United States · United States Congress · 29 June 1988
Directs the American Battle Monuments Commission to restore, operate, and maintain the Pacific War Memorial and other historical and memorial sites on Corregidor in the Republic of the Philippines. Specifies that the Commission may do so only after an agreement has been entered into between the United States and the Republic of the Philippines. Requires the Commission to carry out the purposes of this Act with private funds, except to the extent funds were appropriated pursuant to authorizations under this Act. Authorizes the Commission to solicit private contributions. Establishes a fund in the Treasury for the deposit of such contributions. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 1988
Establishes the Amistad National Recreation Area, Texas. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to administer such area. Authorizes hunting, fishing, and trapping in such area except in designated zones. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into agreements with Texas for the provision of rescue, firefighting, and law enforcement services for such area. Sets forth provisions relating to specified treaties between the United States and Mexico.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 1988
In-Flight Emergency Medical Assistance Act - Exempts from liability for damages, except in cases of gross negligence, any physician who, in good faith, provides emergency medical care to a person: (1) aboard an aircraft for a regularly scheduled commercial flight; or (2) being transported from the aircraft to a medical facility for treatment.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 1988
Comprehensive Alcohol Abuse, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Amendments Act of 1988 - Amends title XIX (Block Grants) of the Public Health Service Act to revise and reorganize provisions relating to mental health and substance abuse programs, replacing the current part B (Alcohol and Drug Abuse and Mental Health Services Block Grant) and part C (Primary Care Block Grants) with a new part B (Community Mental Health Services), part C (Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation Services), part D (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome and Intravenous Drug Abuse), and part E (General Provisions). Directs, in the new part B, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administrator of the Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration, to make allotments and payments each fiscal year to each State for planning, developing, and providing community mental health services and related support services. Specifies application procedures and requirements, including a requirement that a State, in order to receive payments, agrees to establish and maintain a State mental health planning council with specified duties. Sets forth a formula for determining the amount of allotments, including special provisions for direct payment to an Indian tribe or tribal organization. Provides transition rules for States for FY 1989 and 1990. Directs the Secretary, acting through the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health, to develop and evaluate community mental health programs and services. Authorizes the use of grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements for such programs. Authorizes the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health to establish research centers to carry out the evaluations. Directs the Secretary, acting through the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health, to develop and make available a model plan for a community-based system for the care of chronically mentally ill individuals. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1989 through 1991 for: (1) mental health programs and services; (2) general provisions under part E; and (3) data collection, as provided in this Act, regarding mental health and substance abuse. Directs, in the new part C, the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration, to make allotments and payments each fiscal year to States for establishing and carrying out programs of prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation with respect to substance abuse and related activities. Specifies application procedures and requirements, including a requirement that a State must agree to use not less than specified portions of the payments for programs and activities related to: (1) alcoholism and alcohol abuse; (2) drug abuse; (3) prevention and early intervention regarding the abuse of alcohol and drugs; and (4) such programs and services designed for women. Sets forth a formula for determining the amount of allotments, including special provisions for direct payment to an Indian tribe or tribal organization. Provides transition rules for territories for FY 1989 and 1990. Directs the Secretary, acting through the Director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and the Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, to develop and evaluate alcohol and drug abuse treatment programs. Authorizes the use of grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements for such programs. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1989 through 1991 for: (1) alcohol and drug abuse programs; (2) general provisions under part E; and (3) data collection, as provided in this Act, regarding substance abuse. Directs the Secretary, in the new part D, for each of the FY 1989 through 1991, to make an allotment for each State for prevention of the transmission of the etiologic agent for acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) by eradicating intravenous drug abuse. Requires non-Federal matching funds in FY 1990 and subsequent years and prohibits the Secretary from requiring them in FY 1989. Allows funds to be used for drug abuse treatment, training counselors, outreach, testing for infection with the etiologic agent, and renovation or construction of drug abuse treatment facilities. Sets forth program requirements, application procedures and requirements, and a formula for determination of the amount of allotments. Directs the Secretary, directly or through contracts, to provide for evaluations of programs, collection of data regarding AIDS and intravenous drug abuse, and dissemination of information on the evaluations and data. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1989 through 1991. Sets forth, in the new part E, general provisions, including: (1) a requirement that, in order for the Secretary to make payments under specified provisions of this Act, a State must submit a description of the purposes for which the State intends to expend such payments; (2) the content such statement must have for specified provisions of this Act; (3) a requirement of public notice and opportunity for comment; (4) restrictions on the use of payments, including restrictions on the portion used for administrative expenses; (5) agreements a State must make in order for the Secretary to make payments; (6) annual reports a State is required, for payments under specified provisions, to prepare and submit to the Secretary; (7) availability of the reports to the public; (8) evaluations, by the Comptroller General of the United States, of expenditures by States under specified provisions; (9) repayment of payments for failure to comply with agreements; (10) a prohibition against certain false statements; and (11) a prohibition of discrimination. Directs the Secretary to provide technical assistance to a State receiving payments under specified provisions of this Act, or entities designated by the State, without charge. Authorizes the Secretary to provide supplies and services in lieu of grant funds. Requires the Secretary, no later than October 1, 1989, to report to the Congress on the activities of the States carried out under specified provisions of this Act. Amends the Public Health Service Act to create a new title on counseling and testing with respect to acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), starting with a part on grant procedures for counseling and testing. Prohibits the Secretary of Health and Human Services from providing financial assistance unless the applicant agrees to ensure, in accordance with Federal law and with State and local law not superseded by Federal law, the confidentiality of information and records with respect to individuals counseled or tested. Requires a written, signed statement of informed consent by the individual to be tested, with special provisions relating to testing through the use of a pseudonym and anonymous testing. Requires recipients of Federal financial assistance to provide counseling which includes coverage of specified points before testing, after a negative test result, and after a positive test result. Allows recipients to use the grant to provide counseling without testing. Prohibits the Secretary from providing Federal financial assistance to a State unless the State requires that: (1) any entity carrying out testing confidentially report to the State public health officer information sufficient to perform statistical and epidemiological analyses of the incidence and demographic characteristics of cases of infection; and (2) the State public health officer, to the extent appropriate in the determination of the officer, carry out a program of contact tracing. Requires States, to the extent permitted under State law, to offer substantial opportunities for an individual to undergo counseling and testing anonymously and through the use of a pseudonym. Prohibits requiring testing as a condition of receiving other health services, unless the testing is medically indicated in the health services being sought. Creates another new part in the new subtitle established by this Act concerning confidentiality with respect to counseling and testing. Prohibits a described person, without regard to whether the described person receives Federal financial assistance, from disclosing identifying information with respect to a protected individual or a contact of such individual. Includes among the described persons anyone who obtains identifying information: (1) directly or indirectly in connection with counseling or testing with regard to AIDS, providing health care to the protected individual, or carrying out a disclosure authorized by this Act or ordered by a court under this Act; or (2) by directly perceiving any record developed in such counseling, testing, health care, or disclosure. Authorizes consensual disclosure of identifying information through a specified procedure, including consent by a guardian of a legally incompetent person and consent, after the death of the protected individual, by the claimant of life insurance proceeds, for disclosure to the insurance company. Provides for nonconsensual disclosure: (1) to a health care provider in connection with counseling or testing, to the protected individual, or to the guardian an incompetent individual; (2) to a health care provider who is likely to be occupationally exposed to the etiologic agent; (3) to a State public health officer if required by State law; (4) in connection with donation of blood, semen, breast milk, or an organ; (5) to a person preparing the body of a protected individual for burial; (6) intraorganizationally as necessary; (7) from a person receiving disclosure to any person authorized in these provisions for authorized purposes; and (8) in connection with certain sales, transfers, mergers, or consolidations of organizations. Authorizes a court of competent jurisdiction, with respect to the protected individual or contact involved, to: (1) order disclosure of identifying information to a State health officer in order to prevent a clear and imminent danger of transmission, by the individual or contact, of the etiologic agent; and (2) authorize the officer to disclose identifying information to the extent reasonably necessary to prevent such danger. Sets forth procedures, including in camera hearings, use of pseudonyms, and sealing of records. Authorizes physicians and counselors to make nonconsensual disclosures to spouses, sexual contacts, and people with whom the protected individual has shared a hypodermic needle, in certain circumstances. Requires, subject to exception, that: (1) disclosures be accompanied by a written declaration that redisclosure may be prohibited by law; and (2) in certain circumstances, the protected individual be notified in writing of the disclosure. Provides for civil money penalties and civil causes of action for intentional or negligent violation of disclosure provisions of this part. Authorizes injunctive relief initiated by the Secretary and a civil cause of action by any aggrieved individual. Provides for in camera proceedings, use of pseudonyms, and sealing of records. Provides for criminal penalties for intentional violation of disclosure provisions. Provides for termination of grants from and contracts with any Federal agency and suspension or debarment of any Federal grantee or contractor for violation of certain disclosure provisions of this part. Declares that the imposition of a penalty or the receipt of relief under specified provisions of this part does not preclude other penalties or relief under Federal law. Declares that this part supersedes any State law that provides penalties or causes of action for failure to make disclosures not authorized by this part or for making disclosures authorized by this part. Creates an additional new part containing general provisions setting forth definitions applicable to the new title created by this Act. Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary, acting through the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health (Director), to develop and publish information regarding the causes of suicide and the means of preventing suicide, especially among individuals under 24 years of age. Directs the Secretary, acting through the Director, to make grants and enter into cooperative agreements for research on mental illness. Directs the Secretary, through the Director, to establish a National Mental Health Education Program to: (1) develop treatment and family assistance methods; (2) support research, training, and education; (3) collect and disseminate information; (4) provide technical assistance; and (5) establish a clearinghouse to collect and disseminate information. Authorizes the Secretary, acting through the Director, to make grants for mental health services demonstration projects for the planning, coordination, and improvement of community services, including outreach and self-help services, for chronically mentally ill individuals, seriously emotionally disturbed children and youth, elderly individuals, and homeless chronically mentally ill individuals, and for the conduct of research concerning such services. Authorizes the Secretary, acting through the Director, to make grants for prevention services demonstration projects for the provision of prevention services for individuals who are at risk of developing mental illness. Limits the duration of such a grant and the portion of the grant which may be used for administrative expenses. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1989 and 1990. Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration, to collect data on the incidence, nationally and in selected major metropolitan areas, of the various forms of mental illness and substance abuse. Specifies the types of data to be included. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1989 through 1991 to carry out specified provisions of the Public Health Service Act relating to: (1) alcohol abuse and alcoholism; and (2) research with respect to drug abuse. Authorizes the Secretary, acting through the Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, to make grants for demonstration projects: (1) to determine the feasibility and efficacy of providing drug abuse treatment and vocational training in exchange for public service; (2) to conduct outreach to intravenous drug abusers with respect to AIDS; and (3) to provide drug abuse treatment services to pregnant and postpartum women and their infants. Directs the Secretary, directly or through contracts, to provide for evaluations of the projects and for dissemination of information developed. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1989 through 1991 for the Office of Substance Abuse Prevention. Directs the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Office of Substance Abuse Prevention, to make grants for prevention, education, and treatment regarding drug and alcohol abuse relating to pregnant and postpartum women and their infants, giving priority to projects: (1) for low-income women; and (2) to develop innovative approaches regarding the use of the drugs about which there exists insufficient information, including cocaine and crack. Requires that grants be distributed among projects that provide inpatient, outpatient, and residential treatment. Requires the Director to evaluate the projects. Amends the Public Health Service Act to state that the Office of Substance Abuse Prevention is an entity of the Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration (Administration). Changes from annual to not less than once each three years the requirement that the Administrator, acting through the Associate Administrator for Prevention, report to the Congress regarding prevention activities undertaken by the Administration. Directs the Administrator to establish a process for responding to reports of scientific misconduct in connection with projects using funds under title V of the Public Health Service Act. (Current law requires such a process for scientific fraud.) Repeals provisions dealing with the duties, composition, and operation of the Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Advisory Board. Authorizes the Administrator to: (1) accept voluntary and uncompensated services; and (2) conduct and support certain research training. Amends provisions relating to drug abuse research and to drug abuse demonstration projects to require special consideration regarding pregnant women and their children. Amends provisions relating to mental health clinical traineeships to impose a service obligation on individuals receiving such a traineeship in marital and family therapy. Amends the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 to require the Secretary to report to the Congress with respect to the results of a study regarding insurance coverage of drug abuse treatment, within 18 months after the execution of the contract for the study. (Current law requires such a report within one year of the enactment of that Act.) Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to expand programs of treatment for drug abuse, limiting eligibility to applicants whose treatment programs have a waiting period of one month or more. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary, directly or by contract, to provide for an independent evaluation of federally funded programs of: (1) treatment for drug abuse; and (2) research into methods of such treatment. Sets forth reporting requirements. Mandates that butyl nitrite be considered a banned hazardous product under provisions of the Consumer Product Safety Act, subject to exception. Declares that any conviction of a person for certain violations of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act involving anabolic steriods or human growth hormone shall be considered a conviction for purposes of specified provisions of the Controlled Substances Act. Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to: (1) develop guidelines and provide counseling for law enforcement agencies for dealing with illegal drug laboratories to protect the public health and environment; and (2) carry out demonstration projects to clean up substances associated with illegal drug laboratories. Amends the Controlled Substances Act to allow proceeds from the sale of forfeited property to be used to pay for demonstration projects for and expenses of cleanup of substances associated with illegal drug laboratories.
