United States · United States Congress · 29 July 1987
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to accord income tax treatment as a qualified cash or deferred arrangement (401(k) plan) to a defined contribution plan established and maintained by a rural telephone cooperative. (Under current law, rural electric cooperatives, but not rural telephone cooperatives, are permitted to offer such plans to their employees.) Applies to such plans the same accounting rules as are currently applied to the plans of rural electric cooperatives.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 1987
Airline Passenger Protection Act of 1987 - Amends the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to add a new "Title XVII: Airline Passenger Protection." Requires the Secretary of Transportation (the Secretary to publish monthly reports regarding: (1) late flight arrivals; (2) a listing of the top 500 aviation markets; (3) lost and damaged baggage; (4) the percentage of cancelled flights; (5) the percentage of passengers bumped; (6) missed connections at hubs; and (7) the number of passenger complaints filed with the Department of Transportation. Mandates that: (1) such reports be made available to the public by any air carrier controlled ticket agent; (2) toll-free telephone numbers be established by air carriers and the Secretary for handling passenger complaints; and (3) that such telephone numbers accompany airline ticket purchases. Requires the Secretary to establish a telephone number system which provides airline passengers with comparative air carrier service information. Prohibits: (1) airline ticket sales unless the purchaser receives written notification regarding the air carrier's policy concerning cancellations and amenities; and (2) economically motivated flight cancellations. Requires air transportation advertisements to state whether availability is limited and whether restrictions apply. Prescribes guidelines for the air transportation of airline ticket holders if the issuing air carrier has become a bankrupt debtor since the ticket purchase. Sets forth time limits for: (1) processing lost or damaged baggage; and (2) purchase price refunds for certain airline tickets. Prohibits an air carrier from making available to a ticket agent certain computerized reservation system information on flight schedules and fares of twor or more carriers if the order in which the schedules appear is determined according to a specified format. Requires the Secretary to revise existing airline consumer complaint procedures of the Department of Transportation. Terminates this Act ten years after the date of enactment. Establishes civil penalties for violations including: (1) late performance reports; (2) false or misleading performance reports; or (3) economically-motivated flight cancellations.
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 1987
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit a partnership, S corporation, or personal service corporation, unless it is part of a tiered structure, to elect to have a taxable year other than the required one, but generally only if the deferral period of the taxable year elected is three months or less. (Current law requires partnerships, S corporations, and personal service corporations, in most cases, to conform their taxable years to the calendar years used by their owners.) Subjects the principals of a partnership or S corporation electing to change taxable years to additional estimated tax requirements to offset any tax deferral resulting from such election. Imposes deduction limitations on a personal service corporation that changes taxable years. Provides that an election with respect to taxable year shall be made by the partnership, S corporation, or personal service corporation and shall be binding on all partners and shareholders. Sets forth the formula for determining the additional tax requirement when a taxpayer: (1) is a partner or shareholder in at least one such entity during any applicable election years of the entity that end within the taxpayer's taxable year; and (2) has an aggregate deferred tax exceeding $200 with respect to the entity. Describes payment procedures. Requires the inclusion of specified information on returns filed by partnerships and S corporations that elect to use a non-required taxable year. Limits the tax deduction permitted to a personal service corporation for amounts paid or incurred with respect to employee-owners when such a corporation: (1) elects to have a taxable year other than the required one; and (2) fails to meet certain minimum distribution requirements regarding non-dividend amounts paid to owners.
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 1987
Designates October 15, 1987, as National Safety Belt Use Day. Authorizes and requests the President to issue a proclamation calling on the people to wear safety belts and have their children use child safety seats, and encouraging public safety and law enforcement agencies to promote these devices.
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 1987
Amends Federal provisions relating to cemeteries and memorials to remove the per-State limitation on the receipt of grant funds used for the establishment, expansion, and improvement of veterans' cemeteries. Authorizes the Administrator of Veterans Affairs (the Administrator) to make contributions to local authorities for the construction of traffic controls, road improvements, or other devices on land adjacent to a national cemetery if the Administrator determines that such a contribution is necessary for safe ingress and egress to or from such cemetery. Authorizes the Administrator to provide an approved grave liner for the interment of remains in cemeteries within the National Cemetery System and in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia. Authorizes the Administrator to provide for flat grave markers in the case of gravesites of cremated remains that are interred in the ground. Authorizes the Administrator to also provide for flat grave markers in the case of graves on land transferred to the Department of Memorial Affairs from the Department of Medicine and Surgery of the Veterans Administration for the expansion of a cemetery at the Clement A. Zablocki Veterans' Administration Medical Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Establishes in the Treasury the Foreign Currency Fluctuations, American Battle Monuments Commission, Account. States that account funds shall be used by the American Battle Monuments Commission (the Commission) to eliminate operating losses due to fluctuations in currency exchange rates of foreign countries which occur after a budget request for the Commission is submitted to the Congress. Requires any limits applicable to appropriations available to the Commission to be adjusted to take into account any such foreign currency fluctuations. Authorizes funds originally transferred from such Account to be transferred back to that Account if foreign currency fluctuations necessitate such action. Requires unobligated balances of funds appropriated to the Commission for a fiscal year to be transferred into the Account within a specified time and to be merged with and available for the same period and purposes as that Account. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to report to the Congress annually on funds made available under this provision. Authorizes appropriations to the Account.
