United States · United States Congress · 22 May 1986
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow homeowners to deduct the full amount of prepaid interest in connection with the refinancing of their principal residences for the taxable year in which paid.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1986
Amends the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964 to increase from 2.93 percent to five percent the amount allocated in any fiscal year for public transportation projects in non-urbanized areas.
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 1986
Prohibits any regulation which is issued under specified Executive Orders that impose sanctions on Libya from being effective if such regulation would allow U.S. persons to participate in production, marketing, or distribution activities with respect to crude oil produced in Libya.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 1986
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to oppose the admittance of Poland as a member of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) until the Secretary determines that the Government of Poland, with participation of the Solidarity movement, has formulated an economic program that determines how IMF funds will: (1) provide the basis for correcting Poland's balance of payments deficits; (2) reduce the severe constraints on Polish labor and capital mobility; and (3) establish social, political, and economic freedom in Poland.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 1986
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President and the Secretary of State should insist at the Vienna Review Meeting of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, and in discussions with Communist Party and Soviet leaders, that imprisoned and exiled members of the Ukrainian and other Helsinki Monitoring Groups be released and allowed to emigrate to the countries of their choice. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the Secretary of State should ensure that the U.S. consulate in Kiev reports on Soviet human rights violations in the Ukraine; and (2) such information should be included in reports on compliance with the Helsinki Final Act.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1986
Declares that the House of Representatives: (1) condemns the Soviet Union's failure to provide notification and information about the nuclear accident at Chernobyl; and (2) calls upon the Soviet Union to permit outside nuclear experts to assist with the accident and to allow the international press corps to cover the situation.
United States · United States Congress · 23 April 1986
Amends Federal armed forces provisions to direct the Secretary of the military department concerned to conduct an independent operational test and evaluation with respect to a major defense acquisition program under which a major system is to be acquired. Requires such test and evaluation to be conducted before the program may proceed into the production stage. Requires side-by-side testing as part of such test and evaluation. Requires the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation to independently analyze the results of each such operational test and evaluation, and to report such analyses to the Secretary of Defense. Prohibits the operational testing to be conducted until the Director approves in writing the adequacy of the plans for such operational test and evaluation. Authorizes the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary concerned to contract for low-rate initial production of a program only for the purpose of acquiring items for use in operational tests and evaluations. Prohibits a final decision from being made to proceed with full production of a program until 30 days after the congressional defense committees have received the report of the Director. Authorizes the President to suspend any provision of this Act in time of a declared war.
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 1986
Urban Homestead Act of 1986 - Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to provide homeownership and resident management opportunities for public housing families. Requires the formation of a resident management corporation as a condition for such ownership and management. Requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to provide comprehensive improvement assistance to ensure that the physical condition, management, and operation of such projects are sufficient to encourage resident ownership. Directs the Secretary and the responsible public housing agency to provide ownership and management training and technical and educational assistance. Authorizes a homeownership association to purchase a public housing project after the Secretary determines that the association is prepared to manage and maintain the project with continued Federal assistance. Allows an eligible family to purchase a dwelling if the Secretary determines that such purchase will not interfere with the rights of other resident families or harm the efficient operation of the project. Requires the Secretary to continue to pay annual contributions to a project after such a purchase. Limits the purchase price for a project or unit to 25 percent of its fair market value. Lists alternative purchasing arrangements. Directs the agency to assist a purchase by making a loan to a family or association at an interest rate not exceeding 70 percent of the market interest rate. Requires any unit or project purchaser who sells such property before the expiration of five years to pay the public housing agency a specified percentage of the sale price. Prohibits the eviction of any resident family because of the sale of a project to a homeownership association. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) help relocate any family which decides not to purchase its dwelling in a project where other units are purchased; or (2) provide such family with a housing voucher in order to obtain comparable alternative housing.
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 1986
Declares that the House of Representatives, on behalf of the U.S. people, expresses its gratitude to the Government and people of the United Kingdom who assisted the United States in its exercise of self-defense against Libya and in the fight against state-sponsored international terrorism.
United States · United States Congress · 16 April 1986
Expresses the respect and friendship of the Congress for the Australian people and its sense that the United States should contribute to Australia's bicentennial observance in a manner indicative of our respect and affection for that nation.