United States · United States Congress · 16 June 1988
Designates the Labor Day Weekend beginning on September 3, 1988, as National Drive for Life Weekend. Calls on people to observe that weekend with a pledge to not drink and drive.
United States · United States Congress · 3 June 1988
Veterans' Compensation Amendments of 1988 - Increases the rates of compensation, dependency and indemnity compensation, and the clothing allowance payable to veterans with service-connected disabilities and their survivors. Authorizes the Administrator of Veterans Affairs to administratively adjust the rates of disability compensation payable to persons who are not in receipt of compensation for service-connected disability or death. Provides for the payment of benefits to the surviving spouse and to the children of a veteran who dies from causes other than the veteran's own willful misconduct, and who was in receipt of, entitled to receive, or but for the receipt of retired or retirement pay would have been entitled to receive, compensation at the time of death for a service-connected disability that was continuously rated totally disabling for: (1) ten years or more immediately preceding death; or (2) not less than five years from the date of such veteran's discharge or other release from active duty. Prohibits the payment of benefits to a surviving spouse under this Act unless: (1) the marriage to the veteran occurred before the expiration of 15 years after the veteran's discharge or other release from active duty; (2) the surviving spouse was married to the veteran for one year or more; or (3) a child was born of the marriage or was born to them before the marriage. Provides for a reduction of benefits to a surviving spouse or child receiving money or property pursuant to an award in a judicial proceeding based upon, or a settlement or compromise of, any cause of action for damages for the death of such veteran. Revises provisions providing for vocational rehabilitation for pension recipients to qualify for an eligibility evaluation any veteran who was awarded a pension before the beginning of the program period, and to remove the limitation on the number of veterans who may be given evaluations each year. Extends the program period through January 31, 1992. Provides for the continued operation of the Veterans Administration's regional office in the Philippines through September 30, 1991.
United States · United States Congress · 2 June 1988
Urges the Government of Iran to uphold the human rights of all its nationals, including members of the Baha'i faith, and to restore fully the rights guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Calls upon the President to: (1) monitor and report on developments affecting the Baha'i minority in Iran and in other countries; (2) cooperate with other governments in continuing to make appeals to Iran concerning the situation of the Baha'is; (3) initiate and support efforts in the United Nations and its agencies on behalf of the Baha'is; and (4) provide, and urge others to provide, for refugee and humanitarian assistance for those Baha'is fleeing their homelands to escape religious repression.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 1988
Upland Cotton Optional Acreage Diversion Act of 1988 - Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to provide that producers of the 1988 through 1990 upland cotton crops who devote all or a part of their permitted upland cotton acreage to conservation or other authorized uses shall receive deficiency payments on the acreage considered to be planted to such crops (0/92 option) at not less than the projected deficiency rate for such crop. (Current law requires at least 50 percent planted cotton acreage in order to be eligible for such payments.) Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to minimize adverse program effects on agribusiness and other agriculturally related economic interests within any county, State, or region. Authorizes the Secretary to restrict the total amount of upland cotton that may be taken out of production under this Act, except in counties eligible for emergency disaster loans. Requires the Secretary, in issuing implementing regulations under this Act, to ensure to the maximum extent possible that the program will not adversely affect landlord-tenant crop acreage base relations. Provides for the protection of crop acreage bases and program yields.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 1988
Designates the period of July 25 through July 31, 1988, as National Week of Recognition and Remembrance for Those Who Served in the Korean War. Authorizes and requests the President to urge that the American flag be flown at half staff on July 27, 1988, in honor of those Americans who died as a result of their service in Korea.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 1988
Declares that the Congress recognizes the heroic acts of civilian construction workers who participated in the defense of Wake Island during its invasion by Japan between December 8 and December 23, 1941.