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 1987
Veterans' Compensation Amendments of 1987 - Title I: Rate Increases - Increases the rates of veterans' disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, and the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans. Increases the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children of veterans who have died as a result of service-connected disabilities, as well as the rates of supplemental dependency and indemnity compensation for certain surviving children. Title II: Improved Benefits for Former Prisoners of War - Amends Federal veterans' benefits provisions to: (1) redefine "former prisoner of war" to include persons held by other than an enemy government during a war; and (2) allow a presumption of service-connection for peripheral neuropathy due to trauma, a spastic colon, or peptic or duodenal ulcers suffered by a former prisoner of war which become manifest to a degree of ten percent or more after active military service. Decreases from six months to 90 days the period of internment required for former prisoners of war to become eligible for dental care benefits. Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions - Directs the Administrator of Veterans Affairs to pay benefits to the surviving spouse and children of certain deceased veterans rated totally disabled at their time of death and for a specified period preceding death. Requires such benefits to be provided in the same manner as if the veteran's death was service-connected. Prohibits the payment of any such benefits to a surviving spouse unless: (1) the marriage to the veteran occurred before the expiration of 15 years after the veteran's discharge or release from active duty; (2) the surviving spouse was married to the veteran for one year or more; or (3) a child was born of the marriage. Requires any benefits to be paid under this provision to be offset by any money received from a cause of action for damages arising from the death of the veteran as described above. Provides that persons found eligible for benefits as a result of this Act shall also be deemed eligible for dependency and indemnity compensation under current Federal law. Directs the Administrator to continue to maintain and operate separately the Veterans Administration Insurance Centers located in St. Paul, Minnesota, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Prohibits the Administrator from taking any action to consolidate such centers. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the bridge currently being constructed across the Ohio River between the cities of Weirton, West Virginia, and Steubenville, Ohio, would serve as an appropriate and fitting memorial to veterans.
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 1987
Title I: Temporary Extension of Public Debt Limit - Increases the public debt limit (until September 30, 1987) to $2,358,000,000,000. Title II: Budget Process Reform - Amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to increase the permissible maximum deficit amounts for FY 1987 through 1990. Extends for one year the expiration date of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act). Title III: Economic Summit - Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President, together with the bipartisan leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives, should convene a domestic economic summit conference to address the dangerous economic situation which is created by large deficits and the ineffectual budget process. Directs the conference to report its recommendations for solutions to budgetary issues and budget process reforms to the Congress and the President.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 1987
Urges the administration to continue to reject efforts by Canadian negotiators to: (1) have the U.S. cabotage trades, including the transport of energy resources, opened to Canadian vessels; and (2) eliminate the ad valorem duty on vessel repairs performed in Canadian shipyards.
United States · United States Congress · 1 July 1987
National Commission on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Act - Establishes a National Commission on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome to study and make recommendations regarding: (1) national policy and priorities with respect to acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) including research, testing for the AIDS virus, confidentiality of test results, treatment and care of AIDS sufferers, prevention of the transmission of AIDS, and education about AIDS; (2) the appropriate roles of Federal, State, and local governments, and of the private sector regarding such national policy and priorities; and (3) guidelines for the coordination of AIDS activities with international organizations. Directs the Commission to hold hearings and to submit interim and final reports to the President and to the Congress. Directs the Administrator of Veterans Affairs to assist the Commission by preparing: (1) a detailed compilation and synopsis of national and international medical research on AIDS; and (2) a detailed report on activities of the Veterans Administration relevant to the duties of the Commission. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1988. Terminates the Commission 30 days after submission of its final report. Authorizes the President to extend the life of the Commission for a period not to exceed two years.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1987
Constitutional Amendment - Requires the Congress and the President, prior to each fiscal year, to agree, by enactment of a joint resolution, on an estimate of total receipts for that fiscal year. Prohibits outlays for that year from exceeding such estimated receipts unless the Congress, by a three-fifths rollcall vote of each House, provides for a specific excess of outlays over receipts. Requires the Congress, whenever actual outlays exceed actual receipts for any fiscal year, to provide by law for the repayment of such excess in the ensuing fiscal year. Requires a three-fifths rollcall vote of each House to increase the public debt. Directs the President to submit to the Congress a proposed budget for each fiscal year in which total outlays do not exceed total receipts. Requires the approval by a majority of the total membership of each House by rollcall vote before any bill to increase revenue may become law. Waives this article for any fiscal year in which a declaration of war is in effect. Declares that total receipts shall include all receipts of the United States, except those derived from borrowing, and total outlays shall include all outlays of the United States, except those for repayment of debt principal.
