United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1991
Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act of 1991 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from diminishing existing allocations of spectrum (available radio frequencies) to the amateur radio service after January 1, 1991. Requires the FCC to provide replacement spectrum to the service for any frequency reallocation after such date.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1991
Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act - Makes it unlawful for any licensed importer, manufacturer, or dealer to sell, deliver, or transfer a handgun to an unlicensed individual unless: (1) after the most recent proposal of such transfer by the individual, the transferor has received a statement of eligibility from the individual, has notified the chief law enforcement officer for such individual's place of residence about the proposed transfer, and either has received a response indicating that such transfer is not prohibited by law or has not received a response indicating otherwise within seven days; (2) the individual has presented to the transferor a statement from the officer, issued in the past ten days, that the individual requires a handgun because of a threat to him or his family; (3) the individual has presented to the transferor a permit to possess a handgun that has been issued in the past five years by the State in which the transfer is to take place under a State law which requires law enforcement verification of the individual's legal qualification to possess a handgun; (4) State law either requires a waiting period of at least seven days or requires that an authorized government official verifies that the information available to such official does not indicate that possession of a handgun by the purchaser would be unlawful; or (5) the transferor has received a report from any system of felon identification established by the Attorney General under the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 that the individual's possession or receipt of the handgun would not violate Federal, State, or local law. Requires the statement of eligibility to include a statement that the individual: (1) is not under indictment for and has not been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year; (2) is not a fugitive; (3) is not an unlawful user of, or addicted to, a controlled substance; (4) has not been adjudicated as a mental defective or committed to a mental institution; (5) is not an alien who is illegally in the United States; (6) has not been dishonorably discharged from the armed forces; and (7) is not a person who has renounced U.S. citizenship. Requires any transferor who, after a transfer, receives a report from such officer that receipt or possession of the handgun by the individual violates the law, to: (1) furnish information about the transfer and the individual to the chief law enforcement officer of the transferor's place of business and the individual's place of residence; and (2) keep confidential any information received which is not otherwise available to the public, with exceptions. Requires a transferor to retain a copy of the individual's statement. Requires the law enforcement officer to destroy any copy of the individual's sworn statement and any record containing information derived from such statement within 30 days, unless such officer determines that the transaction would violate Federal, State, or local law.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1991
Veterans' Compensation Amendments of 1991 - Increases the rates of: (1) veterans' disability compensation; (2) additional compensation for veterans' dependents; (3) the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans; (4) dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children; and (5) supplemental dependency and indemnity compensation for disabled adult children. Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to adjust administratively the rates of disability compensation payable to persons who are not in receipt of compensation for service-connected disability or death.
United States · United States Congress · 3 January 1991
Federal Employees' Political Activities Act of 1991 - Prohibits an employee from using or attempting to use official authority or influence to interfere with or affect the result of any election. Prohibits an employee from using or attempting to use official authority to intimidate, threaten, coerce, command, or influence: (1) any individual for the purpose of interfering with the right of any individual to vote as the individual may choose, or of causing any individual to vote, or not to vote, for any candidate or measure in any election; (2) any person to give or withhold any political contribution; or (3) any person to engage, or not to engage, in any form of political activity. Prohibits an employee from using, attempting to use, or permitting the use of any official information, unless such information is available to the general public. Prohibits an employee from: (1) giving or offering to give a political contribution to any individual either to vote or to refrain from voting, or to vote for or against any candidate or measure, in any election; (2) soliciting, accepting, or receiving a political contribution to vote or refrain from voting, or to vote for or against any candidate or measure, in any election; or (3) giving or handing over a political contribution to a superior of the employee. Prohibits an employee from soliciting, accepting, or receiving, or from being in any manner concerned with soliciting, accepting, or receiving, a political contribution: (1) from another employee (or a member of another employee's immediate family) with respect to whom the employee is a superior; or (2) in any room or building occupied in the discharge of official duties by a Federal employee or official or an individual receiving salary or compensation from the Treasury. Prohibits an employee from soliciting, accepting, or receiving a political contribution from, or giving a political contribution to, any person who: (1) has, or is seeking to obtain, contractual or other business or financial relations with the employing agency; (2) conducts operations or activities which are regulated by that agency; or (3) has interests which may be substantially affected by the performance of the employee's official duties. Directs the Special Counsel of the Merit Systems Protection Board to prescribe regulations which exempt employees from such prohibitions. Prohibits an employee from engaging in political activity: (1) while on duty; (2) in any room or building occupied in the discharge of official duties by a Federal employee or official; (3) while wearing a uniform or official insignia identifying the office or position of the employee; or (4) while using any vehicle owned or leased by the Government. Exempts certain high level political appointees from such prohibitions if the costs associated with the political activity are not paid for by money derived from the Treasury. Authorizes leave without pay or accrued annual leave to an employee who is a candidate, upon request, to allow such employee to engage in activities relating to that candidacy. Declares that such request may be denied if the exigencies of the public business so require. Declares that such employee may be required to take leave without pay or accrued annual leave in order to be a candidate if activities relating to the candidacy interfere with the employee's performance of duties. Applies this Act to postal employees and employees of the Postal Rate Commission.