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 1988
Expresses U.S. policy that Nicaragua should undertake specified reforms, such as reinstating due process and fair trials, ending torture, conducting free elections, allowing an uncensored free press, ensuring the right to strike and to publish for unions, allowing the Catholic Church to reopen its offices, and ending the forced relocation of Indians and Creoles. Urges all countries in Central America to continue to work toward achieving the democratic principles and processes specified in the August 7, 1987, Central American peace accord.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 1988
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the United States Trade Representative (USTR) should continue to pursue the U.S. complaint against Japan's obstructive citrus and beef import practices with the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) Council seeking a decision that Japan is in violation of the GATT; (2) the USTR is urged to initiate an investigation of the enforcement of U.S. trade rights or unfair trade practices in response to the petition filed by the Florida Citrus Mutual and others; (3) the USTR should pursue such investigation of the alleged unfair trade practices; (4) the President should use his authority under the Trade Act of 1974 to restore trade benefits due the U.S. citrus industry which arise from Japan's imposition of quantitative restrictions on U.S. oranges and orange juice; and (5) the President should take action to obtain the recommendation of the GATT Contracting Parties that Japan eliminate or bring into conformity with GATT its citrus and beef import practices with respect to U.S. imports.
United States · United States Congress · 5 May 1988
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit cooperatives (farmers' cooperatives, cooperative banks, mutual insurance companies, and rural electric and telephone cooperatives) to: (1) elect to treat as ordinary income or loss any gain or loss from the sale or other disposition of any asset used by the organization to facilitate the conduct of business done with or for patrons; and (2) include such gain or loss in net earnings of the organization from business done with or for patrons.
United States · United States Congress · 5 May 1988
Expresses the sense of the Congress that Federal departments and agencies should use the most recent population data in determining the amount of benefit received by State, county, or local government.
United States · United States Congress · 4 May 1988
Designates specified land as the Manassas National Battlefield Addition. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to acquire land within the boundaries of the Addition and to administer such lands as part of the Manassas National Battlefield Park, Virginia. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 27 April 1988
Directs the Attorney General, in coordination with the Secretary of State, to provide visa (H-1) extensions of at least one year for alien nurses whose visas expire between January 1, 1988, and September 30, 1989.
United States · United States Congress · 19 April 1988
Ethics in Congress Act of 1988 - Prohibits a former Member of Congress, within two years after having been a Member, from representing any person by lobbying any employee of any standing committee upon which such Member served during the last term as a Member concerning any matter within the jurisdiction of such committee. Prohibits a former officer of Congress, within two years after such employment has ceased, from representing any person by lobbying any officer or employee of the House of Congress in which the officer was employed. Prohibits a former senior committee employee, within two years after such employment has ceased, from representing any person by lobbying any employee of such committee concerning any matter within the jurisdiction of such committee.
United States · United States Congress · 19 April 1988
Declares that the Congress acknowledges and appreciates the commitment, devotion, and sacrifices of present and former military families. Designates November 21, 1988, as National Military Families Recognition Day.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 1988
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is commended for initiating an unfair trade practice investigation with respect to the petition filed by the American Soybean Association for the enforcement of trade benefits under a trade agreement; (2) the USTR should pursue its investigation of the alleged unfair trade practices contained in such petition; and (3) the President should use his authority to enforce trade agreements under the Trade Act of 1974 to restore the benefits due the U.S. soybean industry as a result of the European Community agreement to provide duty-free treatment for U.S. soybean products.
United States · United States Congress · 31 March 1988
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to pay a certain sum to a named individual in satisfaction of a claim against a tortiously liable third party for the value of medical care furnished by the United States to that individual.
United States · United States Congress · 30 March 1988
National Agricultural Product Technology Development Act of 1988 - States that the purpose of this Act is to assist applied agricultural research and development through a matching grant program in order to: (1) increase production of new commercial products from agricultural commodities; and (2) decrease agricultural production and processing costs in order to increase U.S. competitiveness and market shares. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to provide for the establishment of a National Agricultural Product Technology Institute as an independent entity within the Department of Agriculture. Creates the National Agricultural Product Technology Board to head the Institute. Sets forth related operating and administrative provisions. Establishes in the Treasury the Agricultural Product Technology Fund to carry out Institute programs. Establishes an agricultural product technology research and development program to: (1) provide three-year matching grants to private or public research or educational organizations, government agencies, and commercial entities, or any combination of such groups, for new product or cost reduction projects; and (2) establish and maintain programs of information collection and dissemination. Requires entities receiving new product funds to agree to engage in commercial production and sale of any project-developed products. Sets forth project funding limitations. Authorizes appropriations. Terminates project authority under this Act on June 30, 2000.
