United States · United States Congress · 24 May 1989
Requires the Secretary of the Army, when maintaining, repairing, rehabilitating, or reconstructing a water resources project which will result in a change in its configuration, to carry out construction in a manner which will not adversely affect any recreational use. Directs the Secretary to take action as necessary to restore recreational use or provide alternative opportunities for comparable recreational use, if maintenance, repair, rehabilitation, or reconstruction of a water resources project results in a change in the configuration of such project and has an adverse effect on a recreational use. Requires the Secretary to cooperate and consult with the affected Federal, State, and local governments and local interests.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 1989
Amends Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 provisions relating to correctional facility use of surplus property to allow the Administrator of General Services to transfer or convey to any State or nonprofit institution property determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to be required for substance abuse treatment and rehabilitation under an appropriate program approved by the Secretary. Declares that transfers and conveyances under this Act shall be made by the Administrator without monetary consideration to the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 1989
Older Americans' Freedom to Work Act of 1989 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to remove the limitation on the amount of outside income which beneficiaries who have attained retirement age may earn without incurring a reduction in benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 1989
Prohibits a person from being appointed Inspector General of the Department of Defense unless such person has at least ten years of professional experience in accounting, auditing, financial analysis, law, management analysis, public administration, or investigations. Outlines administrative provisions concerning the term, removal, duties, and subpoena power of the Inspector General. Requires the Director of the Defense Contract Audit Agency to report to, and be subject to the supervision of, the Inspector General.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 1989
Department of Defense Audit Improvement Act - Establishes the position of Auditor General (AG) in each of the Departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, to be appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate to be under the supervision of the Secretary of the military department concerned (Secretary). Allows the AG to be removed only by the President. Establishes three Assistant Auditors General of each department, as follows: (1) Assistant Auditor General for Auditing; (2) Assistant Auditor General for Investigations; and (3) Assistant Auditor General for Inspections. Requires the AG to be under the authority, control, and direction of the Secretary with respect to audits, investigations, or inspections relating to: (1) sensitive operational plans; (2) intelligence matters; (3) counterintelligence matters; (4) ongoing criminal investigations by other administrative units relating to national security; and (5) other matters the disclosure of which would constitute a threat to national security. Allows the Secretary to prohibit the AG from initiating, carrying out, or completing any audit, investigation, or inspection if necessary to preserve the national security interests of the United States. Requires certain statements and reports if the Secretary exercises such prohibition. Directs the AG to perform such audit, investigation, and inspection functions as directed by the Secretary. Requires the AG to provide policy direction for such functions within the department. Requires the AG to comply with all standards established by the Comptroller General and the Inspector General of the Department of the Defense (DOD). Requires the AG to perform legislative review and other activities related to promoting economy and efficiency in the department's programs and operations. Requires the AG to inform the Secretary, the Inspector General of DOD, the Secretary of Defense, and the Congress of fraud and other problems, abuses, and deficiencies relating to the administration of programs and operations administered or financed by the department and to recommend corrective action. Directs the AG to avoid duplicative efforts with the Comptroller General and the Inspector General of DOD. Requires the AG to report on criminal violations found. Outlines general administrative powers of the AG with respect to audit, investigative, and inspection functions within the department, including the power to obtain information from other Federal agencies in connection with the performance of such functions. Authorizes the AG to receive and investigate complaints or information from Army employees concerning a possible violation of laws or regulations, mismanagement, waste, abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to the public health and safety. Requires the AG to report to the Inspector General of DOD to aid the Inspector General in the preparation of the semiannual report required under the Inspector General Act of 1978. Requires the AG to cooperate fully with the Inspector General in connection with the performance of any duty or function. Directs the Inspector General to resolve any jurisdictional disputes between the two. Makes conforming amendments and transfers current auditing and investigative functions within the department to the AG within one year after enactment of this Act. Places the position of Auditor General of a military department at level IV of the Executive Schedule. Includes revelations made to any such Auditor General under the whistleblower protection for members of the armed forces. Requires certain transfers of personnel as a result of the establishment of Auditors General within the military departments. Requires the Secretary of Defense to report to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees within 120 days after enactment of this Act on such transfers. Requires amounts requested for the Auditors General of the military departments to be separately identified in the annual budget justification materials submitted to the Congress by the President. Provides that nothing in this Act changes the relationship between the Inspector General of DOD and the entities of the military departments that carry out audits, investigations, and inspections. Requires the President to submit to the Senate, within 90 days after enactment of this Act, nominations for the Auditor General positions of the military departments.
