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United States · Official source
1,600 records where Rep. Pickle, J. J. [D-TX-10] is listed as a sponsor, author, or other actor. Search with topics and years
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 1988
Amends the Tariff Schedules of the United States to suspend the duty on furniture of unspun fibrous vegetable materials for a five-year period.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 1988
Global Poverty Reduction Act - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to direct the President to develop a plan to ensure that U.S. development assistance contributes measurably toward eradicating the worst aspects of absolute poverty by the year 2000. Requires that such plan include target dates for reaching specific measurable goals whose attainment would contribute to direct improvements in the living standards of the poorest 40 percent of the population. Specifies that such goals shall include reducing the mortality rate of infants under age five, increasing the female literacy rate, and reducing the percentages of populations below the absolute poverty level by specified amounts by the year 2000. Directs that primary emphasis of development activities to restore the renewable natural resource base shall be on small-scale, affordable, low-risk local projects featuring close consultation with, and involvement of, local people at all stages of project design and implementation. Requires the President to submit the plan to the Congress by July 1, 1989. Requires all U.S. development assistance to be directed at attaining plan goals between October 1, 1989, and December 31, 2000. Requires the President to submit annual reports to the Congress detailing progress toward achieving plan goals. Directs the Comptroller General to review and comment on each report issued. Directs the President to host an international development conference for heads of governments of development assistance donor and recipient countries by October 16, 1989, to conclude an international agreement on eliminating the worst aspects of absolute poverty by the year 2000.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1988
Designates the week of September 25, 1988, as Religious Freedom Week.
United States · United States Congress · 17 March 1988
Amends the Internal Revenue Code with respect to the excise tax on diesel and aviation fuels. Prohibits imposition of the tax on the sale of these fuels by a producer or importer for use by the purchaser in a nontaxable use (defined to include, among other uses, any off-highway business use, use as supplies for vessels or aircraft, State or local governmental use, and use by a nonprofit educational organization). Permits the exemption only if both the seller and purchaser have registered with the Secretary of the Treasury. Requires producers, importers, and purchasers taking part in reduced-tax sales to file with the Secretary information returns containing specified data. Requires producers and importers, in addition, to furnish corresponding statements to their purchasers. Establishes penalties for failure to file required returns.
United States · United States Congress · 17 March 1988
Directs the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution to develop a master plan for the expansion of the National Air and Space Museum at an airport while allowing such airport to continue its normal operations. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1988 and 1989 for the development of such plan. Directs the Board, using funds obtained from private sources, to design and construct any new facilities which are needed under such master plan.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1988
Requests the President to issue a proclamation commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act, which occurs on June 25, 1988. (The Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act, formerly known as the Wagner-O'Day Act, provides employment and ancillary support services to blind and handicapped individuals.)
United States · United States Congress · 9 March 1988
Declares that the President should: (1) posthumously award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Charles E. Thornton, Lee Shapiro, and Jim Lindelof in honor of their efforts to document the Afghan struggle for freedom; and (2) present the award to those individuals' families on March 21, 1988, the start of the new year in Afghanistan.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1988
Designates March 20, 1988, as National Agriculture Day.
United States · United States Congress · 18 February 1988
Designates the week beginning October 2, 1988, as Mental Illness Awareness Week.
United States · United States Congress · 17 February 1988
Designates the week beginning May 15, 1988, as National Rural Health Awareness Week.
United States · United States Congress · 17 February 1988
Directs the Postmaster General to issue a commemorative postage stamp to honor the 200th anniversary of the U.S. Coast Guard.
United States · United States Congress · 3 February 1988
Designates February 16, 1989, as Lithuanian Independence Day.
United States · United States Congress · 3 February 1988
Designates March 4, 1988, as Department of Commerce Day.
United States · United States Congress · 3 February 1988
Designates the month of November 1988 as National Alzheimer's Disease Month.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 1988
Designates May 2 through May 8, 1988, as Public Service Recognition Week.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 1988
Commends the President, Secretary of State, and Administrator of the Agency for International Development for their response to the drought and food emergency in Ethiopia and other nations of sub-Saharan Africa, and urges them to continue efforts to preclude the onset of famine and to ensure the timely delivery of medical and other emergency relief supplies. Declares that: (1) the Government response to these food emergencies should include initiatives to prevent the dislocation of large numbers of persons across national borders and/or into relief camps; and (2) the plight of the refugees or displaced should be addressed by emphasizing the provision of basic human needs, such as food, water, and shelter.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 1988
Amends the Internal Revenue Code with respect to the excise tax on diesel and aviation fuels. Prohibits imposition of the tax on the sale of these fuels to any purchaser (or purchaser for resale to a second purchaser) for use on a farm for farming purposes. (Although fuel sold for these purposes is tax-exempt under current law, provisions of the Revenue Act of 1987 require purchasers to pay the tax and subsequently apply for a refund based on nontaxable uses of the fuel.)