United States · United States Congress · 27 October 1990
CO2 Offsets Policy Enabling Act of 1990 - Amends the Clean Air Act to prohibit new major sources of carbon dioxide from operating without a permit issued under this Act. Requires new stationary sources to: (1) obtain certified carbon dioxide credits; (2) demonstrate possession of certified credits equal to one year's expected carbon dioxide emissions to the permitting authority before commencing operation; and (3) deposit annually with the permitting authority sufficient credits to compensate for the year's carbon dioxide emissions. Provides that the receipt by the permitting authority of carbon dioxide offset credits shall be a condition of any permit. Directs new sources that use biomass as a fuel to obtain credits sufficient to offset only the fossil fuel used in production of the biomass. Requires new sources that use trees as fuel to obtain credits for all carbon dioxide emissions. Directs new major sources emitting excess carbon dioxide to obtain credits as soon as practicable and to pay a penalty of $250 per ton of excess carbon dioxide. Adjusts such penalty annually according to percentage changes in the Consumer Price Index. Authorizes a permitting authority to certify carbon dioxide reductions as offset credits if the person providing the reduction or purchasing the credit is in compliance with regulations under this Act. Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to establish regulations concerning the certification of stationary source carbon dioxide reductions. Requires the Administrator to promulgate rules establishing carbon dioxide fixation rates. Directs the Administrator to promulgate rules concerning the certification of: (1) carbon dioxide credits from fleet vehicle fuel efficiency improvements beyond the applicable Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency requirement; (2) carbon dioxide credits from appliance efficiency improvements beyond the minimum required under the National Appliance Energy Conservation Amendments; (3) carbon dioxide credits for energy conservation investments; (4) carbon dioxide equivalent credits from the capture and use of coal bed methane; (5) carbon dioxide credits created by construction of cogeneration facilities; and (6) carbon dioxide equivalent credit for the capture and destruction of chlorofluorocarbons. Requires the Administrator to establish regulations identifying the carbon dioxide credits to be granted by fuel switches to less carbon intensive fuels for mobile sources. Authorizes the Administrator to provide for expedited certification of carbon dioxide credits. Requires the Administrator to establish a baseline for sources subject to certification, to be set according to actual performances of such sources during 1990. Authorizes reductions in air pollutants that contribute to global warming to be certified as carbon dioxide offset credits if such reductions meet regulation criteria, except that the amounts of such credits may be reduced or increased based on radiative differences and atmospheric lifetime to reflect the global warming potential of such air pollutants. Requires the Administrator to establish the minimum elements of a permit program to be administered by any air pollution control agency. Requires State Governors to submit permit programs to the Administrator for approval. Directs the Administrator to enforce programs for States failing to make such submission. Requires permits to set forth inspection, entry, monitoring, compliance certification, and reporting requirements. Directs the Administrator to create a National Carbon Dioxide Offset Bank to ensure adequate supplies of carbon dioxide offsets and to create procedures for the tracking and retirement of used credits.
United States · United States Congress · 23 October 1990
Designates the room numbered H-235 in the House of Representatives wing of the Capitol as the Lindy Claiborne Boggs Congressional Women's Reading Room.
United States · United States Congress · 20 October 1990
Declares that it is the sense of the Congress that the United States should: (1) give highest national priority to developing a national child health policy; (2) establish a universal national children's health insurance program; and (3) devote sufficient resources to achieving, by the year 2000, the Surgeon General's Maternal and Child Health Objectives.
United States · United States Congress · 17 October 1990
Prohibits the proposed sales to Saudi Arabia of armored vehicles (including M1A2 tanks and Bradley Fighting Vehicles), AH-64 APACHE attack helicopters, PATRIOT guided missile units, and related defense articles and services, that were reported to the Congress pursuant to the Arms Export Control Act on September 27, 1990.
United States · United States Congress · 16 October 1990
Salutes and congratulates the people of Poland as they commemorate the 200th anniversary of the adoption of the Polish Constitution on May 3, 1991. Directs the Library of Congress to commemorate the anniversary with appropriate ceremonies.