United States · United States Congress · 15 April 1986
Expresses the sense of the Congress that, in light of specified international human rights agreements, the Soviet Union should approve the exit visa applications of Doctor Naum Meiman and his wife, Inna Kitrosskaya, and arrange for them to go to the country of their choice. Urges the President to: (1) protest the Soviet Government's refusal to consider the exit visa applications of Dr. Meiman and his wife; (2) call upon all other signatory nations of the Helsinki Accords to join in such protest; and (3) instruct the U.S. delegation to the meeting of experts on human contacts organized under the auspices of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, to be held in Bern, Switzerland, to pursue this matter.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 1986
Prohibits the issuance of a letter of offer with respect to specified proposed sales of Sidewinder, Stinger, and Harpoon missiles and services to Saudi Arabia, as described in the April 8, 1986, certifications from the President to the Congress under the Arms Export Control Act.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 1986
Prohibits the proposed sale of integrated avionics system kits (and related defense articles and defense services) to China as contained in a specified certification transmitted by the President to the Congress pursuant to the Arms Export Control Act.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 1986
Prohibits the proposed sale of integrated avionics system kits (and related defense articles and defense services) to China as contained in a specified certification transmitted by the President pursuant to the Arms Export Control Act to the Congress unless the United States sells advanced aircraft to Taiwan.
United States · United States Congress · 8 April 1986
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Farm Credit Administration and its associated agencies and institutions should take additional actions to alleviate the agricultural financial situation, including restructuring, rather than foreclosing, loans.
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1986
Non-Smokers' Protection Act of 1986 - Establishes the policy of the United States to provide an environment free from tobacco smoke to the maximum extent practicable in Government buildings. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Surgeon General, to promulgate regulations to carry out such policy. Requires such regulations, at a minimum, to provide that smoking be prohibited in buildings or building sections occupied by the Government. Authorizes the Secretary to exempt certain limited areas from such restriction and grants precedence to the rights of nonsmokers in any dispute. Requires the posting of signs where smoking is permitted in a building. Directs the Secretary to solicit comments from labor organizations prior to promulgating regulations. Prohibits such regulations from superseding those that provide more stringent restrictions on smoking. Declares that nothing in this Act prevents more stringent regulations from being promulgated.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1986
Employment Opportunities for Disabled Americans Act - Makes permanent provisions which provide benefits under title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) of the Social Security Act for individuals who perform substantial gainful activity despite a severe medical impairment. Removes SSI limitations for the first two months of an individual's stay in a health facility if such individual was eligible for the benefits made permanent by this Act during the month preceding admission to the facility. Requires the district offices of the Social Security Administration to each designate a staff member to implement the program providing benefits to individuals who perform substantial gainful activity despite severe medical impairment. Revises the eligibility requirements for such benefits. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish and implement procedures which provide that whenever an individual is formally notified of his or her SSI eligibility, such individual will also be notified of the availability of assistance under title XIX (Medicaid) of such Act. Directs the Secretary, when any individual receives SSI benefits on the basis of a disability, to notify such individual of his or her potential eligibility for the SSI benefits available for those performing substantial gainful activity despite a severe medical impairment. Directs the Comptroller General to conduct a study of the operation of the SSI section which provides benefits for individuals who perform substantial gainful activity despite a severe medical impairment, with the particular objective of evaluating the work incentive provisions of such section. Requires the Comptroller General to report to the Congress the findings of such study. Provides that when an individual becomes ineligible for SSI benefits upon entitlement to child's insurance benefits under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Act, such individual shall be treated for Medicaid purposes as continuing to receive SSI benefits so long as he or she would otherwise be eligible for such benefits. Authorizes the Secretary to conduct demonstration projects designed to assess the advantages and disadvantages of various work incentive programs under the OASDI and SSI programs. Sets forth reporting requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1986
Telephone Decency Act of 1986 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit any obscene or indecent telephone communication for commercial purposes to any person in the District of Columbia or in interstate or foreign communication. (Current law prohibits such communication to any person without his or her consent or to any person under 18 years of age.)