United States · United States Congress · 18 December 1987
Requires the Secretary of Commerce to ensure that during any decennial census: (1) no member of the armed forces, civilian employee of the Department of Defense, or dependent of such member or employee, is excluded based on such member or employee being assigned to a post outside the United States; and (2) any alien not lawfully admitted for permanent residence is not included.
United States · United States Congress · 16 December 1987
Designates the period of February 8 through February 14, 1988, as National Burn Awareness Week.
United States · United States Congress · 11 December 1987
Designates the period of June 11 through June 18, 1988, as National Dairy Goat Awareness Week.
United States · United States Congress · 10 December 1987
Designates May 1988 as National Digestive Disease Awareness Month.
United States · United States Congress · 10 December 1987
Designates the week of May 1 through May 7, 1988, as National Older Americans Abuse Prevention Week.
United States · United States Congress · 2 December 1987
Designates the week of April 10 through April 16, 1988, as National Productivity Improvement Week.
United States · United States Congress · 18 November 1987
Dwight David Eisenhower Commemorative Coin Act of 1987 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue not more than a specified number of one dollar silver coins in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Dwight David Eisenhower. Sets forth certain features of such coins and provides for their design, issuance, and sale. Terminates the minting of the coins after December 31, 1990. Requires the Secretary to deposit in the Treasury all surcharges received from the sale of the coins, to be used to reduce the national debt.
United States · United States Congress · 17 November 1987
Designates the week of February 7 through February 13, 1988, as National Child Passenger Safety Awareness Week.
United States · United States Congress · 4 November 1987
Designates the week of May 8 through May 14, 1988, as National Tuberous Sclerosis Awareness Week.
United States · United States Congress · 4 November 1987
Designates February 4, 1988, as National Women in Sports Day.
United States · United States Congress · 28 October 1987
Designates April 9, 1988, as National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day.
United States · United States Congress · 13 October 1987
Department of Veterans Affairs Act - Redesignates the Veterans Administration (VA) as the Department of Veterans Affairs (the Department), an executive department within the executive branch of the Government. Provides that the Department shall be headed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, to be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Designates as other principal officers of the Department the Deputy Secretary, the Chief Medical Director, and the Chief Benefits Director. Provides for the temporary continuation of service of the current Administrator, Deputy Administrator, Chief Medical Director, and Chief Benefits Director of Veterans Affairs. Establishes within the Department eight Assistant Secretaries, each of whom shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to perform such functions as the Secretary may prescribe. Directs the Secretary to assign to one such Assistant Secretary all functions regarding the National Cemetery System and the State cemetery grant program. Outlines functions which the Secretary shall assign to the Assistant Secretaries. Provides for the temporary continuation of the performance of such functions by present personnel until such functions are assigned to an individual appointed as Assistant Secretary under this Act. Redesignates the current VA's Department of Medicine and Surgery as the Veterans Health Services Administration of the Department. Redesignates the VA's current Department of Veterans Benefits as the Veterans Benefits Administration of the Department, whose primary function shall be to administer nonmedical programs which provide assistance to veterans, their dependents, and their survivors. Establishes within the Department the Office of the General Counsel. Redesignates the current Office of Inspector General of the VA as the Office of Inspector General of the Department. Provides that any references to departments or positions under the current VA system shall be considered to be references to such departments and positions of the Department as modified under this Act. Provides continuing effect of all legal documents, suits, actions, and property and resources of the current VA. Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, after appropriate congressional consultation, to prepare and submit to the Congress proposed legislation containing technical and conforming amendments to reflect the changes made under this Act. Requires such legislation to be submitted no later than six months after the enactment of this Act. Provides that any spending authority of the Department is subject to available amounts as provided in appropriation Acts.
United States · United States Congress · 7 October 1987
White House Conference on the International Trade in Services Act of 1987 - Directs the President to convene a White House Conference on the International Trade in Services that will assist the United States Trade Representative and the Secretary of the Treasury in formulating U.S. priorities for international negotiations on trade in services. Sets forth the duties of the Conference. Requires the President to select as delegates to the Conference representatives of businesses, associations, labor organizations, academic institutions, the Congress, Federal agencies, and commissions studying the international trade in services. Requires the Conference to submit a final report to the President which shall include a review of international negotiations on trade in services, the negotiating positions of the United States and other countries in such negotiations, and recommendations for improving the U.S. position in such negotiations. Requires the President to submit such report to the House Committee on Ways and Means and the Senate Committee on Finance. Sets forth administrative provisions with respect to the functioning of the Conference. Terminates the Conference 90 days after submission of its final report to the President.