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 1989
Constitutional Amendment - Requires the Congress and the President, prior to each fiscal year, to agree on an estimate of total receipts (except those derived from borrowing) for that fiscal year by enactment of a joint single subject resolution. Prohibits outlays for that year (except those for repayment of debt principal) from exceeding this amount unless the Congress, by a three-fifths roll call vote of each House, authorizes a specific excess of outlays over receipts. Requires a three-fifths roll call vote of each House to increase the public debt. Directs the President to submit a balanced budget to the Congress. Requires the approval of a majority of the total membership of each House by roll call vote before any bill to increase revenue may become law. Waives these provisions when a declaration of war is in effect.
United States · United States Congress · 4 May 1989
Directs the Secretary of Defense and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to establish a joint National Aero-Space Plane program to develop a long-range hypersonic cruise research flight vehicle. Prescribes the respective funding and administrative responsibilities of the Department of Defense and NASA. Directs the Secretary and the Administrator to develop and submit to the Congress a management plan that includes goals, tasks, schedules, and resource procurement strategies.
United States · United States Congress · 4 May 1989
Rural Health Improvement Act of 1989 - Title I: Medicare Program Changes - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to update Medicare payments for inpatient hospital services for FY 1990 by the percentage recommended by the Prospective Payment Assessment Commission with respect to all hospitals located in the respective type of area and by the market basket percentage increase for hospitals in all areas thereafter. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to report recommendations to the Congress, within one year of this Act's enactment: (1) for adjusting Medicare payments for inpatient hospital services so that they reflect differences in the severity of illnesses that are classified within the same diagnosis-related group; (2) to modify hospital area wage factors to reflect, in the case of rural hospitals, wages for professional personnel on a regional, rather than strictly rural, basis and take into account the differential impact of contract labor costs and non-contract labor costs on rural hospitals; and (3) to recalculate standardized Medicare payments for inpatient hospital services using the most current information on hospital costs. Requires the Secretary to annually update area wage factors used in determining what portion of a hospital's costs are attributable to wages. Directs the Secretary to study and report to the Congress, within six months of this Act's enactment, on alternative Medicare reimbursement systems for small rural hospitals. Requires the Prospective Payment Assessment Commission to submit a written review of the preceding reports to the Congress within 60 days of their transmittal to the Congress. Provides additional payments to Medicare-dependent, small rural hospitals up to FY 1992 (when the transition to a single average standardized Medicare payment rate is required to begin), ensuring the coverage of such hospitals' reasonable operating costs for Medicare inpatient hospital services. Requires the recomputation of Medicare sole community hospital payment rates using the most recent information on hospital-specific costs per case and, if greater, national rather than regional prospective payment rates. Includes, in the Secretary's determination as to whether a hospital is a sole community hospital, consideration of the travel time to the nearest alternative source of inpatient care and the number of patients who seek health services which are unavailable in the hospital's area. Establishes the Medicare Geographical Classification Review Board to decide on a rural hospital's application for classification as an urban hospital for Medicare payment purposes. Amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 to require that the Secretary give special attention to grants for demonstration projects establishing new cooperative models for rural health care delivery as part of the grant program assisting small rural hospitals and their communities to adjust to changes in the need for their services. Extends the regional referral center classification of hospitals so classified as of September 30, 1989, and the payment rates applicable to such hospitals under the Medicare program, through FY 1991. Amends title VII (Administration) of the Act to place the Office of Rural Health Care in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health in the Department of Health and Human Services. Requires the Director of the Office of Rural Health Care to establish a program to set policy and make grants with respect to agricultural health and safety. Requires such Director and the Administrator of the Health Care Financing Administration to establish a liaison to coordinate policies concerning rural health under the Social Security Act and under the Public Health Service Act. Title II: Public Health Service Act Programs - Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary to give special emphasis to the health manpower needs of rural areas when assigning National Health Service Corps members to health manpower shortage areas. Requires the Secretary to set aside at least 50 percent of the amounts appropriated for National Health Service Corps scholarship and loan repayment programs for individuals attending nurse practitioner education programs and agreeing to serve in a nurse practitioner health manpower shortage area. Deems the shortage of nurse practitioners to be a sufficient criterion for designating an area, facility, or population group as a health manpower shortage area. Directs the Secretary to establish an agricultural health and safety education and training program. Requires the Secretary to study and report to the Congress, within six months of this Act's enactment, on a model State law providing health insurance to individuals who lack adequate health insurance.
