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Official portrait of Rep. Rostenkowski, Dan [D-IL-8]

Rep. Rostenkowski, Dan [D-IL-8]

United States · Official source

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776 records where Rep. Rostenkowski, Dan [D-IL-8] is listed as a sponsor, author, or other actor. Search with topics and years

Law· HRH.R. 1628 (102nd)enacted

To authorize the construction of a monument in the District of Columbia or its environs to honor Thomas Paine, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1991

Authorizes the Thomas Paine National Historical Association U.S.A. Memorial Foundation to construct in the District of Columbia or its environs an appropriate monument honoring the American patriot, Thomas Paine. Prohibits the use of Federal funds for the establishment of the memorial.

Bill· HRH.R. 1555 (102nd)open

Technical Corrections Act of 1991

United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1991

Technical Corrections Act of 1991 - Title I: Revenue Provisions - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make technical corrections to amendments made by the Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1990 (Title XI of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990) with respect to: (1) individual income tax provisions; (2) excise taxes; (3) certain revenue increases; (4) the extension of certain expiring tax provisions; (5) energy incentives; (6) small business incentives; and (7) the repeal of expired or obsolete provisions. Makes technical corrections to amendments made by Title XII (Pensions) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 concerning: (1) treatment of hedge bond rules; (2) treatment of dispositions of U.S. real property interests; and (3) treatment of passive activity credits. Title II: Medicare Miscellaneous and Technical Amendments - Amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 to make technical amendments with respect to the Medicare program (title XVIII of the Social Security Act) concerning: (1) excluding distinct psychiatric and rehabilitation units from adjustment to payments for hospitals exempt from the prospective payment system; (2) the DRG payment window expansion; (3) physician payment provisions; (4) nursing home reform; (5) services furnished in ambulatory surgical centers; (6) durable medical equipment and orthotics and prosthetics, including a required study; and (7) other specified Medicare services. Makes technical corrections related to Medicare supplemental insurance policies. Title III: Corrections Relating to Social Security, Income Security and Human Resources, and Tariff and Customs - Amends the Social Security to make technical corrections related to provisions concerning old-age, survivors and disability insurance in the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990. Amends such Act to make technical corrections related to income security and human resources provisions. Makes technical amendments to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988, and the Customs and Trade Act of 1990.

Resolution· HCONRESH.Con.Res. 50 (102nd)referred

Concerning United Nations action regarding the Soviet Union's treatment of the Baltic Republics of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia.

United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1991

Calls on the Soviet Government to cease its military intimidation of the freely-elected Baltic Governments and to respect freedom of speech, assembly, and the press and all internationally-recognized standards of human rights. Urges the President to instruct the U.S. representative to the United Nations (U.N.) to: (1) address the issue in the U.N. Security Council; and (2) raise the issue of human rights violations in the Baltic States and urge the U.N. Commission on Human Rights to take action on this issue during its February 1991 meeting. Calls upon member states of the U.N. to exercise their diplomatic influence with the Soviet Union to bring about a prompt resolution of the Baltic conflict and a restoration of peaceful relations with the Republics of Estonia, Lithuania, and Lativa. Requests the U.N. Secretary General to keep the situation in the Baltic States under constant surveillance and to report to the Security Council and the Commission on Human Rights on further developments.

Bill· HRH.R. 500 (102nd)referred

Christopher Columbus Coin and Fellowship Act

United States · United States Congress · 11 January 1991

Christopher Columbus Coin and Fellowship Act - Title I: Christopher Columbus Quincentenary Coins - Christopher Columbus Quincentenary Coin Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue not more than a specified number of five-dollar gold coins, one-dollar silver coins, and half-dollar clad coins emblematic of the quincentenary of the discovery of America. Sets forth certain features of such coins and provides for their design, issuance, and sale. Terminates the minting of such coins after June 30, 1993. Requires the Secretary to deposit surcharges from the sale of such coins in the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Fund for use by the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation. Declares that no law governing procurement or public contracts shall be applicable to the procurement of goods and services necessary for carrying out this Act, except that this provision shall not relieve any person from complying with any law relating to equal employment opportunity. Mandates that all amounts received from coin sales be deposited in the coinage profit fund. Title II: Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation - Christopher Columbus Fellowship Act - Establishes the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation to award fellowships to outstanding individuals to encourage new discoveries in all fields of endeavor for the benefit of mankind. Establishes the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Fund. Directs the Foundation to report to the President and to the Congress annually on its operations.

Bill· HRH.R. 11 (102nd)open

Revenue Act of 1992

United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1991

Enterprise Zone Tax Incentives Act of 1991 - Declares it to be the purpose of this Act to establish a demonstration program of providing incentives for the creation of tax enterprise zones in order to: (1) revitalize economically and physically distressed areas; (2) promote meaningful employment for zone residents; and (3) encourage individuals to reside in the zones in which they are employed. Title I: Designation and Tax Incentives - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the designation of tax enterprise zones by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development during calendar years 1992 through 1995. Sets forth eligibility criteria for rural areas. Sets forth the eligibility criteria for such designation, including: (1) a population of not less than 4,000; (2) pervasive poverty, unemployment, and general distress; (3) a high unemployment rate; and (4) a required course of action designed to reduce the various burdens borne by employers or employees in the area. Provides that a course of action under private entities may not be federally funded and may include: (1) a reduction of tax rates or fees; (2) an increase in public services; (3) a reduction in government paperwork requirements; (4) business community commitments to provide jobs and job training; (5) special preference to minority contractors; (6) gifts of land for the operation of neighborhood businesses; (7) pooled health insurance; (8) loans by local financial institutions for business start-ups; and (9) special preference to low-income housing projects and private activity bonds. Allows an enterprise zone employment credit to small employers as a general business credit of ten percent of the qualified zone wages paid plus qualified zone employee health insurance costs. Allows such credit for the first five years of the employee's employment. Makes the rehabilitation credit available for buildings in the tax enterprise zone that are at least 30 years old. Allows a 60-month amortization period (in lieu of depreciation) for child care facilities. Allows the deferral of capital gain for ten years if the gain is reinvested in tax enterprise zone property. Limits the dollar amount of deferred gain. Declares that loss on any qualified zone corporate investment shall be treated as an ordinary loss. Sets forth limitations on the aggregate amounts of zone incentives to be allocated by the governmental official responsible for making such allocations in the tax enterprise zone. Allows for purposes of the low-income housing credit any parts of low-income rental buildings that are used for child care centers for children of zone residents to be included in the basis for such credit. Title II: Establishment of Foreign-Trade Zones in Tax Enterprise Zones - Requires enterprise zones to receive priority in the designation of foreign trade zones. Title III: Studies - Requires the Secretary of the Treasury and the Comptroller General each to report to the House Committee on Ways and Means and the Senate Committee on Finance on the effectiveness of the incentives provided by this Act in achieving its purposes.

Law· HRH.R. 3 (102nd)enacted

Veterans' Compensation Amendments of 1991

United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1991

Veterans' Compensation Amendments of 1991 - Increases the rates of: (1) veterans' disability compensation; (2) additional compensation for veterans' dependents; (3) the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans; (4) dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children; and (5) supplemental dependency and indemnity compensation for disabled adult children. Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to adjust administratively the rates of disability compensation payable to persons who are not in receipt of compensation for service-connected disability or death.

Law· HRH.R. 4 (102nd)enacted

To extend the time for performing certain acts under the internal revenue laws for individuals performing services as part of the Desert Shield operation.

United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1991

Extends the time for performing certain tax-related acts by reason of service in a combat zone for those individuals performing Desert Shield services. Declares such extended time to be the period during which such individual performs such services and the next 60 days thereafter. Allows the payment of interest on any overpayments due such individuals, starting April 15. (Generally, interest will be paid only on refunds made more than 45 days after a return is filed.) Applies this Act for any period of continuous hospitalization outside the United States attributed to an injury incurred while performing Desert Shield services.