United States · United States Congress · 3 October 1990
Fair Market Grazing for Public Rangelands Act of 1990 - Establishes a livestock grazing fee structure for public lands based on base value and forage value (as defined by this Act).
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 1990
Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to increase from 5,000,000 to 15,000,000 barrels the amount of crude oil which may be sold from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
United States · United States Congress · 27 September 1990
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to cover as a prosthetic device corrective eyeglasses provided with intraocular lenses following cataract surgery.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 1990
Vehicular Natural Gas Jurisdiction Act of 1990 - Declares that for purposes of the Natural Gas Act: (1) natural gas for ultimate use in a motor vehicle fuel (VNG) shall be deemed to be "ultimately consumed" within the State in which physical delivery of such VNG occurs, whether or not physical combustion occurs in another State; (2) in the case of a wholesale of VNG by the holder of a service area determination such holder shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the State commission in the State in which physical delivery of VNG occurs; and (3) in the case of VNG transportation by such holder, the VNG shall be deemed to be "consumed" within the State in which physical delivery occurs.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 1990
Patent Competitiveness and Technological Innovation Act of 1990 - Title I: Patents in Space - Patents in Space Act - Amends Federal patent law to provide that any invention made, used, or sold in outer space on a space object or component under the jurisdiction or control of the United States shall be considered made, used, or sold within the United States unless: (1) it has been specifically identified and otherwise provided for in an international agreement which the United States has signed; or (2) it is carried on the registry of a foreign state in accordance with the Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space. Declares that any invention carried on such registry shall be considered made, used, or sold within the United States if it has been specifically so agreed in an international agreement between the United States and the state of registry. Applies this provision to all patents granted before, on, or after the date of enactment of this Act, with certain exceptions. Title II: Transgenic Animal Patent Improvements - Transgenic Animal Patent Improvement Act - Amends Federal patent law to declare that it shall not be an act of infringement for a person to: (1) reproduce a patented transgenic farm animal through breeding; (2) use it in the farming operation; or (3) sell it or its reproductive material in the farming operation (including germ cells, sperm, eggs or embryos). Authorizes the Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks to accept a deposit of biological material to satisfy patent application requirements. Declares that human beings are not patentable subject matter. Title III: Patent Remedy Clarification - Patent Remedy Clarification Act - Amends Federal patent law to declare that neither the States, their officers, nor their instrumentalities are immune from infringement liability. Provides the same remedies for infringement against State entities as are available against any private entity. Title IV: Research, Experimentation, an Competitiveness - Research, Experimentation, and Competitiveness Act of 1990 - Amends Federal patent law to declare it shall not be an act of infringement to make or use a patent invention solely for research or experimentation purposes unless the invention's primary purpose is research or experimentation. States that if a patented invention has a primary purpose of research or experimentation it shall not be an act of infringement to study, evaluate, or characterize it to create a product outside the scope of the patent covering the invention. Title V: Contractor Invention Rights - Contractor Invention Rights Act - Amends Federal patent law regarding patent rights in inventions made with Federal assistance to outline the parameters of contractors rights in inventions developed pursuant to a Federal contract. Directs the Secretary of Energy to: (1) consider certain principles of national security and sensitive information when implementing contractor invention rights; and (2) review contractor standards of conduct for resolving potential conflicts of interest, including those involving Department of Energy personnel, contractors, or the current business associates of former Department of Energy employees.