United States · United States Congress · 1 October 1987
Federal Employees' Political Activities Act of 1987- Prohibits an employee from using or attempting to use official authority or influence to interfere with or affect the result of any election. Prohibits an employee from using or attempting to use official authority to intimidate, threaten, coerce, command, or influence: (1) any individual for the purpose of interfering with the right of any individual to vote as the individual may choose, or of causing any individual to vote, or not to vote, for any candidate or measure in any election; (2) any person to give or withhold any political contribution; or (3) any person to engage, or not to engage, in any form of political activity. Prohibits an employee from using or attempting to use, or permitting the use of, any official information unless such information is available to the general public. Prohibits an employee from: (1) giving or offering to give a political contribution to any individual either to vote or refrain from voting, or to vote for or against any candidate or measure, in any election; (2) soliciting, accepting, or receiving a political contribution to vote or refrain from voting, or to vote for or against any candidate or measure, in any election; or (3) giving or handing over a political contribution to a superior of the employee. Prohibits an employee from soliciting, accepting, or receiving, or from being in any manner concerned with soliciting, accepting, or receiving, a political contribution: (1) from another employee (or a member of another employee's immediate family) with respect to whom the employee is a superior; or (2) in any room or building occupied in the discharge of official duties by a Federal employee or official or an individual receiving salary or compensation from the Treasury. Prohibits an employee from soliciting, accepting, or receiving a political contribution from, or giving a political contribution to, any person who: (1) has, or is seeking to obtain, contractual or other business or financial relations with the employing agency; (2) conducts operations or activities which are regulated by that agency; or (3) has interests which may be substantially affected by the performance of the employees' official duties. Directs the Special Counsel of the Merit Systems Protection Board to prescribe regulations which exempt employees from such prohibitions. Prohibits an employee from engaging in political activity: (1) while on duty; (2) in any room or building occupied in the discharge of official duties by a Federal employee or official; (3) while wearing a uniform or official insignia identifying the office or position of the employee; or (4) while using any vehicle owned or leased by the Government. Exempts certain high level political appointees from such prohibitions if the costs associated with the political activity are not paid for by money derived from the Treasury. Describes such a political appointee as one: (1) whose duties and responsibilities continue outside normal duty hours and while away from the normal duty post; (2) who is paid from an appropriation for the Executive Office of the President; (3) whose position is located within the United States; and (4) who determines policies to be pursued by the United States in its relations with foreign powers or in the nationwide administration of Federal laws. Authorizes leave without pay or accrued annual leave to an employee who is a candidate, upon request, to allow such employee to engage in activities relating to that candidacy. Declares that such request may be denied if the exigencies of the public business so require. Declares that such employee may be required to take leave without pay or accrued annual leave in order to be a candidate if activities relating to the candidacy interfere with the employee's performance of duties. Directs the Special Counsel to prescribe rules and regulations to implement this Act. Applies this Act to postal employees and employees of the Postal Rate Commission.
United States · United States Congress · 30 September 1987
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that the prohibition against indirect income tax deductions through pass-through entities shall not apply to any regulated investment company whose shares are: (1) continuously offered pursuant to a public offering; (2) regularly traded on an established securities market; or (3) held by or for at least 500 persons at all times during the taxable year.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 1987
Taxpayer Safeguard and Protection Act of 1987 - Title I: Provisions Relating to Liens and Levies - Amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to entitle a taxpayer, in the event of a wrongful levy on property, to the prompt return (within 14 days) of the property in question or, if the property has been sold, to the greater of the amount received from its sale or its fair market value immediately preceding the levy. Treats property wrongfully levied upon and subsequently lost or destroyed while in the possession of the United States as if it had been sold at its fair market value immediately before the levy. Permits a taxpayer to request the sale of seized property within 60 days. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury (Secretary) to comply with such a request unless it is adverse to the best interests of the United States. Requires the Secretary, in the case of a wrongful lien, to issue a certificate of release of the lien stating that the lien was erroneusly imposed. Directs the Secretary to provide toll-free telephone numbers for: (1) discussion of alleged Internal Revenue Service (IRS) administrative errors with respect to a taxpayer; and (2) 24-hour access to taxpayers experiencing emergencies associated with any lien or levy imposed under the internal revenue laws. Extends from ten to 20 days the period between the required notice to a person who neglects or refuses to pay tax liability and a levy on such person's salary, wages, or other property. Increases for levy purposes the exempt amount permitted for certain personal effects, the property of a business, and wages. Exempts from levy: (1) welfare payments under title IV (aid to families with dependent children) of the Social Security Act; (2) supplemental security income under title XVI of the Social Security Act (aid for the aged, blind, and disabled); (3) State or local government public assistance programs whose eligibility requirements are based on income or need; and (4) unemployment training allowances under the Job Training Partnership Act. Revises levy exemptions related to service-connected disability payments to: (1) remove the exemption of certain veterans' life insurance benefits; and (2) add exemptions for wartime and