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1986
Infrastructure Protection Act of 1986 - Prohibits the receipts and disbursements of the Highway Trust Fund (for both the Federal aid highway program and the Mass Transit Account), the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, and the Inland Waterways Trust Fund which are allocable to the transportation-related operations of such Funds from being included in either the Federal budget as submitted by the President, or in the congressional budget. Exempts such Trust Funds from any general statutory budget limitation.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1986
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act and the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the voluntary participation of a church or religious organization (to cover their employees) in the OASDI program.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1986
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) the aspirations of the Angolan people deserve U.S. support; (2) the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) and its leader, Dr. Jonas Malheiro Savimbi, have the right to play a role in the political life of Angola; and (3) the Marxist Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) has violated the rights of the Angolan people. Declares that the MPLA should agree to negotiations which will include UNITA, end the presence of Soviet and Cuban forces in Angola, result in national reconciliation within Angola, and facilitate the independence of Namibia. Urges the President to provide assistance to UNITA in order to promote a political solution and withdrawal of outside forces, and to help UNITA deter and resist continued Soviet, Cuban, and MPLA military escalation.
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1986
Trade Reform and Job Creation Act - Title I: International Trade Policy and Action - Declares that it is U.S. policy for the President to respond to actions by a foreign country that violate the rights of the United States under trade agreements by taking like or similar reciprocal actions against the products or services of that country. Title II: Waiver of Federal Requirements to Stimulate Employment - Authorizes an eligible person, within 90 days of the date the President refuses to take action with respect to a recommended action (a response recommended by the U.S. Trade Representative to an unfair trade practice), to request a Federal agency to waive temporarily any regulation: (1) that is administered by the agency; and (2) the waiver of which will result in the maintenance of, or an increase in, the level of employment in a significant number of the firms that would have benefited from the recommended action. Defines an "eligible person" as a person representing: (1) one or more firms in a U.S. industry that would have benefited if the President had taken the recommended action; or (2) the workers in one or more such firms. Requires the Federal agency, within 60 days of receipt of such request, to: (1) deny the waiver if it will not result in the effect anticipated by the eligible person or if it is not in the national interest; (2) grant the waiver if it will result in the desired effect and is authorized by law; or (3) send a legislative proposal to the Congress to authorize the waiver if the waiver will result in the anticipated effect but is not authorized by law. Provides for expedited consideration of such legislation. Title III: Relief from Import Competition and Unfair Trade through Antitrust Exemptions - Authorizes a person to apply to the Attorney General for exemption from certain antitrust laws. Requires the Attorney General to grant the exemption if: (1) the applicant is an eligible person; (2) the activities covered by the exemption are reasonably related to enhancing competition with foreign competitors to whom market share has been lost, and, considering worldwide competition, outweighs any adverse competitive impact on the domestic market; and (3) the specified action would not violate other antitrust provisions. Defines an "eligible person" as any legal entity that is a member of an industry which: (1) the International Trade Commission found to be seriously injured or threatened with serious injury by increased imports; or (2) was included within the scope of recommended response to an unfair trade practice. Requires the Attorney General to report to the Congress on any exemption granted under this title. Title IV: Fair Competition in Foreign Commerce - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to prohibit a multiple customs law offender from: (1) introducing, or attempting to introduce, foreign goods or services into U.S. commerce; and (2) engaging or attempting to engage any other person to make such introduction or attempt. Defines a "multiple customs law offender" as any person who is convicted of, or penalized for, three separate customs violations during a period of ten consecutive years. Requires all fees collected from penalties imposed under this title to be placed in a Deficit Reduction Fund in the Treasury. Title V: Exemption from Cargo Preference Laws for Agricultural Export Programs - Prohibits any agricultural commodity exports from being subject to certain cargo preference requirements. Title VI: Exportation of Alaskan Petroleum and Natural Gas to Japan if Certain Reciprocal Concessions Are Granted - Authorizes the President to enter into negotiations with Japan on a trade agreement under which the United States will permit the exportation to Japan of Alaskan petroleum and natural gas in return for substantial concessions by Japan regarding the importation into Japan of certain exports important to the United States. Title VII: Textile and Apparel Trade Policy and Negotiating Objectives - Sets forth the U.S. objectives in any negotiations relating to the Multi-Fiber Arrangement and the conditions of the domestic textile and apparel industries.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1986