United States · United States Congress · 15 June 1987
Title I: National Development Investment - Public Works and Economic Development Act Amendments of 1987 - Amends the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 to cite such Act as the National Development Investment Act and to revise the emphasis of such Act from primary Federal initiative to coordination of investments between the public and the private sectors. Sets forth the findings of the Congress. Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to make development investment assistance grants to qualified applicants for: (1) constructing and improving public facilities; (2) revolving loan funds; and (3) employee stock ownership plans. Authorizes the Secretary to provide technical assistance for improving and enhancing economic development. Describes qualified applicants as States, distressed local governments, economic development districts, economic development organizations, and Indian tribes. Describes a distressed local government as one with a population under 50,000 and located outside an economic development district. Requires an application for a grant under this Act to include: (1) a certification that the area concerned meets certain distress requirements; (2) a certification of any responsibilities which the Secretary has agreed to perform; and (3) a development investment strategy prepared in accordance with this Act. Requires the Secretary to consider specified factors in approving applications. Lists as criteria any one of which an area must meet in order to be eligible for a grant under this Act: (1) a per capita income of 80 percent or less of the national average; (2) an unemployment rate one percent above the national average for the most recent 24-month period for which statistics are available; or (3) a sudden economic dislocation resulting in job losses. Sets forth the information to be contained in a grant applicant's development investment strategy. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to establish a revolving loan fund for making or guaranteeing loans to small businesses for initial or working capital, or for the purchase of facilities or equipment. Limits to $1,000,000 the amount of any such grant. Limits the amount of any grant under this Act to a maximum of 50 percent of the cost of completing the project as determined at the time of the grant application. Permits the Secretary to reduce or waive the non-Federal share of a project in the case of an Indian tribe. Limits expenditures in any one State to a maximum of 15 percent of the appropriations made pursuant to this Act, except for expenditures to Indian tribes. Prohibits the Secretary from obligating more than $4,000,000 in any fiscal year to any person, other than grants for employee ownership organizations. Requires the Secretary, each fiscal year, to obligate minimum amounts of funds for such grants. Authorizes the Secretary to make economic development planning grants to States, economic development districts, Indian tribes, distressed counties, and distressed units of local governments with populations over 50,000 (if located outside an economic development district). Earmarks such grants for coordination of investment for community facilities, economic development, manpower training, and transportation services. Authorizes the Secretary to evaluate Federal, State, and local development investment efforts. Authorizes the Secretary to conduct any demonstration programs to test the feasibility of new ways to increase productivity in the steel industry and related industries, foster innovative technology, match labor force with labor markets, or encourage economic diversity and regional balance. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to colleges, universities, and other nonprofit educational and research organizations for management and technical assistance. Declares that the Secretary of Commerce shall administer this Act with the assistance of a specified Assistant Secretary of Commerce. Authorizes the Secretary to consult with other persons and agencies. Prohibits the approval of any grant unless the Secretary is satisfied that the project concerned will be properly and efficiently administered, operated, and maintained. Sets forth the powers of the Secretary under this Act. Permits the Secretary to discharge responsibilities relative to a project by accepting a certification of the grant applicant's performance of such responsibilities. Requires the Secretary to make comprehensive annual reports to the Congress detailing operations under this Act. Requires all laborers and mechanics employed by contractors or subcontractors on projects assisted under this Act to be paid the prevailing rate of wages. Requires the Secretary to maintain records of approved applications available for public inspection. Requires each recipient of a grant to maintain certain specified records. Allows the Secretary and the Comptroller General access to all records of such recipients. Authorizes appropriations through FY 1990. Title II: Appalachian Regional Development - Appalachian Regional Development Act Amendments of 1987 - Amends the Appalachian Regional Development Act of 1965 to declare that investments under such Act shall also be made in severely distressed and underdeveloped counties lacking resources for basic services. Authorizes appropriations through FY 1990 for the administrative expenses of the Appalachian Regional Commission. Authorizes the Commission to lease office space through FY 1990. Authorizes appropriations through FY 1990 for the Appalachian development highway system. Increases from 70 to 80 percent the subsequent Federal share of an Appalachian development highway segment when a participating State proceeds to construct a segment of such a highway without the aid of Federal funds. Applies such increase to projects approved after March 31, 1979. Removes the restriction on financial assistance for the cost of industrial facilities. Requires that energy enterprise development loan funds established with grants previously approved by the Commission be made available for authorized purposes. Authorizes appropriations through FY 1990. Extends the termination date of such Act from 1982 to October 1, 1990.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1987