peacetime death compensation, burial benefits, and dependency and indemnity compensation for service-connected deaths. States that levy exemption provisions shall not apply to withholding taxes. Title II: Statement Disclosing Rights and Obligations of Taxpayers - Requires the Secretary to prepare a statement setting forth in nontechnical terms: (1) the rights and obligations of a taxpayer and of the IRS during a tax audit; (2) the procedures by which a taxpayer may appeal adverse decisions, prosecute refund claims, and file complaints; and (3) the procedures that the IRS may use in enforcing revenue laws. Title III: Civil Damages for Unauthorized Disclosure or Use of Return Information by Return Preparers - Amends the IRC to permit a civil cause of action for damages in district court for a taxpayer with respect to whom a tax preparer discloses or misuses tax return information. Permits such actions only when: (1) six months have elapsed since the taxpayer notified an appropriate Federal official of the improper disclosure; and (2) statutorily-authorized prosecution of the offender was not begun during that six-month period. Title IV: Tax Court Jurisdiction to Redetermine Interest on Deficiencies - Amends the IRC to authorize the Tax Court, upon the motion of a taxpayer who has paid the entire amount of a deficiency assessment plus the associated interest, to reopen the case solely to determine whether the taxpayer has made an overpayment of interest because of mathematical error in its computation. Provides for judicial review of any order redetermining interest due. Title V: Reports; Improvement of Taxpayer Assistance - Directs the Secretary, not later than July 1, 1988, to prepare and submit to specified congressional committees a report on: (1) the effectiveness of the Office of the Taxpayer Ombudsman and of the Problem Resolution Program; (2) the results of IRS quality improvement procedures; and (3) the adequacy of IRS training programs with respect to preparing individuals for effective and helpful interaction with taxpayers. Directs the Assistant Commissioner (Inspection) of the IRS and the Taxpayer Ombudsman, not later than July 1, 1988, jointly to prepare and submit to specified congressional committees a report on: (1) significant problems taxpayers experience in dealing with the IRS; and (2) the status of current projects designed to improve IRS communication with taxpayers. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the level of taxpayer service should be improved to assure taxpayer compliance with the Tax Reform Act of 1986; and (2) the IRS should conduct taxpayer interviews at a time and place convenient to both taxpayer and interviewer, continue to permit taxpayers to record IRS interview proceedings, improve its handling of taxpayer inquiries and correspondence, and take steps to ensure that taxpayers do not incur unnecessary legal, accounting, or other expenses as a result of IRS delays, errors, or requests for redundant information.
United States · United States Congress · 21 September 1987
Authorizes an employee of the Internal Revenue Service who is stationed in a specified district to transfer, with the approval of the director of such district, accumulated annual and sick leave to a named Internal Revenue Service employee stationed in such district.
United States · United States Congress · 9 September 1987
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the U.S. Navy should expedite the implementation of an environmentally sound trash compacting or disposal procedure.
United States · United States Congress · 7 August 1987
Comprehensive Alcohol Abuse, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Amendments Act of 1987 - Amends title XIX (Block Grants) of the Public Health Service Act to revise and reorganize provisions relating to mental health and substance abuse programs, replacing the current part B (Alcohol and Drug Abuse and Mental Health Services Block Grant) and part C (Primary Care Block Grants) with a new part B (Community Mental Health Services), part C (State Comprehensive Mental Health Service Plans), part D (Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation Services), and part E (General Provisions). Directs, in the new part B, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administrator of the Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration, to make allotments and payments each fiscal year to each State for planning, developing, and providing community mental health services and related support services. Specifies application procedures and requirements, including a requirement that a State, in order to receive payments, agrees to establish and maintain a State mental health planning council with specified duties. Sets forth a formula for determining the amount of allotments, including special provisions for direct payment to an Indian tribe or tribal organization. Provides transition rules for States for FY 1988 and 1989 and separate transition rules for territories for FY 1988 and 1989. Directs the Secretary, acting through the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health, to develop and evaluate community mental health programs and services. Authorizes the use of grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements for such programs. Authorizes the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health to establish research centers to carry out the evaluations. Directs the Secretary, acting through the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health, to develop and make available a model plan for a community-based system for the care of chronically mentally ill individuals. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1988 through 1990 for: (1) mental health programs and services; (2) general provisions under part E; and (3) data collection, as provided in this Act, regarding mental health and substance abuse. Directs the Secretary, in the new part C, to make grants to the States for the development of State comprehensive mental health services plans, apportioned among the the States from appropriated funds according to the relative population of the States. Authorizes appropriations for each of the FY 1988 and 1989. Requires, starting in FY 1988, each State to submit to the Secretary a State comprehensive mental health services plan covering that fiscal year and the succeeding two fiscal years, and meeting specified requirements. Requires the State, in developing the plan, to consult with representatives of employees of State institutions and public and private nursing homes who care for seriously mentally ill individuals. Directs the Secretary to provide technical assistance to States in the development and implementation of the plans. Provides for enforcement measures the Secretary is directed to take