Bill· HRH.R. 5828 (101st)referred

Technical and Miscellaneous Social Security Act Amendments of 1990

United States · United States Congress · 15 October 1990

Technical and Miscellaneous Social Security Act Amendments of 1990 - Title I: Human Resource Amendments - Human Resource Amendments of 1990 - Subtitle A: Child Support Enforcement - Amends part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of title IV of the Social Security Act to extend the authority of States to request the withholding of Federal tax refunds from individuals not receiving benefits under the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program (AFDC)(part A of title IV of the Social Security Act) who owe past-due child support. Makes such collection applicable to past-due support owed to anyone who was determined to be disabled under under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) or title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI) of the Social Security Act as a minor. Amends the Family Support Act of 1988 to reauthorize the Commission on Interstate Child Support. Subtitle B: Unemployment Compensation - Amends title IX (Employment Security) of the Social Security Act to make permanent a limitation on State use of Unemployment Trust Fund amounts for administrative purposes. Modifies the distribution formula so that any excess amounts would be distributed to State accounts in the Unemployment Trust Fund in proportion to each State's share of wages subject to Federal unemployment taxes paid in the prior calendar year. Requires States to account for such amounts in accordance with standards established by the Secretary of Labor. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require State unemployment compensation laws to prohibit courts from stopping lawsuits on related employment issues based on a decision in an unemployment compensation hearing. Subtitle C: Supplemental Security Income - Amends the SSI program to exclude amounts received from a State fund to aid victims of crime from an individual's income and resources. Prohibits the denial of SSI benefits to individuals by reason of their rejection of amounts offered as compensation for a crime. Eliminates the age requirement that blind and disabled individuals receiving SSI benefits must meet in order to be eligible for Medicaid (title XIX of the Social Security Act) benefits under the work incentive program. Excludes impairment-related work expenses from income in determining State supplementary payments and initial eligibility and reeligibility for SSI benefits. Treats any royalty which is earned in connection with the publication of an individual's work and any honorarium which is received for services rendered as earned income for purposes of SSI eligibility and benefit determinations. Excludes certain State relocation assistance from income and resources under the SSI program. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to make reasonable efforts to ensure that a qualified pediatrician or other specialist in a field of child medicine evaluates the child's disability for purposes of determining eligibility for SSI benefits. Authorizes reimbursement for vocational rehabilitation services provided to certain individuals who are not currently receiving Federal SSI benefits. Subtitle D: Aid to Families with Dependent Children - Amends the AFDC program to give States the option of specifying from which categories of families monthly reports will be required. Requires States which exercise such option to describe the categories subject to such reporting requirement in their State plans. Gives States the option of choosing to apply the retrospective budgeting technique to any one or more of the categories to which such reporting requirement applies. Disallows the treatment of a child receiving State or local foster care maintenance payments as a member of a family unit for purposes of determining eligibility for, or the amount of, AFDC benefits. Excludes the income and resources of such a child from the income and resources of the family. Disallows the treatment of a child receiving Federal adoption assistance payments under part E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of title IV of the Social Security Act, or adoption assistance payments under State or local law, as a member of a family unit for purposes of determining eligibility for, or the amount of, AFDC benefits. Excludes the income and resources of such a child from the income and resources of the family, except where such exclusion would reduce the amount of benefits to the family. Revises provisions governing the determination of AFDC benefits for a dependent child whose parent or legal guardian is under the age of 18 to delete all references to legal guardians. Amends AFDC, foster care, and adoption assistance State plan requirements to require that each State agency report to an appropriate agency or official known or suspected instances of child abuse and neglect of a child receiving program aid. Adds the Foster Care and Adoption Assistance program to the list of programs for which information about AFDC applicants and recipients may be made available. Amends part A (General Provisions) of title XI of the Social Security Act to repeal the spending cap on temporary assistance provided under the repatriation program until FY 1992. Permits HHS to receive gifts to assist program participants. Makes March 31, 1991, the final reporting date for the National Commission on Children. Subtitle E: Child Welfare and Foster Care - Amends the Foster Care and Adoption Assistance program to add child placement services as activities for which States are entitled to receive Federal reimbursement. Allows States to include youths up to age 21 who have been discharged from the foster care system in services provided under the independent living program. Amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1989 to extend the current prohibition on reducing payments to, seeking repayment from, or withholding payments from any State as a result of a disallowance determination made in connection with a triennial review of State compliance with certain foster care protections. Title II: Amendments Relating to Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance - Amends the OASDI program to permanently provide for the continuation of disability and Medicare (title XVIII of the Social Security Act) benefits during appeal. Repeals the separate definition of disability applicable to widows and widowers. Requires a child adopted by the surviving spouse of a deceased worker to have either lived with the worker or received at least one-half of his support from the worker at the time of the worker's death in order to receive survivor's benefits. Provides benefits to a widow or widower who in good faith married unaware that his or her marriage was invalid and who lost entitlement to benefits because another entitled spouse claimed those benefits. Amends the OASDI and SSI programs to require that the Secretary conduct criminal background checks of representative payee applicants (excluding parents and spouses) and verify their identities. Prohibits the certification of a representative payee without adequate evidence that such certification is in the interest of the OASDI or SSI beneficiary. Requires the Secretary to establish and maintain two centralized, current files, accessible to local offices of the Social Security Administration (SSA), identifying persons who have previously misused social security benefits. Prohibits a beneficiary's creditor from serving as his or her representative payee, unless such creditor: (1) is a relative residing with such beneficiary; (2) is the beneficiary's legal guardian; (3) is a licensed or certified care facility; (4) is the owner or an employee of such a facility; or (5) poses no risk to the beneficiary and no other suitable representative payee is available. Provides for the payment of benefits directly to a beneficiary, except in certain circumstances where the beneficiary's condition make direct payments harmful, until a representative payee is chosen. Directs the Secretary to provide an OASDI or SSI beneficiary with notice of a determination that he or she needs a representative payee, including an explanation of his or her right to appeal such determination and the designation of a particular person as representative payee. Directs the Secretary to terminate payment of benefits to a representative payee who misuses such benefits and to certify payment to an alternative representative payee or to the individual. Requires the Secretary to conduct a feasibility study and report to the Congress on: (1) obtaining for social security field offices ready access to records of individuals convicted of fraud involving social security checks; (2) determining the type of representative payee applicant most likely to have a felony or misdemeanor conviction; (3) the suitability of individuals with prior convictions to serve as representative payees; and (4) the circumstances under which such applicants could be allowed to serve as representative payees. Provides compensation to social service agencies which serve as representative payees. Limits the amount of fees such agencies may collect. Requires the Secretary to maintain a centralized, current file, accessible to local SSA offices, identifying all representative payees and the beneficiaries utilizing their services. Requires local offices to maintain a current list of the public agencies and community-based nonprofit social service agencies which are qualified to serve as representative payees and which are located in the office's service area. Requires the Secretary to conduct a study and report to the Congress on the need for an accounting system for high-risk representative payees which is more stringent than is otherwise required under the Social Security Act. Requires the Secretary to implement a demonstration project to make available to State protective service agencies a list of all addresses where OASDI and SSI benefit payments are received by five or more individuals. Requires the Secretary to conduct a feasibility study and report to the Congress on designating the Department of Veterans Affairs as the lead agency for purposes of selecting, appointing, and monitoring representative payees for individuals who receive OASDI or SSI benefits and benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Sets forth reporting requirements. Revises the procedures governing payment of fees for representation of claimants in administrative SSA proceedings. Requires SSA to approve any fee agreement submitted in writing by the representative and the claimant if the Secretary's determination with respect to the claim for benefits was favorable and if the agreed-upon fee did not exceed 25 percent of the claimant's past-due benefits, up to $4,000. Establishes additional requirements for notices concerning OASDI and SSI benefits. Restores direct telephone access to local SSA offices. Directs the Secretary to develop and carry out demonstration projects to assess the advantages and disadvantages of permitting disabled individuals to select a qualified vocational rehabilitation provider for services to enable them to engage in substantial gainful activity and leave the disability rolls. Amends the Social Security Disability Amendments of 1980 to extend the authority of the Secretary to conduct demonstration projects. Amends the OASDI program to exempt certain aliens, including aliens who received legal status under the Immigration and Nationality Act, from prosecution for misreporting of earnings or misuse of social security cards or account numbers. Reduces the amount of wages required to earn a year of coverage for determining a special minimum amount of OASDI benefits. Eliminates eligibility for retroactive OASDI benefits for certain categories of individuals eligible for reduced benefits. Treats the earnings of corporate directors as received in the year that the relevant services are performed only for purposes of the social security retirement test. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to set forth special rules for the collection of employee social security and railroad retirement taxes on taxable group-term life insurance provided to retirees. Amends the OASDI program to make technical amendments to provisions regarding old-age benefit-computation methods and dependent's benefits when a disabled worker is in an extended period of eligibility. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make technical amendments with respect to the cross-referencing of the railroad retirement Tier 1 tax rate to the Federal Insurance Contributions Act. Amends the Railroad Retirement Solvency Act of 1983 to extend the transfer of proceeds from the taxation of certain railroad retirement Tier 2 benefits from the General Fund into the Railroad Retirement Account. Amends the Social Security Act and the Internal Revenue Code to make miscellaneous technical corrections. Title III: Miscellaneous and Technical Amendments Relating to the Medicare Program - Subtitle A: No-Cost Provisions - Amends the Medicare program to require certain providers of medical care to provide adult patients with information on their rights under State law to make decisions concerning their medical care, including rights concerning living wills and power of attorney directives. Prescribes penalties for providers who fail to give patients such information. Directs the Secretary to assist in the development and distribution to such providers of a document that describes such rights. Provides for the inclusion in annual Medicare beneficiary mailings of a general description of: (1) patient's rights regarding living wills and power of attorney directs; and (2) where information on such rights may be obtained in each State. Directs the Secretary to: (1) arrange with the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences for a study on the implementation of directed health care decisions; and (2) develop and implement a demonstration project in selected States to inform the public of the option to execute living wills and power of attorney directives and a patient's right to participate in and direct health care decisions. Makes miscellaneous and technical amendments to provisions relating to: (1) part A (Hospital Insurance), particularly with respect to hospital obligations concerning treatment of emergency medical conditions, designation of rural primary care hospitals, skilled nursing facility routine cost limits, enrollment for health maintenance organizations (HMO) members, nursing home reform amendments, and State waiver authority; and (2) part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance), particularly with respect to claims form reporting, physician payments, and immediate enrollment by individuals covered by an employment-based plan. Corrects various drafting errors. Amends provisions relating to the Hospital Insurance program to: (1) extend the protection afforded skilled nursing facilities and hospices against being held liable for payment of denied claims; and (2) provide for the designation of pediatric liver transplant facilities. Directs the Secretary to conduct a study and report to the Congress on the effect of State laws prohibiting the employment of physicians by hospitals on the availability and accessibility of trauma and emergency care services. Directs the Secretary to develop a proposal to: (1) modify the current payment system for skilled nursing facilities with respect to extended care under the Medicare program; or (2) replace such system with one under which payment would be made on the basis of prospectively determined rates. Sets forth reporting requirements. Amends provisions relating to the Supplementary Medical Insurance program to: (1) revise claims form information; (2) prohibit the Secretary from conducting demonstration projects of competitive bidding for cataract surgery which rely on physician marketing; (3) extend the preventive health services demonstration program for Medicare beneficiaries; (4) set limits on extra billing for durable medical equipment; (5) provide for area adjustment for durable medical equipment; and (6) require providers to disclose individuals with ownership interests. Amends the Medicare program to prohibit the Secretary from entering into a contract with an HMO unless certain conditions regarding the HMO's physician incentive payment plan are met. Directs the Secretary to revise the methodology used to establish the adjusted average per capital cost for determining the payments to HMOs. Prohibits changes in Medicare benefits which significantly change the cost of providing benefits from applying to risk contracts with HMOs in any contract year unless the costs of the change in coverage were included in the Secretary's annual notice of per capita rates of payment for beneficiaries enrolled in HMOs. Extends payment under the Supplementary Medical Insurance program to all emergency services under the program provided to beneficiaries enrolled in an HMO. Requires HMOs which are owned and operated by a governmental entity to have an enrolled membership at least one-half of which consists of individuals who are not entitled to Medicare benefits in order to enter into a contract with the Secretary. Amends the Medicare program to require that Medicare supplemental policy issuers: (1) establish four types of benefit packages, ranging from standard to comprehensive; and (2) provide prospective purchasers of a policy,prior to any purchase, with a description of its benefits that uses uniform language specified by the Secretary and a uniform format to help consumers compare benefits among policies. Prohibits an issuer from selling a Medicare supplemental (Medigap) policy unless it offers a policy that only includes the standard benefit package. Allows additional benefits to be offered if: (1) they are not generally available in any of the four types of benefit packages; and (2) the insurer specifies the additional premium for each benefit. Permits each State to design its own four-benefit package provided that the standard benefit package is one of the packages offered either alone or included along with additional comprehensive benefits in other packages. Directs the Secretary to specify the benefits for each type of package provided under a Medigap policy in the absence of a State-specific approach of the four-benefit package. Defines the standard benefit package to be used in both State and federally designed benefit packages. Requires applicants to sign a statement prior to sale which indicates current coverage except in cases where the policy is purchased to replace existing coverage or where States pay Medigap premiums for Medicaid beneficiaries. Makes it a violation of this Act for a Medigap policy to be issued without the obtainment of such a statement or if the statement indicates that the applicant is currently covered under another Medigap policy. Provides for: (1) suspension of such a policy during the receipt of Medicaid benefits; (2) identification of duplicate coverage through the matching of information supplied by insurers and employers; and (3) reporting of duplicate coverage by the Secretary to States which have designated a four-benefit package. Requires Medigap insurers to use a uniform methodology for calculating loss ratios. Requires States to report to the Secretary annually on loss-ratios under Medigap policies and the use of sanctions for policies that fail to use a uniform methodology for calculating loss-ratios. Requires Medigap issuers of replacement policies to waive any time periods applicable to preexisting conditions, waiting periods, elimination periods, and probationary periods for similar benefits contained in the new policy to the extent such time was spent under the original policy. Requires Medigap insurers to issue policies without any conditions to an individual for six months after he or she first enrolls in the Supplementary Medical Insurance program. Establishes minimum loss ratios for daily hospital indemnity and dread disease policies which are sold to or renewed by Medicare beneficiaries. Directs the Secretary to make grants to States to assist Medicare beneficiaries in purchasing health insurance coverage. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary to establish a national resource center to act as a clearinghouse for distributions of health insurance information to the States. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary to promulgate regulations to implement such amendments to the Medicare program which include uniform enforcement provisions and reflect certain National Association of Insurance Commissioners' Medigap standards. Provides for certification of State regulatory programs by the Secretary, rather than the Supplemental Insurance Panel. Requires all Medigap policies to be approved by the State involved or by the Secretary prior to sale. Directs the Comptroller General to conduct studies and report to the Congress with respect to State compliance with Medigap requirements. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to subject an entity that issues a non-approved Medigap policy to an excise tax equal to 50 percent of its premium. Amends the Hospital Insurance program to cut Medicare payments for inpatient hospital and extended care services provided in a State by one-half if the State does not implement a controlled substance accountable prescription system. Requires that such system: (1) prohibit a health care practitioner from prescribing certain controlled substances without writing the prescription on a form, provided by the State, which identifies such practitioner; and (2) require such practitioner to maintain a readily retrievable record of such transactions. Requires every person who dispenses such controlled substances to maintain a two-year record of such transactions, including the information contained on prescription forms, and to provide information in such record to the State at least every two months. Makes the system inapplicable to drugs dispensed directly by a practitioner to a user and drugs dispensed by oral prescription in emergency situations. Limits the use of system information to the enforcement of laws under the Medicare program, the Controlled Substances Act, or a State controlled substances Act. Requires States and the Secretary to maintain active programs to process system information and to investigate potential violations of law identified by such information. Directs the Secretary to develop a brochure which describes the proper prescribing of controlled substances for cancer pain and mental illness and specifies where additional information may be obtained respecting proper prescribing practices. Amends part A (General Provisions) of title XI of the Social Security Act to provide for the use of administrative law judges who are in positions within HHS in health-related cases if and when the SSA becomes an independent agency. Amends the Medicare program to: (1) revise provisions for enforcing the requirements imposed on hospitals and physicians when examining and treating emergency medical conditions and women in active labor; (2) require the Secretary to use the hospital wage index for home health agency cost limits; (3) make a certain exemption for physicians employed by a hospital inapplicable to a financial relationship unrelated to clinical laboratory services for which a referral would otherwise be prohibited; (4) exempt certain entities which bill Medicare very infrequently and claims of foreign providers from reporting requirements relating to physician ownership and referral; (5) change the date for issuance of regulations relating to physician ownership of clinical laboratories; (6) revise anti-fraud and abuse amendments to provide for mandatory exclusion for inducements to beneficiaries or employees; and (7) prohibit the Secretary from imposing or requiring States to impose on certain facilities a fee to offset the costs of surveys to certify compliance with conditions for participation under the Hospital Insurance or SSI program. Prohibits the Secretary from issuing any final regulation, instruction, or other policy change which is primarily intended to slow down or speed up claims processing or to delay payment of claims. Revises requirements with respect to the Social Health Maintenance Organizations (SHMOs) demonstration. Authorizes additional SHMO demonstration projects. Directs the Secretary to develop a proposal for a prospective payment system for home health services for submission to the Congress. Treats a hospital participating in the demonstration authorized by the Technical and Miscellaneous Revenue Act of 1988 as meeting certain requirements regarding hospital-based nursing schools. Reinstates certain demonstration projects involving case management which were established under the Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act of 1988. Amends part B (Peer Review) of title XI of the Social Security Act to: (1) give practitioners the opportunity to enter into, and complete, a corrective action plan before the peer review organization submits its report and recommendations to the Secretary; (2) allow peer organizations to use podiatrists and optometrists in making final denial determinations; (3) direct the Secretary to conduct a study to develop a plan to improve the coordination of peer review organization and carrier review of physician services; and (4) direct the Secretary to provide for the exchange of information between peer review organizations and State licensing boards. Subtitle B: Medicare Initiatives - Amends the Medicare program to provide that hospitals which are exempt from the prospective payment system with costs in excess of the target amount limit will receive 50 percent of the costs in excess of the limit, up to a ceiling of 120 percent of the limit. Prohibits the Secretary from making any recoupments in FY 1991 relating to overpayments to hospitals for the costs of physician education. Limits the annual amount of recoupment to 25 percent of the amount of such overpayment beginning in FY 1992. Makes the costs of university-affiliated nursing education programs reimbursable under the Medicare program, under certain conditions. Prohibits the Secretary from recouping any alleged overpayments relating to costs which were otherwise allowable. Requires the Secretary, to the extent such recoupments have already occurred, to refund the money to the hospitals involved. Directs the Secretary to conduct a special audit to ensure the accuracy of such costs. Increases the types of centers that provide primary care and other services to low-income individuals in inner-city and rural areas under the Medicare program. Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to the Congress on whether physicians practicing in community and migrant health centers are able to obtain admitting privileges at local hospitals. Changes the method of determining payments for certified registered nurse anesthetists. Provides for coverage under the Medicare program of partial hospitalization services provided in community mental health centers which meet applicable State licensing or certification requirements. Authorizes payment for trip fees for qualifying laboratories to cover the cost of transportation and personnel expenses for trained personnel to make a second daily trip to a nursing home or a homebound individual to collect a sample for testing which is ordered by a physician on an emergency basis. Provides separate coverage under the Medicare program for the services of psychologists provided to individuals who are inpatients in hospitals. Authorizes Medicare coverage for erythropoietin and related items for home renal dialysis patients who are competent to use such drug without medical or other supervision, subject to methods and standards established by the Secretary for its use. Establishes specified monthly Hospital Insurance premiums for 1992 through 1995. Provides that premiums after 1995 shall be the premium for the previous year adjusted by the percentage change in the inpatient hospital deductible. Amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986 to increase the composite rates paid to free-standing and hospital-based facilities for treatment of dialysis patients. Subtitle C: Medicare Program Cost Reductions - Amends the Medicare program to preclude outpatient care received on Saturdays and Sundays from being billed as inpatient hospital care. Makes technical amendments with respect to payments for: (1) hospital outpatient department services; (2) EKG interpretation; (3) items and services provided to end stage renal disease beneficiaries; and (4) ambulatory surgery and radiology. Limits Medicare coverage for seatlifts to include only the seat-lift mechanism. Increases the reduction in payments for: (1) transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation devices; and (2) overpriced physician services. Reduces the annual Consumer Price Index update for clinical laboratory services for calendar years 1991 through 1993.

Bill· HRH.R. 5826 (101st)open

Small Business Tax Incentive Act of 1990

United States · United States Congress · 13 October 1990

Small Business Tax Incentive Act of 1990 - Title I: Treatment of Costs of Providing Nondiscriminatory Public Accommodations - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for small businesses for the expense of providing public accommodations access to the disabled. Makes such tax credit a part of the general business credit for eligible small businesses. Reduces the tax deduction for expenditures to remove architectural and transportation barriers to the handicapped and elderly. Title II: Other Provisions - Revises provisions regarding the review of the impact of tax regulations on small businesses with respect to procedures in promulgating final regulations. Requires the booklets of instructions for individual income tax returns to include: (1) a pie-shaped graph showing the relative sizes of the major outlay categories; and (2) a pie-shaped graph showing the relative sizes of the major income categories.

Bill· HRH.R. 5822 (101st)open

Technical and Miscellaneous Revenue Act of 1990

United States · United States Congress · 12 October 1990

Technical and Miscellaneous Revenue Act of 1990 - Title I: Tax Technical Corrections - Amends the Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1989, the Technical and Miscellaneous Revenue Act of 1988, and the Internal Revenue Code to make technical corrections to various provisions. Title II: Repeal of Expired or Obsolete Provisions - Subtitle A: Repeal of Expired or Obsolete Provisions - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the repeal or modification of expired or obsolete provisions. Subtitle B: Provisions Relating to Studies - Extends the date for filing reports on certain studies and repeals requirements for certain other studies. Modifies the study of Americans working abroad under the Foreign Earned Income Act of 1978 to require the Secretary of the Treasury to report as soon as practicable after December 31, 1993, and as soon as practicable after the close of each fifth calendar year thereafter (currently, every fourth calendar year). Increases from $200,000 to $1,000,000 the tax refund amount which must be reported to the Joint Committee on Taxation. Title III: Customs and Tariff Provisions - Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to make specified redesignations to the Schedule's subheadings. Provides for duty treatment of gloves, mittens, and mitts principally designed for use in sports. Changes wheel size specifications with respect to 26-inch bicycles. Grants duty-free treatment, through December 31, 1992, of certain fiberglass tire cord fabric. Sets forth technical amendments.

Bill· HRH.R. 5778 (101st)referred

To make technical corrections to certain customs and tariff laws.

United States · United States Congress · 3 October 1990

Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to make specified redesignations to the Schedule's subheadings. Provides for duty treatment of gloves, mittens, and mitts principally designed for use in sports. Changes wheel size specifications with respect to 26-inch bicycles. Grants duty-free treatment, through December 31, 1992, to certain fiberglass tire cord fabric. Sets forth technical amendments.

Bill· HRH.R. 5454 (101st)open

Technical Corrections Act of 1990

United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1990

Technical Corrections Act of 1990 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make technical amendments related to the Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1989 concerning: (1) the extension and modification of the low-income housing credit; (2) the extension and modification of the credit for increasing research activities; (3) the interest deduction treatment of certain high yield original issue discount obligations; (4) the limitation on the deduction for certain interest paid to a related person; (5) limitations on refunds due to net operating loss carrybacks or excess interest allocable to corporate equity reduction transactions; (6) limitations on partial exclusion of interest on loans used to acquire employer securities; (7) the taxable year of certain foreign corporations; (8) special rules for exchanges of property between related persons; (9) exceptions from the arbitrage rebate requirement; (10) nondiscrimination requirements of the taxability of beneficiaries under annuities purchased by tax-exempt organizations or public schools; and (11) disallowance of the marital deduction where the surviving spouse is not a U.S. citizen. Makes amendments to the Internal Revenue Code related to the Technical and Miscellaneous Revenue Act of 1988 concerning: (1) corporate installment obligations; (2) application of uniform cost capitalization rules to certain farmers; (3) treaty-based return positions; (4) alternative minimum tax treatment of unearned income of minor children; (5) estate and gift taxes generally; (6) disallowance of the marital deduction where the spouse is not a U.S. citizen; (7) exclusion from gross income for income for U.S. savings bonds used to pay tuition and fees; and (8) distributions by cooperative housing corporations. Makes miscellaneous amendments concerning: (1) sales to comply with conflict-of-interest requirements; (2) the generation-skipping transfer tax; (3) treatment of certain partnership interests; and (4) treatment of certain separated employees.

Bill· HRH.R. 5455 (101st)referred

Small Business Tax Incentive Act of 1990

United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1990

Small Business Tax Incentive Act of 1990 - Title I: Treatment of Costs of Providing Nondiscriminatory Public Accommodations - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for small businesses for the expense of providing public accommodations access to the disabled. Makes such tax credit a part of the general business credit for eligible small businesses. Reduces the tax deduction for expenditures to remove architectural and transportation barriers to the handicapped and elderly. Title II: Other Provisions - Repeals a provision that disallows the income tax deduction of 25 percent of the health insurance costs of self-employed individuals after tax year 1989 (thus extending the deduction permanently). Revises provisions regarding the review of the impact of tax regulations on small businesses with respect to procedures in promulgating final regulations. Requires the booklets of instructions for individual income tax returns to include pie-shaped graphs showing the relative sizes of the major outlay and income categories.

Law· HRH.R. 5428 (101st)enacted

Illinois Wilderness Act of 1990

United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1990

Illinois Wilderness Act of 1990 - Designates the following lands in the Shawnee National Forest, Illinois, as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System: (1) Bald Knob Wilderness; (2) Bay Creek Wilderness; (3) Burden Falls Wilderness; (4) Clear Springs Wilderness; (5) Garden of the Gods Wilderness; (6) Lusk Creek Wilderness; and (7) Panther Den Wilderness. Designates the East Fork Area and the Eagle Creek Area of the Shawnee National Forest as special management, mining, and prospecting areas. Sets a time limit for such prospecting and mining. Provides that these areas shall be designated as wilderness and components of the National Wilderness Preservation System 20 years after enactment of this Act (or eight years after enactment if no prospecting for fluorspar and associated minerals has been done).

Bill· HRH.R. 5425 (101st)open

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 with respect to treatment of estate freezes.