United States · United States Congress · 11 September 1990
Desert Shield Burden-Sharing Act of 1990 - Directs the President to determine whether each foreign country that receives trade benefits from the United States is making a commensurate contribution to the multinational military mobilization carried out in response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Requires the President to impose an additional duty on dutiable products and a duty on duty-free products of countries that are found not to be contributing to the mobilization. Provides for the termination of such duties. Establishes the Desert Shield Reimbursement Fund to receive duties collected under this Act. Makes the Fund available solely to reimburse appropriations made to support U.S. participation in the mobilization.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1990
Copyright Amendments Act of 1990 - Title I: Computer Software - Computer Software Rental Amendments Act - Amends Federal copyright law to prohibit the person in possession of a computer software program from renting, leasing, or lending it for direct or indirect commercial advantage unless authorized to do so by the copyright owner. Excludes certain home video game software from the prohibition. Authorizes nonprofit libraries to lend computer programs if a copyright warning has been affixed to the computer program packaging. Requires the Register of Copyrights to report to the Congress regarding the efficacy of this Act. Sets forth remedies for copyright infringement in cases of violations of this Act. Title II: Fair Use - Amends Federal copyright law to apply the fair use doctrine to all copyrighted work, whether published or unpublished. Title III: Architectural Works - Architectural Works Copyright Protection Act - Amends Federal copyright law to define and include architectural works within the scope of copyright subject matter. Excludes from such copyright any right to prevent a pictorial representation of an architectural work if the work is embodied in a structure located in a public place. Permits the owners of a structure embodying an architectural work to make alterations without the author's or copyright owner's consent.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1990
Amends the Public Health Service Act to modify the formula for determining the minimum amount of allotments to States for acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) public information activities to allow the amount to be equal to the amount received by the State from the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control, for FY 1989 for such activities, if those receipts are greater than the amounts under the alternatives specified by existing law.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 1990
Campaign Cost Reduction and Reform Act of 1990 - Title I: Amendments to the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to define a "qualifying House of Representatives candidate" as one whose principal campaign committee includes in its statement of organization a declaration of the candidate's intention to abide by expenditure limitations under such Act and to use broadcast time under the Communications Act of 1934 or to receive reduced postal rates. Includes in the definition of "contribution": (1) any gift, subscription, loan, advance, or deposit of money or anything of value made by any person for the purpose of encouraging any specific individual who is not a candidate. Provides that the term "contribution" does not include the value of any advertising rate reduction made available to a qualifying House candidate by a newspaper, magazine, broadcasting station, or cable system if such reduction is made available to any qualifying candidate during the 90-day period before the election. Includes in the definition of "expenditure" any purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit, or gift of money or anything of value made by any person for the purpose of encouraging any specific individual who is not a candidate to become a candidate. Revises the exclusion of mailing costs from authorized contributions and expenditures. Excludes from the definitions of "contribution" and "expenditure": (1) any amount for a candidate for other than Federal office: (2) any amount in connection with a State or local political convention; (3) any campaign activity on behalf of State or local candidates; (4) administrative expenses of a State or local committee of a political party; (5) research pertaining solely to State and local candidates and issues; and (6) maintenance of voter files. Prohibits a candidate for Federal office from establishing, maintaining, or controlling a political committee, other than an authorized committee of the candidate or a committee of a political party. Declares that an expenditure is not an independent expenditure if: (1) there is any arrangement, coordination, or direction with respect to the expenditure between the candidate and the person making the expenditure; (2) with respect to the election, the person making the expenditure was involved in the candidate's campaign; or (3) the person making the expenditure communicates with, advises, or counsels the candidate relating to such election. Removes certain limitations regarding State-by-State spending by presidential candidates. Prohibits a qualifying House candidate from making expenditures in excess of $75,000 of such candidate's personal funds for an election. Prohibits such candidate from spending in excess of $550,000 with respect to a general or special election, $300,000 with respect to a primary election ($400,000 where a candidate receiving a majority of votes is elected to office without a general election), and $100,000 with respect to a runoff election. Removes such limitation for all House candidates in an election if any candidate receives contributions or makes expenditures aggregating more than $200,000. Requires such limitations to be adjusted for inflation every four years beginning after calendar year 1992. Prohibits such candidate and his or her authorized political committee from accepting contributions from a political committee with respect to a general, special, or runoff election which total in excess of 50 percent of the limitation for such election. Imposes monetary penalties upon qualifying House candidates who exceed expenditure limitations. Provides for the accountability of contributions made by intermediaries or conduits. Prohibits a lobbyist from acting as an intermediary or conduit. Provides that contributions expended to encourage an individual to become a candidate shall be treated as contributions, whether or not such individual becomes a candidate. Prohibits a candidate or an authorized political committee of a candidate from accepting any contribution with respect to an election for Federal office if the contribution is given or made with respect to an election for State office or otherwise is not subject to the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971. Prohibits