Veterans' Housing Rehabilitation and Program Improvement Act of 1987 - Amends Federal veterans' benefits provisions to extend through FY 1989 the applicability of the veterans' loan origination fee (a fee paid by veterans for housing loans made to them by the Administrator of Veterans Affairs). Directs the Administrator to determine current and anticipated amounts in the Veterans' Administration Loan Guaranty Revolving Fund, and to cancel collection of the veterans' loan origination fee if the Fund exceeds a certain level. Decreases from 60 to 30 percent of the loan the loan amount guaranteed by the Veterans Administration (VA) on loans made to qualifying veterans for the purchase or construction of homes. Repeals a specified provision of Federal law guaranteeing the payment of a specified amount of each housing loan made to a veteran. Similarly decreases from 60 to 30 percent the loan amount guaranteed by the VA on loans made to veterans for the purchase of manufactured homes and lots for homes. Repeals a specified provision requiring the guaranty of a specified amount of each such loan. Requires the Administrator, upon receipt of a foreclosure notice to a veteran on a housing loan guaranteed by the VA, to contact the veteran concerned to provide such veteran with information about: (1) alternatives to foreclosure; and (2) the veteran's and the VA's liability with respect to the loan, unless the Administrator has assurances that the lender has adequately advised the veterans with respect to such matters. Authorizes the payment of added interest to a lender on a defaulted loan when there is a delay in a foreclosure sale caused by the VA or by the exercise of forbearance by the lender at the request of the Administrator. Directs the Administrator to make direct loans to eligible veterans in American Samoa in amounts equal to amounts provided to such veterans by the Government of American Samoa. Removes the requirement of occupancy by the veteran for eligibility for loan refinancing through the VA, and for the guarantee of loans to a veteran for the purchase of manufactured homes or lots for homes. Removes the requirement of home occupancy in nearly all cases of loans guaranteed to veterans, except for the case in which a loan is guaranteed to a veteran while such veteran is in active status with the armed forces, at which time the occupancy requirement will be met if such veteran's spouse and all of their dependent children occupy such home. Authorizes the Administrator, in order to assist homeless veterans and their families in acquiring shelter, to enter into agreements with an organization, any political subdivision of a State, or the District of Columbia, in which the Administrator sells real property acquired by the Administrator as the result of a default on a veteran's loan as guaranteed by the VA. Authorizes the Administrator to enter into such agreements only if: (1) the Administrator determines that such action will not adversely affect the VA or any of its funds or programs in any way; (2) the entity which purchases the property agrees to utilize the property solely as a shelter primarily for homeless veterans, complies with all zoning requirements, and makes no incompatible use of the property purchased; and (3) the Administrator determines that there is little likelihood of the property being sold for a price sufficient to reduce the liability to the VA of the veteran who defaulted on the guaranteed loan. Further authorizes the Administrator, in order to assist veterans to obtain training pursuant to the Veterans' Job Training Act, to convey to the persons previously described such real property and improvements therein for an amount not less than 75 percent of its fair market value if the purchasers agree to: (1) use veterans in a program pursuant to such Act in the rehabilitation of residences on such real property; and (2) provide a priority to veterans in the sale of such rehabilitated residences. Requires the Administrator to reduce a veteran's liability under a guaranteed loan defaulted on by the amount equal to the reduction in the sale price of the property below the fair market value of the property. Authorizes the Administrator to include, as part of a loan to finance a purchase of property acquired by the Administrator as a result of a defaulted loan guaranteed by the Administrator, an amount to be used for the purpose of rehabilitating the property to be purchased with the loan. Provides that, if a veteran disposes of residential property securing a guaranteed, insured, or direct housing loan obtained by the veteran and the veteran notifies the holder of the loan before disposing of the property, the veteran shall be relieved of all further liability to the Administrator on account of such loan (including liability for any loss resulting from the default of any subsequent purchasers) if: (1) the loan is current; (2) the purchaser agrees to abide by the original loan agreement; and (3) the purchaser qualifies from a credit standpoint in an amount equal to the unpaid balance of the loan. Requires the holder, if he or she determines that the loan is not current or that the purchaser of such property does not meet the above credit requirements, to notify the veteran and the Administrator of such determination, and notify the veteran that the veteran may appeal the determination to the Administrator. Directs the Administrator, upon request of the veteran, to review such determination and make his or her own determination on the matter. Requires the holder to approve such a property transfer if the Administrator determines that the loan is current and that the new purchaser is qualified for the loan. Authorizes the holder to make an immediate demand of all loan principal if the veteran disposes of property to a transferee without the loan being current or without such transferee being credit-qualified. Authorizes the holder to make such demand also if the holder disposes of property secured under a loan guarantee without notifying the loan holder or the Administrator of such transfer. Requires any loan holder who has knowledge of a property transfer by a veteran to notify the Administrator of such transfer or impending transfer. Directs the Administrator to require that each contract entered into with a veteran under a guaranteed-loan agreement contain provisions implementing the above requirements. Authorizes the Administrator to provide assistance to a veteran for the purpose of avoiding the foreclosure of a housing loan made to that veteran and guaranteed by the Administrator. Allows such assistance only if specified conditions are met (relating to lateness of payment and the belief that the veteran will soon be able to resume such payments on his/her own). Requires a loan made under this provision to be made to the holder of the primary loan (the holder of the original loan made to the veteran), such loan to be applied first to any delinquent payments and then