United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1990

Repeals estate tax provisions of the Internal Revenue Code with respect to inclusion in the gross estate of the value of certain types of transfers with a retained life estate. Applies the repeal retroactively in connection with property transferred after December 17, 1987. Establishes special valuation rules for determining whether a transfer of an interest in a corporation or partnership which is ten-percent owned to a member of the transferor's family is a gift. Provides for determining the valuation of any retained interests and qualified payments under such interests. Provides that where qualified payments are not made before the close of the third calendar year following the calendar year in which such payment was due, they shall be treated as a transfer of property by gift. Provides for the valuation of the transfer of property by gift if the transferor transfers any qualified retained interest or the transferor dies. Sets forth rules for adjustments in the case of transfers of nonqualified retained interests or where a corporation becomes insolvent. Sets forth valuation rules for determining whether a transfer of an interest in a trust to a member of the transferor's family is a gift. Provides for determining the value of any property without regard to the following rights with respect to such property held by a member of the family of the transferor or decedent: (1) any option or agreement to acquire the property at a price less than the fair market value as of the time the option is exercised; (2) any right of first refusal; and (3) any right to use such property pursuant to a lease. Sets forth rules governing the transfer tax consequences of lapsing rights and restrictions. Provides for the treatment of indirect holdings, certain redemptions, and creditor and lessor interests. Declares that a gift tax may be assessed on any gift of property under this Act at any time if it is not shown on the tax return although it is required to be.

Bill· HRH.R. 5415 (101st)open

Deadwood Act of 1990

United States · United States Congress · 31 July 1990

Deadwood Act of 1990 - Title I: Repeal of Expired or Obsolete Provisions- Subtitle A: General Provisions - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal various provisions that have expired or are obsolete. Subtitle B: Modifications to Specific Provisions - Eliminates and revises expired provisions relating to: (1) the net operating loss deduction; (2) the depreciation deduction; (3) the investment tax credit; (4) the deduction for dividends received by corporations; (5) limitations on the percentage depletion allowance in the case of oil and gas wells; and (6) the tax credit for producing fuel from a nonconventional source. Subtitle C: Effective Date - Makes provisions of this Act effective upon its enactment. Title II: Provisions Relating to Studies - Extends the due dates for specified studies and repeals the mandates for certain other studies by the Department of the Treasury. Modifies the study of Americans working abroad under the Foreign Earned Income Act of 1978 to require the Secretary of the Treasury to report as soon as practicable after December 31, 1993, and as soon as practicable after the close of every fifth calendar year thereafter (currently, every fourth calendar year).

Bill· HRH.R. 5190 (101st)referred

Enterprise Zone Tax Incentives Act of 1990

United States · United States Congress · 28 June 1990

Enterprise Zone Tax Incentives Act of 1990 - Declares it to be the purpose of this Act to establish a demonstration program of providing incentives for the creation of tax enterprise zones in order to: (1) revitalize economically and physically distressed areas; (2) promote meaningful employment for zone residents; and (3) encourage individuals to reside in the zones in which they are employed. Title I: Designation and Tax Incentives - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the designation of tax enterprise zones by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development during calendar years 1992 through 1995. Sets forth the eligibility criteria for such designation, including: (1) a population of not less than 4,000; (2) pervasive poverty, unemployment, and general distress; (3) a high unemployment rate; and (4) a required course of action designed to reduce the various burdens borne by employers or employees in the area. Provides that a course of action under private entities may not be federally funded and may include: (1) a reduction of tax rates or fees; (2) an increase in public services; (3) a reduction in government paperwork requirements; (4) business community commitments to provide jobs and job training; (5) special preference to minority contractors; (6) gifts of land for the operation of neighborhood businesses; (7) pooled health insurance; (8) loans by local financial institutions for business start-ups; and (9) special preference to low-income housing projects and private activity bonds. Allows an enterprise zone employment credit to small employers as a general business credit of ten percent of the qualified zone wages paid plus qualified zone employee health insurance costs. Allows such credit for the first five years of the employee's employment. Makes the rehabilitation credit available for buildings in the tax enterprise zone that are at least 30 years old. Allows a shorter recovery period (depreciation) for nonresidential real property. Allows a 60-month amortization period (in lieu of depreciation) for child care facilities. Allows the deferral of capital gain for ten years if the gain is reinvested in tax enterprise zone property. Declares that loss on any qualified zone corporate investment shall be treated as an ordinary loss. Sets forth limitations on the aggregate amounts of zone incentives to be allocated by the governmental official responsible for making such allocations in the tax enterprise zone. Allows the continued issuance of qualified small issue bonds for tax enterprise zones. Allows, for purposes of the low-income housing credit, any parts of low-income rental buildings that are used for child care centers for children of zone residents to be included in the basis for such credit. Increases such credit for buildings in enterprise zones. Title II: Establishment of Foreign-Trade Zone in Tax Enterprise Zones - Requires enterprise zones to receive priority in the designation of foreign trade zones. Title III: Study - Requires the Secretary of the Treasury and the Comptroller General each to report to the House Committee on Ways and Means and the Senate Committee on Finance on the effectiveness of the incentives provided by this Act in achieving its purposes.

Bill· HRH.R. 4760 (101st)open

Budget Process Reform and Social Security Protection Act of 1990

United States · United States Congress · 9 May 1990

Budget Process Reform and Social Security Protection Act of 1990 - Title I: Budgetary Treatment of Social Security and Certain Other Trust Funds - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to exclude the social security trust funds from deficit calculations. Excludes receipts of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund from calculations of the unachieved deficit reduction. Amends the Social Security Act to make it out of order in the House of Representatives or the Senate to consider any bill or resolution which would: (1) increase Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) benefits without increasing OASDI taxes; or (2) decrease OASDI revenues without decreasing OASDI benefits. Requires the annual report of the Board of Trustees of the Trust Funds to include a finding as to whether the trust funds are in close actuarial balance. Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to establish points of order for the House and the Senate in the consideration of legislation which would provide for an increase in outlays under any trust fund which would: (1) cause an imbalance in such trust fund during the next five fiscal years; or (2) provide for a net decrease in taxes without providing for at least a net decrease in outlays. Title II: Sequestration - Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) to provide permanent sequestration authority. Provides for the sequestration formula to include revenue increases until the budget is balanced. Revises the method of calculating the budget baseline. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a tax surcharge on the income of every taxpayer (to reduce the Federal deficit) when there is a required revenue increase for any fiscal year. Provides for applying sequestration to full-year appropriation bills enacted after a presidential final order. Title III: Tightened Scoring Rules and Multiyear Deficit Reduction - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to require the concurrent resolution on the budget to consist of planning levels for the four ensuing fiscal years (currently, two ensuing fiscal years). Makes conforming adjustments to provide five fiscal year coverage in multiyear deficit reductions, committee allocations, the President's budget, and the Congressional Budget Office analysis of prior legislation and the President's budget. Terminates deficit reduction requirements when an estimate of the start-of-year baseline deficit is less than one percent of the estimated gross national product for a fiscal year. Title IV: Public Debt Limit - Establishes the public debt limit for FY 1991 through 1995 or any subsequent fiscal year. Reduces such limit by any estimated net decrease in social security expenditures. Amends rule XLIX of the Rules of the House of Representatives and the Standing Rules of the Senate to make conforming changes. Title V: Pay As You Go - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to prohibit the House or Senate from enacting legislation that would result in an increased deficit of a specified amount. Title VI: Miscellaneous Reforms - Makes inapplicable certain provisions of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, and repeals certain Senate resolutions, which govern extraneous provisions in the Senate. Amends rule XVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate to make germaneness applicable to appropriation measures. Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to revise legislative procedure regarding reconciliation. Title VII: Establishment of the Social Security Administration as an Independent Agency - Establishes the Social Security Administration as an independent agency, charged with administration of the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program and supplemental security income program. Establishes a Social Security Board as head of the Administration and an Executive Director as the chief operating officer. Title VIII: Improvements in Social Security Services - Amends the Social Security Act to set forth standards governing the collection of overpayments. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out demonstration projects designed to implement accountability procedures in telephone service centers. Directs the Secretary to establish a program under which homeless individuals who may be eligible for insurance benefits may be provided reasonable assistance and support in applying for such benefits. Requires notices to individuals to be written in clear and simple language and include information on how to contact a responsible person regarding such notice. Provides that failure to request review of an adverse determination of entitlement to benefits shall not serve as a basis for denial of a subsequent application if the applicant failed to make such a request acting in good faith reliance on incorrect, incomplete, or misleading information provided by the Social Security Administration. Title IX: Representative Payee Reforms - Revises the process for selecting and recruiting representative payees and provides for compensating qualified payees. Requires the Secretary to conduct, and report to the Congress on, demonstration projects relating to screening individuals with criminal records. Requires the Secretary to maintain a centralized file of representative payees and the individuals they represent. Directs the Secretary to study the need for a more stringent accounting system for high-risk representative payees and report to the Congress on results. Directs the Secretary to implement demonstration projects to make available a listing of addresses of multiple benefit recipients to State agencies primarily responsible for child and adult protective services. Requires the Secretary's annual report to the Congress to include information on representative payees.

Bill· HRH.R. 4328 (101st)passed

Textile, Apparel, and Footwear Trade Act of 1990

United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1990

Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to authorize appropriations for FY 1991 and 1992 for the United States International Trade Commission. Amends the Customs Procedural Reform and Simplification Act of 1978 to authorize appropriations for FY 1991 and 1992 for the United States Customs Service for: (1) noncommercial and commercial operations; and (2) the air interdiction program. Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to authorize appropriations for the Office of the United States Trade Representative for FY 1991 and 1992. Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to make the Customs Forfeiture Fund available for equitable sharing payments to other Federal agencies, State and local law enforcement agencies, and foreign countries. Limits any such payments to no more than the value of the property seized or forfeited at the time of disposition. Requires deposit of all forfeited currency in such Fund. Requires the Commissioner of Customs to transmit to the Congress a report for the previous fiscal year containing: (1) a complete set of audited financial statements; and (2) an analysis of income and expenses for cases closed showing the revenue received or lost by property category and by type of disposition. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1991 and 1992. Increases from $100,000 to $500,000 the maximum value of property subject to administrative seizure and forfeiture. Requires the appropriate customs officer to publish, for at least three successive weeks, notice of the seizure of monetary instruments and the intention to forfeit and sell them. Requires the Commissioner to report to the Congress on the total dollar value of uncontested seizures of monetary instruments valued over $100,000 which have not been deposited into the Fund within 120 days of seizure. Requires the Commissioner of Customs to submit to specified congressional committees a report containing estimates of the: (1) number of violations of the U.S. trade, customs, and illegal drug control laws during the fiscal year; and (2) incidence of such violations among the U.S. ports of entry and customs regions. Requires the Commissioner to prepare a list of those laws for which the Customs Service has enforcement responsibility. Requires the Commissioner to develop a nationally uniform enforcement strategy for dealing with such violations. Makes confidential the contents of such reports. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to: (1) assess the advisability of expanding the use of preclearance operations by the United States Customs Service at foreign airports; and (2) evaluate various means by which persons whose merchandise is damaged during customs examinations may seek compensation from the Service. Requires the Commissioner of Customs to keep accurate statistics on such damage to merchandise. Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to make Czechoslovakia and East Germany eligible for trade benefits under the Generalized System of Preferences. Extends the period of time that the Secretary of Labor must prepare for the Congress a report on supplemental wage allowance demonstration projects under the worker adjustment assistance program. Subjects to congressional disapproval by joint (currently, simple) resolution any presidential recommendations for extended waiver authority with respect to the granting of nondiscriminatory (most-favored-nation treatment) to nonmarket economy countries. Requires the approval of the Congress by joint (currently, simple) resolution before bilateral commercial agreements and presidential proclamations granting nondiscriminatory treatment can take effect. Makes similar changes with respect to the approval of certain presidential reports.

Bill· HRH.R. 4308 (101st)referred

Foreign Tax Equity Act of 1990

United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1990

Foreign Tax Equity Act of 1990 - Title I: Treatment of Certain Foreign-Owned Corporations - Applies the Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1989 amendments regarding information reporting requirements by certain foreign-owned corporations to taxable years beginning on or before July 10, 1989. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish information reporting requirements for foreign corporations engaged in business within the United States. Extends the statute of limitations for the assessment of any foreign-related deficiency by an additional period of not more than three years. Title II: Tax on Disposition of Stock in Domestic Corporations by 10-Percent Foreign Shareholders - Provides that if any nonresident alien or foreign corporation is a ten-percent shareholder in any domestic corporation, any gain or loss from the disposition of any stock in such domestic corporation shall be taken into account as if the taxpayer were effectively connected with U.S. trade or business. Requires a withholding agent to withhold ten percent of the tax realized on certain stock dispositions by such ten-percent shareholders.

Resolution· HCONRESH.Con.Res. 289 (101st)referred

In support of Lithuanian independence.

United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1990

Congratulates: (1) the people of Lithuania on their recent multiparty elections; (2) the new Government on its decision to restore Lithuanian independence; and (3) the new Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania. Urges the Soviet Government to enter into negotiations with the new Lithuanian Government on an equal basis and to refrain from acts of political and economic intimidation against Lithuania. Urges the President to: (1) strengthen and seek ways to demonstrate his commitment to an independent and democratic Lithuania; (2) take steps toward normalizing diplomatic relations with the Lithuanian Government; (3) seek effective political support among our allies as Lithuania attempts to negotiate credits in Western markets; and (4) seek ways to make appropriate technical assistance available to the Lithuanian people.

Resolution· HCONRESH.Con.Res. 281 (101st)open

Calling for the reaffirmation of the present border between Germany and Poland as part of the process leading to the reunification of Germany.

United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1990

Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) an authoritative reaffirmation of the present border between Germany and Poland should be part of the process leading to the reunification of Germany and should not be postponed; (2) Poland should participate with the other powers when its security and borders are debated and decided during the talks on German reunification; (3) the U.S. Government should continue to support the existing borders in such talks; and (4) it is vital for peace and security in Europe that the concerned States give assurances that they abide by the international agreements ratifying existing borders.

Bill· HRH.R. 3927 (101st)open

Independent Immigrant Act of 1990

United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1990

Independent Immigrant Act of 1990 - Makes additional immigrant visas available for FY 1991 through 1995 for nationals of foreign states that have traditionally denied freedom of emigration. Provides for admissions on a point assessment system based on: (1) age; (2) education; (3) occupational demand; (4) occupational training and work experience; (5) prearranged U.S. employment; and (6) membership in a persecuted religious group.