a candidate for Federal office from accepting, with respect to an election, any contribution from a State or local committee of a political party if such contribution, when added to the total of contributions previously accepted from all such committees of that political party, exceeds a limitation on contributions to a candidate under the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971. Subjects certain amounts received or used by a State or local committee of a political party as excluded payments to the limitations and reporting requirements of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 as if such amounts were contributions or expenditures, as appropriate. Prohibits such payments from being allocated to a non-Federal account or otherwise maintained in, or paid from, an account that is not subject to that Act. Excludes as a prohibited political contribution or expenditure by a national bank, corporation, or labor organization the administration and solicitation costs of a separate segregated political fund if amounts disbursed from the fund are used solely for internal communications, nonpartisan get-out-the-vote campaigns, or contributions for State or Federal elections. Requires that whenever any political committee (other than an authorized committee or a committee of a political party) makes a communication that is a solicitation for contributions with respect to a Federal election, it shall include in the communication a clear statement that neither the committee nor the communication is authorized by a candidate or is under the control of a candidate. Requires television advertisements authorized by candidates for Federal office that solicit contributions for, or advocate the election or defeat of, a clearly identified candidate to contain a readily identifiable image of the candidate who authorized such advertisement. Requires the image to appear for at least four seconds on at least one-third of the television screen accompanied by statements identifying the political committee or the other person paying for the advertisement and the candidate responsible for its content. Requires television advertisements that have not been authorized by a candidate to present a statement: (1) naming the person paying for the advertisement and any connected organization; and (2) indicating that the advertisement has not been authorized by any candidate. Requires authorized and unauthorized radio advertisements to contain such appropriate statements. Prescribes color contrast and character height standards for statements in advertisements in publications disclosing who authorized and paid for the advertisement. Provides that if any person makes an independent expenditure through a communication on a broadcasting station or cable system which attacks a qualifying House candidate or criticizes the public record of such a candidate, the licensee or cable operator involved shall transmit to such candidate: (1) a statement of the date and time of the communication; and (2) a script or tape recording of the communication or, if unavailable, an accurate summary of the communication; and (3) an offer of an equal opportunity for such a candidate to use the broadcasting station or cable system to respond, without cost, to the communication. Prohibits any person from soliciting contributions by falsely representing himself as a candidate or agent thereof. Prohibits the personal use of amounts received by political committees as contributions except as currently provided under the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971. Allows such contributions to be disbursed by the committee only as an expenditure or as otherwise permitted by law for a political purpose. Limits total small donor political committee contributions to $5,000 per candidate per election. Requires coordinated expenditures to be made only from amounts subject to the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971. Establishes additional reporting requirements for national and State political party committees and for individuals making contributions to Federal candidates which total more than $20,000 in any calendar year. Title II: Amendments to the Communications Act of 1934 and Title 39, United States Code - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to authorize the Federal Communications Commission to revoke any station license or construction permit for willful or repeated discrimination against a candidate for Federal office in the amount, class, or period of time made available to such candidate on behalf of such candidacy. Prohibits a licensee from using a broadcasting station for a communication not in compliance with the guidelines established by this Act. Requires such stations to give priority to legally qualified candidates in providing access to the use of such station. Exempts debates between candidates from the equal opportunity requirement. Eliminates the requirement that broadcast rates for legally qualified candidates for specified periods preceding primary, general, or special elections not exceed a station's lowest unit charge for the same class and amount of time. Entitles qualified House candidates to free broadcast time for every two television or radio advertisements purchased. Provides for reduced postage rates for qualified House candidates. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide a full tax credit for in-State individual contributions of up to $50 to qualified House candidates. Title III: Effective Date - Specifies that this Act shall apply with respect to Federal elections beginning with the general election of November 3, 1992.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 1990
Banking Law Enforcement Act of 1990 - Title I: Enhanced Criminal Penalties - Amends Federal criminal law to establish criminal penalties (including imprisonment) for the concealment of assets from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) (acting as conservator or receiver), the Resolution Trust Corporation (RTC), or the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) Board (acting as conservator or liquidating agent). Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the Federal Credit Union Insurance Act to prohibit certain felons convicted of dishonesty or breach of trust from controlling or participating in the affairs of a depository institution for a minimum ten-year period. Amends Federal criminal law to establish criminal penalties (including imprisonment) for obstructing any examination of a financial institution. Increases from 20 years to 30 years the maximum prison term for bank fraud and embezzlement. Establishes a ten-year statute of limitations for the prosecution of racketeering offenses involving financial institutions. Extends money laundering prohibitions to include funds from specified bank crimes. Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to promulgate guidelines for increased penalties for certain bank crime convictions in which the defendant derived more than $1,000,000 in gross receipts from the offense. Provides for restoration of forfeited property and for restitution to bank crime victims. Sets forth maximum criminal fines and minimum imprisonment terms for certain continuing financial crime enterprises (i.e., certain violations committed by at least four persons acting in concert). Title II: Protecting Assets from Wrongful Disposition - Authorizes the Attorney General to obtain a court order enjoining or restraining the alienation or disposition of property obtained as a result of a banking law violation. Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the Federal Credit Union Act to set forth attachment procedures. Amends Federal bankruptcy law to provide that the trustee shall be deemed to have assumed a debtor's commitment to a Federal depository institution regulatory agency to maintain the capital of an insured depository institution (thus precluding the trustee from rejecting such commitment as an executory contract which can be avoided as a discharge in bankruptcy). Exempts a Federal depository institution regulatory agency acting as conservator for an insured depository institution from the requirement of proving reasonable reliance upon a false writing supplied by a debtor who is an institution-affiliated party. Prohibits a discharge in bankruptcy for debts resulting from the debtor's failure to fulfill a commitment to a Federal financial institution regulatory agency to maintain the capital of an insured depository institution. Exempts a Federal depository institution regulatory agency acting as conservator for an insured depository institution from the requirement of a timely nondischargeability request (including notice and hearing) when seeking to recover a debt relating to malfeasance. Declares that for specified cases of deceitful conduct, any institution-affiliated party of an insured depository institution (or credit union) shall be deemed to have been acting in a fiduciary capacity with respect to any debt owed to a Federal banking regulatory agency (thus making such debt nondischargeable in bankruptcy). Sets forth as a prerequisite for a bankruptcy reorganization plan that the debtor will: (1) maintain any commitment to a Federal banking regulatory agency to maintain the capital of an insured depository institution; and (2) continue to be obligated for any debt to such agency for failure to fulfill such commitment. Makes certain debts owed by an institution-affiliated party to an insured depository institution under Federal receivership nondischargeable under a consumer debt bankruptcy plan. Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the Federal Credit Union Act to empower the FDIC and the NCUA (acting as conservators) to avoid fraudulent conveyances by a debtor institution-affiliated party. Prohibits an insured depository institution or credit union which does not meet minimum Federal capitalization requirements from making golden parachute payments, covered benefit payments, or certain payments in anticipation of insolvency to an institution-affiliated party without prior written Federal agency approval. Cites conditions under which insured depository institutions and credit unions may make golden parachute payments and covered benefits payments with FDIC or NCUAB approval. Amends the Federal criminal code to revise the civil and criminal forfeiture guidelines for: (1) property affecting a financial institution; and (2) fraudulent offenses involving the sale of assets held by Federal banking regulatory agencies. Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the Federal Credit Union Act to prohibit certain convicted felony debtors whose default to an insured financial institution in receivership will cause substantial loss from acquiring any asset of the institution (except with respect to repayment). Title III: Improved Procedures for Handling Banking-Related Cases - Amends Federal criminal law to authorize wiretaps for bank fraud and related offenses. Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the Federal Credit Union Act to set forth reciprocal assistance guidelines for foreign investigations by Federal banking agencies and investigations on behalf of foreign banking authorities. Amends the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 (FIRREA) to extend from five to ten years the statute of limitations for commencing a civil action for Federal bank law violations. Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the National Credit Union Act to grant the FDIC, the RTC, and the NCUA subpoena authority. Title IV: Structural Reforms to Improve the Federal Response to Crimes Affecting Financial Institutions - Establishes within the Office of the Deputy Attorney General in the Department of Justice a Financial Institutions Fraud Unit, headed by a Special Counsel who shall report directly to the Deputy Attorney General. Terminates such Office five years after enactment of this Act. Empowers the Special Counsel to investigate and prosecute criminal activity involving the financial services industry. Directs the Attorney General to establish: (1) financial institutions fraud task forces; and (2) a senior interagency group to assist in identifying the most significant financial institution fraud cases, to allocate investigative and prosecutorial resources, and to expedite interagency coordination and prosecution of financial institutions fraud. Amends Federal criminal law to authorize the Secret Service (under the direction of the Secretary of the Treasury) to detect and arrest persons who violate banking laws with respect to financial institutions and the Resolution Trust Corporation (RTC). Title V: Reporting Requirements - Directs the Attorney General to report quarterly to the Congress regarding financial institution crimes. Requires the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts to present annual statistical tables to the Congress on the business imposed on the Federal courts by the savings and loan crisis. Title VI: National Commission on Financial Institution Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement - Establishes the National Commission on Financial Institution Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement to make investigations and recommendations regarding specified aspects of the savings and loan crisis. Requires the Commission to submit a final report to the President and the Congress within one year after enactment of this Act. Terminates the Commission 30 days after the submission of such final report. Authorizes appropriations. Title VII: Authorizations - Amends the FIRREA to authorize appropriations to the Attorney General and the Federal Court System for bank crime cases.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 1990
Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1990 - Prohibits a governmental authority from restricting any person's free exercise of religion unless: (1) the restriction is in the form of a rule of general applicability that doesn't intentionally discriminate against religion or among religions; and (2) the governmental authority demonstrates that application of the restriction to a person is essential to furthering a compelling governmental interest and the least restrictive means of doing so. Authorizes a party aggrieved by a violation of such prohibition to obtain relief, including attorney fees, in a civil action.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 1990
Children's and Communities' Mental Health Systems Improvement Act of 1990 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to replace a subpart relating to State comprehensive mental health services plans with a subpart relating to comprehensive mental health services for children with serious emotional disturbances. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health, to make grants to States for comprehensive community mental health services to children with serious emotional disturbances. Prohibits the Secretary from making a grant to a State unless the State is receiving payments under alcohol and drug abuse and mental health services block grant provisions. Requires non-Federal contributions in a specified ratio. Requires State grantees to: (1) establish and operate one or more systems, through grants or contracts, to provide specified types of mental health services to children under 21 years of age; (2) enter into a memorandum of understanding with providers of medical, educational, vocational counseling and vocational rehabilitation, and protection and advocacy services to facilitate the provision of such services without use of grant funds or non-Federal contributions made with respect to the grant; (3) provide case management services; (4) provide services in the language and cultural context that is most appropriate for the child involved; and (5) develop and implement an individualized plan of services for each child admitted to the system. Describes additional services for which a State system may provide. Prohibits the Secretary from making a grant to a State unless the State has a plan, approved by the Secretary, for the development of a State-wide system of care for community-based services for children with serious emotional disturbances. Requires that parents of children with serious emotional disturbances be included as members of the mental health planning council established under existing provisions. Requires that, if a charge is imposed for services under a grant, the charge be made according to a public schedule, adjusted to reflect the income of the family of the child, and not imposed on any child whose family has income and resources at or below the poverty line. Limits grants to States to four years. Allows a State system established under a grant to receive grant funds for two years. Directs the Secretary to provide to a State, on request: (1) technical assistance regarding grant applications; and (2) training and technical assistance on the planning, development, and operation of the systems under this Act. Authorizes the Secretary to provide the technical assistance directly or through grants or contracts. Authorizes appropriations, earmarking a specified sum for the technical assistance and training. Limits the number of grants to ten in FY 1991.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 1990
National Organ Transplant Program Extension Act of 1990 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to, and enter into contracts with, qualified organ procurement organizations and other nonprofit entities for special projects to increase the number of organ donors. (Current law authorizes the Secretary to make grants for the same purpose but makes no reference to contracts or to the recipients of the grants or the contractees.) Modifies matters the Secretary must consider in making grants. Replaces a requirement that an organ procurement organization (OPO) be of sufficient size to expect to procure organs from at least 50 donors a year with provisions requiring that the OPO be of sufficient size to assure maximum effectiveness in the procurement and equitable distribution of organs. Repeals provisions specifying the effective date of related provisions with regard to certain OPOs. Authorizes appropriations for the grants. Removes provisions prohibiting the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network from being engaged in any activity unrelated to organ procurement. Authorizes appropriations for carrying out provisions mandating the establishment of a registry of voluntary bone marrow donors. Removes provisions setting October 1, 1988, as the deadline for establishing the registry. Prohibits making a grant or contract unless an application has been approved by the Secretary. Removes provisions specifying special considerations and priorities the Secretary must apply in considering grant applications. Allows special project grants to be made for three (currently, two) years. Removes provisions limiting them to a maximum dollar amount. Adds references to contracts to provisions relating to the amount of the grant or contract, advance payments, recordkeeping, and audits. Extends through FY 1993 the requirement that the Secretary maintain an identifiable administrative unit in the Public Health Service relating to organ procurement and donation. Requires that a report by the Secretary on the status of organ transplantation be published biennially rather than annually.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 1990
House of Representatives Clean Indoor Air Act - Prohibits an individual from possessing a lit tobacco product in any public area within a House office building unless it is in an area designated by the House Office Building Commission. Requires the Clerk of the House of Representatives to study and report to the Committee on House Administration on the feasibility of offering a smoke cessation assistance program for Representatives, officers, and employees of the House.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 1990
Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire and manage the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site in Washington, D.C. Establishes the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site Advisory Commission. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 1990