against a State which has not taken certain steps by the end of specified fiscal years. Directs, in the new part D, the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration, to make allotments and payments each fiscal year to States for establishing and carrying out programs of prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation with respect to substance abuse and related activities. Specifies application procedures and requirements, including a requirement that a State must agree to use not less than specified portions of the payments for programs and activities related to: (1) alcoholism and alcohol abuse; (2) drug abuse; (3) prevention and early intervention regarding the abuse of alcohol and drugs; and (4) such programs and services designed for women. Sets forth a formula for determining the amount of allotments, including special provisions for direct payment to an Indian tribe or tribal organization. Provides transition rules for States for FY 1988 and 1989 and separate transition rules for territories for FY 1988 and 1989. Directs the Secretary, acting through the Director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and the Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, to develop and evaluate alcohol and drug abuse treatment programs. Authorizes the use of grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements for such programs. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1988 through 1990 for: (1) alcohol and drug abuse programs; (2) general provisions under part E; (3) the Office of Substance Abuse Prevention; (4) model projects for the prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of drug abuse and alcohol abuse among high risk youth; (5) data collection, as provided in this Act, regarding mental health and substance abuse; (6) alcohol abuse and alcoholism demonstration project grants; and (7) drug abuse demonstration project contracts. Sets forth, in the new part E, general provisions, including: (1) a requirement that, in order for the Secretary to make payments under specified provisions of this Act, a State must submit a description of the purposes for which the State intends to expend such payments; (2) the content such statement must have for specified provisions of this Act; (3) a requirement of public notice and opportunity for comment; (4) restrictions on the use of payments, including restrictions on the portion used for administrative expenses; (5) agreements a State must make in order for the Secretary to make payments; (6) annual reports a State is required, for payments under specified provisions, to prepare and submit to the Secretary; (7) availability of the reports to the public; (8) evaluations, by the Comptroller General of the United States, of expenditures by States under specified provisions; (9) repayment of payments for failure to comply with agreements; (10) a prohibition against certain false statements; and (11) a prohibition of discrimination. Directs the Secretary to provide technical assistance to a State receiving payments under specified provisions of this Act, or entities designated by the State, without charge. Authorizes the Secretary to provide supplies and services in lieu of grant funds. Requires the Secretary, no later than October 1, 1989, to report to the Congress on the activities of the States carried out under specified provisions of this Act. Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary, acting through the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health (Director), to develop and publish information regarding the causes of suicide and the means of preventing suicide, especially among individuals under 24 years of age. Directs the Secretary, acting through the Director, to make grants and enter into cooperative agreements for research on mental illness. Authorizes the Secretary, acting through the Director, to make grants for mental health services demonstration projects, including self-help services, for the planning, coordination, and improvement of community services for chronically mentally ill individuals, seriously emotionally disturbed children and youth, elderly individuals, and homeless chronically mentally ill individuals, and for the conduct of research concerning such services. Authorizes the Secretary, acting through the Director, to make grants for prevention services demonstration projects for the provision of prevention services for individuals who are at risk of developing mental illness. Limits the duration of such a grant and the portion of the grant which may be used for administrative expenses. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1988 and 1989. Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration, to collect data on the incidence of the various forms of mental illness and substance abuse. Specifies the types of data to be included. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1988 through 1990 to carry out specified provisions of the Public Health Service Act relating to: (1) alcohol abuse and alcoholism; and (2) research with respect to drug abuse. Amends the Public Health Service Act to state that the Office of Substance Abuse Prevention is an entity of the Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration (Administration). Changes from annual to not less than once each three years the requirement that the Administrator, acting through the Associate Administrator for Prevention, report to the Congress regarding prevention activities undertaken by the Administration. Directs the Administrator to establish a process for responding to reports of scientific misconduct in connection with projects using funds under title V of the Public Health Service Act. (Current law requires such a process for scientific fraud.) Authorizes the Administrator to: (1) accept voluntary and uncompensated services; and (2) conduct and support certain research training. Amends the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 to require the Secretary to report to the Congress with respect to the results of a study regarding insurance coverage of drug abuse treatment, within 18 months after the execution of the contract for the study. (Current law requires such a report within one year of the enactment of that Act.)
United States · United States Congress · 7 August 1987
Authorizes appropriations to the Department of Energy for FY 1988 and subsequent fiscal years for the Superconducting Super Collider Program.
United States · United States Congress · 7 August 1987
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude deductions for business expenses, interest on indebtedness, and taxes from calculations to determine the passive loss limitation in connection with rental real estate activity in which a noncorporate taxpayer actively or materially participates.