Bill· HRH.R. 3730 (101st)open

Miscellaneous and Technical Social Security Act Amendments of 1989

United States · United States Congress · 19 November 1989

Miscellaneous and Technical Social Security Act Amendments of 1989 - Title I: Time-Sensitive Provisions - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to extend the continued provision of disability benefits during appeal through June 1991. Amends the Railroad Retirement Solvency Act of 1983 to transfer increases in FY 1990 railroad retirement tax liabilities to the Railroad Retirement Account. Amends the Social Security Disability Amendments of 1980 to extend the authority for disability insurance demonstration projects through 1992. Title II: Technical Provisions - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make agreements to provide OASDI coverage of U.S. citizens and residents employed abroad by a foreign affiliate of an American employer effective until the foreign entity ceases to be a foreign affiliate. Excludes refunds required to be paid to employees by employers who have duplicated Medicare (title XVIII of the Social Security Act) coverage in their employee benefit package from consideration as wages or compensation for OASDI or taxation purposes. Amends the OASDI program to eliminate carryover reductions in retirement or disability benefits due to the receipt of widow's or widower's benefits before age 62. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt certain church employees from the self-employment tax if their services are exempt from the employment tax on wages. Clarifies the inclusion of partnerships among employers eligible for religious exemption from employment taxes. Subjects to railroad retirement taxes: (1) payments for group-term life insurance which is includable in the employee's gross income as compensation; and (2) certain deferred compensation. Excludes the value of meals or lodging from railroad retirement taxes if at the time of such furnishing it was unreasonable to believe that the employee could exclude such items from income. Title III: Additional Amendments - Makes individuals who attained age 18 prior to being adopted by parents who were already entitled to old-age or disability insurance benefits eligible for child's insurance benefits if they lived with or were dependent upon such parents for the year preceding their adoption. Deems an individual who failed to apply for OASDI or SSI (title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) of the Social Security Act) benefits due to misinformation presented by an officer or employee of the Social Security Administration (SSA) to have applied for such benefits on the later of the date such information was provided to such individual or the date such individual met all eligibility requirements for such benefits. Guarantees that individuals whose visit to an SSA Office is occasioned by their receipt of a notice requiring a timely response or their loss or nonreceipt of OASDI or SSI benefits will be seen for an interview that same day. Restricts the Secretary of Health and Human Services' authority to amend wage records after the expiration of the time limit for such amendments. Requires the Secretary to take into account an OASDI or SSI beneficiary's physical, mental, educational or linguistic limitations in specified situations when deciding whether his or her action or omission should result in the discontinuance of benefits or forfeiture of payments. Provides that individuals who are applying for or receiving OASDI benefits on the basis of blindness may elect to receive notice of decisions made and actions taken with respect to their rights under the program: (1) by certified mail and by telephone five days after such mailing; or (2) by some alternative procedure established by the Secretary. Requires the Secretary to: (1) maintain the names of representatives of OASDI and SSI claimants in the SSA's electronic information retrieval system; and (2) provide written notice to such claimants of the availability of attorneys to represent them in presenting their cases before the Secretary. Amends part A (General Provisions) of title XI of the Social Security Act to require the Secretary to provide, upon request, beginning by October 1, 1990, a social security account statement to individuals who have a social security number, have wages or self-employment earnings, and have attained age 25 (hereinafter referred to as "eligible individuals"). Directs the Secretary to assure that eligible individuals are informed of the availability of the statement. Makes the provision of such statement to each eligible individual who attains age 60 and is not receiving benefits under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Act mandatory from FY 1995 through 1999, if his or her mailing address can be determined. Requires the provision of such statement biennially by FY 2000 to each eligible individual who is not receiving OASDI benefits and for whom a mailing address can be determined. Title IV: Human Resource and Income Security Provisions - Amends part B (Child Welfare Services) of title IV of the Social Security Act to increase authorized appropriations under such part. Amends part E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of title IV of the Social Security Act to extend through FY 1992: (1) the ceiling on Federal payments to States for foster care expenditures; and (2) the authority for States to use such payments to cover expenditures under the Child Welfare Services program. Increases the appropriations level which triggers the foster care ceiling. Makes miscellaneous technical corrections to the Family Support Act of 1988, the Tax Reform Act of 1986, and the Social Security Act. Provides for the conduct of demonstration projects in up to ten communities to determine the extent to which the use of volunteer senior aides in the provision of basic medical assistance and support to families with disabled or chronically ill children reduces the cost of caring for such children. Excludes Agent Orange settlement payments from income or resources in determining eligibility for benefits under certain Federal or federally assisted programs. Prohibits the Secretary from penalizing States under parts B or E of title IV of the Social Security Act before FY 1991 by reason of a determination made in connection with any triennial review of State compliance with foster care protections. Title V: Medicare, Medicaid, and Miscellaneous Health - Subtitle A: Miscellaneous Amendments Relating to Part A of Medicare - Amends the Medicare program to require that payments for blood clotting factors administered to inpatient hemophiliacs be made on the basis of a predetermined price per unit consumed. Allows individuals under age 65 whose entitlement to OASDI disability benefits ended due to their employment earnings to enroll in part A (Hospital Insurance) of the Medicare program. Requires the Secretary, at the request of a State, to permit qualified Medicare beneficiaries in the State (enrolled under part B of the Medicare program) to enroll in the Hospital Insurance program. Requires studies into the appropriateness of an adjustment to the methodology of determining payment amounts for hospitals serving a disproportionate share of Medicare beneficiaries and on methods of compensating hospices for high-cost care. Authorizes the Secretary to assign a new base period to a hospital in determining Medicare hospital payment amounts when such hospital's costs are skewed by events beyond the hospital's control or extraordinary circumstances. Imposes obligations on hospitals regarding the treatment of emergency medical conditions and indigent care. Provides for the release of hospital accreditation surveys to the Secretary and the Secretary's release of survey information which relates to an enforcement action. Permits the Secretary to withdraw a hospital's Medicare-approved status on the basis of information other than accreditation surveys. Establishes intermediate sanctions for psychiatric hospitals. Permits certain merged or consolidated hospitals to receive Medicare periodic interim payments. Alters the basis for judging the effectiveness of a waiver of Medicare hospital reimbursement mechanisms in favor of a State hospital reimbursement control system. Prohibits the Secretary from requiring a hospital to change its bad debt recognition policy approved as of August 1, 1987. Requires the Secretary to determine a nursing facilities routine service costs using data collected no earlier than October 1985. Permits dentists to serve as hospital medical directors. Directs the Comptroller General to conduct a study of the differences in costs and case-mix between hospital-based and freestanding skilled nursing facilities. Prohibits the Secretary from collecting overpayments from hospitals in Massachusetts prior to May 1990 occurring during a specified statewide hospital reimbursement demonstration project. Permits nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists to certify an individual's need for Medicare extended care and hospice services. Provides for the future annual recalibration of diagnosis-related group (DRG) weights on a budget-neutral basis. Establishes a demonstration program under which the Secretary makes grants to no more than seven States for use in: (1) planning and implementing a rural health care plan and rural health networks; (2) designating hospitals or facilities as essential access community hospitals or rural primary care hospitals; and (3) developing and supporting communication and emergency transportation systems. Authorizes hospitals and facilities in grant States to apply, subject to the State's approval, to the Secretary for a grant to finance the costs it incurs in converting itself to a primary care hospital or in becoming part of a rural health network in the State in which it is located. Requires that hospitals designated as essential access community hospitals be isolated rural hospitals that have at least 75 inpatient beds and provide emergency and medical backup services to rural primary care hospitals in their rural health network and throughout their service area. Requires that rural primary care hospitals provide 24-hour emergency care and no more than 72 hours of inpatient care for no more than six inpatients. Requires States, in designating facilities as rural primary care hospitals, to give preference to facilities participating in the rural health network. Defines a "rural health network" as an organization consisting of at least one essential access community hospital, rural referral center, or urban regional referral center and at least one rural primary care hospital which cooperate in the deliverance of health care. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1990 through 1992 for such demonstration program. Amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 to extend the Rural Health Care Transition Grant Program through FY 1992, and permit hospitals to use grants received under such Program to provide instruction and consultation via telecommunications to physicians in rural health manpower shortage areas, to develop a plan for converting to rural primary care hospitals or to develop a rural health network, if located in a State participating in the preceding demonstration program. Amends the Medicare program to treat essential access community hospitals as sole community hospitals. Covers inpatient rural primary care hospital services. Establishes the Medicare Geographical Classification Review Board which shall consider hospital requests for changes in their geographical classification pursuant to guidelines to be issued by the Secretary. Directs the Secretary to fashion a legislative proposal eliminating the system of determining separate average standardized payment amounts for hospitals located in large urban, other urban, or rural areas. Requires the Prospective Payment Assessment Commission to conduct a study regarding Medicare reimbursement of small rural hospitals and rural sole community hospitals. Subtitle B: Miscellaneous Amendments Relating to Part B of the Medicare Program - Amends part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of the Medicare program to extend maximum allowable actual charge limits for nonparticipating physicians through 1991. Permits the coverage of additional inserts for therapeutic shoes for individuals with severe diabetic foot disease and the substitution of shoe modifications for inserts. Extends indefinitely the coverage of certified registered nurse anesthetist services as inpatient hospital services when furnished at rural hospitals with 500 or fewer surgical procedures requiring anesthesia services per year. Increases the payment limit for physical and occupational therapy services. Requires studies into payments for portable X-ray services, ambulance services, hospital outpatient services, assistants at surgery, blood clotting factor for hemophilia patients, and standards for the use of and payment for durable medical equipment. Amends the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 to terminate four specified municipal health service demonstration projects by January 1, 1994. Amends the Medicare program to narrow the range of acceptable purchase prices for durable medical equipment. Covers diagnostic tests performed in physician office labs which meet specified certification requirements. Subtitle C: Miscellaneous Amendments Relating to Parts A and B of the Medicare Program - Sets forth hospital responsibilities with respect to the treatment or transfer of individuals having emergency medical conditions. Imposes penalties against physicians who engage in specified acts related to the examination, treatment, or transfer of individuals with emergency medical conditions. Amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986 to extend, through 1993, the application of a waiver of the Medicare requirement that health maintenance organizations (HMOs) must have an enrolled population of which not more than 50 percent are Medicare or Medicaid (title XIX of the Social Security Act) beneficiaries to HMOs which had a pre-existing waiver of such requirement and received specified grants in FY 1987. Amends the Medicare program to limit physician charges for emergency services or out-of-area coverage provided to an HMO enrollee by a person who is not under contract with such HMO. Amends the Deficit Reduction Act of 1984 to make the authority for HMO benefit stabilization funds permanent. Amends the Medicare program to require rural health clinics to have a nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or certified nurse-midwife available to furnish patient care at least 50 percent of the time the clinic operates. Covers social worker services furnished to outpatients of rural health clinics. Expands the area within which rural health clinics may be located. Requires the dissemination of rural health clinic application information and materials. Prohibits the Secretary from denying the certification of a facility as a rural health clinic if such facility is located on an island and would meet certification requirements but for the requirement that physician assistant or nurse practitioner services be provided in the facility. Expands the functions of the Office of Rural Health Policy. Alters the home health claims denial process. Extends the Secretary's authority to contract with fiscal intermediaries and carriers on other than a cost basis. Amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 to expand a rural health medical education demonstration project. Establishes a triage demonstration project in a public hospital located in a large urban area. Directs the Comptroller General to conduct a study of the administrative burden of Medicare regulations and program requirements on providers, fiscal intermediaries, and carriers. Gives the Secretary guidelines to consider in distributing remaining payment amounts to end stage renal disease network organizations after covering their administrative costs. Makes liability limitations and information disclosure prohibitions established under part B (Peer Review) of title IX of the Social Security Act applicable to network organizations. Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress on the methodology and rationale used to establish a Medicare payment rate for the drug erythropoietin. Amends the Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act of 1988 and part A (General Provisions) of title XI of the Social Security Act to make miscellaneous amendments affecting the United States Bipartisan Commission on Comprehensive Health Care and the National Commission on Children. Continues the use of the home health wage index in effect prior to July 1, 1989, until July 1, 1990. Directs the Secretary to conduct a study regarding staffing at the Health Care Financing Administration. Amends part B (Peer Review) of title XI of the Social Security Act to require Peer Review Organizations (PRO) which review non-physician services to include practitioners of such services within their review body. Requires PROs to give providers whose services are denied Medicare coverage an opportunity for reconsideration of the determination before patients or organizations responsible for paying claims are notified of such determination. Subtitle D: Miscellaneous Amendments Relating to Medicaid - Makes miscellaneous technical amendments to the Medicaid program. Subtitle E: Miscellaneous Amendments Relating to Nursing Home Reform - Makes miscellaneous amendments to Medicaid and Medicare requirements imposed on nursing facilities by the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987. Subtitle F: Extension of COBRA Continuation Coverage for Disabled Employees - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend group health plan coverage of the spouse or dependent of an employee from 18 to 29 months after the employee's job is terminated, if such spouse or dependent was disabled at such time.

Bill· HRH.R. 3541 (101st)referred

To provide an additional judgeship for the Northern District of Illinois, to make the temporary judgeship for the Northern District of Illinois permanent, and to provide an additional temporary judgeship for each of the Central and Southern Districts of Illinois.

United States · United States Congress · 27 October 1989

Requires the President to appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, one additional judgeship for the Northern District of Illinois. Provides for the conversion of an existing temporary judgeship. Requires the President to appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, one additional district judge for the Central District of Illinois and one additional district judge for the Southern District of Illinois. Limits the refilling of future vacancies in such districts.

Bill· HRH.R. 3505 (101st)referred

Social Security Solvency Protection Act of 1989

United States · United States Congress · 23 October 1989

Social Security Solvency Protection Act of 1989 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to require that when legislation increases OASDI benefits in excess of a specified amount there be a corresponding increase in social security taxes and when legislation decreases such taxes in excess of a specified amount there be a corresponding decrease in OASDI benefits. Requires an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the members of the Senate before legislation breaching such requirements may be considered. Requires the Board of Trustees of the OASDI trust funds to annually report to the Congress on the actuarial balance of such funds.

Bill· HRH.R. 3469 (101st)reported

Federal Agency Debt Management Act

United States · United States Congress · 13 October 1989

Federal Agency Debt Management Act - Amends Federal law regarding the public debt to prohibit any Federal agency or instrumentality established after December 31, 1988, from incurring any financial obligation other than authorized borrowings from the Treasury. Applies such limitations as of December 1, 1988, to any refinancing obligations incurred by such entities.

Law· HRH.R. 3402 (101st)enacted

Support for East European Democracy (SEED) Act of 1989

United States · United States Congress · 4 October 1989

Polish and Hungarian Democracy Initiative of 1989 - Title I: Structural Adjustment - Requires the U.S. Government, to the extent that Poland and Hungary continue to evolve toward pluralism and democracy and develop and implement comprehensive economic reform programs, to: (1) take the leadership in mobilizing international financial institutions to provide timely and appropriate resources to help Poland and Hungary; (2) use the Exchange Stabilization Fund to support the implementation of a plan of the Polish Government to attack hyperinflation and other structural economic problems, address pressing social problems, and carry out comprehensive economic reform; (3) urge all members of the Paris Club of creditor governments and other creditor governments to adopt a generous and early rescheduling program for debts owed by the Polish Government, and reschedule payments due on the debt owed by such Government to the U.S. Government that is payable during FY 1990 through 1994; and (4) make available to Poland U.S. agricultural assistance and encourage parallel efforts by the European Community and other agricultural surplus nations. Sets a minimum level of agricultural assistance to Poland for FY 1990. Requires the President to submit a report to the Congress: (1) describing the steps taken by the U.S. Government under this Act; (2) assessing Poland's requirements for additional agricultural assistance during FY 1990 and for assistance during FY 1991 through 1992; and (3) specifying how much agricultural assistance the President proposes be provided by the United States to meet those requirements. Directs the President to provide to the Congress revised assessments of Poland's requirements for agricultural assistance during FY 1991 through 1992, as additional information becomes available. Title II: Private Sector Development - Authorizes appropriations for the three-year period beginning October 1, 1989, to support the Polish-American Enterprise Fund and the Hungarian-American Enterprise Funds (Enterprise Funds). Authorizes the President to designate two private, nonprofit organizations as eligible to receive funds and support (the Enterprise Funds). Sets forth provisions with respect to the management and administration of such funds, audits, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements. Requires each Enterprise Fund to take into account such considerations as internationally recognized worker and human rights, environmental factors, U.S. economic and employment effects, and the likelihood of commercial viability of the activity receiving assistance from the Enterprise Fund. Requires the Secretary of Labor to provide technical assistance to Poland and Hungary for the implementation of labor market reforms and to facilitate adjustment during the period of economic transition and reform. Specifies types of technical assistance authorized, including assistance pertaining to job training and retraining, labor-management relations, and worker rights. Requires the President to develop and implement a program for extending basic agribusiness, commercial, entrepreneurial, financial, scientific, and technical skills to the people of Poland and Hungary to enable them to better meet their needs and develop a market economy, including management training and agricultural extension activities. Specifies agencies, programs, and organizations participating in such program. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes appropriations to carry out programs in Poland and Hungary under the Peace Corps Act. Directs that a portion of specified agricultural commodities be made available and sold or bartered to generate local currencies to be used to complement the assistance for Poland authorized by this Act. Title III: Trade and Investment - Amends: (1) the Trade Act of 1974 to make Poland eligible for the Generalized System of Preferences; and (2) the Foreign Assistance Act to make Poland and Hungary eligible for Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) programs. Directs the OPIC to support projects in Poland and Hungary which will result in enhancement of the nongovernmental sector and reduction of State involvement in the economy. Amends the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 to remove Poland and Hungary from a list of Marxist-Leninist countries. Directs the Export-Import Bank and the Agency for International Development (AID) to work with certain international financial intermediaries which will facilitate trade between the United States and Poland which is eligible for financing from such Bank. Authorizes the President to provide guarantees to the Bank for liabilities incurred in connection with guarantees or insurance provided under the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 for financing for transactions involving the export of goods and services for the use of the private sector in Poland and Hungary. Limits such guarantees to short-term guarantees and insurance extended by the Banks which shall be repayable within one year from the date of arrival at the port of importation of the goods and services covered by such guarantees or insurance. Provides that such guarantees or insurance shall: (1) be by the Administrator of AID and the Bank; and (2) provide for the establishment of a reserve fund by the administering agency. Sets forth provisions with respect to funding, the discharge of liabilities, reporting requirements, administrative and technical assistance, fees and premiums charged by the Bank, and congressional reporting requirements in connection with guarantees of insurance guaranteed by the administering agency. Authorizes appropriations. Urges the President to seek bilateral investment treaties with Poland and Hungary to establish a more stable legal framework for U.S. investment in those countries. Title IV: Educational, Cultural, and Scientific Activities - Urges the United States to: (1) expand its participation in educational and cultural exchange activities with Poland and Hungary; and (2) establish binational Fulbright commissions with Poland and Hungary to facilitate and enhance academic and scholarly exchanges with those countries. Encourages the establishment of "sister institution" programs between American and Polish, and American and Hungarian, organizations. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the Administrator to establish and administer a program to provide scholarships to enable students from Poland and Hungary to study in the United States. Authorizes the Administrator to make grants to States to provide scholarship assistance for undergraduate or graduate degree programs, and training programs of one year or longer, in study areas related to the critical development needs of Poland and Hungary. Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of State to continue to implement the 1987 U.S.-Polish science and technology agreement for FY 1990 through 1992. Title V: Other Assistance - Authorizes appropriations to support democratic institutions and activities in Poland and Hungary. Authorizes appropriations to undertake such action (including educational, research, and technical and financial assistance) as the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) deems appropriate in protecting the environment in Poland and Hungary. Authorizes the Administrator to cooperate with Polish officials and experts to: (1) establish an air quality monitoring network in the Krakow metropolitan area as part of Poland's national air monitoring network; and (2) improve both water quality and the availability of drinking water in such area. Requires the Administrator to work with the United States and Hungarian officials and private parties to establish a regional center in Budapest for facilitating cooperative environmental activities between governmental experts and public and private organizations from the United States and Europe. Authorizes appropriations for EPA activities for FY 1990 through 1992. Directs the Secretary of Energy to cooperate with Polish officials and experts to: (1) retrofit a coal-fired commercial powerplant in Krakow, Poland, with advanced clean coal technology; and (2) assess and develop the capability within Poland to manufacture boilers or other equipment that will enable industrial facilities within Poland to burn fossil fuels cleanly. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes appropriations for medical supplies, hospital equipment, and training of Polish medical personnel. Title VI: Other Provisions - Requires: (1) the President to submit a report to the Congress on actions taken pursuant to this Act; and (2) the Secretary of State to coordinate the assistance for Poland and Hungary provided for in this Act.

Resolution· HRESH.Res. 257 (101st)passed

Denouncing the adoption by the European Community of a restrictive broadcasting directive.