United States · United States Congress · 4 May 1989
Natural Resources Equity Act of 1989 - Provides for the interpretation of certain provisions of the 1837 and 1842 treaties with the Chippewa Indians in a manner which would result in an Indian tribal beneficiary of such treaties not being allocated over ten percent of the safe harvest from any lake or other discrete fishery of Wisconsin. Provides that to the extent the application of such provisions results in a reduced safe harvest allocation, it shall represent a taking of such right. Requires the cost of such right to be determined pursuant to U.S. Claims Court proceedings and borne equally between the State of Wisconsin and the U.S. Government.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 1989
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income any distribution from an individual retirement plan if: (1) the payee has attained age 59 1/2 on or before the date of distribution; and (2) the distribution is used during the taxable year to pay premiums for a long-term health care insurance policy covering necessary diagnostic, preventive, therapeutic, rehabilitative, maintenance, or personal care services for the payee or a spouse meeting the same 59 1/2 year age requirement.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 1989
Amends Internal Revenue Code provisions governing the income tax deduction for the health insurance costs of self-employed individuals to: (1) make the deduction permanent (under current law it will expire after tax year 1989); and (2) phase in an increase in the allowable deduction, reaching 100 percent for taxable years beginning in 1994 and thereafter.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 1989
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from the gross income of an individual otherwise taxable amounts derived from the whole or partial surrender, cancellation, or exchange of any life insurance policy if: (1) the individual is age 65 or older on the date of the transaction; and (2) the amounts in question are used to pay premiums for an insurance policy covering at least 12 months of medically necessary nonemergency care for the individual or a spouse meeting the same 65-year age requirement.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 1989
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend the targeted jobs income tax credit through 1992 (under current law the credit will expire after December 31, 1989). Amends the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 to authorize appropriations through FY 1992 in connection with the targeted jobs credit. Raises from 23 to 25 years the age limitation with respect to economically disadvantaged youth targeted for credit purposes. Adds as a targeted group under the credit economically disadvantaged individuals who have completed a qualified drug rehabilitation program.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 1989
Abrogates any off-reservation, usufructuary right to hunt, fish, and gather granted to any Indian tribe by any treaty, law, executive order, or Federal court order which may be exercised in the State of Wisconsin.
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 1989
Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to provide a duty on time-recorders that are battery or AC powered with opto-electronic display only.
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 1989
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the President should direct the Secretaries of Agriculture and State and the Administrator of the Agency for International Development to encourage the Government of Japan to use a portion of its increased foreign assistance funds to increase the availability of international food aid supplies through bilateral or multilateral channels to meet the needs of the world's hungry people; (2) Japanese aid resources could be channeled to finance long-term contracts to purchase and deliver commodities from the United States and developing country agricultural producers as donations to nongovernmental or international organizations for use in hunger alleviation projects; (3) during such long-term contractual agreement, such purchases of food and agricultural commodities purchased by Japan should be considered as increased importation by Japan of such products for the purposes of U.S. trade laws; (4) during the period of any such purchases by Japan from the United States, the value of U.S. purchases of the same agricultural commodities should be maintained at no less than FY 1989 levels; and (5) the commodities purchased under this program should be donated to organizations equipped to ensure that the food will be available only to projects that meet specified criteria (relating to the proper use of such food aid and the assurances of no negative impact on the agricultural producers in the areas to which the food is sent).
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 1989
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the United States should: (1) give the highest priority to fully accounting for the Americans still missing in Southeast Asia and to negotiating the return of Americans still held captive; (2) maintain an ongoing dialogue with Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Lao officials so that the prisoners of war issue may be resolved; (3) continue joint field investigations with such officials; and (4) heighten public awareness of the prisoners of war issue through the dissemination of factual data.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 1989
Amends the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to require the President to transmit any message proposing a rescission of budget authority to the Congress within three days after enactment of the law providing the budget authority in question. Effects any such proposed rescission unless the Congress, within 45 days, completes action on legislation disapproving the proposal. Prohibits funds made available for obligation by such congressional veto from inclusion in subsequent rescission proposals.
United States · United States Congress · 5 April 1989
Congressional Districting Reform Act of 1989 - Provides for the establishment of redistricting commissions in States entitled to a reapportionment of Representatives. Sets forth requirements to be met by congressional districts established by redistricting commissions, to the extent possible, including that they shall be composed of a contiguous territory in compact form and that their boundaries shall coincide with the boundaries of local political subdivisions.