Provides that any requirement to substantiate a deduction under the Internal Revenue Code with respect to the business use of a vehicle must be based on regulations in effect before the Tax Reform Act of 1984.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 1986
Makes various recommendations to States regarding the availability of medical care and the resolution of medical malpractice claims, including: (1) reforming State tort law to place caps on the recovery of noneconomic losses in medical malpractice suits and proportioning financial liability based on comparative fault; (2) strengthening State agencies which license, certify, and discipline health care professionals; (3) implementing risk management programs; (4) requiring hospitals to confirm the credentials and work history of physicians; (5) reforming State contract law to enforce agreements to forego malpractice litigation in favor of alternative dispute resolution procedures; and (6) strengthening State insurance regulations to protect consumers.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 1986
Long-Term Care Patients' Rights Act of 1986 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to require States to establish written standards and procedures protecting and enforcing the rights of residents of long-term care facilities. Lists residents' rights encompassing: (1) medical care and treatment rights, including the right to be fully informed of one's condition and treatment, if such knowledge is not medically detrimental, and participate in planning such treatment; (2) the right to privacy during treatment and visits; (3) the right of confidentiality regarding one's personal records and mail; (4) freedom of association, including both the right to organize and to refuse to participate in group activities; (5) medical experimentation rights, requiring residents to give informed, voluntary, and written consent before involvement in such experimentation; (6) freedom from physical and mental abuse, including the right to refuse to work for the facility and the right to retain personal possessions; and (7) the right to manage, and remain informed of, one's personal financial affairs. Prohibits long-term care facilities from denying admission to, transferring, or discharging residents on the basis of the residents' source of payment for services, or medical history or condition (if the facility can adequately care for such condition). Prohibits resident transfers or discharge for nonmedical reasons without the resident's consent and reasonable notice, unless the resident is a threat to others or does not pay charges. Directs each long-term care facility, at specified times, to provide each resident with an oral, written, and understandable explanation of: (1) the resident's rights and responsibilities; (2) facility rules and regulations; and (3) services available in the facility. Requires public notice of such information as well as information concerning State procedures for enforcing residents' rights. Requires States to annually submit a written plan to the Secretary of Health and Human Services concerning State procedures for protecting and enforcing residents' rights. Specifies the State and community organizations responsible for developing the State plans. Requires State plans to provide for: (1) a procedure for the expeditious review and resolution of residents' complaints by each long-term care facility and by the State, when complaints are not satisfactorily resolved by the facility; (2) a process by which residents and facilities may appeal adverse complaint decisions; (3) a State ombudsman with the responsibility to receive, file, and investigate residents' complaints; (4) programs by which facilities educate their staff regarding residents' rights, facility rules and regulations, and complaint review procedures; and (5) a statewide uniform reporting and recording system of all rights violation complaints and their disposition, as well as a system for reporting cases of resident abuse or neglect so that designated State officials can redress such abuse. Provides that the rights and recourses set forth in this Act are nonexclusive. Requires States to prohibit Medicaid providers from discriminating against, or giving preference to, individuals merely because they receive Medicaid assistance. Creates a private right of action whereby Medicaid applicants and recipients may enforce, in Federal district courts, Federal laws and regulations protecting their welfare and rights.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1986
Authorizes and requests the President to present, on behalf of the Congress, gold medals to Anatoly and Avital Shcharansky in recognition of their supreme dedication and total commitment to human rights and freedoms. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to determine the design of the medals. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary to sell bronze duplicates of the medals.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1986
Authorizes the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution to plan, design, and construct facilities for the National Air and Space Museum at Washington Dulles International Airport for expansion of the Museum. Authorizes the Board of Regents to receive and use private donations for carrying out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1986
Expresses the House of Representatives' support for the democratic aspirations of the Haitian people and calls upon the Government of Haiti to establish an electoral process culminating in free elections not later than six months after enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1986