to future payments such as taxes, assessments, etc. Authorizes the Administrator to make more than one loan under this provision to each veteran, but limits to $8,400 the total to each veteran. Outlines further administrative provisions relating to the making of such assistance loans, including security for the loan as well as the determination of the loan interest rate. Requires any veteran receiving such an assistance loan to execute an agreement to repay the loan within a reasonable period of time as determined by the Administrator. Provides that the Administrator's decision on any question of law or fact regarding such loan assistance shall be final and conclusive, without recourse to any courts or other Federal official. Prohibits the Administrator from making any such assistance loan after the two-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act. Amends Federal veterans' benefits regarding the use of appraisers in the VA home loan guaranty program to require any such appraiser employed by the VA to successfully complete a written test, submit a sample appraisal, certify to an appropriate number of years of experience as an appraiser, and submit recommendations from other appraisers. Revises provisions concerning appraisals made by lenders to require the appraiser to forward an appraisal report to the Administrator for review, at which time the Administrator shall determine the reasonable value of the property and notify the veteran of such determination. Authorizes the Administrator to allow certain lenders to determine the reasonable value of the property. Directs the appraiser selected by the Administrator, in such a case, to forward the appraisal report directly to the lender for review, and the lender, upon request, to furnish a copy of such appraisal to the veteran concerned. Directs the Administrator to exclude from a veteran's liability under a defaulted loan procedure certain interest and charges incurred with respect to such a loan arising 30 days or more after the veteran has made an offer to transfer the property to another purchaser, and the Administrator has refused to accept such offer.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1987
Designates the two week period of July 13 through July 26, 1987, as United States Olympic Festival-1987 Celebration. Designates July 17, 1987, as United States Olympic Festival-1987 Day.
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 1987
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 1992 the period during which qualified mortgage bonds may be issued. (Under current law, authority to issue these bonds expires as of 1989.)
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 1987
Veterans' Administration Health-Care Amendments of 1987 - Title I: Health Care Provisions - Amends Federal veterans' benefits provisions to direct (current law authorizes) the Administrator of Veterans Affairs (the Administrator) to provide certain medical services to eligible veterans. Revises the definition of "nursing home care" for purposes of such provisions, to include services delivered in skilled, intermediate care, and combined facilities, but to exclude domiciliary or residential care. Revises the definition of "Veterans' Administration facilities" to include public or private facilities at which the Administrator provides recreational activities for patients receiving care under a specified provision of Federal law. Authorizes the Administrator to contract-out with non-Veterans Administration (VA) facilities for the provision of nursing home care to veterans in a public or private nursing home in the community, and for hospitalization of a person for observation and examination to determine eligibility for benefits, when the VA is unable to provide such services adequately. Authorizes the Administrator to furnish such medical services as needed for any person: (1) for a disability for which a person receives disability compensation; or (2) for a disability where disability compensation is suspended, but only to the extent that such person's continuing eligibility is provided for in the judgment or settlement of an action concerning such suspension. Prohibits the Administrator, before a date to be determined, from relocating any VA readjustment counseling centers that are situated apart from VA health-care facilities. Authorizes the Administrator (current law directs) to take certain action regarding the transition from offering veterans' readjustment counseling in facilities located apart from VA health-care facilities to offering such services in VA health-care facilities. Extends to September 30, 1991, the contract adult day health care program. Directs the Administrator to conduct a study, and submit specified reports on, the cost efficiency of furnishing adult day health care over nursing home care, and the advantages and disadvantages of furnishing such care through facilities not under the jurisdiction of the Administrator and through facilities that are under the jurisdiction of the Administrator. Adds veterans sojourning or residing in Canada to those eligible for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care while abroad. Repeals a specified provision of the Veterans' Health Care Amendments of 1979 requiring annual reports from the Administrator concerning the contracting-out of health care. Directs the Administrator to conduct a pilot program to provide care and treatment and rehabilitative services in halfway houses, therapeutic communities, psychiatric residential treatment centers, and other community-based facilities to homeless veterans suffering from chronic mental illness disabilities. Requires the Administrator to approve each such program before putting it into operation. Terminates the authority for such pilot program on September 30, 1988. Directs the Administrator, no later than May 1, 1988, to report to the Senate and House Veterans' Affairs Committees on the experience of the VA under the pilot program and the recommendations of the Administrator as to whether such program should be continued. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1988 for such program, earmarking a specified amount of such authorized funds for quality control management and monitoring of such program. Repeals a specified provision of current Federal law relating to the provision of treatment and rehabilitation for chronically mentally ill veterans. Title II: Health Care Personnel - Amends Federal provisions relating to health-care personnel within the VA's Department of Medicine and Surgery (the Department) to provide pay increases for specified health-care personnel within such Department. Increases the hours considered to be weekend duty eligible for premium pay for nurses in the Department. Revises other provisions concerning miscellaneous medical personnel matters. Revises provisions concerning the composition and convening of disciplinary boards for medical personnel of the Department. Requires any determination made by such board to be made only after notice and an opportunity for a fair hearing. Requires a majority of the members of a disciplinary board to be employees in the same category of position as the employee who is the subject of the charges. Defines a "covered disciplinary action" for purposes of such boards as a disciplinary action: (1) arising from performance or conduct during a person's tenure with the VA; and (2) proposing that such person be removed, suspended for more than 14 days, or given a demotion involving the loss of grade or pay. Makes technical changes to Federal provisions concerning the Health Professional Scholarship Program. Excludes temporary research personnel from any ceiling on full-time employees of the VA or any other ceiling applicable to employees of the VA. Provides for the employment of two (currently one) Associate Deputy Chief Medical Directors, who shall act as assistants to the Chief and the Deputy Chief Medical Director of the Department. Revises provisions relating to the appointment, reappointment, or extension of employment of any person appointed to a position in the Department. Requires the first two years of employment of a person appointed to a medical personnel position in the Department to be a probationary period, allowing the record of such employee to be reviewed at any time during such period by a board appointed under regulations prescribed by the Secretary. Requires the board to make recommendations to the Chief Medical Director concerning each such employee, and allows the Chief Medical Director to accept, reject, or modify such recommendations, requiring a statement of reasons if the Chief Medical Director takes actions not recommended by the board. Provides for the payment of on-call pay for medical personnel of the Department required to be on call for a period other than the employee's regular hours of duty, at a specified rate. Revises provisions relating to the waiver of certain licensing requirements of certain medical personnel if such person is to be employed only in a research or academic post where there is no direct responsibility for the care of patients, or if such person is to serve in a foreign country where he or she is fully licensed under the laws of such country. Title III: Administration of Health-Care System - Provides a six-year statute of limitations for actions brought by the United States against a veteran for recovery of the cost of furnishing care and services to a veteran for a non-service-connected disability. Excludes certain medical personnel of the Department from immunity from suit under specified Federal law which prohibits certain Federal employees from suing or being sued, thereby authorizing suits against such personnel for negligent or wrongful acts or omissions committed while an employee of the Department. Authorizes the Administrator to settle any claim against such employees under tort laws, to the extent delegated to the Administrator by the Attorney General. Prohibits the Administration from transferring any interest in real property owned by the United States and administered by the Administrator which is valued in excess of $50,000 to another Federal agency or to a State, unless such transfer is specifically authorized by law after the date of enactment of this Act. Makes technical revisions to Federal provisions regarding the financial management of the veterans' canteen service. Provides that persons employed in the canteen service and compensated from a revolving fund established for the provision of such service may not be considered to be employees of the VA for purposes of the determination of VA employee ceilings. Exempts certain specified VA fund accounts from the operation of any sequestration order issued or enacted for any fiscal year after FY 1985. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to implement such exemption, and, no later than 60 days after enactment of this Act, report to the appropriate congressional committees on any action taken to implement such provision. Directs the Administrator to carry out a pilot program to determine hospital management efficiency within the VA. Requires the Administrator to designate five medical centers to participate in the pilot program. Requires the Administrator to consult with the Senate and House Veterans' Affairs Committees before making such designation. Authorizes the Director of a designated medical center to waive or alter any applicable management and administration laws pertaining to such center in order to improve the efficiency and economy of such medical center. Directs the Administrator to ensure that a designated medical center does not incur a budget reduction during the period of the pilot program due to improved efficiency or economy of operation achieved under this provision. Directs the Administrator to submit to the Congress an annual report on the pilot program. Terminates such pilot program on September 30, 1990. Directs the Administrator to establish and operate, as part of the Department, an outpatient clinic in central or southern New Jersey. Requires the Administrator to begin the site location process for such clinic no later than 30 days after the enactment of this Act. Title IV: Miscellaneous - Sets forth the effective date for amendments made by this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 1987
Establishes the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site in Plains, Georgia. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire lands as specified. Establishes the Jimmy Carter National Preservation District which includes the historic site and other specified lands. Authorizes the Secretary to assist in the interpretation and preservation of properties within such district. Requires the Secretary to administer the historic site and preservation district. Requires the Secretary to convene historians 25 years after enactment of this Act to examine the life of President Carter and to make recommendations on the interpretations and preservation of the areas. Directs the Secretary to establish an advisory committee to advise on the interpretation of the site. Requires the Secretary to develop and submit to the Congress within three years a general management plan. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into cooperative agreements with the State of Georgia and the town of Plains for specified purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 1987