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1989
Anti-Terrorism Sanctions Act of 1989 - Requires the President to revoke the most-favored-nation trade status of certain foreign countries that repeatedly support international terrorism. Prohibits duty-free treatment for the products of such countries under the Trade Act of 1974 or the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act. Prohibits the Secretary of Commerce from consulting with the governments of such countries regarding international travel and tourism. Allows the President to waive any sanction under this Act with respect to any foreign country if such waiver would be in the best interests of the United States. Requires the President to give 30 days' notice to the Congress concerning any waiver.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1989
Directs the Secretary of Commerce, in tabulating the decennial census for the apportionment of Representatives in Congress, to provide for the inclusion of: (1) members of the uniformed services and civilian employees assigned to posts of duty outside the United States and their dependents residing at or near such posts; and (2) citizens pursuing postsecondary education programs outside the United States. Excludes from the census any alien not lawfully admitted for permanent residence. Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require institutions to provide the Secretary with census information on their students who are studying outside the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1989
International Financial Security Act of 1989 - Amends the Export Administration Act to state congressional findings that loans and other transfers of capital to the Soviet Union and its allies increase the ability of those countries to obtain sensitive goods and technology and to more easily divert funds to purposes inimical to U.S. interests. Declares that it is U.S. policy to use export controls to: (1) restrict the export of capital, the extension of credit, or the transfer of financial resources to destinations or persons abroad in order to promote the national security, including antiterrorism, the foreign policy interests of the United States, the advancement of emigration of Soviet Jews and other ethnic minorities, and human rights policies of the Soviet Union and other East Bloc countries; and (2) restrict the export of goods and technology where such export will likely support terrorism against U.S. citizens or benefit terrorists or countries supporting international terrorism. Authorizes the President to restrict the export or transfer of: (1) goods and technology if such export will likely support terrorism against U.S. citizens or benefit terrorists or countries supporting international terrorism; and (2) money or other financial assets to the governments of Warsaw Pact countries or countries supporting international terrorism. Provides for negotiations with other countries to obtain their cooperation with such export controls on capital, goods, and technology. Requires export license applications for the export of capital to be submitted to the Secretary of the Treasury, who shall make all determinations with respect to such application. Requires the annual report on the administration of the Export Administration Act of 1979 to include a report on actions taken to carry out export controls on capital. Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to require that any notice of a change in control of an insured bank include the nationality of the person or persons making the acquisition. Sets forth criminal penalties for violation of any change in control requirement. Requires Federal banking agencies to disapprove any proposed acquisition which would result in the ownership or control of an insured bank by a Warsaw Pact country or a national agency or instrumentality of any such country. Requires federally-insured banks to include in reports of condition and reports to shareholders, and make available to the public, information concerning the number and amount of each untied loan made to any Warsaw Pact country.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1989
Low Cholesterol Consumer Education Act - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish and publish in proposed form standards regarding dietary fat and cholesterol. Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to set forth labeling requirements with regard to foods which: (1) have a label which includes a statement about vegetable oil or cholesterol content; or (2) contain a vegetable oil.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1989
Includes service in the U.S. merchant marine between May 26, 1940, and January 1, 1948, as military service for the purpose of determining civil service retirement benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1989
Amends the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act, 1930 to require commission merchants, dealers, and brokers to label perishable agricultural commodities with the name of the country of origin.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1989
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the United States should make the space program a national priority, emphasizing leadership in space science, exploration, and commercialization, increased program funding, manned and unmanned space activities, a permanently manned space station, and international cooperation in space.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1989
Resolution on a Plebiscite in Cuba - Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the Cuban people should be allowed to express their view on the country's political future by a secret ballot of approval or rejection of Fidel Castro's continued rule; (2) the Government of Cuba should allow opposition and human rights groups to organize publicly, grant opposition groups equal access to the national media, release all political prisoners, and invite a neutral, international commission to oversee the voting and ensure the legitimacy of the results; (3) should the rejection vote prevail, the regime should respect the will of the people and hold prompt national elections through which the Cuban people could freely choose their leaders; and (4) normalized relations between the Governments of the United States and Cuba should be restored if a democratic Cuban Government is elected by all the people.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 1989
Mandatory Fish Inspection Act of 1989 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture, within one year of enactment of this Act, to initiate a mandatory comprehensive and statistically representative inspection program of the commercial processing of fish, shellfish, and their products used for human consumption.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 1989
Eliminates post-1968 service in the National Guard as a prerequisite to civil service retirement credit for former National Guard technicians. Amends the National Guard Technicians Act of 1968 to eliminate post-1968 service as a prerequisite for National Guard technicians for receipt of credit in the determination of length of Federal civil service for purposes of leave, Federal employees' death and disability compensation, group life and health insurance, severance pay, tenure, and status. Sets forth rules for applying provisions of this Act to affected individuals.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 1989
Constitutional Amendment - Requires Representatives to be apportioned among the States according to their respective numbers, counting the persons in each State who are citizens or lawfully admitted for permanent residence.