United States · United States Congress · 3 October 1989

Denounces the action taken on October 2, 1989, by the European Community (EC) Council of Ministers in adopting a broadcasting directive that is trade restrictive and in violation of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). Urges the President and the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to take appropriate steps, including possible action under the Trade Act of 1974, to protect and maintain U.S. access to the EC broadcasting market. Requests the USTR to consult regularly with the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives on the status of the dispute and any action which it is considering with respect to such dispute.

Bill· HRH.R. 3300 (101st)open

Poland and Hungary Democracy Act of 1989

United States · United States Congress · 20 September 1989

Poland and Hungary Democracy Act of 1989 - Title I: Enterprise Funds in Poland and Hungary - Authorizes appropriations to the President for promoting the development of the Hungarian and Polish private sectors through the support of a Polish-American Enterprise Fund and a Hungarian-American Enterprise Fund. Allows the President to designate two private, nonprofit organizations as the Funds. Requires the President to designate an executive agency to grant such monies to the Funds. Permits the agency to use a specified amount of such monies for carrying out functions under this title. Makes certain commodities eligible for assistance programs under the Agricultural Act of 1949 and the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 available to the Funds to generate local currencies. Authorizes grants to be made to the Funds only if the Funds are in compliance with this title. Provides for annual audits of the Funds. Requires the Funds to ensure that: (1) each recipient of Fund assistance keeps separate accounts and financial records; and (2) the Funds have access to such records for audit purposes. Directs each Fund to publish annual reports. Title II: Labor Market Transition - Requires the Secretary of Labor to provide technical assistance to Poland and Hungary for the implementation of labor market reform and to facilitate adjustment during the period of economic transition and reform. Authorizes the Secretary to transfer a specified amount from Department of Labor funds to provide such assistance. Title III: Environmental Initiatives - Authorizes the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to: (1) undertake environmental protection activities in Hungary and Poland; and (2) use specified amounts of funds made available for FY 1990 through 1992 under the Clean Water Act and other authorizing statutes to carry out such activities. Requires the Administrator to: (1) establish an air quality monitoring network in the Krakow metropolitan area; and (2) improve water quality and the availability of drinking water in such area. Directs the Administrator to work with U.S. and Hungarian officials and private parties to establish and support a center in Budapest, Hungary, for facilitating cooperative environmental activities between governmental experts and U.S. and Eastern and Western European organizations.

Law· HRH.R. 3275 (101st)enacted

Steel Trade Liberalization Program Implementation Act

United States · United States Congress · 14 September 1989

Steel Trade Liberalization Program Implementation Act - Amends the Steel Import Stabilization Act to declare that the Congress supports the implementation of the steel trade liberalization program. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the United States Trade Representative should conduct negotiations, through the Uruguay Round of negotiations under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and through complementary bilateral arrangements, to seek an international consensus regarding steel trade that provides for: (1) disciplines over trade-distorting government subsidies; (2) the lowering of trade barriers to ensure market access; and (3) enforcement measures to deal with violations of consensus obligations. Requires the President to provide the Congress an annual assessment of progress of such negotiations. Extends the Steel Import Stabilization Act for a three-year period. Authorizes the President, between October 1, 1989, and the concluding of any bilateral steel arrangement, to take necessary actions to ensure an orderly transition to such arrangement. Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to permit the importation of additional quantities of steel products without regard to any aggregate quantitative import limitation arrangement in effect if: (1) such bilateral arrangement includes a short supply provision; and (2) the Secretary determines that a short supply situation exists in the United States with respect to any steel product subject to such arrangement. Authorizes the filing of petitions requesting the Secretary to determine whether a short supply situation exists. Requires the Secretary to provide an opportunity for comment by interested persons regarding issues raised in such petitions. Requires the International Trade Commission to seek information: (1) from purchasers, as well as domestic producers, of steel products regarding improvements in domestic quality and service that result from industry modernization; and (2) on worker retraining efforts of the steel industry.

Bill· HRH.R. 3230 (101st)open

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 with respect to revising benefits and financing provided under the Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act of 1988.

United States · United States Congress · 7 September 1989

Title I: Provisions Relating to Part A of Medicare Program and Supplemental Medicare Premium - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce Supplemental Medicare Premium rates. Makes such premium applicable only to those who opt for Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) coverage. Amends the Medicare program to abolish the Federal Hospital Insurance Catastrophic Coverage Reserve Fund. Title II: Provisions Relating to Part B of the Medicare Program - Gives individuals a one-time option of disenrolling from the part B program. Extends the basic part B premium through 1993. Increases such premium and the catastrophic drug deductible. Delays Medicare payments near and until the close of each fiscal year from 1990 through 1993. Revises catastrophic coverage funding formulas and accounts.

Bill· HRH.R. 3150 (101st)open

To amend the Social Security Act and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for budget reconciliation for fiscal years 1990 and 1991 in accordance with reconciliation instructions to the Committee on Ways and Means.