Amends Federal veterans' benefits provisions to direct (current law authorizes) the Administrator of Veterans Affairs to pay travel expenses of certain veterans and their eligible dependents to or from a Veterans Administration facility or other authorized place in connection with rehabilitation, counseling, or medical treatment or care. Defines those veterans entitled to such payment, including: (1) those veterans financially unable to meet such travel costs; and (2) those veterans unable to bear the cost of special transportation necessitated due to a medical disability. Limits such payments in the case of travel by a privately-owned vehicle to the cost of similar public transportation for such travel. Limits such payment to the actual cost incurred for such travel.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 1987
Restores, on an interim basis, certain recently amended procedures for determining the maximum attorney's fees which may be awarded to representatives of Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance (title II of the Social Security Act) claimants for services rendered before the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Directs the Secretary to conduct a study and report to the Congress regarding procedures for determining such fees.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1987
General Aviation Standards Act of 1987 - Amends the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 (relating to aviation accident investigations) to apply such Act, with specified exceptions, to any action for damages for harm arising out of a general aviation accident brought against a general aviation manufacturer, owner, or operator of a general aviation aircraft, or a person who supports or maintains such aircraft. Establishes guidelines for uniform standards of liability of general aviation manufacturers for general aviation accidents. States that all actions for harm arising out of a general aviation accident shall be governed by the principles of comparative responsibility. Establishes, with specified exceptions, a limitation of actions period of 12 years from delivery of aircraft or harm-causing part to the purchaser for general aviation civil liability brought against a general aviation manufacturer. Declares admissible as evidence certain income tax and payroll tax liability for purposes of establishing financial harm arising out of a general aviation accident. Permits the award of punitive damages if a claimant establishes by clear and convincing evidence that the harm suffered was the direct result of conduct manifesting conscious, flagrant indifference to safety. Establishes a two-year limitation of actions period for actions arising out of a general aviation accident. Confers original jurisdiction upon the Federal district courts, concurrently with State courts, for all civil actions for harm arising out of a general aviation accident. Provides procedures for removal from State to Federal district courts of such actions. Declares that this Act supersedes any State law regarding recovery of damages for harm arising out of a general aviation accident. Declares the intent of the Congress that sanctions be strictly enforced for violations of Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, including orders to pay to the other party the reasonable costs of legal fees.
United States · United States Congress · 28 April 1987
Rural Letter Carriers Tax Simplification Act - Provides that, for taxable years beginning after 1986, rural mail carriers are permitted to compute the amount of the income tax deduction for use of their automobiles in performance of mail services: (1) by using a standard mileage rate for all miles of such use equal to 150 percent of the basic standard rate; or (2) without applying the limitation on deductions generally applicable in cases when the business use of the automobile accounts for 50 percent, or less, of its use. Prohibits the use of 150 percent of the basic standard mileage rate in determining the allowable deduction if the taxpayer claims an investment tax credit or depreciation deduction for such automobile.
United States · United States Congress · 22 April 1987
PRO Due Process and Equity Amendments of 1987 - Amends part B (Peer Review) of title XI of the Social Security Act to give Medicare (title XVIII of the Act) providers 30 days to request a hearing, and such time as is thereafter needed to exhaust administrative and judicial remedies, before the decision of the Secretary of Health and Human Services to exclude the provider from Medicare participation takes effect, provided that such delay does not pose a severe and immediate threat to the health of Medicare beneficiaries. Provides that where the Secretary finds such an immediate threat to exist, the provider shall be immediately excluded from Medicare participation and be given a hearing within 30 days. Directs the Secretary to act upon the recommendations regarding a provider's noncompliance with title XI requirements within five days of their submission if the PRO finds such noncompliance to pose an immediate threat to the health of Medicare beneficiaries, and, in any other case, within 120 days of the submittal of the recommendations. Entitles Medicare providers to a reconsideration by PRO of that organization's denial of payment for services provided, and to further review where such reconsideration is adverse to the provider and certain jurisdictional criteria are satisfied. Requires PROs to notify providers regarding any changes in the services reviewed or the review standards applied by PROs at least 30 days before such changes take effect. Requires the Secretary to emphasize PRO educational activities as much as its sanctioning activities when entering into, reviewing, or terminating PRO contracts. Directs PROs to make at least 50 percent of their review of small rural hospitals on-site reviews and take into account professionally recognized local health care standards as well as national and State standards in conducting such reviews. Prohibits the finalization of a provider payment denial until at least 30 days after the PRO gives the provider reasonable notice of the proposed denial and a reasonable opportunity to discuss such denial. Requires a PRO to include at least one hospital representative on its governing body. Requires the random review of physician care to be conducted so that there is an equal likelihood and intensity of review for each physician sampled.
