United States · United States Congress · 10 June 1993
Reimbursement for Assistance to the Former Soviet Union Act - Directs the President to encourage those independent states of the former Soviet Union capable of providing eventual reimbursement to the United States for economic and development assistance to enter into negotiations to reach agreements outlining reimbursement. Requires the President, in carrying out development and economic assistance provisions of the Foreign Assistance Act, to conduct a study of: (1) the resources in each of the independent states and the prospective revenue from such resources; (2) the possible use of barter or exchange of such resources as methods of reimbursement; and (3) the collateralization of loan and investment guarantees provided by the U.S. Government for project financing in such states using such resources or prospective revenues.
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 1993
Prison Litigation Relief Act of 1993 - Amends the Federal judicial code to require a district court, in any action challenging the constitutionality of conditions of confinement in any correctional instituion, that finds that a condition of confinement violates the Constitution, to narrowly tailor any relief to fit the nature and extent of the violation and to make an order no more intrusive than necessary to remedy the violation. Denies the court jurisdiction to: (1) impose a ceiling on the population of any institution or to require any adjustment of the release dates of inmates; or (2) prohibit the use of tents or prefabricated structures for housing inmates. Specifies that: (1) no consent decree in any such action shall provide relief greater than the minimum required to bring conditions of confinement into substantial compliance with the Constitution; and (2) in entering a consent decree, the court shall make a written finding to that effect (permits the court to recommend changes if it appears that the relief provided is greater than the minimum required). Permits the court, upon motion of a defendant at any time, to conduct a hearing on whether such an order or decree should be modified in light of: (1) changed factual circumstances; (2) a change or clarification of the governing law; (3) a succession in office of an official responsible for having consented to a decree; (4) the Government's financial constraints or any other matter affecting public safety or the public interest; or (5) specified grounds under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Directs the court: (1) to conduct such a hearing if the motion was filed more than one year after the date of the order or decree or the date on which the last previous modification hearing was conducted, whichever is later; and (2) if the court denies a motion to modify such an order or consent decree, to make a written finding that the relief provided is no greater than the minimum required.
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 1993
Child Support Enforcement Act - Declares that nothing in this Act should be construed to affect the right of an individual or State to receive child support payments or the obligation of an individual to pay child support. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require any taxable unpaid child support payments of a taxpayer to be treated as amounts includible in gross income by reason of the discharge of indebtedness of the taxpayer. Allows a deduction for subsequently made payments. Allows a nonbusiness bad debt deduction for unpaid child support payments. Limits such deduction to $5,000 per child. Allows such deduction to taxpayers whose gross income does not exceed $5,000 and who are owed payments of at least $500. Requires payments to be delinquent during the entire taxable year. Provides a cost-of-living adjustment for amounts under this Act. Requires subsequent payments to be included in the gross income of the recipient. Requires net revenues from this Act to be applied to the retirement of outstanding public debt obligations.
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 1993
Veterans' Compensation Rates Amendments of 1993 - Increases as of December 1, 1993, the rates of veterans' disability compensation, additional compensation for veterans' dependents, the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans, dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) for surviving spouses and children, and supplemental DIC for disabled adult children.
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 1993
Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to reinstate the eligibility of certain nonaccredited institutions of higher education for financial assistance programs.
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 1993
Amends the Social Security Act to require States to provide information on overdue child support obligations of absent parents to consumer reporting agencies. (Currently, States must meet such requirement only upon the request of such agencies.) Eliminates the authority of the States to impose a fee for furnishing such information.
United States · United States Congress · 8 June 1993
Constitutional Amendment - Grants the people of the United States the power to propose and enact laws, except with respect to carrying out the constitutional powers granted to the Congress. Prohibits the people of the United States from proposing amendments to the Constitution. Sets forth provisions relating to: (1) the signed petition containing the text of the proposed law; (2) presidential certification of the validity of the signatures on such petition; and (3) placing the petition on the ballot at the next general election held for choosing Members of the House of Representatives. Requires the proposed law to be enacted upon receiving a majority of the number of electoral votes. Establishes guidelines for determining the number of electoral votes for each State (including the District of Columbia). Provides that such enacted law shall be the same as any other Federal law, except that any law to repeal or amend such enacted law within two years after its effective date must receive an affirmative roll call vote of two-thirds of the Members of each House. Prohibits the people from enacting a law that the Constitution forbids the Congress to enact.
United States · United States Congress · 27 May 1993
Amends the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act to revise conditions for regulation of certain types of gaming activities on Indian lands. Revises such conditions with respect to the regulation of Class II and Class III gaming activities to specify that these shall be limited to the specific forms of, and methods of play for, those gaming activities expressly authorized by the law of the State. Excludes video bingo from the definition of class II gaming. Includes video bingo, and any other forms of electronic video games or devices, as well as slot machines, within the definition of class III gaming. Shifts the burden of proof from a State to an Indian tribe in a compact negotiation-related action initiated by a tribe. Increases the membership of the National Indian Gaming Commission. Includes, under provisions for determining whether gaming activities on newly acquired Indian lands are to be allowed, consideration of communities across State borders that would be seriously affected, as well as consultation with officials of such communities.
United States · United States Congress · 27 May 1993
Bosnia-Hercegovina Self-Defense Act of 1993 - Directs the President to terminate the U.S. arms embargo of the Government of Bosnia-Hercegovina upon receipt of a request from such government for assistance in exercising its right of self-defense under the United Nations Charter. Authorizes the President to direct the drawdown of defense articles and services and military education and training to provide assistance to Bosnia-Hercegovina if it makes such request. Limits the amount of such assistance. Bars members of the U.S. armed forces who provide such assistance from performing combatant duties outside of the United States. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 27 May 1993
Expresses opposition to holding the Olympic Summer Games in the year 2000 in the People's Republic of China. Urges the International Olympic Committee to find another, more suitable venue for the Games. Urges the U.S. Representative to the Committee to vote against holding the Games in China.
United States · United States Congress · 27 May 1993
Declares that it is the Congress' intent that the Secretary of Transportation, in negotiating under the auspices of the Land Transportation Standards Committee established under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), shall not weaken U.S. truck safety standards by increasing truck sizes and weights or by compromising such standards as truck driver hours of service, front brake and other safety equipment requirements, and the truck driver record system.
United States · United States Congress · 26 May 1993
Gaming Integrity and State Law Enforcement Act of 1993 - Amends the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act to increase the membership of the National Indian Gaming Commission. Grants the Commission the authority to approve certain tribal gaming regulations. Revises conditions for regulation of Class II and Class III gaming activities on Indian lands. Limits gaming to the specific forms of, and methods of play for, those gaming activities expressly authorized by the law of the State. Revises provisions with respect to Class II licensing of persons other than Indian tribes. Places a moratorium on Tribal-State gaming compacts. Excludes video bingo from the definition of Class II gaming. Includes video bingo, and any other forms of electronic video games or devices, as well as slot machines, within the definition of Class III gaming. Shifts the burden of proof from a State to the United States in a compact negotiation action initiated by the United States on behalf of a tribe. Sets forth restrictions with respect to gaming on after-acquired lands (with a special provision for lands in Oklahoma). Subjects Indian gaming establishments to specified reporting and recordkeeping requirements. Requires the Attorney General to conduct specified background investigations of directors, financial backers, and key employees of Class III establishments. Amends Federal law to apply State gambling laws to Indian lands to the same extent that they apply to non-Indian lands. Grants the United States exclusive jurisdiction over related criminal prosecutions, with specified exceptions.
United States · United States Congress · 26 May 1993
Comprehensive Recycling Act of 1993 - Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to provide technical assistance and guidance to States on recycling methods and opportunities. Directs States to develop and implement comprehensive multimaterial recycling programs. Requires such programs to be designed to provide at least 20 percent of a State's population with an opportunity to participate in such programs within two years of this Act's enactment. Provides that such programs must be available to an additional 20 percent of a State's population every two years, until the entire population is provided with such opportunity. Requires States to include recycling programs in the solid waste plan required by the Solid Waste Disposal Act. Makes States with approved plans eligible for Federal grants for recycling programs. Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to require the Administrator to make grants to States for implementing recycling programs.
United States · United States Congress · 26 May 1993
Designates July 25 through 31, 1993, as National Week of Recognition and Remembrance for Those Who Served in the Korean War. Authorizes the President to urge U.S. departments and agencies, interested organizations, groups, and individuals to fly the American flag at half-staff on July 27, 1993, in honor of the Americans who died as a result of their service in Korea.
United States · United States Congress · 25 May 1993
Foreign Aid Impact Assessment Act - Requires the President to submit triennially to the Congress a report (on a country-by-country basis) analyzing the impact and effectiveness of U.S. economic assistance provided during the preceding three fiscal years. Requires that each report: (1) be submitted to the Congress as a separate document; and (2) identify those countries in which economic assistance has been most and least successful, explain why the assistance was not more successful, and specify what the United States has done as a result.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 1993
Federal Law Enforcement Officers Protection Act of 1993 - Amends the Federal criminal code to provide for imposition of the death penalty for the murder of Federal law enforcement officials. Sets forth procedures for determining whether a death sentence is justified. Lists mitigating factors (which include impaired capacity, duress, minor participation, and lack of foreseeability) and aggravating factors (which include death during commission of another crime, involvement of a firearm or previous conviction of violent felony involving a firearm, previous conviction of specified serious offenses, and continuing criminal enterprise involving drug sales to minors). Provides for the conduct of a special hearing. Directs the court to instruct the jury that it shall not consider the race, color, religious beliefs, national origin, or sex of the defendant or any victim in making its determination. Sets forth provisions regarding review and implementation (including the use of State facilities) of a death sentence. Prohibits such sentence from being carried out upon a pregnant woman or a person who is mentally retarded or lacks the mental capacity to understand the death penalty and why it was imposed. Prohibits any employee of a State department of corrections, the U.S. Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, or the U.S. Marshals Service from being required to attend or participate in any prosecution or execution if it is contrary to the employee's moral or religious convictions.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 1993
Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to revise or add to the guaranteed student loan program (also known as the Stafford Loan or the Federal Family Education Loan Program) with respect to: (1) in-school and grace period interest rate limits; (2) loan transfer fees; (3) decrease of guaranty agency reinsurance percentage; (4) required risk sharing by the Student Loan Marketing Association; (5) shares of post-default collections; (6) decrease of administrative cost allowances; (7) reinsurance fees; (8) parent loan (PLUS) amount limits and multiple disbursement requirements; (8) reduction and limitation of consolidation loan interest rates; (9) limitation of interest subsidy during deferment; (10) insurance fees from lenders; (11) longer periods for default determinations; (12) special allowances on tax exempt funds and purchase premiums; (13) origination fees from lenders; (14) the lender-of-last-resort requirement; (15) Student Loan Marketing Association alternative status study; and (16) repayment options (including income sensitive) availability and information.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 1993
Common Sense Amendments for All Endangered Species Act - Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 with respect to: (1) wildlife management effects evaluation; (2) fish and wildlife conservation and management projects; (3) sport hunting; (4) foreign laws; and (5) subspecies and population criteria. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a specified funding augmentation study.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 1993
Highway Construction Private Investment Act of 1993 - Directs the Secretary of Transportation to permit Federal participation in initial construction of any toll highway, bridge, or tunnel on the Interstate System and in the reconstruction of a toll-free Federal-aid highway on the Interstate System and its conversion to a toll facility. Requires each State, to avoid having specified Federal highway funds withheld from apportionment, to enter into contracts with private persons to finance construction of toll facilities which require such persons to obligate under such contracts, in the aggregate, an amount equal to or exceeding the State's aggregate apportionment amount for the fiscal year. Sets forth provisions regarding the reapportionment of withheld funds.
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 1993
Pornography Victims Protection Act of 1993 - Amends the Federal criminal code with respect to the prohibition against the sexual exploitation of children to add as a condition triggering Federal penalties that the person concerned knows that a minor was transported in interstate or foreign commerce for the purpose of producing pornography. Makes it a criminal offense for any person to coerce, intimidate, or fraudulently induce an individual 18 years or older to engage in any sexually explicit conduct for the purposes of producing any visual depiction of such conduct. Grants the U.S. district courts jurisdiction to prevent and restrain violations of this Act. Authorizes the Attorney General or any person threatened with loss or damage by such conduct to institute a civil suit. Provides for treble damages for a victim who suffers physical injury, emotional distress, or property damage. Imposes civil penalties for violation of the prohibition against sexual exploitation of children.
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 1993
Maritime Security and Competitiveness Act of 1993 - Amends the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 to modify the Act's purposes, including ensuring the existence of a U.S.-documented fleet of the best-equipped, safest, and most modern vessels (currently, the best-equipped, safest, and most suitable type of vessels, constructed in the United States). Establishes the Maritime Security Fleet of active commercial vessels to enhance sea lift capabilities and maintain a presence in international commercial shipping of U.S.-documented vessels. Conditions Fleet enrollment on the vessel owner or operator having an operating agreement with the Secretary of Transportation. Regulates agreements with regard to vessels covered by an operating differential subsidy (ODS) contract. Regulates terms, including requiring annual payments by the Secretary to each contractor and that the vessel be made available in time of war or national emergency or as needed for national security, to be compensated at commercial rates. Restricts noncontiguous trade. Authorizes appropriations. Makes amounts available but unneeded for ODSs available for operating agreement payments. Prohibits new ODS contracts. Exempts bulk cargo vessels for which construction-differential subsidies (CDSs) have been paid from certain CDS operating restrictions when ODS contracts terminate. Relieves a contractor, under specified circumstances, from the application of provisions relating to: (1) ODS operating restrictions; (2) operation of competing foreign-flag vessels; (3) practices regarding coastwise service, salaries, officers, and employees; and (4) ODS essential service requirements. Prohibits formal orders continuing ODS payments for vessels over 25 years old. Revises definitions of: (1) "foreign commerce," "foreign trade," and "citizen of the United States" as they apply to the Act; and (2) "privately owned United States-flag commercial vessel" as it applies to provisions regarding transportation in American vessels of Government personnel and certain cargoes. Removes restrictions regarding: (1) mortgagees from provisions setting forth requirements for a vessel mortgage to qualify as a preferred mortgage; and (2) parties serving as trustees of mortgaged vessel interests. Amends the Shipping Act, 1916 to remove restrictions on mortgaging of a documented vessel to a non-U.S. citizen. Requires allowing a documented vessel to be placed under foreign registry if its owner documents at least one replacement vessel. Amends the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 to declare that the collective bargaining representative for officers or crew is an interested party in, and has standing to challenge, any proposed or final order, action, or rule of the Secretary under the Act. Mandates a study on the international competitiveness of U.S.-documented vessels.
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 1993
Amends rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives to allow meetings of the standing committees and subcommittees to be closed to the public only if disclosure of matters to be considered would endanger national security or would tend to defame, degrade, or incriminate any person. Repeals provisions making the coverage of committee hearings and meetings by television broadcast, radio broadcast, or still photography a privilege made available by the House. Requires proceedings of open committee hearings or meetings to be open to television broadcast, radio broadcast, and still photography, or by any of such method of coverage. Prohibits a committee or subcommittee chairman from limiting the number of television or still cameras below two representatives from each medium.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 1993
Native American Veterans' Memorial Establishment Act of 1993 - Authorizes the National Museum of the American Indian to design, construct, and maintain a National Native American Veterans' Memorial. Locates the Memorial on the same site as the National Museum of the American Indian. Provides for funding of the Memorial through private donations. States that the United States shall not pay any of the Memorial's establishment expenses, other than providing the location. Defines "Native American" as an Indian, a Native Hawaiian, and an Alaska Native.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 1993
Commends: (1) the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the West African Economic Community Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) for their efforts to provide a regional approach toward ending the civil war in Liberia; and (2) ECOMOG for its efforts to secure areas of Liberia in order to ensure that critical humanitarian assistance reaches the needy masses. Supports ECOMOG in its efforts to combat, disarm, and encamp National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) forces and all other armed factions for the purpose of ending the civil war and calling for free and fair elections in Liberia in accordance with the Yamoussoukro Accords. Endorses United Nations (UN) Security Council Resolutions 788 and 813 relating to peacekeeping efforts in Liberia. Welcomes the appointment of Trevor Livingston Gordon-Somers as the Secretary General's Special Representative on Liberia. Encourages the UN and the international community to take concrete steps to support ECOWAS to implement the Accords. Urges: (1) the President to become more actively involved in assisting ECOWAS in its effort to promote a peaceful resolution and to implement the Accords; and (2) the President, the UN, and the international community to continue to support ECOWAS in its effort to provide a regional approach to peaceful conflict resolution in West Africa.
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 1993
Negotiated Rates Act of 1993 - Amends Federal transportation law to authorize persons against whom a claim is made by a motor carrier of property (other than a household goods carrier), or by a nonhousehold goods freight forwarder for the collection of rates or charges in addition to the rates originally collected by such carrier or freight forwarder, to elect to satisfy such claim pursuant to a specified formula upon showing that the carrier or forwarder is no longer transporting property or is transporting property for the purpose of avoiding application of this Act. Requires that the claimant have been offered a rate other than the one legally on file with the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC), have tendered freight in reasonable reliance upon the offered rate, the carrier or forwarder did not properly or timely file a tariff for the rate or failed to execute a valid contract for transportation services, such rate was collected by the carrier or forwarder, and the carrier or forwarder demands additional payment of a higher rate filed in a tariff. Shortens the statute of limitations for the filing of claims: (1) by a motor common carrier or freight forwarder for recovery of transportation or service charges; and (2) by any person to recover overcharges by a motor carrier. Permits motor carriers and shippers to resolve by mutual consent, subject to ICC review and approval, any overcharge and undercharge claims resulting from billing errors or incorrect tariff provisions arising from the inadvertent failure to properly and timely file and maintain agreed upon rates, rules, or classifications. Prohibits a tariff filed with the ICC from being held invalid solely on the basis that it uses a numerical or alpha account code to designate customers or describe the applicability of rates. Requires a motor contract carrier to enter into a written agreement (separate from a bill of lading or receipt) for the provision of transportation services. Sets forth both civil and criminal penalties for violations of this requirement. Requires the ICC to issue regulations prohibiting any motor carrier from reducing a rate set forth in its tariff or contract for any person but the one paying for the transportation service. Sets forth civil penalties. Grants the ICC jurisdiction to resolve disputes arising with respect to certain motor carriers as to whether transportation is provided as a motor common carrier or as a motor contract carrier. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to arrange with the Transportation Research Board to study and report to specified congressional committees on: (1) the public benefits of tariff rate filings by motor carriers of property with the ICC; (2) the extent to which such filing system is used by shippers; (3) the difficulty and cost of determining rates for transportation services under such system; and (4) the number of actions brought before the ICC with respect to such rates.
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 1993
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish a maximum small business tax rate for individuals, partnerships, S corporations, or other pass-through entities with average gross receipts of not more than $5 million for a three-year tax period.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 1993
ESOP Promotion and Improvement Act of 1993 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow S corporations (certain small business corporations) to participate in employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs). Permits ESOP participants whose compensation does not exceed a certain amount to contribute up to 50 percent of it to the plan. Allows ESOP closely-held corporate sponsors to pay estate tax if an estate transferred the stock of the corporation to an ESOP. Allows the deductibility of ESOP dividends in computing alternative minimum tax. Excludes from gross income transfers of qualified securities in connection with the performance of services if such securities are sold to an ESOP within 60 days of the taxable event.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 1993
Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to establish in the Treasury the Textile Machinery Modernization Fund. Appropriates to such fund revenues from customs duties imposed on textile machinery and parts imported into the United States in order to provide grants for research projects for the modernization of the U.S. textile machinery industry.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 1993
Authorizes the President to present to Red Skelton, on behalf of the Congress, a gold medal in recognition of his performance as an entertainer and humanitarian. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to strike a gold medal with suitable emblems and to strike and sell bronze duplicates of it. Declares such medals national medals. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 5 May 1993
Medical Injury Compensation Fairness Act of 1993 - Deems each individual or entity receiving health care services for which payment may be made in whole or in part with funds provided under a Federal program to have entered into an agreement to resolve any medical malpractice liability claim through a certified State or Federal dispute resolution system. Requires any such entity to bring any medical malpractice liability action that arises from a claim resolved through such system only in accordance with specified procedures. Denies a tax deduction for health insurance expenses to any employer not having in effect such an agreement with respect to the resolution of medical malpractice claims.
United States · United States Congress · 5 May 1993
United States-China Act of 1993 - Prohibits the President from recommending for a 12-month period in 1994 continuation of a waiver of human rights and emigration requirements for nondiscriminatory treatment (most-favored-nation treatment) for China under the Trade Act of 1974 unless the President reports to the Congress that China has: (1) taken steps to adhere to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in China and Tibet and allowed the unrestricted emigration of Chinese citizens who desire to leave for reasons of political or religious persecution; (2) accounted for and released prisoners who dissented in Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989, and other citizens detained for the nonviolent expression of their political beliefs or the exercise of internationally guaranteed rights of freedom of speech, association, and assembly; (3) not supported or administered any program of coercive abortion or involuntary sterilization; and (4) prevented the export to the United States of products manufactured by convict or forced labor. Requires such report to state whether China has made significant process in: (1) ceasing religious persecution in China and Tibet (including ceasing to threaten the survival of the Tibetan culture) and releasing religious leaders incarcerated as a result of the expression of their religious beliefs; (2) ceasing unfair trade practices which restrict American business; (3) providing U.S. exporters fair access to Chinese markets, including lowering tariffs, removing nontariff barriers, and increasing the purchase of U.S. goods and services; (4) adhering to the Missile Control Technology Regime, the Nuclear Suppliers Group controls, and the Australian Group on Chemical and Biological Arms controls; (5) adhering to the Joint Declaration on Hong Kong; (6) accounting for U.S. military personnel listed as prisoners of war or missing in action with respect to the Korean and Vietnam conflicts; (7) ceasing the jamming of Voice of America broadcasts; and (8) providing humanitarian groups access to prisoners and places of detention. Requires the President, if he recommends such extension, to report on the extent of China's compliance with the above-mentioned objectives. Grants nondiscriminatory treatment to products produced by nonstate-owned enterprises in China. Declares that despite China's entry into the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), most-favored-nation treatment shall not automatically be conferred on Chinese products unless China satisfies the above-mentioned conditions. Requires the President, if he decides not to seek such extension, to ensure that members of the GATT take similar action with respect to China.
United States · United States Congress · 5 May 1993
Amends the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1993 to make State workers' compensation laws the exclusive remedy for agricultural worker injuries under the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act for all cases in which a final judgment has not been entered before October 6, 1992.
United States · United States Congress · 4 May 1993
Amends the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 and the Defense Authorization Amendments and Base Closure and Realignment Act to require the Secretary of Defense, before any action is taken with respect to the disposal or transfer of real property at a military facility being closed or realigned, to notify the State and each local government in which the facility is located, as well as other interested persons, of the suitability of the property or facility for conversion and use as a youthful offender boot camp. Requires the State, local government, or interested party to whom such real property is so transferred to certify that the property or facilities will be promptly converted and used for such purpose. Directs the Secretary to develop a model program intended to incorporate military basic training, instruction, and disciplinary procedures into the design and operation of youthful offender boot camps at the Federal, State, and local levels. Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to reallocate between public agencies and private nonprofit organizations the percentage of grant funds authorized under such Act for correctional options that provide alternatives to traditional modes of incarceration and offender release programs.
United States · United States Congress · 4 May 1993
Calls for the U.S. Trade Representative to insist that any trade agreement negotiated pursuant to the Uruguay Round must provide U.S. copyright-based industries with: (1) fair and equal access to the markets of the nations that are party to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade; (2) equal opportunities to obtain government funding; (3) adequate and effective copyright protection, including full national treatment and recognition of contractual rights; and (4) a mechanism to resolve expeditiously disputes concerning market access, national treatment, and copyright protection.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1993
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Tax Relief for Families Title II: Family Savings Incentives Subtitle A: Increase in Income Limitations for Deductible IRA Contributions; Increase in IRA Contribution Limits; Penalty-Free Withdrawals for Home Ownership, Education, and Medical Expenses Subtitle B: Exclusion for Employer-Provided Educational Assistance to Include Educational Assistance for Spouse and Dependents of Employee Title III: Medical Care Savings Accounts; Health Care Cost Controls; Deduction for Health Insurance Costs of Self-Employed Individuals Title IV: Educational Choice Programs Title V: Grants to Encourage Employers to Adopt Flexible Work and Family Policies Title VI: Reducing the Cost of Capital by Reducing Capital Gains Tax Rates, Indexing the Basis of Certain Assets, and Excluding Gain from Sales of Principal Residences Title VII: Enterprise Zones Subtitle A: Designation of Enterprise Zones Subtitle B: Federal Income Tax Incentives Subtitle C: Regulatory Flexibility Subtitle D: Establishment of Foreign-Trade Zones in Enterprise Zones Family and Economic Recovery Act - Title I: Tax Relief for Families - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow taxpayers a credit for each child who has not attained the age of 19. Allows a credit for qualified adoption expenses. Disallows the use of such credits together with other credits or deductions. Title II: Family Savings Incentives - Subtitle A: Increase in Income Limitations for Deductible IRA Contributions; Increase in IRA Contribution Limits; Penalty-Free Withdrawals for Home Ownership, Education, and Medical Expenses - Increases the income limitations on retirement savings deductions and provides a cost-of-living adjustment after 1994 for such limitations. Provides a cost-of-living adjustment for deductible retirement amounts after 1993. Allows distributions from certain retirement plans without penalty to purchase first homes, pay higher education expenses and financially devastating medical expenses, and assist certain unemployed individuals. Treats certain disaster victims as first-time homebuyers. Subtitle B: Exclusion for Employer-Provided Educational Assistance to Include Educational Assistance for Spouse and Dependents of Employee - Excludes from gross income employer-provided educational assistance to spouses and dependents of employees. Makes such exclusion permanent. Title III: Medical Care Savings Accounts; Health Care Cost Controls; Deduction for Health Insurance Costs of Self-Employed Individuals - Excludes from gross income medical care savings benefits. Describes such benefits as a health plan which provides that all or part of the premium differential realized by instituting a qualified higher deductible health plan is credited to participating employees to pay for medical care for a plan year. Requires amounts remaining at the end of such plan year to be deposited into a tax exempt medical care savings account (subject to rules similar to those for retirement plans) for use by the participant for medical expenses. Increases the deduction for health insurance costs of self-employed individuals to 100 percent (50 percent for 1995 and 1996) and makes such deduction permanent. Preempts State laws: (1) requiring the offering of health plans providing certain services; and (2) prohibiting employer groups from purchasing health insurance. Title IV: Educational Choice Programs - Educational Choice Programs Act - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1993 through 2000 for grants and scholarship awards to parents of elementary or secondary school children that may be redeemed at a variety of public and private schools, including religious schools. Sets forth administrative details for such program. Title V: Grants to Encourage Employers to Adopt Flexible Work and Family Policies - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1993 to provide start-up grants to businesses to explore, initiate, or expand flexible work policies in an effort to ease work and family demands on employees. Includes as examples flexitime, part-time, job sharing, telecommuting, flexiplace, or compressed work weeks. Title VI: Reducing the Cost of Capital by Reducing Capital Gains Tax Rates, Indexing the Basis of Certain Assets, and Excluding Gain from Sales of Principal Residences - Reduces the individual and corporate capital gains rate from 34 percent to 15 percent. Reduces such tax to 7.5 percent for low- and middle-income taxpayers. Provides for the phaseout of personal exemptions and the overall limitation on itemized deductions to take into account adjusted gross income which has been reduced by net capital gain. Requires indexing, based on the gross national product deflator, of the adjusted basis of certain assets (corporate stock and tangible property that is a capital asset of property used in a trade or business) that have been held for more than one year at the time of sale or other transfer, solely for the purpose of determining gain or loss. Provides for indexing the limitation of capital losses of noncorporate taxpayers. Excludes from gross income the sale or exchange of property that has been owned and used by the taxpayer as the taxpayer's principal residence. Terminates provisions relating to the rollover of gain on the sale of a principal residence. Title VII: Enterprise Zones - Subtitle A: Designation of Enterprise Zones - Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to designate enterprise zones for purposes of providing tax and regulatory relief and improving local services. Limits choices to areas nominated by States and local governments. Limits the total number of areas that may be designated, and the time period of the designation. Authorizes the Secretary to designate a zone only if the area meets certain locational, demographic, unemployment, and poverty criteria. Requires nominating local governments, as a condition of the Secretary's designation, to agree in writing to follow a course of action that may include reducing tax rates, improving local services, simplifying or streamlining regulation of business, and providing job training to area residents. Describes areas to which the Secretary must give preference in selecting areas for designation. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress every two years on the effects of such enterprise zones' designation in accomplishing the purposes of this Act. Subtitle B: Federal Income Tax Incentives - Allows a nonrefundable income tax credit to enterprise zone employees for five percent of any qualified wages earned as do not exceed a specified amount. Phases out such credit as total wages increase over $20,000. Provides for the nonrecognition of capital gain on the sale of enterprise zone property. Allows a taxpayer a deduction on the aggregate amount paid for the purchase of enterprise stock on its original issue by a qualified issuer. Requires any gain from the disposition of the stock to be treated as ordinary income. Excludes enterprise zone capital gains from income computation of alternative minimum taxes. Subtitle C: Regulatory Flexibility - Amends Federal law to revise the definition of "small entity" for purposes of the analysis of regulatory functions to include qualified business, government, and nonprofit enterprises operating within enterprise zones. Authorizes Federal agencies, upon request by a designating government, to waive or modify rules and regulations pertaining to the implementation of projects or activities within an enterprise zone. Requires agencies to approve the request if the resulting benefits of job creation, community development, or economical revitalization outweigh the public interest in retaining the rule unchanged. Disallows waiver or modification of a rule that would directly violate a statutory requirement or present a danger to the public health and safety. Subtitle D: Establishment of Foreign-Trade Zones in Enterprise Zones - Requires the Foreign-Trade Zone Board to consider on a priority basis, and to expedite the processing of, applications for the establishment of foreign-trade zones within enterprise zones. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to give priority to, and expedite applications for, the establishment of ports of entry necessary to establish such zones.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1993
Provides that any amount remaining in an official allowance of a Member of the House of Representatives at the end of the session of Congress or other period for which the allowance is made available shall be returned to the Treasury to be used for deficit reduction.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1993
Urges the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee of the U.S. Postal Service to recommend to the Postmaster General that a postage stamp be issued honoring Americans held as prisoners of war or listed as missing in action.
United States · United States Congress · 28 April 1993
Fairness in Product Liability Act of 1993 - Declares that this Act governs any product liability action brought in any State or Federal court against a manufacturer or product seller for harm caused by a product, but supersedes State law only to the extent that State law applies to an issue covered by this Act. Lists specific laws not superseded, including provisions regarding vaccine injury. Makes a product seller liable to a claimant for harm only if the claimant establishes that: (1) the product which allegedly caused the harm complained of was sold by the product seller who failed to exercise reasonable care with respect to the product and such failure was a proximate cause of the claimant's harm; (2) the product seller made an express warranty applicable to the product which allegedly caused the harm complained of, the product failed to conform to the warranty, and such failure caused the claimant's harm; or (3) the seller engaged in international wrongdoing which was a proximate cause of the harm complained of by the claimant. Makes it a complete defense to a product liability action that the claimant was intoxicated or was under the influence of intoxicating alcohol or any drug and, as a result of such intoxication or influence, was more than 50 percent responsible for causing the accident or event which resulted in such claimant's harm. Directs that the damages for which a manufacturer or product seller is otherwise liable under State law be reduced by the percentage of responsibility for the claimant's harm attributable to misuse or alteration of a product if such percentage was proximately caused by a use or alteration of a product: (1) in violation of, or contrary to, the manufacturer's or product seller's express warnings or instructions if the warnings or instructions are adequate under State law; or (2) involving a risk of harm which was, or should have been, known by the ordinary person who uses the product, with an exception for workplace injuries. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) limitations on punitive damages; (2) several liability for noneconomic damages; (3) statutes of limitation; (4) workers' compensation offsets; and (5) lack of Federal jurisdiction over civil actions arising under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 28 April 1993
United States-China Act of 1993 - Prohibits the President from recommending for a 12-month period in 1994 continuation of a waiver of human rights and emigration requirements for nondiscriminatory treatment (most-favored-nation treatment) for China under the Trade Act of 1974 unless the President reports to the Congress that China has: (1) taken steps to adhere to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in China and Tibet and allowed the unrestricted emigration of Chinese citizens who desire to leave for reasons of political or religious persecution; (2) accounted for and released prisoners who dissented in Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989, and other citizens detained for the nonviolent expression of their political beliefs or the exercise of internationally guaranteed rights of freedom of speech, association, and assembly; and (3) prevented the export to the United States of products manufactured by convict or forced labor. Requires such report to state whether China has made significant process in: (1) ceasing religious persecution in China and Tibet (including ceasing to threaten the survival of the Tibetan culture) and releasing religious leaders incarcerated as a result of the expression of their religious beliefs; (2) ceasing unfair trade practices which restrict American business; (3) providing U.S. exporters fair access to Chinese markets, including lowering tariffs, removing nontariff barriers, and increasing the purchase of U.S. goods and services; (4) adhering to the Missile Control Technology Regime, the Nuclear Suppliers Group controls, and the Australian Group on Chemical and Biological Arms controls; (5) adhering to the Joint Declaration on Hong Kong; (6) accounting for U.S. military personnel listed as prisoners of war or missing in action with respect to the Korean and Vietnam conflicts; (7) ceasing the jamming of Voice of America broadcasts; and (8) providing humanitarian groups access to prisoners and places of detention. Requires the President, if he recommends such extension, to report on the extent of China's compliance with the above-mentioned objectives. Grants nondiscriminatory treatment to products produced by nonstate-owned enterprises in China. Declares that despite China's entry into the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), most-favored-nation treatment shall not automatically be conferred on Chinese products unless China satisfies the above-mentioned conditions. Requires the President, if he decides not to seek such extension, to ensure that members of the GATT take similar action with respect to China.
United States · United States Congress · 28 April 1993
Infrastructure Protection Act of 1993 - 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, the Inland Waterways Trust Fund, and the Harbor Maintenance 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.
![Official portrait of Rep. Solomon, Gerald B. H. [R-NY-22]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/s000675_200.jpg)