United States · United States Congress · 6 August 1987
Designates the period beginning September 15 and ending October 15 each year as National Hispanic Heritage Month. (Current law designates the week including September 15 and 16 each year as National Hispanic Heritage Week.)
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1987
Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Expansion Act of 1987 - Amends the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act to set forth the method for calculating duty-free treatment status for articles imported from East Caribbean beneficiary countries. Sets forth such countries. Provides that duty-free treatment provided under such Act shall not apply to: (1) certain textile and apparel articles; (2) certain footwear, handbags, luggage, flat goods, work gloves, and leather wearing apparel; (3) tuna in airtight containers; (4) petroleum or petroleum products; or (5) certain watches and watch parts. Requires the President to establish categories of such articles not accorded duty-free treatment. Requires the President to provide duty-free treatment to articles under such categories if the International Trade Commission (ITC) determines that: (1) such articles are either not produced in the United States, or not produced in the United States in quantities sufficient to meet domestic demand; and (2) no directly competitive articles are produced in the United States. Permits a person to file a petition with the ITC requesting the granting or withdrawal of duty-free treatment with respect to such articles. Requires the President to withdraw the duty-free treatment provided to articles within a category if the ITC determines, after the filing of a petition, that such category is no longer eligible for such treatment. Limits the aggregate quantity of articles, in a category to which a duty-free quota applies and produced in all beneficiary countries, that may be entered duty-free during any calendar year after 1987 to an amount equal to five percent of the aggregate quantity of such articles imported during that year from all beneficiary countries. Requires the President to provide duty-free treatment to articles of a beneficiary country imported after such calendar year before the total quantity imported during that year equals or exceeds the duty-free quota for such articles for such country for that year. Requires each beneficiary country to submit a specified report to the President. Authorizes the President to suspend the provision of duty-free treatment if such beneficiary country fails to submit such report. Provides that no duty-free treatment extended to a beneficiary country shall remain in effect after September 30, 2007. Amends the Tariff Schedules of the United States to prohibit application of quantitative import restrictions to articles manufactured in a beneficiary country (as defined for purposes of the Generalized System of Preferences) in whole of U.S. materials. Grants duty-free treatment to such articles. Grants duty-free treatment to articles (not over $600 in value) acquired in a beneficiary country. Increases (from $800 to $1000) the personal exemption from customs duties of articles acquired in the U.S. insular possessions and from other countries. Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to require the ITC when making determinations as to material injury with respect to antidumping and countervailing duty cases to cumulatively assess the volume and effect of imports from a country designated as a beneficiary country under the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act with respect to imports of like products that are the product of one or more other countries designated as beneficiary countries. Amends the Tax Reform Act of 1986 to exempt from the prohibition against imports being considered eligible for exemption from duties certain ethyl alcohol imported during 1987 and 1988 if it was produced in a certain type of facility in: (1) an U.S. insular possession if such facility was in operation on January 1, 1986; or (2) a beneficiary country if such facility was in operation on January 1, 1987. Limits the aggregate quantity of imported sugar from a country designated a beneficiary country under the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act for any year after December 31, 1987, to the allocation of such country for the period beginning on September 26, 1983, and ending September 30, 1984.
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1987
Amends the patent laws to prohibit for two years the patenting of animals altered through genetic engineering technology. Revokes previously granted patents for such animals.
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1987
Amends the Internal Revenue Code with respect to the allocation and apportionment of qualified research and experimental expenditures to sources within and outside the United States for income tax purposes. Requires that any such expenditures made solely to meet a political jurisdiction's legal requirements concerning products or processes unlikely to yield extrajurisdictional income be allocated only to income within that political jurisdiction. Increases from 50 to 67 percent the amount of research and experimental expenditures that a company must allocate to income from U.S. sources. Requires companies to report on a consolidated basis with respect to the expenditures associated with these source rules.
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 1987
Designates October 1, 1987, as National Medical Research Day.
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 1987
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit a partnership, S corporation, or personal service corporation, unless it is part of a tiered structure, to elect to have a taxable year other than the required one, but generally only if the deferral period of the taxable year elected is three months or less. (Current law requires partnerships, S corporations, and personal service corporations, in most cases, to conform their taxable years to the calendar years used by their owners.) Subjects the principals of a partnership or S corporation electing to change taxable years to additional estimated tax requirements to offset any tax deferral resulting from such election. Imposes deduction limitations on a personal service corporation that changes taxable years. Provides that an election with respect to taxable year shall be made by the partnership, S corporation, or personal service corporation and shall be binding on all partners and shareholders. Sets forth the formula for determining the additional tax requirement when a taxpayer: (1) is a partner or shareholder in at least one such entity during any applicable election years of the entity that end within the taxpayer's taxable year; and (2) has an aggregate deferred tax exceeding $200 with respect to the entity. Describes payment procedures. Requires the inclusion of specified information on returns filed by partnerships and S corporations that elect to use a non-required taxable year. Limits the tax deduction permitted to a personal service corporation for amounts paid or incurred with respect to employee-owners when such a corporation: (1) elects to have a taxable year other than the required one; and (2) fails to meet certain minimum distribution requirements regarding non-dividend amounts paid to owners.
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 1987
Designates the week beginning April 3, 1988, as National School Psychologist Week.
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 1987
Tax-Exempt Organizations' Lobbying and Political Activities Accountability Act of 1987 - Title I: Disclosure Requirements - Amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to require tax-exempt organizations not eligible to receive tax-deductible charitable contributions to include in every written, broadcast, or telephone fundraising solicitation an express and conspicuous statement that gifts or contributions to the organization are not deductible as charitable contributions for Federal income tax purposes. Exempts from this requirement: (1) organizations having gross receipts of $100,000 or less; and (2) coordinated fundraising campaigns that solicit fewer than ten persons in a year. Fixes penalties for failure to comply with this disclosure requirement. Provides for public inspection, at organization offices, of both the annual returns and the application for recognition of exemption filed by tax-exempt organizations. Protects from disclosure the names and addresses of contributors. Requires that tax-exempt charitable entities (501(c)(3) organizations) provide annual information with respect to transfers and other transactions involving certain other tax-exempt organizations as the Secretary of the Treasury might require to prevent misallocation of revenues or expenses or any diversion of funds from the organization's exempt purpose. Amends IRC penalty provisions relating to required filing by tax-exempt organizations and certain trusts to: (1) revise the maximum penalty applicable in certain cases; (2) fix a penalty for failure to include required and accurate information on a return; (3) fix a penalty for failure to comply with public inspection requirements; and (4) treat the penalties as tax for administrative purposes. Assesses penalties against tax-exempt organizations that willfully fail to comply with public inspection requirements. Title II: Political Activities - Extends the prohibition against certain political activities by tax-exempt organizations to include activities in opposition to any candidate (current law includes only those activities on behalf of a candidate). Provides that any 501(c)(3) organization whose status is terminated by reason of intervening in any political campaign either for or against a candidate for public office shall never be treated as a tax-exempt not-for-profit civic league or organization. Imposes on a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization: (1) a ten percent excise tax on its political expenditures; and (2) a 100 percent tax on any such expenditure that has been subject to the ten percent penalty tax and has not been corrected within the taxable period. Imposes on the manager of a 501(c)(3) organization: (1) a two and one-half percent tax, to a maximum amount of $5,000, if such manager knowingly agrees to a political expenditure by the organization; and (2) a 50 percent tax, to a maximum of $10,000, if the manager refuses to agree to part or all of a correction of the prohibited expenditure. Identifies the types of expenditures considered to be political. Authorizes a civil action in U.S. district court in the name of the United States to enjoin a 501(c)(3) organization from making additional political expenditures and for other relief appropriate to ensure that the organization's assets are preserved for charitable purposes. Permits such an action only if: (1) the Internal Revenue Service has notified the organization of its intent to seek the injunction and (2) the Commissioner of Revenue has personally determined that the organization has flagrantly participated in prohibited campaign activity, and that injunctive relief is appropriate to prevent future political expenditures. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury, upon the finding that a 501(c)(3) organization has made political contributions in flagrant violation of the prohibition against such expenditures, to make an immediate termination assessment of any income tax payable by such organization, as well as any penalty taxes due with respect to political expenditures. Sets forth guidelines to govern such termination assessments. Imposes: (1) a five percent excise tax, to be paid by the organization, on the lobbying expenses of any organization whose 501(c)(3) status has been lost because of such expenditures; and (2) a corresponding penalty tax to be paid by the organization manager who agreed to such expenditures, knowing that they could result in the organization's loss of tax-exempt status.
United States · United States Congress · 8 July 1987
Designates the week of February 21 to February 27, 1988, as National Visiting Nurse Associations Week.
United States · United States Congress · 1 July 1987
Designates October 2, 1988, as a national day of recognition for Mohandas K. Gandhi.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 1987
Medicare Skilled Nursing Home Quality Care Amendments of 1987 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to set forth requirements for skilled nursing facilities (other than facilities for the mentally retarded), including requirements that such facilities: (1) primarily engage in providing residents with nursing care or rehabilitation services directed toward residents' mental, psychosocial, and physical well-being; (2) provide such care in accordance with a written plan of care initially prepared and periodically reviewed and revised, by a team which includes the attending physician and a professional registered nurse, on the basis of assessments of a resident's functional capacity conducted upon the resident's admission and after a significant change in the resident's physical or mental condition, but in no case less often than annually; (3) provide, in addition to nursing and rehabilitative services, such physicians' services, medically-related social services, pharmaceutical services, dietician services, and dental services as are required to fulfill each resident's plan of care; (4) require nurse aides to complete a State-approved training or retraining program before participating in resident care, and have an ongoing program of nurse aide training and performance review; (5) require a physician's supervision of each resident's care, the maintenance of clinical records on all residents, and 24-hour nursing services; (6) protect specified resident rights, including the right to appeal an involuntary transfer or discharge from the facility; (7) safeguard a resident's funds upon the resident's authorization; (8) notify the State agency responsible for licensing the facility of changes in the ownership, control, or administration of the facility; (9) adopt certain measures to preserve facility safety and sanitation; (10) meet such other conditions which the Secretary of Health and Human Services deems necessary for resident's health and safety. Subjects nursing facilities which participate in the falsification of resident assessments to civil money penalties and the required use of independent assessors thereafter. Requires States to: (1) specify, by September 1, 1988, State-approved nurse aide training and testing programs which meet minimum standards to be established by the Secretary by March 1, 1988; and (2) maintain a registry of nurse aides who have successfully completed such programs. Prohibits State approval of a training program offered by a facility that has been out of compliance with the Act's requirements within the preceding two years. Requires States to: (1) establish a fair mechanism which meets Federal guidelines to be established by October 1, 1988, for hearing appeals on involuntary transfers of residents from nursing facilities; and (2) implement and enforce standards which are to be developed by the Secretary by March 1, 1988, regarding the qualifications of nursing facility administrators. Reimburses nursing facilities for the reasonable costs of complying with this Act's requirements. Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress by January 1, 1992, on the implementation of the nursing facility resident assessment process. Requires States to conduct periodic educational programs for the staff and residents of nursing facilities on current regulations, procedures, and policies concerning the quality of care provided at such facilities. Makes the Secretary responsible for certifying that State nursing facilities comply, and States responsible for certifying that other nursing facilities comply, with Medicare nursing facility requirements. Bases such certifications on standard surveys to be conducted within two months of any change in the ownership or administration of such a facility and, on an unannounced basis, at least every 15 months. Prohibits the Statewide average interval between surveys from exceeding one year. Subjects facilities with poor compliance records to extended surveys. Requires that surveys be conducted by a multidisciplinary team of professionals who receive preservice and continuing training from the State. Directs States to use specialized survey teams to survey and carry out enforcement actions against chronically substandard facilities. Directs the Secretary to: (1) develop and test a protocol for conducting surveys; (2) establish minimum qualifications for surveyors; and (3) conduct sample surveys of nursing facilities, within two months of State surveys, to test the adequacy of State surveys, and, if the State surveys prove inadequate, train the State survey team or designate another State to perform such survey and certification activities. Authorizes the Secretary to conduct a special survey of a facility when there is reason to question its compliance with this Act. Requires States to investigate complaints against, and monitor the compliance of, a facility with this Act's requirements if the facility was previously found to be out of compliance with such requirements or the State has reason to question its compliance. Requires that certain information regarding nursing facilities and their compliance with this Act's requirements be made available to the public. Provides residents' physicians and the State board which licenses facility administrators with notice of a facility's poor quality of care. Gives State Medicaid (title XIX of the Act) fraud and abuse control units access to facility survey and certification information. Requires that survey results be posted in a place which is readily accessible to residents and their representatives. Requires the Secretary or a State, upon determining that a nursing facility's deficiencies immediately jeopardize residents' health and safety, to terminate such facility's Medicare participation or take immediate action to remove the jeopardy and correct the deficiencies. Authorizes the Secretary and States to apply certain other remedies, which States must establish by October 1, 1989, where the health and safety of facility residents is not immediately jeopardized. Provides that if a facility is out of compliance with any of this Act's requirements six months after having been found out of compliance with such requirements, Medicare payments for newly admitted residents shall be denied. Sets forth special rules which are to be applied where a State and the Secretary disagree on a finding of noncompliance or the remedies which should be prescribed.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 1987
Continental Scientific Drilling and Exploration Act - Directs the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of the Interior through the United States Geological Survey, and the Director of the National Science Foundation to implement the policies of the proposed Continental Scientific Drilling Program of the United States relating to earth science research and technological development. Prescribes guidelines for such implementation, including: (1) taking action to assure an effective cooperative effort in furtherance of the Program; (2) taking administrative and financial measures to assure the effective functioning of the Interagency Accord on Continental Scientific Drilling; (3) assuring the continuing operation of the Interagency Coordinating Group; and (4) assuring that the Interagency Coordinating Group receives appropriate Federal agency cooperation. Requires a report to the Congress within 180 days of enactment which describes: (1) policy objectives; (2) projected schedules of scientific and engineering events that would advance Program objectives; (3) resources and funding levels needed for projected schedules of events and Program policy objectives; and (4) cooperation with the international community.