United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1989

Title X (sic): Non-Revenue Provisions of the Committee on Ways and Means - Subtitle A: Social Security Administration, Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance, and Railroad Retirement - Social Security Administrative Reform Act of 1989 - Chapter 1: Administrative Changes - Subchapter A: Establishment of the Social Security Administration as an Independent Agency - Part 1: General Provisions - Amends title VII (Administration) of the Social Security Act to establish as an independent executive agency a Social Security Administration, headed by a Social Security Board. Provides that it shall be the duty of the Administration to administer the programs established by titles II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) and XVI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI) of the Social Security Act. Requires the Board to study and make recommendations as to the most effective methods of providing economic security through social insurance and supplemental security income, and as to legislation and matters of administrative policy. Establishes in the Administration: (1) an Executive Director; (2) a Deputy Director of Social Security; (3) a General Counsel; (4) an Inspector General; (5) an Office of the Beneficiary Ombudsman, to be headed by a Beneficiary Ombudsman who shall represent the interests of beneficiaries under the OASDI and SSI programs within the Administration; and (6) an Office of the Chief Administrative Law Judge. Requires the annual report of the Board to include a description of the activities of the Beneficiary Ombudsman. Requires the Board to make annual budgetary recommendations relating to the Administration. Requires that appropriations requests by the Administration for staffing and personnel be based upon a comprehensive workforce plan as established by the Board. Provides for the apportionment of administrative costs. Requires the annual report of the Board to include a section reflecting the use of budget authority provided to the Administration. Requires that authority for automated data processing procurement and facilities construction be provided in the form of contract authority covering the total cost of such acquisitions. Makes amounts needed for the liquidation of contract authority so provided available from the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund to the extent that such amounts are not needed to meet current obligations for benefit payments. Requires the Board to cause a seal of office to be made and judicial notice taken thereof. Requires the establishment of demonstration projects involving the delegation of authority from the Office of Personnel Management and the General Services Administration to the Board. Provides for the transfer to the Administration of all functions carried out by the Secretary of Health and Human Services with respect to the programs and activities to be carried out by the Administration under this Act. Abolishes the position of Commissioner of Social Security in the Department of Health and Human Services. Part 2: Conforming Amendments and Rules of Construction - Requires the Secretary and the Board to report to the Congress within 120 days after the beginning of each regular session on their administration under this Act. Requires the Secretary to study and make recommendations on the most effective methods of providing economic security and on the administrative policy for the programs. Subchapter B: Improvements in Social Security Services - Amends the OASDI program to require that the Federal Government collect OASDI overpayments on a schedule which does not cause financial hardship for the beneficiary. Limits the amount of OASDI overpayments which may be collected in a month from beneficiaries under title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI) of the Act. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish one- to three-year demonstration projects implementing accountability procedures for at least three telephone service centers operated by the Social Security Administration (SSA). Requires that the Secretary promptly provide callers who provide certain identifying information with a written receipt which sets forth: (1) the name of the SSA representative with whom the caller spoke; (2) the date of the call; (3) a description of the nature of the call; (4) any action which the representative indicates will be taken in response to the call; and (5) the information or advice offered by the SSA representative. Requires that: (1) callers be notified that they will be provided with such receipt; and (2) the SSA retain a copy of such receipt. Authorizes the exclusion from such projects of routine calls unrelated to eligibility or benefits. Sets forth reporting requirements. Requires the Secretary to take into account a beneficiary's physical, mental, educational, or linguistic limitations in specified situations when deciding whether his or her action or omission should result in the discontinuance of benefits or forfeiture of overpayments. Directs the Secretary to establish a program, within 180 days of this Act's enactment, under which homeless individuals who may be eligible for OASDI benefits will be identified and assisted in applying for such benefits. Requires that notices issued to individuals pursuant to the OASDI program: (1) be written in simple and clear language; and (2) contain the name, address, and telephone number of a responsible person to contact regarding the notice. Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress by July 1, 1990, regarding SSA procedures for issuing notices in foreign languages and reasonable options for expanding the use of notices in foreign languages. Provides that individuals who are applying for or receiving OASDI benefits on the basis of blindness may elect to receive notice of decisions made and actions taken with respect to their rights under the program: (1) by certified mail and by telephone five days after such mailing; or (2) by some alternative procedure established by the Secretary. Requires the Secretary to: (1) maintain the names of representatives of OASDI claimants in the SSA's electronic information retrieval system; and (2) provide written notice to such claimants of the options for obtaining attorneys to represent them in presenting their cases before the Secretary. Allows OASDI claimants to reapply for payments which have been denied if such claimants' failure to request a review of such denials within 60 days of receiving notice of such determinations resulted from good faith reliance upon incorrect, incomplete, or misleading information provided by the SSA or State agencies making disability determinations. Requires the the Secretary, in notifying claimants of adverse payment determinations, to describe in clear and specific language the consequences of choosing to reapply for payments instead of requesting a review of such determinations. Deems an individual who failed to apply for OASDI benefits due to misinformation presented by an officer or employee of the SSA to have applied for such benefits on the later of the date such information was provided to such individual or the date such individual met all eligibility requirements for such benefits. Guarantees that individuals whose visit to an SSA Office is occasioned by their receipt of a notice requiring a timely response or their loss or nonreceipt of OASDI benefits will be seen for an interview that same day. Restricts the Secretary's authority to amend wage records after the expiration of the time limit for such amendments. Subchapter C: Representative Payee Reforms - Directs the Secretary to promptly rebuke the certification of a representative payee determined to have misused an individual's OASDI or SSI benefits. Prohibits a person's certification as a representative payee until an investigation has been conducted to verify such person's identification and determine whether such person has been guilty of fraud or the misuse of benefits under the OASDI or SSI program. Directs the Secretary to establish and disseminate a list of payees whose certification has been rebuked due to their misuse of benefits. Excludes payees guilty of fraud or benefit misuse from certification, except, in the latter case, where the best interests of a beneficiary would be served by exempting such payee from exclusion. Requires the Secretary to conduct a study and report to the Congress, by July 1, 1990, on the feasibility of establishing and maintaining a current list, which would be available to local SSA offices of individuals who have been convicted of fraud. Directs the Secretary to prescribe maximum fees which may be charged for representative payee services by community-based nonprofit social service agencies that regularly provide such services simultaneously to five or more beneficiaries. Subjects those who overcharge to penalties and certification revocation. Requires the Secretary to implement a demonstration project in at least two States under which SSA servicing offices: (1) determine the suitability of individuals as representative payees on the basis of criminal records obtained and criteria established by the Secretary; and (2) have access to a centralized file of representative payees. Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress regarding such projects by July 1, 1990. Requires the Secretary to maintain a centralized, current file, accessible to local SSA offices, identifying all representative payees and beneficiaries utilizing the services of representative payees. Directs SSA servicing offices to maintain a list of public agencies and community-based nonprofit social service agencies in their areas which are qualified representative payees. Directs the Secretary to conduct a study and report to the Congress by July 1, 1990, on the need for a more stringent accounting system for high-risk representative payees. Requires the Secretary to implement a demonstration project in at least two States under which the State provides the State agency responsible for regulating care facilities or providing for child and adult protective services with a list of addresses at which OASDI and/or SSI benefits are being received by five or more individuals. Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress regarding such projects by July 1, 1991. Requires that the Secretary's annual report to the Congress include specified information concerning representative payees. Subchapter D: Other Amendments - Requires that the annual report of the Board of Trustees on the status of the OASDI Trust Funds include an analysis of the actuarial present value of the expected future income to, and the expected disbursements from, each Trust Fund and the combined Trust Funds over the ensuing 25, 50, and 75 calendar years. Chapter 2: Provisions Affecting Coverage - Makes individuals who attained age 18 prior to being adopted by parents who were already entitled to old-age or disability insurance benefits eligible for child's insurance benefits if they lived with or were dependent upon such parents for the year preceding their adoption. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt certain church employees from the self-employment tax if their services are exempt from the employment tax on wages. Clarifies the inclusion of partnerships among employers eligible for religious exemption from employment taxes. Makes agreements to provide OASDI coverage of U.S. citizens and residents employed abroad by a foreign affiliate of an American employer effective until the foreign entity ceases to be a foreign affiliate. Chapter 3: Provisions Affecting Entitlement to Benefits - Subchapter A: Work Incentives for Certain Adult Disabled Children - Amends the OASDI program to continue an individual's entitlement to child's insurance benefits on the basis of a disability, other than blindness, through the third month following the month in which such individual's disabling physical or mental impairment ceased. Reduces such individual's child's insurance benefits by 50 percent of his or her monthly earnings which are in excess of $85 and which are taken into account in determining whether he or she is engaged in substantial gainful activity. Applies the preceding benefit continuance and reduction rules to disability insurance benefits when an individual is entitled to such benefits and disability-based child's insurance benefits, but applies the benefit reduction against the total of such benefits. Subchapter B: Other Provisions - Extends permanently the provision of disability-based OASDI or Medicare (title XVIII of the Act) benefits pending an individual's appeal of a disability determination. Eliminates carryover reductions in retirement or disability benefits due to the receipt of widow's or widower's benefits before age 62. Requires the Secretary to review at least 50 percent of a State's disability determinations on applications for OASDI benefits and at least 25 percent of a State's disability determinations in continuing eligibility reviews; choosing, to the extent feasible, those determinations most likely to be incorrect. Amends the OASDI program and the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the recovery of OASDI overpayments by means of reductions in tax refunds. Exempts certain aliens receiving amnesty under the Immigration and Nationality Act from prosecution for misreporting earnings or misusing social security numbers or cards. Increases the amount of outside income which beneficiaries who have attained retirement age may earn without incurring a reduction in benefits. Directs the Congressional Budget Office to conduct a study and report to the Congress, by April 1, 1990, on the consequences of increasing the exempt earnings amount to various levels and the consequences of eliminating it altogether. Increases the dollar amount factored into the formula for determining a minimum primary insurance amount. Reduces the amount of wages or self-employment income an individual needs to earn a year of coverage applicable in determining his or her minimum primary insurance amount. Amends the SSI program to preserve the Medicaid eligibility of individuals who lose their SSI benefits due to an increase in OASDI benefits occasioned by this Act's amendments. Amends the OASDI program to make certain individuals ineligible for retroactive old-age, wife's, husband's, widow's, or widower's insurance benefits if the effect of such benefits would be to reduce the amount of benefits to which such individuals would otherwise be entitled. Includes deferred compensation in wages for OASDI purposes. Chapter 4: Railroad Retirement - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to subject to railroad retirement taxes: (1) payments for group-term life insurance which is includable in the employee's gross income as compensation; and (2) certain deferred compensation. Excludes the value of meals or lodging from railroad retirement taxes if at the time of such furnishing it was reasonable to believe that the employee could exclude such items from income. Transfers increases in FY 1990 railroad retirement tax liabilities to the Railroad Retirement Account. Subtitle B: Medicare - Medicare Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1989 - Part A: Provisions Relating to Part A of Medicare - Subpart 1: Payments for Inpatient Hospital Services - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to reduce payments for the capital-related costs of inpatient hospital services for FY 1990 by 15 percent. Directs the Comptroller General to conduct a study and report to the Congress, by October 1, 1990, on the effects low hospital inpatient occupancy rates have on Medicare inpatient hospital service costs. Increases Medicare payments for the operating costs of inpatient hospital services in FY 1990 by the market basket percentage increase in such costs: (1) plus two percent for rural hospitals; (2) minus 1.25 percent for hospitals in large urban areas; and (3) minus 1.75 percent for hospitals located in other urban areas. Requires the Secretary to annually recalibrate diagnosis-related group (DRG) weighing factors on a budget-neutral basis. Increases payments made to hospitals and rural referral centers serving a disproportionate share of low-income patients. Amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986 to continue the classification of certain hospitals as rural referral centers through FY 1992. Amends the Medicare program to alter the formula for determining the amount of payments to be made to sole community hospitals. Provides a payment adjustment to sole community hospitals which experience a decrease of more than five percent of their inpatient cases due to circumstances beyond their control so as to cover fixed costs. Redefines a sole community hospital as a hospital located more than 35 road miles from another hospital. Maintains the existing payment rules for current sole community hospitals which do not satisfy the new definition of such hospitals. Directs the Secretary to establish a procedure under which a hospital may apply: (1) for the reclassification of a county from a rural to an urban area or from one urban area to another urban area; or (2) if it is in an urban area, to change the area wage index applicable to the county. Requires that such applications be decided upon within one year of their receipt. Sets the floor for area wage indices at the wage index for rural areas in the State. Amends part A (Hospital Insurance) of the Medicare program to establish a demonstration program under which the Secretary makes grants to no more than ten States for use in: (1) planning and implementing a rural health care plan and rural health networks; (2) designating hospitals or facilities as essential access community hospitals or rural primary care hospitals; and (3) developing and supporting communication and emergency transportation systems. Authorizes a hospital or a facility in a grant State to apply, subject to the State's approval, to the Secretary for a grant to finance the costs it incurs in converting itself to a primary care hospital or in becoming part of a rural health network in the State in which it is located. Requires that hospitals designated as essential access community hospitals be isolated rural hospitals that have at least 75 inpatient beds and provide emergency and medical backup services to rural primary care hospitals in their rural health network and throughout their service area. Requires that rural primary care hospitals provide 24-hour emergency care and no more than 72 hours of inpatient care for no more than six inpatients. Requires States, in designating facilities as rural primary care hospitals, to give preference to facilities participating in the rural health network. Defines a "rural health network" as an organization consisting of at least one essential access community hospital, rural referral center, or urban regional referral center and at least one rural primary care hospital which cooperate in the deliverance of health care. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1990 through 1992 for such demonstration program. Amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 to extend the Rural Health Care Transition Grant Program through FY 1992, and permit hospitals to use grants received under such Program to develop a plan for converting to rural primary care hospitals or to develop a rural health network, if located in a State participating in the preceding demonstration program. Amends the Medicare program to treat essential access community hospitals as sole community hospitals. Covers cost increases they incur as a result of their becoming rural health network members. Covers inpatient rural primary care hospital services. Directs the Secretary to make recommendations to the Congress and the Prospective Payment Assessment Commission by October 1, 1990, regarding the establishment of a single national rate, rather than using large urban, other urban, and rural rates, in calculating payments for inpatient hospital services, with adjustments in such rate reflecting cost variations within a DRG. Requires the Prospective Payment Assessment Commission to submit an evaluation of the Secretary's report to the Congress by April 1, 1991. Imposes uniform reporting requirements on disproportionate share hospitals, sole community hospitals, rural referral centers, and essential access community hospitals. Exempts hospitals involved extensively in cancer treatment or cancer research from the prospective payment system (PPS). Sets forth a formula for establishing the target amount to be used in determining the amount of payments to be made to such hospitals. Directs the Secretary to publish instructions specifying the process PPS-exempt hospitals may use to apply for exemptions from or adjustments to the method of determining the amount of payments to such hospitals to account for uncontrollable or extraordinary circumstances. Subpart 2: Other Provisions - Sets payment rates for hospice care furnished in FY 1990 at 120 percent of such rates in effect on September 30, 1989. Directs the Secretary to conduct a study and report to the Congress, by October 1, 1990, on methods of compensating hospices for high-cost care. Permits individuals under age 65 who become ineligible for title II disability benefits solely by reason of their earnings to enroll in part A (Hospital Insurance) of the Medicare program. Sets forth miscellaneous and technical provisions relating to the Medicare Hospital Insurance program. Part B: Provisions Relating to Part B of Medicare - Subpart 1: Payment for Physicians' Services - Amends part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of the Medicare program to reduce Medicare payments for a specified list of physicians' services furnished during 1990 after April 1. Reduces payments for radiology services. Directs the Secretary to conduct a study and report to the Congress, within one year after this Act's enactment, on whether payments for portable x-ray services should be made in the same manner as they are made for radiologists' services or on the basis of a separate fee schedule. Requires the Secretary to establish a relative value guide for use in all carrier localities in making payment for physician anesthesia services. Delays the Medicare economic index adjustment to payments for physicians' services from January 1, 1990, to April 1, 1990. Extends Medicare physician and supplier participation agreements for which a termination is not requested before December 31, 1989, through March 31, 1990. Limits increases in the Medicare economic index for the first three months of 1990 to: (1) zero percent for radiology services, anesthesia services and other physicians' services on a specified list; and (2) two percent for other physicians' services, excepting primary care services. Determines the amount of payments due for physicians' services, beginning on October 1, 1991, pursuant to a fee schedule which takes into account the relative value of the work, overhead, and malpractice risks associated with each physician service. Prohibits payments for the same physician service from varying on the basis of whether or not the physician is a specialist. Provides for adjustments to such fee schedule to take into account: (1) geographical variations in costs; and (2) an excessive growth of volume or intensity in, or inadequate access to, a physician service. Sets limitations on increases and reductions in payment amounts for physician services. Limits bonus payments for physicians' services furnished in manpower shortage areas to primary care services. Sets forth reporting requirements. Increases the customary charge for a new physician's services, prior to implementation of the fee schedule, to 95 percent of the prevailing charge for such service. Limits payment amounts for services furnished by more than one specialty. Subpart 2: Payment for Other Services - Reduces payments for the capital-related costs of outpatient hospital services for FY 1990 by 15 percent, except when the hospital is a sole community hospital. Considers the average of the reasonable charge, rather than the average of the purchase prices, on claims paid on an assignment-related basis for durable medical equipment in computing payment amounts for such equipment. Reduces the monthly recognized rental amounts for certain miscellaneous items of durable medical equipment for months following the third month of a medical need period. Limits monthly Medicare payments for items which require frequent and substantial servicing to a period of continuous use not exceeding 15 months. Delays, until April 1990, and reduces, to two percent, the 1990 cost-of-living increase in payments for durable medical equipment. Reduces the payment rate for oxygen and oxygen equipment for the final nine months of 1990. Sets a cap on payment amounts for durable medical equipment for the final nine months of 1990. Establishes special rules for determining payment amounts for parenteral and enteral infusion pumps and IV poles. Authorizes the Secretary to adjust charges for durable medical equipment that are not inherently reasonable. Requires the Secretary to: (1) reduce payment amounts for a seat-lift chair, motorized scooter, or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator furnished on or after April 1, 1990, by 15 percent; and (2) publish a list of other overpriced durable medical equipment and reduce payments for such items by 15 percent. Prohibits suppliers of durable medical equipment from distributing completed or partially completed forms required for showing that a covered item is medically reasonable or necessary. Requires suppliers to provide the Secretary with full and complete information as to the identity of each person having an ownership or control interest in the supplier or in any subcontractor in which the supplier has at least a five percent interest. Subjects the claims of suppliers in which a physician has an ownership or control interest to a higher level of review than claims of other suppliers. Requires payment and billing for durable medical equipment on an assignment-related basis. Directs the Secretary to establish a reasonable lifetime for items of durable medical equipment and provide payments for the replacement of items which reach their limit during a continuous period of medical need. Requires the Comptroller General to conduct a study and report to the Congress by April 1, 1990, on standards for the use of, and payments for, durable medical equipment. Replaces cost-of-living adjustments in payments for clinical diagnostic laboratory tests with annual two percent increases in such payments beginning in 1990. Reduces the cap on payments for such tests, pending the establishment of national fee schedules for such tests, from 100 to 95 percent of the median of all fee schedules established for such tests. Delays, from January 1, 1990, to January 1, 1992, the date by which the Secretary must establish national fee schedules for clinical diagnostic laboratory tests. Covers a laboratory's second trip to a location in a day to collect samples for a test which an individual's physician has ordered and for which results are required on an as-soon-as-possible basis. Eliminates the restriction of covered psychologist services to services furnished at community mental health centers. Reimburses psychologists on a reasonable charge basis. Directs the Secretary to develop criteria requiring covered psychologists to consult with their patients' physicians within a reasonable time after initiating treatment so as to consider physical conditions that may be contributing to their patients' symptoms. Eliminates the dollar limitation on part B coverage of mental health services. Sets a higher national conversion factor for the fee schedule payment rates of certified registered nurse anesthetists which are not under the medical direction of a physician than for those which are medically directed. Prohibits payment for the medical direction of certified registered nurse anesthetists by physicians. Covers outpatient services provided by health centers which: (1) are eligible for Public Health Service Act grants to migrant health centers, community health centers or for health care services to the homeless; or (2) which were comprehensive federally funded health centers as of January 1, 1989. Makes deductibles inapplicable to services provided by such health centers. Covers outpatient rural primary care hospital services. Directs the Secretary to develop and implement a prospective payment system for determining payments for such services by January 1, 1993. Sets forth miscellaneous and technical provisions relating to the Medicare Supplementary Medical Insurance program. Part C: Provisions Relating to Parts A and B of Medicare - Extends the periods of days within which claims must be paid under parts A and B of the Medicare program in FY 1990. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the disclosure of taxpayer identification information regarding a Medicare beneficiary for the determination of the extent to which such beneficiary is covered under a group health plan. Amends the Medicare program to require employers to disclose information concerning the status and nature of a beneficiary's coverage under a group health plan of the employer. Prohibits group health plans of employers of 20 or more employees from discriminating in the provision of benefits against individuals who are entitled to Medicare benefits by reason of their eligibility for old-age insurance benefits under the OASDI program. Prohibits large group health plans from discriminating against individuals who are entitled to Medicare benefits by reason of their eligibility for disability or disability-based insurance benefits under the OASDI program. Prohibits group health plans, for 12 months, from discriminating in the provision of benefits against individuals who are entitled to Medicare benefits by reason of their affliction with end stage renal disease. Makes such group health plans primary payers against whom the Federal government may bring action to recover Medicare payments. Establishes a private cause of action against primary payers who fail to pay. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a penalty excise tax against nonconforming group health plans. Repeals the denial of a tax deduction to nonconforming group health plans. Amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986 to maintain the current base rate for routine dialysis treatment through FY 1990. Amends the Medicare program to prohibit payments for dialysis services which are determined under any method other than a method based on a single composite weighted formula from exceeding payments that would have been made under such formula. Requires suppliers of home dialysis supplies and equipment to a patient whose self-care home dialysis is not under the direct supervision of an approved provider to work under a written agreement under which it: (1) is the sole supplier to the patient; (2) agrees to receive payment only on an assignment-related basis; and (3) certifies that it has entered into a written agreement with an approved renal dialysis provider or facility under which such provider or facility agrees to furnish such patient with all self-care home dialysis support services and all other necessary dialysis services and supplies. End Stage Renal Disease Patient Protection and Quality Assurance Act of 1989 - Requires providers of end stage renal disease services to protect and promote listed patient rights regarding the quality of patient care and the provision of information about the renal disease facility. Requires providers to have a registered professional nurse experienced in dialytic therapy available during dialysis treatment to direct any technicians providing such treatment. Makes States responsible for certifying the compliance of end stage renal disease facilities with Medicare requirements on the basis of surveys conducted by a multidisciplinary team of professionals. Requires that an unannounced standard survey be conducted with respect to each facility at at least 15 month intervals (though the Statewide average interval may not exceed one year) and within two months of any change of ownership, administration, or management of the facility. Subjects facilities which perform poorly on such surveys to an extended survey, though any other facility may, at the Secretary's or the State's discretion, be subject to an extended survey. Authorizes the Secretary to perform a special survey when there is reason to question a facility's compliance with Medicare requirements. Requires the disclosure of survey results. Requires a renal disease network administrative organization with which a patient files a grievance against a facility to disclose the findings and consequences of its investigation into such grievance to the facility administrator and the complainant. Authorizes States to award annual "excellence in quality" designations to facilities that have achieved outstanding quality in various categories of care. Directs the Secretary to establish a board of experts and at least one patient to advise the Secretary in establishing end stage renal disease service quality standards, survey protocols, minimum surveyor qualifications, and uniform instructional guidelines for surveyors and providers outlining the methodology by which facilities will be judged under surveys. Sets forth reporting requirements. Subjects end stage renal disease facilities to the same enforcement process as skilled nursing facilities are subject to when found out of compliance with Medicare requirements. Adjusts the duties of renal disease network administrative organizations so that while such organizations are no longer responsible for conducting on-site reviews of facilities and providers they are assigned new duties which include: (1) giving special attention to the correction of minority underrepresentation in transplantation and self-care options; (2) verifying each facility's implementation of a grievance mechanism as required by this Act and informing all patients of its own patient grievance mechanism; (3) developing and implementing specified informational services for patients and facilities; and (4) participating in special studies designed by the United States Renal Data System to help develop and evaluate indices of quality care or for other purposes relevant to the maintenance of such system. Sets forth study and reporting requirements concerning payments for the treatment of end stage renal disease patients. Amends part A (General Provisions) of title XI of the Social Security Act to require the Secretary to provide for research into the outcome, effectiveness, and appropriateness of specific treatments and medical conditions selected by a research coordinating group composed of specified officials of the Health Care Financing Administration. Directs the Secretary to: (1) report to the Congress, within one year of this Act's enactment, on the feasibility of linking the Department of Health and Human Services' treatment outcome research information with such information collected by other Federal departments; (2) disseminate research findings and educate providers and others in the application of such research; (3) develop on the basis of such research, treatment-specific or condition-specific practice guidelines and forms for their use; (4) initiate, by 1991, a project to apply such guidelines to at least three clinical treatments or conditions that account for a significant portion of Medicare (title XVIII of the Act) expenditures and have a significant variation in the frequency or type of treatment provided; and (5) appoint an advisory council to provide the Secretary with assistance in research-related activities. Authorizes appropriations for such research-related activities through FY 1994. Amends the Medicare Program to require that a hospital give an individual who comes to its emergency department a requested medical screening examination to determine whether or not an emergency medical condition exists if such examination is within the hospital's capability. (Currently, the examination must be within the emergency department's capability for such requirement to be applicable.) Requires hospitals to ensure that an individual's refusal of treatment for, or transfer for the treatment of, an emergency medical condition is an informed decision. Prohibits hospitals from transferring a patient who has an emergency medical condition that has not been stabilized, unless the patient gives written informed consent to the transfer. Revises the provisions of current law with respect to the process and standards for effecting such a transfer. Requires that hospitals which transfer a patient who has an emergency medical condition send all the medical records available at the time of the transfer to the receiving facility. Makes a hospital liable for the acts and omissions of its agents and the physicians through whom it carries out its duties in providing examinations and treatment for emergency medical conditions, except when it relies in good faith on the medical judgment of such a physician with respect to a patient's condition. Imposes penalties against physicians who engage in specified acts related to the examination, treatment, or transfer of individuals who have emergency medical conditions. Prohibits hospitals that have specialized capabilities or facilities from refusing to accept an appropriate transfer of an individual who requires such specialized capabilities or facilities. Prohibits hospitals from delaying the required examination and treatment for emergency medical conditions in order to inquire about an individual's method of payment or insurance status. Prohibits a health maintenance organization (HMO) from using potentially high-risk physician compensation arrangements, unless the HMO provides information to the Secretary describing its physician compensation arrangements and the mechanisms it uses to limit risk to individual physicians and assure the quality of services. Directs the Secretary to publish descriptions of physician compensation arrangements which place physicians at excessive risk or liability and which may lead to the withholding or limiting of medically necessary services. Excludes prisoners and individuals for whom a State or local government purchases health benefits as part of a general welfare assistance program from an HMO's enrollment in applying the rule that at least one-half of its enrollment must consist of individuals who are not Medicare or Medicaid beneficiaries. Directs the Secretary to disclose the methodology and assumptions used in arriving at a per capita rate of payment for each class of HMO enrollee at least 45 days before announcing such rates. Amends the Deficit Reduction Act of 1984 to make the authority for HMO benefit stabilization funds permanent. Prohibits a physician from referring a patient to an entity for Medicare-covered services or an entity from presenting a claim pursuant to such referral if the physician has a financial interest in, or receives compensation from, such entity. Makes exceptions to such prohibition. Sets forth entity investment and ownership disclosure requirements. Imposes sanctions against persons who present claims for services prohibited by this Act and against physicians or entities that enter into arrangements for the purpose of prohibited referrals or violate disclosure requirements. Directs the Comptroller General to conduct a study and report to the Congress by May 15, 1990, on the ownership of hospitals by referring physicians and joint ventures between hospitals and referring physicians. Amends part B (Peer Review) of title XI of the Social Security Act to require peer review organizations to give providers whose services are denied coverage under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Act an opportunity for reconsideration of the determination before patients and organizations responsible for paying claims are notified of such determination. Sets forth miscellaneous and technical provisions relating to parts A and B of the Medicare program. Part D: Medicare Part B Basic Premium - Amends part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of the Medicare program to extend the basic part B premium through 1990. Part E: Extension of COBRA Continuation Coverage for Disabled Employees - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend group health plan coverage of the spouse or dependent of an employee from 18 to 29 months after the employee's job is terminated, if such spouse or dependent was disabled at such time. Subtitle C: Human Resource Amendments - Human Resource Amendments of 1989 - Part 1: Children's Initiative - Subpart A: Social Services - Amends title XX (Block Grants to States for Social Services) of the Social Security Act to increase the amount authorized for such program in FY 1991 and thereafter. Subpart B: Foster Care and Child Welfare Amendments - Amends part E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of title IV of the Social Security Act to extend through FY 1992: (1) the ceiling on Federal payments to States for foster care expenditures; and (2) the authority for States to use such payments to cover expenditures under part B (Child Welfare Services) of title IV of the Act. (Currently, such ceiling and authorization runs through FY 1989.) Increases the appropriations level which triggers the foster care ceiling. Amends part B (Child Welfare Services) of title IV of the Act to require each State to annually prepare and distribute a report to the Secretary and State agencies and courts on programs in the State providing children and families with preplacement preventive services or services designed to reunify children with the families from which they have been removed. Directs the Secretary to prepare an annual summary of such reports. Amends the Foster Care and Adoption Assistance program to cover the short-term training of current or prospective foster or adoptive parents and the staff of licensed child care institutions. Requires that the written case plan developed for each foster care child include specified health and education records which are to be reviewed and updated when the child is placed in foster care and to be supplied to the foster care parent or provider. Extends, through FY 1992, Federal funding for State programs to assist children who have attained age 16 in making the transition from foster care to independent living. Redesignates such program as the Foster Care Adolescent Services Block Grant program. (Currently, such program is known as the Independent Living Initiatives program.) Increases the amount to which States are entitled under such program. Authorizes the expenditure of unobligated funds through FY 1992. Permits States to expand program coverage to include children from age 10 to 16, though 70 percent of Federal funds are required to be expended for foster children age 16 or