United States · United States Congress · 22 April 1987
Medicare Rural Hospital Amendments of 1987 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to extend, until October 1990, the adjustment of payments made to sole community hospitals which experience a five percent decrease in patient volume over two successive cost reporting periods, unless such decrease in patient volume is due to hospital actions taken to reduce capacity or case load. Requires the Prospective Payment Assessment Commission (Commission) to report to the Congress on March 1, 1988, on a study into the appropriateness of the criteria used in designating hospitals as sole community hospitals. Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress on a study into the feasibility and impact of eliminating separate urban and rural prospective payment rates for hospital services. Requires the Commission to collect information and report to the Congress on March 1, 1988, concerning whether an adjustment to the area wage index (used to adjust prospective payment rates to account for the wage differential between urban and rural areas) is warranted to account for variations in the occupational mix of hospital employees. Requires information on the wages and hours of employment for employees in hospital occupational categories to be collected for purposes of the annual update of the area wage index. Bases outlier payments for a fiscal year on a percentage of the total prospective payment system (PPS) payments made for the second previous fiscal year. (Currently, outlier payments represent a percentage of the total PPS payments estimated to be made for the same fiscal year). Directs the Commission to report to the Congress by FY 1989 on a study into the impact on urban and rural hospitals of the criteria used to determine eligibility for outlier payments. Requires the Secretary to analyze the appropriateness of different annual percentage changes in prospective payment rates for urban and rural hospitals. Authorizes the Secretary, beginning in FY 1989, to provide for different annual percentage changes in prospective payment rates for urban and rural hospitals. Sets forth certain factors that a rural hospital which is adjacent to an urban area must establish in order to have the urban wage index applied in the determination of its prospective payments. Sets aside 25 percent of the funds appropriated pursuant to the Social Security Act, beginning with FY 1988, for research and demonstration projects relating to the delivery of or access to health care, to projects relating to the delivery of or access to health care in rural areas.
United States · United States Congress · 22 April 1987
Rural Health Care Preservation Act of 1987 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to create a new title, Title XXIII: Preservation of Rural Health Care. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (Secretary) to appoint a Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Health Care to coordinate public and private activities to strengthen the rural health care system, including regional analyses and an information clearinghouse. Requires the Director of the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment to appoint a Rural Health Care Advisory Commission to report annually to the Congress, the Secretary, and the Deputy Under Secretary on access to community-based rural health care. Declares that certain provisions of the Social Security Act relating to staffing, administration, and reporting shall apply in the same way to the Commission as they apply to the Prospective Payment Assessment Commission. Authorizes appropriations to carry out the provisions of this Act relating to the Rural Health Care Advisory Commission for FY 1988 through 1990. Requires the Secretary to include with the publication of certain regulations an analysis of the impact of each regulation on access to rural health care. Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary to make grants for mental health services demonstration projects relating to rural residents. Increases the amount authorized to be appropriated for such projects in FY 1988 and authorizes such increased amount for FY 1989 and 1990. Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary to provide that not less than 25 percent of funds set aside for research and demonstration projects relating to health services delivery or access be used in projects relating to rural areas, except for funds appropriated for the National Institutes of Health or funds first made available before FY 1988.
United States · United States Congress · 22 April 1987
Expresses the sense of the Congress that Medicare (title XVIII of the Social Security Act) reconciliation legislation should take into account the special needs of rural hospitals which are not currently taken into account under the Medicare hospital prospective payment system.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 1987
Amends the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to permit Rural Electrification Administration borrowers to prepay Federal Financing Bank loans without penalties if: (1) private capital is used to replace such loans; and (2) any savings will be used to avoid future rate increases, passed on to customers, or used to improve the borrower's financial strength.
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 1987
Makes permanent the income tax credit for qualified research expenditures by repealing the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code that would terminate such credit for expenses incurred or paid after 1988.
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 1987
Long-Term Care Insurance for the Elderly Act of 1987 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow tax-free distributions from an individual retirement account or an individual retirement annuity for the purchase of long-term care insurance coverage when: (1) the entire amount received is used to buy such insurance for the individual within 90 days of its receipt; and (2) the individual has reached age 59 and one-half by the date of the distribution. Describes the method, based on the taxpayer's adjusted gross income for the taxable year, for determining the applicable percentage of the distribution or payment amount to which tax-free treatment will be accorded. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to submit to the Congress, within one year after this Act's enactment, a proposal for the regulation of long-term care insurance policies, including minimum standards and an evaluation of the various catastrophic and long-term care policies currently available.
![Official portrait of Rep. Rowland, J. Roy [D-GA-8]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/r000481_200.jpg)