United States · United States Congress · 30 March 1988
Federal Law Enforcement Officers Death Penalty Act of 1988 - Amends the Federal criminal code to subject any person who is found guilty of the first degree murder of a Federal law enforcement officer, or certain other Federal officials or employees, to the penalty of death. Establishes procedures for the imposition of the death penalty in such cases. Provides that no person who was less than 18 years of age may be sentenced to death. Sets forth mitigating and aggravating factors to be considered by the jury in determining whether the death sentence will be imposed. Requires the Government to serve notice upon the defendant a reasonable time before trial or acceptance of a plea that it intends to seek the death penalty, as well as notice of the aggravating factors upon which it will rely. Provides that no presentence report shall be prepared in such cases. Requires a separate sentencing hearing before a jury or the court (upon motion by the defendant) when the defendant is convicted and the Government has filed notice that it intends to seek the death penalty. Allows the Government and the defendant to present any information relevant to a mitigating or aggravating factor without regard to the rules of evidence, but permits information to be excluded where its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of creating unfair prejudice, confusing the issues, or misleading the jury. Conditions imposition of the death penalty on a unanimous finding by the jury or, if there is no jury, the court, that: (1) the aggravating factors found to exist sufficiently outweigh any mitigating factor found to exist; or (2) in the absence of a mitigating factor, the aggravating factors alone are sufficient to justify a sentence of death. Requires the court to instruct the jury not to consider the race, color, national origin, creed, or sex of the defendant in its consideration of the death sentence. Directs the court to impose the death sentence upon a finding that such sentence is justified. Establishes procedures for appeal from a death sentence. Requires the court of appeals, upon consideration of the record and the information and procedures of the sentencing hearing, and any special finding, to affirm the decision if: (1) the sentence was not imposed under influence of passion, prejudice, or arbitrariness; and (2) the information supports the special finding of the existence of an aggravating factor. Requires the court to provide a written explanation of its determination. Establishes procedures for the implementation of the death sentence.
United States · United States Congress · 30 March 1988
Expresses the concern of the House of Representatives regarding the future security of the Panama Canal. Calls on the President to renegotiate the Panama Canal Treaties to permit: (1) the permanent stationing of U.S. forces in Panama; and (2) the United States to act independently to maintain the security of the Canal and to guarantee its regular operation.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1988
Montgomery GI Bill Amendments of 1988 - Directs the Administrator of Veterans Affairs to make payments to veterans who are entitled to veterans' educational assistance but who have become so physically or mentally handicapped that such individuals are unable to utilize such educational assistance. Directs the Administrator to make such payments to a qualifying veteran's survivors in the event of a veteran's death while on active duty or within six years of such individual's discharge, according to a certain order of priority. Deducts the amount of educational assistance received by the veteran before enactment of this Act from the amount to be paid under this Act. Authorizes entitlement to basic educational assistance for veterans who are discharged or released from active duty for a disability that existed before becoming or entering into active duty as a member of the armed forces. (Currently, such entitlement is limited to those discharged or released for either a service-connected disability or for hardship.) Authorizes the same entitlement for members discharged or released from the Selected Reserve. Authorizes the Administrator to approve the pursuit of flight training by an individual entitled to basic educational assistance if such training meets conditions specified in this Act. Specifies the amount of flight assistance to be provided. Directs the Administrator to pay educational assistance for refresher courses in the individual's area of education, deficiency courses, or other preparatory or special educational assistance necessary to enable the individual to pursue an approved program of education. Limits the length of such payments for refresher courses. Allows an individual currently on active duty who originally chose not to receive basic educational assistance to enroll in such program within 60 days after the enactment of this Act. Outlines provisions relating to the implementation of such enrollment, including "catch-up" payments or deductions from pay in order to receive such educational assistance. Requires a certain minimum payment or pay deduction before an individual becomes so qualified. Directs the Secretary of each military department to inform individuals of the opportunity to enroll for such assistance under this Act. Prohibits the payment of any basic educational assistance to members of the Selected Reserve until such members have completed their initial periods of active duty for training required by the military department concerned. (Currently, such members must complete such training plus serve in the reserves for at least 180 days before being eligible.) Authorizes the Administrator to approve the pursuit of flight training by a member of the Selected Reserve who is entitled to basic educational assistance, if such training meets conditions specified in this Act. Specifies the amount of flight assistance to be provided. Provides that educational assistance may only be provided for an approved program of education for purposes of the All-Volunteer Force Educational Assistance Program. (Currently, such assistance may be provided for a program of education at an institution of higher learning and may not be provided for post-graduate study.) Limits the amount of monthly educational assistance to be provided to an individual pursuing a full-time program of apprenticeship or other on-the-job training. Reduces the amount of assistance provided in any month in which such individual fails to complete at least 120 hours of training. Provides a limited educational assistance payment as determined by the Administrator for individuals participating in a less-than-half-time pursuit of a program of education. Provides that an individual serving in the Selected Reserve may not receive credit for such service under both veterans' educational assistance provisions and the All-Volunteer Force Educational Assistance Program, but shall instead elect the program to which such service is to be credited. Revises provisions concerning the time limitation applicable for the use of basic educational assistance by a member of the Selected Reserve who is separated from such service because of a disability incurred on or after the date on which such person became entitled to educational assistance. Directs the Secretary of Defense, at the request of the Administrator, to transmit a notice of entitlement for each such person becoming eligible for educational assistance to the Administrator.