older. Expands the list of adolescent services which State programs may support or furnish, including alcohol and drug abuse prevention. Sets forth additional procedures to be followed and information to be considered prior to full implementation of an adoption and foster care data collection system by October 1, 1991. Includes within such system specified data pertaining to the Foster Care and Adoption Assistance program and Child Welfare program of each State. Directs the Secretary to submit to the Congress: (1) an annual report on information collected under the adoption and foster care data collection system; and (2) a biennial report on child abuse and neglect. Amends part B (Child Welfare Services) of title IV of the Social Security Act to triennially review each State's compliance with foster care protection requirements and annually review the compliance of States whose foster care program did not comply with such requirements on the preceding review. Penalizes States which are not in substantial compliance with such requirements, but suspends the application of such penalty against States which implement corrective action plans. Subpart C: SSI Disabled Children Amendments - Amends title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI) of the Social Security Act to require the Secretary to conduct an ongoing outreach program for children who are potentially eligible for SSI benefits by reason of disability or blindness and report to the Congress annually concerning the effectiveness of such outreach program. Directs the Secretary to conduct an individualized assessment of a child's mental and physical impairments in determining his or her eligibility for SSI benefits by reason of disability or blindness. Establishes a presumption that a child under age four with a genetic or congenital impairment is disabled or blind for SSI purposes if it is probable that when the child is older the application of clinical and laboratory techniques will prove such to be the case. Directs the Secretary to publish, within 60 days of this Act's enactment, a revision of specified listings of mental and emotional disorders which justifies each deviation from recommendations contained in the Revised Childhood Listings of Mental Impairments submitted by the Mental Impairment Listings Workgroup to the Associate Commissioner for Disability on April 1, 1986. Requires the Secretary to: (1) consider age-appropriate medical and functional criteria developed by experts in childhood disability in reviewing and revising medical criteria for the evaluation of impairments of children; and (2) publish a revised listing of impairments of children and explain deviations from the recommendations of experts within 18 months of this Act's enactment. Provides that when weekly or biweekly income renders individuals ineligible for SSI benefits they shall continue to be considered SSI recipients for Medicaid eligibility purposes if they would not be ineligible for SSI benefits were their income treated as being received on a regular monthly basis at the same annual rate. Makes children who are U.S. citizens and reside abroad with a parent eligible for SSI benefits, provided other eligibility criteria are met. Excludes parental income and resources from the determination of a disabled child's SSI eligibility if such child was receiving SSI benefits and Medicaid home care plan benefits while in a hospital, extended care, nursing, or intermediate care facility. Specifies the SSI benefit rate to which such children are entitled. Directs the Secretary to make grants to up to ten communities to determine the extent to which the use of volunteer senior aides to provide basic medical assistance and support to families with moderately or severely disabled or chronically ill children contributes to reducing the costs of care for such children. Authorizes appropriations for such grants through FY 1994. Excludes all work-related equipment from resources in SSI eligibility determinations. Subpart D: Child Support Enforcement Amendments - Amends part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of title IV of the Social Security Act to extend the authority of a State to request the withholding of Federal tax refunds from persons owing past due child support from January 1, 1991, to January 10, 1996. Makes the collection of past-due support from Federal tax refunds applicable to past-due support owed to anyone who was determined to be disabled under the OASDI or SSI programs when he or she was a minor. Amends the Child Support Enforcement Amendments of 1984 to permanently extend the provisions continuing a family's Medicaid eligibility if such family loses eligibility under part A (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) (AFDC) of title IV of the Social Security Act due to the collection or increased collection of child support under part D. Extends the duration of continued Medicaid eligibility from four months to 12 months. Part 2: SSI Service Improvements - Subpart A: Initiative for the Poor Elderly - Amends the SSI program to increase SSI benefit payments. Directs the Secretary to annually notify all elderly individuals and disabled individuals who are OASDI recipients and may be or could become eligible for SSI benefits of the availability of SSI benefits and provide such notice to individuals when they attain age 65, apply for OASDI disability benefits before attaining age 65, and are notified of their eligibility for part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of the Medicare program. Requires the Secretary to annually report to the Congress on the effectiveness of such outreach program. Directs the Secretary to promptly terminate payments to a representative payee determined to have misused an individual's SSI or OASDI benefits. Prohibits the making of payments to a representative payee until an investigation has been conducted to verify such person's identification and determine whether such person has been guilty of fraud or the misuse of benefits under the SSI or OASDI program. Directs the Secretary to establish and disseminate a list of payees whose payments have been terminated due to their misuse of benefits. Excludes payees guilty of fraud or benefit misuse from payment, except, in the latter case, where the best interests of a beneficiary would be served by exempting such payee from exclusion. Directs the Secretary to prescribe maximum fees which may be charged for representative payee services by community-based nonprofit social service agencies that regularly provide such services simultaneously to five or more beneficiaries. Subjects those who overcharge to penalties and payment termination. Requires the Secretary to maintain a centralized, current file, accessible to local SSA offices, identifying all representative payees and beneficiaries utilizing the services of representative payees. Directs SSA servicing offices to maintain a list of public agencies and community-based nonprofit social service agencies in their areas which are qualified representative payees. Requires that the Secretary's annual report to the Congress include specified information concerning representative payees. Reduces the SSI benefits of a person who is living in another person's household and receiving support and maintenance in kind from such person by the lesser of 33 1/3 percent or the amount of such in-kind income. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress, within two years after this Act's enactment, on the effects of such benefit reduction formula. Excludes the value of domestic commercial transportation tickets received as gifts and not converted to cash from income for SSI purposes. Reduces, from six months to one month, the amount of time during which a separated couple must be apart for their income and resources to be considered separately. Waives such period altogether if such separation induces a financial emergency. Excludes interest accrued on the value of the purchase of a burial space from the buyer's income for SSI purposes. Deems OASDI disability beneficiaries who lose disability benefits after their trial work period to have been eligible for SSI benefits and thus qualified to participate in the SSI work incentive program if yet disabled. Excludes amounts received from a State fund to aid victims of crime from an individual's income and resources for SSI purposes. Prohibits the denial of SSI benefits to individuals by reason of their rejection of amounts offered as compensation for a crime. Subpart B: Other Service Improvements Directs the Secretary to consider an individual's physical, mental, educational, and linguistic limitations in determining, with respect to his or her SSI eligibility, whether he or she acted in good faith or was at fault, and in determining fraud, deception, or intent. Directs the Secretary to establish a program, within 180 days of this Act's enactment, under which homeless individuals who may be eligible for SSI benefits will be identified and assisted in applying for such benefits. Requires that notices issued to individuals pursuant to the SSI program: (1) be written in simple and clear language; and (2) contain the name, address, and telephone number of a responsible person to contact regarding the notice. Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress by July 1, 1990, regarding SSA procedures for issuing notices in foreign languages and reasonable options for expanding the use of notices in foreign languages. Requires the Secretary to: (1) maintain the names of representatives of SSI claimants in the SSA's electronic information retrieval system; and (2) provide written notice to such claimants of the options for obtaining an attorney to represent them in presenting their cases before the Secretary. Allows SSI claimants to reapply for payments which have been denied if such claimants' failure to request a review of such denials within 60 days of receiving notice of such determinations resulted from good faith reliance upon incorrect, incomplete, or misleading information provided by the SSA or State agencies making disability determinations. Requires the Secretary, in notifying claimants of adverse payment determinations, to describe in clear and specific language the consequences of choosing to reapply for payments instead of requesting a review of such determinations. Deems an individual who failed to apply for SSI benefits due to misinformation presented by an officer or employee of the SSA to have applied for such benefits on the later of the date such information was provided to such individual or the date such individual met all eligibility requirements for such benefits. Guarantees that individuals whose visit to an SSA Office is occasioned by their receipt of a notice requiring a timely response or their loss or nonreceipt of SSI benefits will be seen for an interview that same day. Part 3: Miscellaneous Amendments - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to institute discretionary denial of unemployment benefits between academic terms to employees serving educational institutions in nonprofessional positions. (Under current law denial is mandatory.) Prohibits a finding of fact or law, judgment, conclusion, or final order made with respect to a claim for unemployment compensation benefits pursuant to a State unemployment compensation law from being conclusive, binding, or used as evidence in proceedings that do not arise under such law. Amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 to extend the moratorium on the Secretary's implementation of a proposed regulation affecting assistance to homeless AFDC families from September 30, 1989, to October 1, 1990. Authorizes appropriations to cover State administrative expenses in operating demonstration projects under such Act which provide certain eligible individuals with self-employment allowances rather than unemployment compensation. Authorizes Minnesota to conduct a demonstration project to determine whether the State family investment plan helps families to become self-supporting and enhances the ability of families to care for their children more effectively than does the AFDC program. Sets forth project requirements, including the requirement that family assistance under such project be no less than the family would have received under the AFDC and Food Stamp programs. Pays Minnesota the amount it would have been paid under the AFDC program in the absence of such project plus 50 percent of its expenses in evaluating the project. Sets forth reporting requirements. Makes miscellaneous technical corrections to the Family Support Act of 1988 and the Tax Reform Act of 1986. Part 4: AFDC Quality Control Amendment - Subpart A: Resolution of Disallowance Backlog Through Fiscal Year 1990 - Amends the AFDC program to establish a formula for determining a State's excess erroneous payment rates for FY 1981 through 1991 which takes into account national average error rates. Gives States determined to have excess rates the option of utilizing a specified appeals process or waiving their right to appeal in exchange for a 25 percent reduction in their penalty for such rates. Subpart B: Permanent Modification of Quality Control System After Fiscal Year 1990 - Establishes a formula for determining the amount to be collected from States with combined excess AFDC overpayment and underpayment rates after FY 1990. Gives States determined to have excess rates for a fiscal year the option of utilizing a specified appeals process or waiving their right to appeal in exchange for a 25 percent reduction in the penalty for such rates. Makes incentive payments to States whose combined erroneous overpayment and underpayment rates don't exceed an incentives threshold rate. Requires States to collect data and report to the Secretary on AFDC underpayments and negative case actions. Directs the Secretary to conduct a study and report to the Congress by October 1, 1992, on incorporating improper negative case actions into State AFDC error rates. Subtitle D: Trade Agency Authorizations, Customs User Fees, and Other Customs Provisions - Part 1: Trade Agency Authorizations for Fiscal Year 1990 - Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to authorize appropriations for FY 1990 for the United States International Trade Commission. Amends the Customs Procedural Reform and Simplification Act of 1978 to authorize appropriations for FY 1990 for the United States Customs Service for: (1) noncommercial and commercial operations; and (2) the air interdiction program. Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to authorize appropriations for the Office of the United States Trade Representative for FY 1990. Part 2: Customs User Fees - Amends the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 to require the Secretary of the Treasury to collect a customs user fee not exceeding $575 for the processing of merchandise that is entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, during FY 1990. Requires fees charged for Canadian goods to be in accordance with the U.S.-Canada Free-Trade Agreement. Declares that expenses incurred in conducting commercial operations do not include costs incurred in: (1) air passenger processing; (2) export control; and (3) international affairs. Makes user fees enforceable as customs duties. Exempts Israeli products from user fees as of the date on which the United States Trade Representative publishes in the Federal Register a determination that Israel has provided reciprocal concessions. Requires the Comptroller General to report to specified congressional committees on U.S. Customs Service costs and appropriate user fees. Extends the customs user fee program through September 30, 1991. Authorizes the Service to collect user fees for the operation of foreign trade zones at certain small airports that are not ports-of-entry. Part 3: Miscellaneous Customs Provisions - Declares that the Commissioner of Customs shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to require the Commissioner to report to the Congress on: (1) the value of the on-hand inventory of seized property as of the last day of the previous fiscal year; and (2) the sources of gross receipts of, and gross disbursements from, the Customs Forfeiture Fund during the previous fiscal year. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the appropriate customs officer to publish for at least three successive weeks a notice of the seizure of monetary instruments and the intention to forfeit and sell them. Requires the Commissioner to report to the Congress on the total dollar value of uncontested seizures of monetary instruments valued over $100,000 which have not been deposited into the Fund within 120 days of seizure. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to transfer forfeited property, including non-jet aircraft, to the Civil Air Patrol. Part 4: Consistency of the Superfund Petroleum Tax With the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade - Amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the Hazardous Substance Superfund financing rate (part of the tax imposed on imported oil). Subtitle E: Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery - Part 1: Short Title and Findings - Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Expansion Act of 1989 - Part 2: Amendments to the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act and Related Provisions - Amends the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (the Act) to repeal the termination of duty-free treatment of beneficiary countries. Requires the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to establish with each beneficiary country guaranteed access levels for textile products assembled in the country from qualifying fabrics (fabrics formed and cut in the United States and certain fabrics of foreign manufacture which are cut in the United States). Authorizes the USTR to negotiate a bilateral agreement with each beneficiary establishing such guaranteed access levels. Makes such products eligible for duty-free treatment. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the USTR should obtain assurances from beneficiary countries which have been granted guaranteed access levels that they will administer export certificates or export visas in a manner ensuring fairness and nondiscriminatory treatment to any U.S. firms that seek allocations under specific limits rather than guaranteed access levels. Sets forth a formula for the duty rate for quota articles. Sets forth the rate of duty on certain non-leather footwear, handbag, luggage, flat good, work glove, or leather wearing apparel from a beneficiary country. Provides that duty-free treatment shall not apply to: (1) textile and apparel articles subject to textile agreements; (2) certain articles to which reduced duties apply; (3) certain leather footwear; (4) canned tuna; (5) petroleum; and (6) watches and watch parts. Prohibits the President from designating any country as a beneficiary country if it has not taken steps to afford internationally recognized worker rights to its workers. Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States with respect to the allocation of quotas on sugars imported from beneficiary countries. Prohibits the USTR from adjusting certain restrictions on sugar imported from the Philippines and South Africa. Authorizes the President to enter into trade agreements with foreign governments for the purpose of granting compensation if the United States takes specified action inconsistent with its international obligations (including the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade). Grants duty-free treatment of articles (not over $600 in value) acquired in a beneficiary country. Prohibits any article (except a textile or apparel article) from being treated as a foreign article, or subject to duty, if certain U.S. components and exclusive sale requirements are met. Authorizes the President to proclaim new rules for determining whether articles originate in beneficiary countries. Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to require the International Trade Commission, when determining material injury in antidumping and countervailing duty cases, to assess imports from a beneficiary country with respect to imports of like products from other beneficiary countries. Amends the Tax Reform Act of 1986 to treat certain ethyl alcohols produced in an insular possession or beneficiary country as indigenous products of that possession or country if certain requirements are met. Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to require the Secretary of the Treasury to prescribe regulations providing for the duty-free treatment of articles that are wholly the growth, product, or manufacture of beneficiary countries. Part 3: Scholarship Assistance and Tourism Promotion - Directs the Administrator of the Agency for International Development to establish an assistance program to provide scholarships enabling students from eligible countries in the Caribbean and Central America to study in the United States. Expresses the sense of the Congress that increased tourism should be developed in the Caribbean Basin region as a central part of the Caribbean Basin Initiative program. Directs the Commissioner of Customs to implement a pilot preclearance program during FY 1990 and 1991 to assess the extent to which the availability of preclearance operations can assist in the development of tourism in the Caribbean Basin. Subtitle F: Tariff Provisions - Declares that amendments to this subtitle shall be considered to be made to the Harmonized Tariff Schedules of the United States. Part 1: Temporary Suspensions and Reductions in Duties - Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to provide a duty, through a certain date on jams, pastes, and purees, and peach, apricot, and cherry jellies. Reduces the duty, through December 31, 1992, on: (1) 1,6-Hexamethylene diisocyanate; (2) gripping narrow fabrics; (3) certain drinking glasses with special effects; (4) articles of semiprecious stones; (5) zinc printing type; and (6) timing apparatus with opto-electronic display only. Suspends the duty, through December 31, 1992, on: (1) teicoplanin; (2) certain garments designed for handicapped persons who are not ambulatory; and (3) operatic scenery and properties, including sets. Grants duty-free treatment to certain motor vehicle parts on the effective date of a Presidential proclamation extending such treatment to such parts. Part 2: Existing Duty Suspensions - Extends, through December 31, 1992, the existing suspension of duty on mixtures of hot red peppers and salt. Terminates the existing suspension of duty on c-amines. Includes accessories in the existing duty suspension on electrostatic copying machines. Part 3: Tariff Classification, Miscellaneous, and Effective Date Provisions - Deletes imports of cane and beet sugar which are subject to quotas from the additional U.S. notes of the Harmonized Tariff Schedules of the United States. Declares that for purposes of the tariff treatment of certain leather handbags, that in determining the classification of such articles which are wholly or in part of a fabric coated with nontransparent rubber or plastics, the fabric shall not be regarded as a textile material but as rubber or plastic. Grants duty-free treatment of chipper knife steel. Changes wheel size specifications with respect to 26-inch bicycles. Excludes from import restrictions provided under the Schedule blended syrups, if imported by a foreign trade zone user, to the extent that the annual quantity imported into the customs territory does not contain an amount of sugar of nondomestic origin greater than that authorized by the Foreign Trade Zones Board for processing by such user during FY 1985. Provides for the reliquidation (refund of duty) on 1-(3-Sulfopropyl pyridinium hydroxide) that entered the United States during a specified period. Title XI: Revenue Measures - Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1989 - Subtitle A: Extension of Expiring Tax Provisions - Part I: Temporary Extensions - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend the tax exclusion for educational assistance programs for three years. Provides a tax exclusion for otherwise taxable employer-provided educational assistance that qualifies as a working condition fringe. Provides two year extensions for the following: (1) targeted jobs credit; (2) mortgage revenue bonds exemption; (3) qualified small issue bond exemption; and (4) energy investment credit for geothermal property. Part II: Permanent Extensions - Makes the low-income housing credit permanent. Modifies such credit with respect to the following: (1) one-year carryover of unused credit authority; (2) election of 15-year credit period; (3) agreements not to evict low-income tenants and the impact of tenant's right of first refusal to acquire property; (4) rehabilitation expenditures; (5) rent restrictions; (6) acquisitions of existing buildings; (7) increased credit for buildings in high cost areas; (8) rules for buildings for which credit may be allowed; (9) buildings financed with tax-exempt bonds; (10) community development block grant funding; (11) eligibility; (12) multi-building projects; (13) increased responsibilities for housing credit agencies; (14) credit percentage determinations; (15) certification; and (16) transitional housing for the homeless and denial of credit for substandard housing. Exempts the low-income housing credit and rehabilitation credit from the income phaseout of the exemption from passive loss rules. Makes permanent the credit for increasing research activities and makes changes in the computation of the incremental credit. Provides that the trade or business requirement shall be disregarded in the case of in-house research expenses of certain start-up ventures. Disallows a deduction for qualified research expenses which is equal to the credit for increasing research activities. Requires the deduction for research and experimental expenditures to be reasonable amounts. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to report to specified congressional committees every five years on an evaluation of the credit for increasing research activities. Provides for the allocation of research and experimental expenditures with respect to sources of income within and without the United States. Subtitle B: Corporate Provisions - Requires the earnings and profits of affiliated groups to be computed on a consolidated basis. Provides for the treatment of: (1) certain original issue discount obligations as preferred stock; and (2) certain transfers to controlled corporations. Increases the percentage of the required distribution of ordinary income of regulated investment companies in the computation of the excise tax on the undistributed income of such companies. Provides for the treatment of certain mutual fund sales charges and dividends with respect to taxation of such companies and their shareholders. Provides a limitation on the threshold requirement for certain built-in gains and losses. Requires distributions on disqualified preferred stock to be treated as extraordinary dividends. Prohibits any reduction in gross income by reason of an excess loss account if such reduction is on account of a reduction in the basis of indebtedness. Sets forth provisions relating to the treatment of stock and debt concerning: (1) regulatory authority over the treatment of stock or indebtedness; and (2) reporting of certain acquisitions or recapitalizations. Directs the Secretary to report to specified congressional committees on: (1) whether the present law distinctions between debt and equity are meaningful and whether it is appropriate to limit interest deductions in certain cases; (2) the policy and revenue implications of proposals to integrate the corporate and individual income tax systems; and (3) the policy and revenue implications of the tax treatment of corporate distributions with respect to debt and equity held by tax-exempt entities and foreign persons. Requires S corporations to make estimated tax payments for certain taxes. Limits the deduction for certain interest paid by a corporation to a related person. Subtitle C: Employee Benefit Provisions - Part I: Repeal of Section 89 Nondiscrimination Rules - Repeals provisions relating to benefits provided under certain discriminatory employee benefit plans and restores prior antidiscrimination rules with exceptions. Revises the antidiscrimination rules for health benefits provided to highly compensated employees. Part II: Employee Stock Ownership Plans - Provides limitations on partial exclusion of interest on loans used to acquire employer securities. Requires that employer security loans be held only by qualified lenders. Requires employee stock ownership plans to file certain information reports. Places limitations on deductions for dividends paid on employer securities. Requires a three-year holding period before nonrecognition of gain is applicable on the sale of stock to employee stock ownership plans or certain cooperatives. Repeals: (1) the estate tax deduction relating to the sale of employer securities to employee stock ownership plans or worker-owned corporations; and (2) the current allocation of liability for payment of estate tax in the case of transfer of employer securities. Revises limitations on employee stock ownership plans as they affect allocations to highly compensated employees. Repeals special rules relating to net operating losses as they affect employee stock ownership plans. Part III: Tax Treatment of Retiree Health Accounts - Allows a one-time transfer of excess pension assets to retiree health accounts. Limits the amount of contributions which may be made to such accounts. Subtitle D: Foreign Provisions - Provides for determining the taxable year of a controlled foreign corporation or a foreign personal holding company. Limits the use of deconsolidation to avoid foreign tax credit limitations. Makes reporting requirements for foreign-owned corporations applicable to corporations that are 25-percent foreign-owned. Sets forth U.S. recordkeeping requirements for such corporations and establishes penalties for failure to furnish information or maintain records. Provides for the taxation of the stock disposition by nonresident aliens or foreign corporations who are 10-percent shareholders in any domestic corporation. Requires a withholding agent to deduct and withhold a tax of ten percent of the amount realized on such stock disposition. Amends the Tax Reform Act of 1986 regarding the foreign tax credit to repeal the transitional rule for the special treatment of high withholding tax interest on certain foreign loans. Requires foreign research and experimental expenditures to be treated as deferred expenses and to be deducted ratably over a five-year period. Subtitle E: Excise Tax Provisions - Revises the excise tax on gasoline, including: (1) imposing a tax on the receipt of gasoline at any terminal; (2) imposing a tax on gasoline not transferred in bulk to a registered terminal; (3) allowing a tax credit on certain prior taxes; and (4) reducing the rate of tax for gasohol. Revises registration and bond requirements. Provides for refunds through sellers in cases of gasoline used to produce gasohol. Imposes a floor stocks tax on certain gasoline that was not taxed prior to October 1, 1989. Provides a one-year suspension of certain automatic reductions in aviation-related taxes. Provides for the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund tax to take effect on October 1, 1989. Specifies the schedule for the deposit of taxes on communications services and airline tickets. Provides for one-time filing of telephone excise tax exemption certificates. Subtitle F: Miscellaneous Provisions - Part I: Limitation on Nonrecognition for Certain Exchanges - Sets forth limitations on the nonrecognition of gain or loss on the exchange of property with respect to: (1) the similar use of such property for the one-year period prior to transfer; (2) special rules for exchanges between related persons, where there is substantial diminution of risk, and for foreign real property; and (3) the repeal of special treatment for involuntary conversions of real property. Part II: Minimum Tax Provisions - Removes the book limitations applicable to depreciation of property placed in service after 1989 when determining alternative minimum taxable income. Makes modifications to: (1) the corporate minimum tax credit; (2) certain home construction contracts; (3) certain research and experimental expenditures; and (4) the 90-percent limitation on foreign tax credit. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to study the proper method of determining depreciation allowances tax in the case of high-mileage cars and light-duty trucks. Part III: Accounting Provisions - Requires that the percentage of completion method be used in determining the taxable income under any long-term contract. Limits the deductibility of contingent payments in transfers of franchises, trademarks, and trade names. Modifies provisions requiring interest on installment sales of time-shares and residential lots. Part IV: Employment Tax Provisions - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require income tax withholding for certain agricultural employees. Part V: Other Provisions - Limits the tax exclusion for compensation for personal injuries or sickness to cases involving physical injury or physical sickness. Requires the recognition of gain or loss by any partner that contributes property to a partnership if the property is distributed by the partnership to other than the contributing partner. Allows a depreciation deduction for the business use of cellular telephones or other similar telecommunications equipment. Eliminates the retroactive certification of employees for the work incentive jobs credit. Disallows a depreciation deduction for any term interest in property for any period during which the remainder interest in such property is held by a related person. Requires a trade or business to report the amount of points received on mortgage loans and whether such points were paid directly by the borrower. Provides that a building shall not be treated as being ineligible for the rehabilitation credit by reason of being relocated if the rehabilitation began before the publication of a certain proposed Treasury Regulation. Designates the Overseas Private Investment Corporation as a tax-exempt government corporation. Provides a tax exclusion for certain overseas allowances received by Department of Defense personnel. Authorizes the disclosure of tax information to the Department of Veterans Affairs for the verification of income for purposes of needs-based benefits and services. Requires the Secretary to provide notice of underreporting in information returns. Subtitle G: Revision of Civil Penalties - Improved Penalty Administration and Compliance Tax Act - Part I: Document and Information Return Penalties - Revises penalty provisions in connection with tax return administration. Imposes a uniform penalty of $50 per offense to a maximum of $250,000 per year on any person who fails to: (1) file timely and correct information returns; (2) furnish correct payee statements; or (3) comply with other information reporting requirements. Reduces penalties if corrections are made within a specified time period. Allows exceptions for de minimis failures. Lowers the penalty maximums for persons with gross receipts of less than $5,000,000. Increases penalties and removes the annual penalty ceiling in cases of intentional disregard of filing requirements. Revises requirements governing regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury in connection with returns that must be filed on magnetic media or in other machine-readable form. Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to specified congressional committees concerning: (1) ways to resolve discrepancies between taxpayer identity information shown on information returns and that in Internal Revenue Service (IRS) records; and (2) whether persons in the business of transmitting information returns and other documents to the IRS on behalf of others should be subject to registration. Part II: Revision of Accuracy-Related Penalties - Replaces current law governing additions to tax and other additional amounts with respect to tax administration violations with provisions that impose a 20 percent penalty in the form of additional tax in connection with underpayments attributable to at least one of the following: (1) negligence or disregard of relevant rules; (2) any substantial understatement of income tax; (3) any substantial valuation overstatement in connection with income tax; (4) any substantial overstatement of pension liabilities; or (5) any substantial estate or gift tax valuation understatement. Increases the penalty to 40 percent in cases of gross valuation misstatements. Imposes: (1) a 75 percent penalty in the form of additional tax with respect to any underpayment attributable to fraud; and (2) a 50 percent penalty in connection with underpayments of or failure to pay any stamp tax. Part III: Preparer, Promoter, and Protester Penalties - Revises provisions governing damages assessable for offenses related to Tax Court litigation to: (1) grant the Tax Court discretion in requiring a taxpayer to pay the United States a penalty (current law requires the penalty); (2) increase the amount of the permissible penalty from a $5,000 to a $25,000 maximum; (3) authorize the Tax Court to impose a penalty upon any attorney who unreasonably multiplies the proceedings in question. Authorizes similar sanctions in cases brought before other courts. Modifies penalty provisions associated with understatements of taxpayer liability by income tax return preparers to: (1) increase penalty amounts; and (2) institute penalties for understatements due to unrealistic positions or reckless or intentional disregard of tax laws. Increases from $25 to $50 (to an annual maximum of $25,000) the penalty imposed on income tax return preparers who fail to furnish copies to taxpayers, sign returns, or furnish identifying numbers. Modifies penalties imposed on tax preparers who fail to file correct information returns. Increases the possible penalty imposed on persons who promote abusive tax shelters. Broadens the scope of persons subject to penalties for aiding and abetting understatements of tax liability. Increases from $500 to $1,000 the penalty for filing a frivolous income tax return. Repeals a provision prohibiting injunctions against any income tax return preparer who files a surety bond. Requires that regulations governing disclosure or use of information by tax return preparers permit disclosures for quality or peer reviews. Part IV: Failures to File or Pay - Increases penalties imposed on persons whose failure to file any return is fraudulent or intentional. Revises penalty provisions in connection with failures to make deposits of taxes, varying the penalty rate as a function of the time involved in the deposit delay. Declares that a taxpayer who belatedly pays a tax that should have been deducted and withheld is still liable for interest or applicable penalties or additions. Subtitle H: Technical Corrections - Part I: Amendments Related to Technical and Miscellaneous Revenue Act of 1988 - Makes technical corrections with respect to: (1) corporate tax; (2) minimum tax; (3) accounting methods; (4) foreign tax; (5) estate and gift tax; (6) generation-skipping transfer tax; (7) estimated taxes of trusts and estates; (8) insurance; (9) pensions; (10) excise tax on undenatured distilled spirits; (11) tax-exempt bonds; (12) research tax credit; and (13) low-income housing tax credit. Part II: Amendments Related to Revenue Act of 1987 - Revises: (1) accounting provisions concerning installment sales, the election of taxable years other than required taxable year, corporate earnings and profit adjustments, and treatment of foreign insurance; (2) provisions relating to excise taxes on diesel fuel and aviation fuel; and (3) enforcement authority in the case of flagrant political expenditures. Part III: Amendments Related to Tax Reform Act of 1986 - Revises provisions with respect to: (1) modification of the accelerated cost recovery system; (2) low-income housing credit; (3) capitalization and inclusion in inventory costs of certain expenses; and (4) transitional rules on the application of future legislation to transitioned bonds. Part IV: Miscellaneous Changes - Makes technical amendments to provisions related to transfers incident to divorce or separation and to the special rules for simplified employee pensions. Part V: Amendments Related to Pension Provisions - Subpart A: Amendments to Tax Reform Act of 1986 - Makes technical amendments to pension-related provisions of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) concerning: (1) excise tax on reversion of qualified plan assets to employer; and (2) minimum vesting standards. Makes various changes to technical corrections made under the Tax Reform Act of 1986. Subpart B: Amendments Related to Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986 - Makes technical amendments to the IRC and ERISA with respect to the normal retirement age of pension plan participants. Subpart C: Amendments Related to Pension Protection Act - Makes technical amendments to the IRC, ERISA, and the Pension Protection Act dealing with: (1) limitations for multiemployer pension plans; (2) modification of the minimum funding standard for pension plans, including a special transition rule with respect to steel employees; (3) the time for making plan contributions; (4) funding waivers; (5) the interest rate to be used in connection with various plan funding rules; (6) plan terminations; and (7) reporting requirements. Subtitle I: Child Care Provisions - Amends title XX of the Social Security Act to authorize appropriations for FY 1991 and 1992 and thereafter for grants to States for services, including additional grants for child care services. Sets forth entitlement, eligibility, and administrative requirements for child care grants to States Directs the Secretary of HHS to establish, on October 1, 1989, a program of two-year grants to eligible States to assist in improving their child care standards. Terminates the program after eight years. Authorizes the Secretary of HHS to make demonstration grants to up to ten eligible public agencies and private entities, in urban and rural areas, to administer child development models. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1990 through 1997 for the child care standards improvement incentive grant program, with a portion of such funds set aside for the demonstration grant program. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the amount of the earned income credit and to adjust it according to the number of children in a family. Allows a supplemental tax credit for individuals with children under the age of six. Authorizes advance tax credit payments by employers based on the number of qualifying children.

