes it unlawful for an employee organization: (1) to restrain or coerce any employee in the exercise of rights guaranteed by this Act, but this shall not impair the right of an employee organization to prescribe its own rules with respect to the acquisition or retention of membership therein; (2) to restrain or coerce an employer in the selection of its representative for collective bargaining or the adjustment of grievances; or (3) when acting as an exclusive representative, to refuse to bargain collectively in good faith with an employer if requested to do so. Provides that the duty to bargain collectively shall extend to matters which are or may be the subject of an enactment by a State or local government, and that such duty includes the obligation of the employer to submit such agreement to the appropriate governmental body for legislative action if necessary. Empowers the Commission to prevent any person from engaging in any unfair labor practice. Sets forth procedures for issuance of complaints, hearings, and issuance of orders. Grants the Commission access to evidence and subpoena power. Provides for judicial orders to appear before the Commission. Sets forth provisions relating to self-incrimination. Provides for service of complaints and service of process. Imposes penalties for interference with the Commissioner. Provides for judicial enforcement and judicial review. Provides for exclusion of evidence taken during a representation proceeding. Prohibits any firefighter or exclusive representative from engaging in a strike or inducing, encouraging, or condoning any strike, work stoppage, slowdown, or withholding of services by firefighters. Makes this Act the exclusive method for regulating the relationship between employers and their firefighter employees in regard to all matters covered herein. Preempts any provision of Federal, State or local law inconsistent with this Act. Grants an exemption to make substantially equivalent State, or local laws applicable. Provides that, except as otherwise expressly provided, nothing in this Act shall be construed to annul, modify, or preclude the renewal or continuation of any lawful agreement entered into before the effective date of this Act between an employer and a firefighter employee organization covering terms and conditions of employment.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1987
Amends the Age Discrimination in Employment Amendments of 1986 to make permanent the exclusion applicable under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 to the employment of police officers and firefighters.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1987
Africa Famine Recovery and Development Act - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to add a chapter dealing with Africa Famine Recovery and Development. Authorizes the President to provide project and program assistance for long-term development in sub-Saharan Africa. Requires the purpose of such assistance to be to help the poor majority in sub-Saharan Africa to participate in a process of long-term development through economic growth that is equitable, participatory, environmentally sustainable, and self-reliant. Declares that the general authorities and policies of the development assistance provisions of such Act apply to this Act. Requires the agency primarily responsible for administering development assistance programs (responsible agency) to: (1) take into account the local-level perspective of the rural and urban poor in sub-Saharan Africa during the planning and review of annual country planning documents for project assistance under this Act; (2) make available funds for a substantial expansion of development efforts by private and voluntary organizations which have demonstrated effectiveness in or commitment to the promotion of local grass-roots activities on behalf of long-term development in sub-Saharan Africa; (3) establish simplified procedures for the development and evaluation of projects to be carried out by private and voluntary organizations; and (4) consult with other organizations in order to identify relevant private and voluntary organizations. Requires the close consultation and involvement of local people in projects that have a local focus. Requires the responsible agency to ensure the participation of African women in development projects assisted by this Act. Requires the responsible agency to use the program assistance provided by this Act to: (1) help overcome shorter-term constraints to long-term development; and (2) promote reform of national economic policies to support these priorities. Sets forth examples of national economic policy reforms which can be supported by assistance provided by this Act. Requires such reforms to include provisions to protect vulnerable groups, especially poor farmers and the urban poor, from possible negative consequences of such reforms. Requires assistance for such reforms to take account of the need for adjustments should recurrence of drought make it impossible to achieve the goals of the reforms. Designates as the critical sectoral priorities for long-term development: (1) increased agricultural production and the maintenance and restoration of renewable natural resources; (2) improved health conditions; (3) voluntary family planning services; (4) improved relevance and efficiency of education; and (5) development of income generating opportunities for the unemployed and underemployed. Imposes minimum levels of assistance for certain critical sectors. Requires the responsible agency to formulate coherent country development assistance strategies. Sets forth information such strategies must analyze and address. Requires the assistance provided under this Act to be concentrated in countries that will make the most effective use of such assistance. Exempts the assistance authorized by this Act from specified limitations on the procurement of goods and services. Specifies uses for local currencies generated by assistance provided under this Act and other Acts. Provides that funds made available under this Act may be used to assist the countries in sub-Saharan Africa to increase their capacity to participate in donor coordination mechanisms at the country, regional, and sector levels. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1988 through 1992 for long-term development assistance for sub-Saharan Africa and for funding activities of certain international organizations. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the authorization should be extended whenever appropriate. Limits transfers between accounts funded by this Act. Requires the Administrator of the Agency for International Development (AID) to develop a plan for organizational changes within AID in order to carry out the long-term development assistance program for sub-Saharan Africa with maximum effectiveness. Sets forth changes the Administrator shall consider. Requires the Administrator to consult with specified congressional committees about such changes. Authorizes the Administrator to transfer certain funds in order to increase the AID resources for development assistance activities for sub-Saharan Africa. Requires the Administrator to develop a plan for evaluating AID's progress in achieving the purposes of this Act. Requires the plan to provide for: (1) interim evaluations; (2) the establishment of specific criteria for measuring the performance of U.S. development assistance for the poor majority in sub-Saharan Africa; (3) the collection and monitoring of base-line data for future measurement of the effectiveness of such assistance; and (4) the measures by which the evaluations will be used to institutionalize learning within AID. Requires the plan to be developed in consultation with specified congressional committees. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Office of Technology Assessment should: (1) conduct independent evaluations of AID's performance in providing development assistance to the poor majority in sub-Saharan Africa; and (2) report on such evaluations to specified congressional committees. Requires that assistance from other assistance and development programs be used to provide assistance to the poor majority in sub-Saharan Africa. Authorizes the President to make available such amounts from the funds authorized by this Act as the President deems appropriate to support long-term development assistance for activities of international organizations which are consistent with the purpose of providing assistance for the poor majority in sub-Saharan Africa and which are undertaken in coordination with AID. Encourages the President to use the authorities provided in this Act in coordination with activities of the multilateral development banks in sub-Saharan Africa. Entitles any country in sub-Saharan Africa to debt rescheduling if: (1) that country had an average per capita income in 1984 of less that $550; and (2) at any time between October 1, 1987, and September 30, 1992, an International Monetary Fund standby agreement is in effect with respect to that country, an economic adjustment program of the International Bank for Reconstructionn and Development is in effect with respect to that country, or the President makes a specified certification to the Congress regarding economic policy reforms in such country. Provides that the debt rescheduling shall consist of a five-year grace period on all payments to the United States on specified types of loans. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. Executive Directors of the International Monetary Fund and of the relevant multilateral development banks to pursue means by which those institutions could reschedule the payments due them by the low-income countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Requires the President to ensure that the funds made available by this Act are not used by a country to repay loans. Requires the annual report by the President to the Congress on foreign assistance programs to include a report on the progress made in carrying out this Act. Provides that reprogramming notification requirements do not apply to funds used to carry out this Act. Makes conforming amendments to various Acts. Declares that, where appropriate, African famine relief activities should serve as the foundation for long-term development activities undertaken pursuant to this Act. Provides for the transfer of certain funds so that they may be used for management support activities associated with long-term development assistance. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the purposes of the African Development Foundation are consistent with the purposes of this Act. Amends the African Development Foundation Act to authorize appropriations for the African Development Foundation for FY 1988. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Office of Technology Assessment should conduct an independent evaluation of the performance of the African Development Foundation in carrying out its purposes and in assuring the sustainability and replicability of the development efforts which the Foundation supports. Expresses the sense of the Congress that special efforts should be undertaken to reduce trade barriers and promote economic interchange between the United States and developing countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Requires the Comptroller General to study, and report to the Congress on, the restrictions which affect the importation of products of developing countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1987
Technology Education Act of 1986 - Defines "technology education" as a comprehensive educational process designed to develop a population that is knowledgeable about technology and its evolution, systems, techniques, utilization in industry and other fields, and social and cultural significance. Directs the Secretary of Education, subject to the availability of appropriations under this Act, to establish a program of grants to local educational agencies (LEAs), State educational agencies (SEAs), consortia of public and private agencies, organizations, and institutions, and institutions of higher education for not more than ten demonstration programs in technology education for secondary schools. Sets forth grant application requirements. Directs the Secretary to consider equitable geographic distribution in making such grants. Permits such grants to be used to develop a model demonstration program for technology education with specified components. Includes among such components research and development of curriculum materials, an institute to develop teacher capabilities in technology education, and multidisciplinary teacher workshops for interfacing mathematics, science, and technology education. Limits the Federal share to 65 percent of the costs of programs or projects assisted under this Act. Requires that at least ten percent of such costs be covered by private sector contributions. Directs the Secretary to disseminate the results of such programs or projects so as to improve the training of educational personnel. Amends the Education Consolidation and Improvement Act of 1981 to direct the Secretary to make available specified amounts of discretionary funds to carry out this Act for FY 1987 through 1989.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1987
National Institute for New Agricultural and Forestry Industrial Materials Act of 1987 - Establishes in the Office of Critical Agricultural Materials of the Department of Agriculture the National Institute for New Agricultural and Forestry Industrial Materials to encourage private efforts to increase the use of advanced technology suitable for application to the industrial use of industrial crops and forest products. Sets forth operating and administrative provisions. Requires the establishment of regional education centers at land-grant colleges and universities to provide users and producers of industrial crops and forest products with production, processing, and marketing information. Authorizes FY 1988 through 1991 appropriations.
![Official portrait of Rep. Penny, Timothy J. [D-MN-1]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/p000215_200.jpg)