United States · United States Congress · 17 March 1988
Amends the Internal Revenue Code with respect to the excise tax on diesel and aviation fuels. Prohibits imposition of the tax on the sale of these fuels by a producer or importer for use by the purchaser in a nontaxable use (defined to include, among other uses, any off-highway business use, use as supplies for vessels or aircraft, State or local governmental use, and use by a nonprofit educational organization). Permits the exemption only if both the seller and purchaser have registered with the Secretary of the Treasury. Requires producers, importers, and purchasers taking part in reduced-tax sales to file with the Secretary information returns containing specified data. Requires producers and importers, in addition, to furnish corresponding statements to their purchasers. Establishes penalties for failure to file required returns.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1988
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the Administration should pursue efforts to further liberalize the Japanese market for U.S. beef and encourage the elimination of the quota system; and (2) if a satisfactory solution is not reached with Japan when the current beef agreement expires, the U.S. Trade Representative should pursue appropriate measures in order to liberalize the Japanese beef market.
United States · United States Congress · 9 March 1988
Declares that the President should: (1) posthumously award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Charles E. Thornton, Lee Shapiro, and Jim Lindelof in honor of their efforts to document the Afghan struggle for freedom; and (2) present the award to those individuals' families on March 21, 1988, the start of the new year in Afghanistan.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 1988
Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to extend to November 8, 1989, the effective date for maintaining evidence of financial responsibility for owners and operators of underground storage tanks. Prohibits the first suspension of such financial responsibility requirement for a class or category of tanks from exceeding 360 days. (Such suspension is currently authorized for up to 180 days if the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency makes certain determinations.) Requires the Administrator to assist States in establishing: (1) State assurance funds to enable underground storage tank owners and operators to meet the financial requirements of the Act; and (2) programs to encourage private insurance providers to offer insurance coverage to such owners and operators.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 1988
Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to set 1988 through 1990 soybean support prices at $5.02 per bushel. (Currently such levels are a minimum of $4.50 per bushel for 1988 through 1990.) Requires (current law authorizes) soybean loan repayment at the lesser of prevailing world prices or the crop loan level. States that if producers of any crop are permitted to repay loans at less than the crop's loan level, cottonseed and sunflower seed prices shall be supported at traditional soybean-based levels.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1988
Expresses disapproval of the refusal of the U.S.S.R. to recognize the sovereignty of the Baltic Republics. Designates June 14, 1988, as Baltic Freedom Day. Authorizes and requests the President to submit the issue of the Baltic Republics to the United Nations.
United States · United States Congress · 16 February 1988
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an individual taxpayer a refundable income tax credit, in an amount based on adjusted gross income (minimum credit of $150), for each dependent below the age of compulsory school attendance in the State where the taxpayer resides. Sets the maximum credit amount as the total employee tax withheld from the taxpayer's wages during the year under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act. Disallows application of the nonrefundable dependent care income tax credit with respect to a taxpayer's dependents under age 15, unless the child is physically or mentally incapable of self-care.
![Official portrait of Rep. Stenholm, Charles W. [D-TX-17]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/s000851_200.jpg)