Law· HRH.R. 3024 (101st)enacted

To increase the statutory limit on the public debt, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 27 July 1989

Increases the public debt limit temporarily by $70,000,000,000. Provides, in accounting for the public debt limit, for determining the face amount of any Government obligation issued on a discount basis that is not redeemable before maturity at the option of the holder.

Bill· HRH.R. 3013 (101st)referred

To increase the statutory limit on the public debt, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 26 July 1989

Increases the public debt limit temporarily by $60,000,000,000. Provides, in accounting for the public debt limit, for determining the face amount of any Government obligation issued on a discount basis that is not redeemable before maturity at the option of the holder.

Bill· HRH.R. 3002 (101st)open

To amend the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, to preserve the percentage of certain agricultural commodities exported from Great Lake ports.

United States · United States Congress · 25 July 1989

Amends the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 to extend indefinitely, with regard to certain cargo preference provisions, the requirement that the Secretary of Transportation take steps to preserve the percentage share, or metric tonnage of bagged, processed, or fortified commodities experienced in calendar year 1984, of waterborne cargoes exported from Great Lakes ports pursuant to specified provisions of the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954.

Bill· HRH.R. 2754 (101st)open

Christopher Columbus Coin and Fellowship Act

United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1989

Christopher Columbus Coin and Fellowship Act - Title I: Christopher Columbus Quincentenary Coins - Christopher Columbus Quincentenary Coin Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue not more than a specified number of five dollar gold coins, one dollar silver coins, and half dollar clad coins emblematic of the quincentary of the discovery of America. Sets forth certain features of such coins and provides for their design, issuance, and sale. Terminates the minting of such coins after June 30, 1993. Requires the Secretary to deposit surcharges from the sale of such coins in the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Fund for use by the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation. Declares that no law governing procurement or public contracts shall be applicable to the procurement of goods and services necessary for carrying out this Act, except that this provision shall not relieve any person from complying with any law relating to equal employment opportunity. Title II: Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation - Christopher Columbus Fellowship Act - Establishes the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation to award fellowships to outstanding individuals to encourage new discoveries in all fields of endeavor for the benefit of mankind. Establishes the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Fund. Directs the Foundation to report to the President and to the Congress annually on its operations.

Law· HRH.R. 2761 (101st)enacted

United Services Organization's 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act

United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1989

United Services Organization's 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue not more than a specified number of five dollar gold coins, one dollar silver coins, and half dollar clad coins to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the United Services Organization (USO). Requires such coins to be emblematic of USO Services to military service personnel and families. Sets forth certain features of such coins and provides for their design, issuance, and sale. Terminates the minting of such coins after February 4, 1991. Requires surcharges from the sale of such coins to be deposited in a coinage profit fund and used for USO programs and to reduce the national debt. Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress semiannually through December 31, 1992, on activities under this Act.

Resolution· HRESH.Res. 186 (101st)passed

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the flag of the United States.

United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1989

Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives with respect to its concern over the Supreme Court's decision in Texas v. Johnson and its commitment to preserving the honor and integrity of the flag. Condemns all actions intended to desecrate the flag. Urges the American people to continue to display proudly the U.S. flag.