United States · United States Congress · 9 March 1989
Radon Gas Tax Relief Act of 1989 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit a 40 percent nonrefundable income tax credit of up to $4,000 for expenditures made for radon testing in or below the taxpayer's principal residence and for the installation of property designed to reduce radon levels inside the residence. Permits an income tax deduction (both individual and corporate) for radon prevention expenditures in connection with real property development, building construction or enlargement, and certain relocation dwellings. Makes the tax credit and the tax deduction mutually exclusive with respect to the same expenditures. Amends Federal law to make funds available for the reimbursement of Federal employees for radon protection expenditures necessary to overcome a substantial obstacle to the salability of a principal residence being sold in conjunction with a transfer to a new location.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1989
General Aviation Standards Act of 1989 - Amends the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 (with respect 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 manufacturer, owner, or operator of a general aviation aircraft, or a person who supports or maintains such aircraft or any other person or governmental entity. Establishes guidelines for uniform standards of liability of general aviation manufacturers for such 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 such an 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. Requires the Secretary of Transportation to report to the Congress, within one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the results of a study determining whether persons awarded damages for general aviation accidents under this Act are unable to collect such damages, and the amount of any uncollectible damages.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1989
Calls upon the Soviet Union and its allies to withhold further military assistance to the Republic of Nicaragua and to withdraw military advisors and support personnel from that country. Calls upon the Republic of Nicaragua to: (1) reverse significantly the growth of its armed forces; (2) work toward a stabilization of the regional military balance and prevent the introduction of advanced weapon systems; and (3) separate the armed forces from the Sandinista political party.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 1989
Prison Industries Reform Act of 1989 - Amends the Federal criminal code to require the value of any property transferred to the Federal Prison Industries to be taken into account as a factor in determining the price in any tender by the Industries of products made through the use of that property or equipment. Requires all overhead to be similarly treated in determining such prices. Eliminates the special privileges accorded the Federal Prison Industries when seeking Government contracts.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 1989
Urban Homestead Act of 1989 - Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to make the tenant ownership program authority permanent. Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to provide financial assistance directly to resident management corporations for homeownership technical assistance. Expands resident management corporation authority to replace purchased public housing units.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 1989
Fairness for Adopting Families Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit an individual income tax deduction for qualified adoption expenses. Includes as deductible all reasonable and necessary expenses that do not violate a Federal or State law and that are directly related to a legal adoption of any child if the adoption has been arranged by a State, local, or other nonprofit agency, or through a private placement. Excludes the deduction from the two percent floor on miscellaneous itemized deductions. Excludes from an employee's gross income any amounts paid on behalf of the employee by an employer pursuant to a qualified adoption assistance program. Limits both the deduction and the exclusion to $5,000 ($7,000 in the case of an international adoption). Reduces the amount when the taxpayer's income exceeds $60,000. Permits an employer to treat an adoption assistance program as a statutory employee benefit plan, thus making the employer's contributions to such a program tax deductible as business expenses.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 1989
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 1992 the period during which qualified mortgage bonds and mortgage credit certificates may be issued. (Under current law, authority for these programs is due to expire as of 1990.)
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 1989
Amends Federal law to continue appropriations automatically if a regular appropriations bill covering a project or activity does not become law by the beginning of a fiscal year. Continues appropriations at the funding level of the preceding fiscal year or, if the relevant Act did not become law, in accordance with criteria prescribed in this Act. Declares it to be out of order in the House of Representatives or in the Senate to consider or to vote on the question of agreeing to any continuing appropriations legislation. Permits a waiver of this restriction in the Senate by a three-fifths vote.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 1989
Urges the President to commence negotiations with the Government of Mexico to conclude a free trade agreement to provide for the mutual elimination or reduction of duties on imports.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1989
RICO Reform Act of 1989 - Amends the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) to include additional predicate offenses within the definition of "racketeering activity," such as prostitution involving minors, computer fraud, and certain activity relating to terrorist acts abroad. Modifies civil remedies provisions of RICO to require U.S. district courts to find proof by a preponderance of the evidence before restraining violations. Authorizes: (1) specified governmental entities whose business or property is injured by conduct in violation of RICO to recover threefold the actual damages to such business or property, plus costs; (2) persons whose business or property is injured by such conduct to recover actual damages, plus costs (and punitive damages of up to twice the actual damages where the plaintiff proves by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant's actions were consciously malicious, or so egregious and deliberate that malice may be implied); (3) such persons to recover threefold the actual damages if any defendant has been convicted of specified Federal or State offenses; and (4) natural persons who suffer serious bodily injury by reason of specified crimes of violence to recover actual damages to such person's business or property, damages sustained by such individual as allowed under State law (excluding pain and suffering), and costs (and, upon proof by clear and convincing evidence that defendant's actions were malicious, up to twice the actual damages). (Current law allows recovery of threefold the damages, plus costs, for persons whose business or property is injured.) Sets forth: (1) statutes of limitation; and (2) procedures for considering affirmative defenses. Permits international service of process. (Current law restricts such service to specified judicial districts within the United States.) Provides for exclusive Federal jurisdiction to hear criminal or civil RICO proceedings. Authorizes recovery beyond actual damages to a person's business or property, where such person would not otherwise be eligible to recover costs under this Act, under specified conditions, including where the judge determines that a limitation of recovery would clearly be unjust.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 1989
Increases from $500 to $50,000 the claim amount the Attorney General may settle in any one case arising from a claim for personal injury, death, or damage to, or loss of, privately owned property caused by any officer or employee of the Federal Bureau of Investigation or other law enforcement component of the Department of Justice acting within the scope of employment. Requires the Attorney General to report annually to the Congress on all such settlements.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 1989
Current Level Enhanced Rescission Act of 1989 - Amends the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to include in any special message the President sends to the Congress in connection with a proposed rescission of budget authority amendatory language to enable the affected programs to continue to function lawfully at the proposed new budget level. Amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to authorize the President, on the same day the President approves any appropriation bill, to transmit to the Senate and the House of Representatives one or more special messages proposing to rescind amounts of budget authority included in the bill. Limits: (1) the amounts subject to rescission (the proposal may not reduce a program below its previous fiscal year level); and (2) each special message to one item of budget authority. Prescribes procedures to govern the expedited treatment of such messages in the Senate and the House of Representatives. Makes any proposed rescission amount available for obligation unless both Houses of Congress agree to the bill or joint resolution accompanying the related special message within 60 days of its transmission.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 1989
Anabolic Steroid Restriction Act of 1989 - Amends the Federal criminal code to provide criminal penalties for knowingly: (1) receiving, depositing, or causing to be deposited or delivered by mail any anabolic steroid or controlled substance for use in humans other than the treatment of disease pursuant to the order of a physician, except as otherwise permitted by law; and (2) using any communication facility in committing, causing, or facilitating a violation of such prohibition. Makes any property involved in a violation of this Act subject to forfeiture.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 1989
Comprehensive Lyme Disease Act of 1989 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants with respect to Lyme disease: (1) through the Director of the National Institutes of Health, for research and treatment; and (2) through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control, for public education. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1990 through 1992.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 1989
Amends the Consumer Credit Protection Act (title VII of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act) to prohibit discrimination by creditors on the basis of the grade of an applicant who is a member of the armed forces.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1989
Social Security Transitional Benefit Computation Act of 1989 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to alter the formula for computing the primary insurance amount of individuals who attain age 65 in or after 1982 and would otherwise be subject to the benefit computation rules of the Social Security Amendments of 1977. Extends the application of such transitional benefit computation rules to those who become eligible for benefits before 1989. (Currently those who become eligible after 1983 are subject to the benefit computation rules of the Social Security Amendments of 1977.)
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1989
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Soviet Union should: (1) continue to abide by the agreement governing the withdrawal of its armed forces from Afghanistan; (2) give all necessary aid and information to assist in the removal of mines deployed in Afghanistan by Soviet and allied Afghan armed forces; (3) provide all funds, equipment, and personnel necessary for such removal; and (4) set aside funds to provide medical care and assistance to those Afghan people injured as a result of, and to pay claims for property damage caused by, mines which were not removed.
![Official portrait of Rep. Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr. [R-WI-5]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/s000244_200.jpg)