Diplomatic Security Act - Title I: Diplomatic Security - Directs the Secretary of State (the Secretary) to develop and implement policies and programs to: (1) protect all civilian U.S. employees on official duty abroad and their dependents; (2) establish and operate security functions at all civilian U.S. missions abroad; (3) establish and operate security functions at all State Department facilities in the United States; and (4) protect foreign missions, international organizations, foreign officials, and other foreign persons in the United States. Requires other Federal agencies to cooperate with the State Department. Requires an Assistant Secretary of State to head the Bureau of Diplomatic Security of the State Department. Increases the number of Assistant Secretaries of State from 14 to 15. Requires the State Department's Diplomatic Security Service to be headed by a Director designated by the Secretary. Sets forth the qualifications for the Director of the Diplomatic Security Service and for other personnel of the Diplomatic Security Service. Title II: Performance and Accountability - Requires the Secretary to convene an Accountability Review Board whenever there is serious injury, loss of life, or significant destruction of property at or related to a U.S. mission abroad unless there are clearly no security or breach of duty issues involved. Sets forth administrative provisions relating to the Board. Requires the Board to determine whether: (1) there are reasonable grounds to believe the injury, loss of life, or property damage was security-related; and (2) there is reasonable cause to believe that a breach of duty by a U.S. employee contributed to such injury, loss of life, or destruction of property. Directs the Board to make recommendations to the Secretary on programs or operations subject to this Act which the Board has reviewed. Provides for disciplinary proceedings and certain agency actions with respect to U.S. employees who the Board finds reasonable cause to believe contributed to the injury, loss of life, or property destruction because of their breach of duty. Title III: Authorization of Appropriations - Authorizes appropriations to the State Department for FY 1986 through 1990 for: (1) the purposes of this Act; and (2) antiterrorism research and development. Requires the State Department Foreign Buildings Office to use American contractors to the maximum extent possible in implementing any foreign building program funded by this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1986
Child Abuse Victims Rights Act of 1986 - Amends the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Statute to extend its coverage to the sexual exploitation of children. Authorizes a civil suit for treble damages for any persons injured personally or in their business or property by violations of RICO relating to the sexual exploitation of children. Amends the Federal criminal code to provide a mandatory life sentence for any person who kidnaps an individual under the age of 18. Imposes the death penalty in any case where such victim dies as a result of the kidnapping. Increases the penalties for offenses involving the sexual exploitation of children. Provides for a mandatory minimum sentence for second offenders. Extends the statute of limitations for certain offenses involving the sexual exploitation of children. Requires the Attorney General, within one year, to submit a report to the Congress recommending possible changes in the Federal Rules of Evidence, the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and other courtroom prosecutorial and investigative procedures which would facilitate the participation of child witnesses in cases involving child abuse and sexual exploitation. Specifies a list of considerations including: (1) the use of closed-circuit cameras, two-way mirrors, and other out-of-court statements; (2) the use of judicial discretion to circumscribe the use of harassment or confusing questions; (3) the use of videotape in investigations; (4) the possibility of streamlining investigative procedures; and (5) improved training of prosecutorial and investigative staff in the special problems of child witnesses. Requires the Attorney General to modify the classification system used by the National Crime Information Center in its Interstate Identification Index, and by the Identification Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with respect to offenses involving the sexual exploitation of children, to include the age of the victim and the relationship of the victim to the offender. Requires such classification to use a uniform definition of a child.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1986
Amends the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 to prohibit the Export-Import Bank from guaranteeing, insuring, or extending credit in connection with any export of goods or services to Angola until the President certifies to the Congress that no Cuban military personnel or military personnel from any other controlled country remain in Angola.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1986
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the United States, in cooperation with other members of the international donor community, should call upon the Ethiopian Government to recognize that resources donated for famine relief should be used for that purpose and not diverted to resettlement efforts; (2) such forced resettlements by the Ethiopian Government should be halted and monitored by the United Nations (U.N.); (3) the Ethiopian Government should commit sufficient resources to move food and relief goods to meet the needs of its people; and (4) the U.N. should insist on free access to resettlement sites for international observers and the news media and report on conditions in the resettlement camps.
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 1986
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the President should award the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously to Michael J. Smith, Francis R. Scobee, Ronald E. McNair, Ellison S. Onizuka, Sharon Christa McAuliffe, Gregory B. Jarvis, and Judith A. Resnik, all of whom died in the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger.