United States · United States Congress · 30 July 1986
Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to make available at no cost to farmers and ranchers in drought disaster areas (as defined by this Act) surplus Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) commodities (including transportation costs) for emergency livestock or poultry feed. Directs the Secretary to use specified regulations issued under the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 to determine feed needs and commodity amounts. Makes such assistance available until the earlier of the period beginning three days after enactment of this Act and ending March 31, 1987, or the date, as determined by the Secretary, on which the emergency no longer exists. Directs the Secretary to make emergency livestock and poultry feed assistance available under section 1105 of the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 to farmers and ranchers in drought disaster areas. Provides for in-kind reimbursement from CCC stocks. Directs the Secretary to permit any 1986 drought-affected producer of wheat, feed grains, upland cotton, or rice who is participating in specified acreage reduction programs under the Agricultural Act of 1949 to devote such acreage to hay or grazing without regard to certain limitations imposed by such Act. Directs the President, in carrying out on emergency assistance program under the Disaster Relief Act of 1974, to require the Secretary to implement an emergency hay program, including paying 80 percent of transportation costs. Stipulates that such program shall be undertaken only if the Secretary determines, after consultation with the Governor and other State officials, that: (1) available stocks of hay are insufficient; and (2) emergency feed assistance and additional haying and grazing acreage will be insufficient to prevent substantial livestock loss or herd liquidations. Makes such emergency feed assistance and additional haying and grazing provisions effective 15 days after enactment of this Act. States that such assistance shall be available until the earlier of March 30, 1987, or the date, as determined by the Secretary, on which the emergency no longer exists. Directs the Secretary to make disaster payments in-kind to requesting producers of 1986 wheat, feed grain, upland cotton, rice, soybean, and peanut crops in drought areas. Limits aggregate payments to any one producer to $100,000. Prohibits reductions in the price received by milk producers in drought areas for the period beginning August 16, 1986, and ending November 15, 1986. Increases such reductions during the period beginning November 16, 1986, and ending September 30, 1987, in order to make up for such prohibited price reductions. Directs the Secretary to make cost-sharing payments (at least 50 percent) available in drought areas for: (1) conservation measures designed to prevent soil erosion due to loss of vegetative cover; and (2) reestablishment of stands of pine trees. Provides for in-kind cost-sharing payments. Makes such assistance available during the period beginning 15 days after enactment of this Act and ending March 30, 1987. Authorizes the Secretary, in making in-kind payments, to use commodities owned by the CCC, or pledged to the CCC, as loan security. Permits such payments to be made by: (1) warehouse delivery; (2) transfer of negotiable warehouse receipts; (3) issuance of negotiable commodity certificates; or (4) other appropriate methods. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Secretary of Agriculture should: (1) establish a coordinating mechanism within the Department of Agriculture to coordinate Federal assistance; (2) ensure that Government and voluntary agencies, and the farmers and ranchers, in each natural disaster area are provided a single contact person or unit for Federal assistance, and that a similar contact is provided for assistance from outside such areas; and (3) consult with the Governor and other appropriate State officials concerning the disaster needs of affected farmers and ranchers.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 1986
Amends the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to prohibit air carriers from discriminating against handicapped persons. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to: (1) revise Federal regulations regarding the carriage of handicapped persons to ensure that all subparts of such regulations apply to all air carriers; (2) review air carrier procedures for the carriage of handicapped persons; and (3) direct that such procedures be brought into conformity with Federal regulations.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 1986
Designer Drug Enforcement Act of 1986 - Amends the Controlled Substances Act to establish criminal penalties for the knowing or intentional manufacture, distribution, or possession of a controlled substance analog. (A controlled substance analog is a noncontrolled substance with a chemical structure or effect substantially similar to that of a controlled substance.)
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 1986
Money Laundering Control Act of 1986 - Amends the Federal criminal code to establish money laundering as a Federal offense. Sets forth fines and penalties for anyone who knowingly: (1) engages in a financial transaction in criminally derived property (inapplicable to bona fide attorney fees); (2) engages in a commercial transaction which is part of a scheme to conceal criminally derived property, or to disguise the source or ownership of criminally derived property; or (3) transports or attempts to transport a monetary instrument or funds from a place in the United States to or through a place outside the United States, or vice versa, as part of a scheme to conceal criminally derived property, or to disguise the source or ownership of criminally derived property. Provides for a fine of not more than $1,000,000 ($5,000,000 if the offender is a person other than an individual), or imprisonment for not more than 20 years, or both. Authorizes components of the Department of the Treasury to investigate such offenses. Establishes criminal and civil forfeiture procedures for the offense of money laundering. Authorizes the use of wiretaps in money laundering investigations. Amends the Right to Financial Privacy Act of 1978 to make certain changes regarding: (1) monetary transaction reporting requirements; and (2) the disclosure of information by financial institutions. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to: (1) examine books, papers, and records of domestic financial transactions; and (2) summon an officer or employee having possession or custody of reports or records to appear and give testimony under oath. Sets certain limits on the Secretary's summons power. Amends the Right to Financial Privacy Act of 1978 to change the scienter requirement: (1) from "willfully" to "knowingly or with reckless disregard for a duty imposed by this subchapter" for civil violations; and (2) from "willfully" to "knowingly" for criminal violations. Increases the criminal penalties for violations of the Bank Secrecy Act.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 1986
National Forest Timber Receipts Clarification Act of 1986 - Requires that the States' and counties' share of money from National Forest System lands timber sales be determined on the gross amount received.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 1986
Expresses the support of the Congress for the programs regarding the understanding of slavery of the National Council for Education and Economic Development, Incorporated, and for the program to raise an endowment to assure the permanent location of a commemorative structure within the National Park System dedicated to understanding, knowledge, opportunity, and equality for all people.
United States · United States Congress · 24 June 1986
Drug and Alcohol Dependent Offenders Treatment Act of 1986 - Grants the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts authority to contract with public and private agencies for the detection and treatment of alcohol-dependent and drug-dependent offenders. Amends the Contract Services for Drug Dependent Federal Offenders Authorization Act of 1983 to authorize appropriations for contracts for the supervision of released drug offenders.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 1986
Amends Federal defense procurement provisions to prohibit the head of a defense agency from contracting with a firm in which a foreign government (or an agent or instrumentality of such foreign government) owns or controls a significant interest, if such foreign government: (1) is an enemy of the United States; or (2) has repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism. Authorizes the head of a defense agency to enter into a contract with such a firm: (1) at the end of the 30-day period after such agency head submits a report to the Congress describing such contract; and (2) if the Secretary of Defense has determined that entering into such a contract would not be inconsistent with the foreign policy or national security objectives of the United States. Directs the head of an agency to require any firm submitting a bid or proposal to disclose any significant interest owned or controlled by a foreign government. Makes this Act inapplicable to: (1) contracts for less than $100,000; or (2) the Coast Guard or the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Directs the Secretary, within 180 days after the enactment of this Act, to prescribe regulations to carry out this Act. Prohibits the Secretary from obligating or expending any amount appropriated to the Department of Defense for FY 1986 or 1987 for certain engineering equipment acquisition contracts to any firm in which the Libyan Government owns or controls a significant interest.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1986
Amends generally Federal law relating to veterans and veterans' benefits to eliminate gender-based references currently contained in such provisions, and to make other technical corrections to such provisions.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1986
Amends the National Housing Act to extend authority through FY 1987 for: (1) title I financial institution insurance for housing renovation and modernization; (2) general mortgage insurance; (3) low and moderate income and displaced families mortgage insurance; (4) homeownership for lower income families including mortgage insurance authority and housing stimulus authority; (5) mortgage co-insurance, including rental rehabilitation and development projects; (6) graduated payment and indexed mortgage insurance; (7) the demonstration mortgage reinsurance program; (8) mortgage insurance for armed forces' civilian employees and defense housing for impacted areas; (9) mortgage insurance for land development; and (10) mortgage insurance for medical and dental group practice facilities. Sets forth specified limits on FY 1986 and 1987 insured housing loans and on FY 1987 guaranteed mortgage-backed securities. Amends the Housing Act of 1964 to extend urban rehabilitation loan authority through FY 1987. Amends the Housing Act of 1949 to extend Farmers Home Administration authority through FY 1987 for: (1) insured loans for rental and cooperative housing and related facilities for elderly persons and families in rural areas; (2) rural communities with 10,000 to 20,000 population to participate in rural housing programs; and (3) mutual and self-help housing grant and loan authority. Amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to extend authority for national flood insurance, including emergency implementation and flood-risk zones through FY 1987. Amends the National Housing Act to extend authorities for the national crime insurance program and existing contracts through FY 1987. Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to extend community development block grant entitlement authority for certain metropolitan city and urban county areas through FY 1987. Amends the Housing and Urban-Rural Recovery Act of 1983 to extend for 30 days the maximum interest rate limitation on loans for housing and related facilities for elderly or handicapped families through FY 1987. Extends the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act through FY 1987.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1986
Hunger Relief Act of 1986 - Title I: General Food and Nutrition Programs - Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to increase the thrifty food plan base by specified annual percentages. Exempts the first $50 paid in child support from counting for food stamp program eligibility. Increases the shelter deduction cap. Sets the threshold for the elderly and disabled medical deduction at the lesser of five percent of monthly income, or $35 a month. Increases resource limitations to: (1) $2,250 for nonelderly households; (2) $3,500 for elderly households; and (3) $5,500 for automobiles. Makes State outreach programs for the elderly, disabled, or the unemployed eligible for matching funds. Increases FY 1987 through 1990 program authorizations. Requires a report to the House and the Senate evaluating the budgetary and administrative consequences of an equity-based calculation of household resources. Amends the Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 to increase authorization levels for commodity distributions. Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to increase authorization levels for the expanded program of food, nutrition, and consumer education. Title II: Special Food and Nutrition Programs for Children, Women, and the Elderly - Amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to reduce the amount children pay for a reduced price breakfast. Increases Federal reimbursement to improve the nutritional quality of school breakfasts by five cents, and by ten cents for "severe need" schools. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to review the nutrition requirements for breakfasts served under such Act. Amends the National School Lunch Act to reduce the amount children pay for a reduced price lunch. Permits reimbursement for an additional meal or snack under the child care feeding program. Amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to increase FY 1987 through 1989 authorizations for the supplemental food program for women, infants, and children. Increases authorization limits for nutrition education training in schools. Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to increase FY 1987 authorizations for congregate meals, home delivered meals, and nutrition education for the elderly. Amends the Community Services Block Grant Act to authorize FY 1987 appropriations for the community food and nutrition program. Title III: Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research - National Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Act of 1986 - Subtitle A: General Provisions - Sets forth the purposes of and definitions for this title. Subtitle B: Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research - Establishes a ten-year coordinated program, to be known as the National Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Program, which will be implemented by the Secretaries of Health and Human Services and of Agriculture. Establishes an Interagency Board for Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research to facilitate the implementation of such program. Authorizes the Secretaries to appoint an Administrator of Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research to coordinate such program. Sets forth the functions of the Secretaries with respect to such program, including: (1) establishing matching grants programs for specified nutritional and dietary purposes; and (2) submitting an annual report to the President for transmittal to the Congress. Requires the Secretaries to prepare and implement a comprehensive national nutrition monitoring and related research plan which shall: (1) assess and report on U.S. nutritional and dietary trends; (2) assess and report on low-income food and household expenditures; (3) sponsor and conduct research; (4) develop and update a national dietary and nutritional status data bank; (5) assist State and local agencies in developing procedures and networks for nutrition monitoring and surveillance; and (6) focus the activities of Federal agencies. Requires the plan to allocate the project functions and activities among the various Federal agencies and offices involved. Requires the Secretaries to provide for and coordinate such scientific research and development as may be necessary to support the coordinated program and comprehensive plan. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle C: National Nutrition Monitoring Advisory Council - Establishes a National Nutrition Monitoring Advisory Council to: (1) provide scientific and technical advice on the development and implementation of all components of the coordinated program and the comprehensive plan; (2) evaluate such program and plan; and (3) submit an annual report to the Secretaries. Subtitle D: Dietary Guidance - Directs the Secretaries to publish and review dietary guidelines for the general population. Title IV: Effective Dates - Sets forth the effective dates of the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1986
Establishes a formula for determining the allocation of official mail costs for Members of Congress for any fiscal year beginning with FY 1987. Directs the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration and the House Committee on House Administration to determine, and provide written notice to each Member of, the allocation of such Member. Requires the Committees to prescribe regulations to carry out this resolution. Requires the Committees to publish a quarterly statement on official mail costs.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 1986
Amends the Disaster Relief Act of 1974 to establish a cost-sharing formula for certain Federal disaster assistance programs. Declares the Federal share of assistance to be 75 percent for the repair of damaged public facilities and debris removal on the condition that remaining costs are paid by a State or local government. Declares the Federal share of assistance to be 100 percent for: (1) unemployment assistance; (2) temporary housing assistance; and (3) crisis counseling assistance and training.
United States · United States Congress · 3 June 1986
Limits the obligation of funds for the deployment and maintenance of launchers for U.S. nuclear weapons. Waives such limitations if: (1) the President so requests in writing to the Congress, citing national security reasons for such waiver; and (2) each House of the Congress votes to authorize such waiver by bill or joint resolution within 60 days.
United States · United States Congress · 3 June 1986
Expresses the sense of the Congress that State and local governments and local educational agencies should require quality daily physical education programs for all children from kindergarten through grade 12.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 1986
Career Criminal Amendments Act of 1986 - Amends the Federal criminal code to provide increased mandatory penalties for any person who transports firearms or ammunition in interstate or foreign commerce if such person has multiple convictions for serious drug offenses and violent felonies. (Current law provides increased penalties where such person had multiple convictions for robbery and burglary.)
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 1986
Amends the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to require any proposed budget deferral to specify a date on which the budget authority shall be released for obligation. Prohibits any amount of the authority to be withheld from obligation after such date. Requires such date to be no later than the earlier of: (1) the end of the fiscal year or the date on which the authority must be released to assure its prudent obligation, if the authority expires at the end of the fiscal year in which the deferral is proposed; and (2) 365 days after the special message proposing the deferral is transmitted to the Congress or the date on which the authority must be released to assure its prudent obligation, if the authority is available for more than one fiscal year. Deems any budget deferral not meeting such requirements to be a budget rescission as determined by the Comptroller General within five days after the proposed deferral is transmitted to the Congress. Prohibits more than one proposed deferral of budget authority available for more than one fiscal year. Requires budget authority proposed to be deferred to be made available for obligation if a joint resolution disapproving such deferral is enacted. Directs the President to include with any special message to the Congress proposing to reserve budget authority the same information required to be included with a proposed budget deferral. Requires the Comptroller General, within five days after such transmittal, to determine whether the proposed reservation: (1) meets statutorily prescribed requirements; and (2) proposes to withhold or delay the obligation or expenditure of budget authority in a manner which imposes the management and administration of the authority without diverging from the purposes of the Congress in making such authority available. Requires the proposal to be treated as a deferral if it does meet such standards and as a rescission if it does not.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 1986
New Clean Coal Retrofit Technologies and Electric Generation and Industrial Energy Development Act of 1986 - Directs the Secretary of Energy to recommend to the Congress and the President: (1) actions to implement clean, cost-effective coal technologies in electric-generating facilities and domestic basic industries (such as steel and aluminum); and (2) administrative and regulatory actions (including financial assistance) to facilitate the use of clean-coal technologies. Establishes within the Department of Energy a Clean Coal Advisory Committee to advise the Secretary in formulating recommendations required by this Act. Instructs the Secretary to: (1) solicit in the Federal Register project proposals for clean coal technologies which are capable of retrofitting, repowering, or modernizing existing facilities; and (2) submit an analytical report to the Congress regarding the response to such solicitation and the extent to which funds in the Clean Coal Technology Reserve will accelerate the commercial availability of such technologies.
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 · 15 May 1986
False Claims Amendments Act of 1986 - Amends the False Claims Act to include within its protection any property of the U.S. Government (currently limited to the property of the armed forces). Increases the civil penalties for false claims. Defines "knowing" for the purposes of such Act to mean that the defendant: (1) has actual knowledge; (2) acts in deliberate ignorance of a fact's truth or falsity; or (3) acts in reckless disregard of the truth or falsity. Defines "claim" to include any request or demand for money or property which is made to a contractor or grantee if the Government provides or reimburses any portion of such money or property. Revises the procedure provisions for civil actions for false claims. Allows any employee who is disciplined by an employer for acting in furtherance of an investigation, testifying in, or assisting in an action filed under such Act to bring an action for damages in an appropriate U.S. District Court. Revises the statute of limitations for a false claims civil action to allow such an action to be brought within three years from when the material facts became known or should have become known to the official of the United States charged with the responsibility to act in the circumstances. Establishes as the burden of proof in civil false claim cases proof by a preponderance of the evidence. Provides that a final judgment rendered in favor of the United States in any criminal proceeding charging fraud or false statements shall prohibit the defendant from denying the essential elements of the offense in any civil action concerning false claims. Allows a civil action concerning false claims to be brought in the judicial district where the defendant (or, in the case of multiple defendants, where any one defendant) is found, resides, or transacts business, or where the violation allegedly occurred. Authorizes the Attorney General to conduct False Claims Act investigations for the purpose of ascertaining whether any person has been engaged in any violations of a False Claims Act law. Provides that prior to the institution of a civil proceeding the Attorney General may require any person who may be in possession or control of any documentary material or who may have information relevant to a False Claims investigation to produce such documentary material for inspection, to answer written interrogatories, or to give oral testimony. Authorizes the Attorney General to issue in writing and cause to be served upon a person a civil investigative demand requiring the production of such information. Sets forth standards and procedures for the issuance and service of a civil investigative demand. Sets forth standards and procedures for the uses of any information obtained through a civil investigation. Provides administrative remedies for violations of such Act. Sets forth investigation and hearing requirements for such actions. Provides for the judicial review of such administrative determinations. Increases the maximum criminal penalty for false or fraudulent claims from five to ten years imprisonment.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 1986
Amends the Clayton Act to direct the court, in an antitrust action, to reduce the claim of any claimant who releases any person from liability by the greatest of: (1) a stipulated amount; (2) the consideration paid for release; or (3) the actual damages fairly allocable to the released person (or treble such damages where the claim is for treble damages) and interest thereon. Requires the court, in an action based on a contract, combination, or conspiracy among competitors, to conclusively presume that a person has been released from liability if: (1) such person has not been joined as a defendant; and (2) the defendant has established that such person is legally or practically available as a party to the action. Requires damages based on a price-fixing agreement between competitors to be allocated on the basis of: (1) each competitor's proportionate share of the total competitors' overcharges or underpayments where the claim is based on damages sustained by reason of overcharges or payments resulting from a price-fixing agreement; or (2) each party's relative responsibility for the origination or perpetration of the antitrust violation, whichever method the court determines to be more equitable.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 1986
Designates the school year of September 1986 through May 1987 as National Year of the Teacher and January 28, 1987, as National Teacher Appreciation Day.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1986
Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986 - Amends the Federal criminal code to change the scienter requirement from "knowingly" to "intentionally" for certain offenses regarding accessing the computer files of another. Revises the definition of "financial institution" to which the financial record provisions of computer fraud law apply. Applies such provisions to any financial records (including those of corporations and small businesses), not just those of individuals and certain partnerships. Revises the criminal liability of persons who exceed authorized access to Federal computers. (Makes the basic offense trespass. Removes the coverage of authorized accessors who exceed their authorization, but without "intent to defraud.") Creates new Federal criminal offenses of: (1) property theft by computer occurring as part of a scheme to defraud; (2) altering information in, or preventing the authorized use of, a Federal interest computer; and (3) trafficking in computer access passwords. Eliminates the special conspiracy provisions for computer crimes. (Such conspiracies shall be treated under the general Federal conspiracy statutes.) Amends penalty provisions to remove the cap on fines for certain computer crimes. Exempts authorized law enforcement or intelligence activities.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1986
Provides that, for taxable years beginning after 1984, rural letter carriers are permitted to compute the amount of their deduction for use of their automobiles in performance of such services: (1) by using a standard mileage rate for all such miles of such use equal to 150 percent of the basic standard rate; or (2) without applying the limitation on deductions rules where the business use of the automobile used in performing such services is not greater than 50 percent of the time. Prohibits the use of 150 percent of the basic standard mileage rate in determining the allowable deduction where the taxpayer claimed an investment tax credit or depreciation deduction for such automobile.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1986
Directs the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Soil Conservation Service, to conduct a feasibility study of providing flood protection on the North and South Branch of the Potomac River, the Cheat River, and the Greenbrier River systems in West Virginia. Requires a report to the Congress by December 31, 1986.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1986
Manufacture and Public Distribution of Certain Copyrighted Material Act - Amends the copyright law to extend indefinitely the manufacturing clause, which prohibits the importation of certain English language books not manufactured in the United States or Canada. Eliminates the Canadian exemption, per se, after 1988. Permits exemptions from such restriction if a foreign country, including Canada, is certified by the United States Trade Representative as providing adequate copyright protection for U.S. nationals and such country freely trades in printed matter with the United States or adheres to a bilateral or multilateral agreement with the United States and supports internationally recognized workers' rights.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1986
Essential Services Payments to Local Governments Act - Provides for quarterly entitlement payments to units of local government for essential services (public health services, public safety protection, and public transportation facilities and services) for FY 1987 through 1989. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to make such payments out of the Local Government Essential Services Trust Fund. Authorizes appropriations to such trust fund for each entitlement period. Authorizes appropriations to the Department of Commerce for FY 1987 through 1989 for certain determinations required under this Act. Sets forth qualifications to be met by units of local government in order to receive entitlements. Provides sanctions for noncompliance with regulations governing such qualifications. Provides a special formula for entitlements for Indian tribes, Alaskan Native villages, and the District of Columbia. Directs the Secretary to allocate entitlement funds to each State (for subsequent allocation to local governments) according to a specified formula based on the need factor, the general tax effort factor, and the relative fiscal capacity factor, as defined in this Act, for each State. Entitles local governments to a portion of such State funds according to a specified formula based on the following factors, as defined in this Act, for each unit of local government in a State relative to all units in such State: (1) the unit's population; (2) the unit's general tax effort factor; and (3) the unit's income factor. Sets forth maximum and minimum limitations on local government entitlements. Requires each government to hold at least one public hearing on the use of such funds. Requires all equipment or services acquired with funds under this Act to be identified by signs acknowledging such payments. Prohibits discrimination in local government programs or activities funded through essential services payments. Sets forth provisions governing discrimination proceedings, the suspension and termination or resumption of payments in such proceedings, agreements by local governments to comply with discrimination prohibitions, the enforcement of such prohibitions by the Attorney General, administrative and civil actions by persons adversely affected by discriminatory practices, and judicial review of a decision to withhold, suspend, or terminate entitlement payments. Requires units of local government to submit an annual audit report to the Secretary of the Treasury. Requires the Secretary to maintain regulations regarding the investigation of complaints of violations of this Act. Directs the Comptroller General to carry out necessary reviews to evaluate compliance and operations under this Act. Requires annual reports by: (1) the Secretary to the Congress on the administration of, and operations under, this Act; and (2) local governments to the Secretary on the amounts and uses of entitlement payments. Directs the Comptroller General to: (1) undertake a series of studies on methods to identify local governments that have low capacities to raise revenues from their own sources relative to their essential public service needs and alternative State and Federal actions to address such deficiencies; and (2) report to the Congress on the results of such studies within 18 months of enactment of this Act. Authorizes appropriations for such studies for FY 1987 and 1988.
United States · United States Congress · 23 April 1986
Deficit Reduction Insurance Program - Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) to include the pay of Members of Congress within the coverage of such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 23 April 1986
Provides that any cost-of-living adjustment in military retirement and survivor benefit programs provided by law to take effect during FY 1987 shall be made in accordance with such law and not subject to any reduction, suspension, or contrary presidential order. Defines "military retirement and survivor benefit programs."
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 1986
Readjustment Counseling Program Amendments of 1986 - Amends Federal veterans' benefits provisions to remove the requirement that veterans readjustment counseling be administered solely at Veterans Administration (VA) health-care facilities as of October 1, 1988. Establishes the Veterans Administration Readjustment Counseling Professional Fellowship Program (the Program) to assist in providing an adequate supply of trained professionals to furnish readjustment counseling services to veterans for the VA. Requires an individual, in order to be eligible to participate in the Program, to: (1) be a Vietnam-era veteran; and (2) be accepted in an accredited educational program which leads to a degree in a field appropriate to furnishing readjustment counseling services. Requires a written contract between the Administrator of Veterans Affairs and any veteran participating in the Program. Requires any veterans participating in the Program to also be full-time employees of the VA: (1) on the date on which their application for such Program is submitted; and (2) on the date on which they become particpants in the Program. Authorizes the Administrator to award a scholarship to each veteran accepted into the Program. Requires the Administrator, in accepting applicants into the Program, to give priority to members of groups determined to be disadvantaged minority groups. Requires the Administrator to include in the annual report submitted to the Congress a report on the Program.
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 1986
Amends the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate a segment of the Kings River, California, as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.
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 · 10 April 1986
False Claims Amendments Act of 1986 - Amends the False Claims Act to include within its protection any property of the U.S. Government (currently limited to the property of the armed forces). Increases the civil penalties for false claims. Defines "knowing" for the purposes of such Act to mean that the defendant: (1) has actual knowledge; (2) acts in deliberate ignorance of a fact's truth or falsity; or (3) acts in reckless disregard of the truth or falsity. Defines "claim" to include any request or demand for money or property which is made to a contractor or grantee if the Government provides or reimburses any portion of such money or property. Allows the Attorney General to apply for provisional relief to any U.S. district court having jurisdiction whenever there is reasonable cause to believe that a false claim has been made. Revises the procedure provisions for civil actions for false claims. Allows any employee who is disciplined by an employer for acting in furtherance of an investigation or testifying in or assisting in an action filed under such Act to bring an action for damages in an appropriate U.S. district court. Revises the statute of limitations for a false claims civil action to allow such an action to be brought within three years from when the material facts became known or should have become known to the official within the Department of Justice charged with the responsibility to act in the circumstances. Establishes as the burden of proof in civil false claim cases proof by a preponderance of the evidence. Provides that a final judgment rendered in favor of the United States in any criminal proceeding charging fraud or false statements shall prohibit the defendant from denying the essential elements of the offense in any civil action concerning false claims. Allows a civil action concerning false claims to be brought in the judicial district where the defendant (or, in the case of multiple defendants, where any one defendant) is found, resides, or transacts business where the violation allegedly occurred. Authorizes the Attorney General to conduct False Claims Act investigations for the purpose of ascertaining whether any person has been engaged in any violations of a False Claims Act law. Provides that prior to the institution of a civil proceeding the Attorney General may require any person who may be in possession or control of any documentary material or who may have information relevant to a False Claims investigation to produce such documentary material for inspection, to answer written interrogatories, or to give oral testimony. Authorizes the Attorney General to issue in writing and cause to be served upon a person a civil investigative demand requiring the production of such information. Sets forth standards and procedures for the issuance and service of a civil investigative demand. Sets forth standards and procedures for the use of any information obtained through a civil investigation. Provides administrative remedies for violations of such Act. Sets forth investigation and hearing requirements for such actions. Provides for the judicial review of such administrative determinations. Increases the maximum criminal penalty for false or fraudulent claims from five to ten years imprisonment.
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 · 8 April 1986
Expresses the sense of the Congress that Federal telecommunications policy should maintain universal telephone service, retain nationwide toll rate averaging for interstate long distance calls, and reduce regulatory and administrative burdens on small telephone systems. Provides that any Federal access charge plan should: (1) support rural telephone systems through a universal service fund designed to ensure affordable rural telephone rates; (2) allocate to interstate long distance service no less than the proportion of the local telephone system access costs currently allocated to such service; (3) retain the current arrangement for the pooling of such costs; and (4) avoid collecting all of such costs by means of flat rate access charges.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 1986
Elderly Veterans Care Act of 1985 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an income tax credit for elderly care expenses paid for the care of a qualifying veteran. Sets the amount of such credit at 30 percent of such expenses reduced by one percent for each $2,000 by which the adjusted gross income of the taxpayer exceeds $10,000. Disallows such credit for a taxpayer with an adjusted gross income of $50,000 or more. Limits the amount of elderly care expenses which may be taken into account for such credit to an aggregate of $7,000 and not more than $3,500 for any one qualifying veteran. Defines "qualified elderly care expenses" as payments by the taxpayer for home health agency services, homemaker services, adult day care, respite care, or health care equipment and supplies which are provided to the veteran by an organization or individual not related to the taxpayer or the veteran and which are not compensated for by insurance or otherwise. Defines a "qualifying veteran" as an individual who is a veteran related to the taxpayer and who is at least 65 years of age and has a family income of $15,000 or less for the taxable year. Requires reports to the Congress on the use of such tax credit.
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