Tobacco Control and Health Protection Act - Makes it unlawful to manufacture, package, or distribute for sale any cigarettes or smokeless tobacco product unless its package bears one of specified warnings. Regulates the label format and requires rotation of the warning labels. Requires the advertising for cigarettes and smokeless tobacco to bear one of the same list of warnings. Sets forth a separate list of warnings for use on billboards advertising cigarettes. Regulates the warning format and requires rotation of warnings. Prohibits advertising any tobacco product on any medium of electronic communication subject to Federal Communications Commission regulation. Prohibits, subject to exception, the use in advertising of a human or cartoon figure, tobacco trademark logo or symbol, or picture other than a single package on a neutral white background. Requires advertising print to be black on a white background. Prohibits: (1) advertising in conjunction with sports or near schools with students under 21 years of age; (2) free or reduced cost distribution; (3) publicly identified sponsorship of any athletic, music, artistic, or other event; (4) marketing of nontobacco products (including toys) bearing a tobacco trademark; (5) payment to have any tobacco product appear in any entertainment; or (6) payment to have any tobacco trademark appear on sporting equipment, including vehicles. Applies the prohibitions and requirements of this paragraph to advertising, promotion, and packaging of nontobacco products or services which: (1) are manufactured or marketed by a corporation which manufactures or distributes tobacco products, including related companies or licensees, or any person acting with the concurrence or acquiescence of such a corporation; and (2) bear the trademark of a tobacco product manufactured or sold by that corporation. Prohibits packaging from containing a picture or human or cartoon figure unless the picture or figure appeared on the package for five consecutive years before January 1, 1989. Prohibits advertising on any audio tape, audio disc, videotape, video arcade game, or film. Prohibits advertisements and packaging from containing any representation regarding health or safety, including the level of or removal, reduction, or addition of ingredients, tar, nicotine, carbon monoxide, filters, or any other mechanism or device unless the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines that the representation is significant in terms of affecting health and safety and is based upon significant scientific agreement. Prohibits any person from manufacturing, packaging, or distributing any tobacco product unless the person has provided the Secretary a list of all brands, with certain information about their constituents, and the label states the ingredients in descending order. Directs the Secretary to make the information public. Allows the Secretary, if the Secretary determines that any ingredient other than tobacco is unsafe or presents risks to health to the consumer or general public, to require that the levels of that ingredient be reduced or eliminated. Allows the Secretary to require that the manufacturer, packager, or distributor of tobacco products provide consumers with additional information about the adverse effect of tobacco products. Amends the Public Health Service Act to prohibit a State from receiving an allotment under alcohol and drug abuse and mental health services block grant provisions unless the State has in effect a law which: (1) prohibits sale of any tobacco product to any person under the age of 19; (2) requires a place to be licensed to sell any tobacco product; (3) meets other requirements. Authorizes the Secretary to suspend such block grant payments if the Secretary determines a State is not adequately enforcing the law. Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to deem a food misbranded if it is a confectionary or chewing gum in a form resembling cigarettes or other tobacco products. Provides for enforcement of this Act, including through action by the Secretary, injunctions, civil actions by any interested organization, and civil monetary penalties. Sets forth the authority of the Secretary with regard to: (1) research and public information on the effects of tobacco products on human health; (2) implementation of strategies for reducing the consumption of tobacco products; (3) coordination of activities inside the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), within other Federal agencies, and within private agencies; and (4) liaison with public and private entities. Directs the Secretary to establish a Center on Tobacco and Health to educate the public, support research, assist State and local law enforcement, and take other actions. Establishes within the Center an Interagency Committee on Tobacco and Health to: (1) coordinate research and educational programs within HHS and coordinate those activities with other Federal and private agencies; and (2) maintain liaison with private and public entities. Prohibits any Federal agency, or any State or local statute or regulation, from requiring any statement relating to tobacco and health, other than those required by this Act, to appear on any package or advertisement. Declares that compliance with this Act, the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act, or the Comprehensive Smokeless Tobacco Health Education Act of 1986 shall not relieve any person from liability to any other person at common law or under State statutory law. Repeals those Acts one year after enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 1990
Designates as South African Freedom Week the week in 1990 coinciding with the first visit of Nelson Mandela to the United States after his release from prison in South Africa.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1990
1992 Olympic Commemorative Coin Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to issue 1992 Olympic Games commemorative five-dollar gold coins and one-dollar silver coins. Prescribes guidelines for the sale and pricing of such coins and directs the Secretary to ensure that their issuance will not result in any net cost to the United States. Mandates that surcharges be paid to the U.S. Olympic Committee.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1990
Tobacco Deregulation Act of 1990 - Repeals tobacco provisions of the Agricultural Act of 1949, the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, and other specified Federal law with regard to: (1) price supports; (2) marketing orders and quotas; (3) acreage allotments; (4) export sales assistance; (5) Commodity Credit Corporation assistance; and (6) State commerce and production compacts.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 1990
Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 1990 - Title I: Amendments to Acts - Amends the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA) to set a 12-month deadline, subject to extension, on the issuance of any proposed consumer product safety rule after the date of publication of an advance notice of proposed rulemaking. Requires a feasibility study on requiring entities subject to the CPSA to pay amounts to the Consumer Product Safety Commission to defray the costs of Commission services to the entities. Amends the CPSA, the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA), and the Flammable Fabrics Act (FFA) (the Acts) to: (1) allow the Commission to terminate a rulemaking or regulation proceeding and rely on a voluntary standard only if such standard is in existence; (2) allow (in some circumstances require) the Commission to devise procedures to monitor voluntary standards compliance; and (3) require the Commission to grant or deny a petition to initiate a rulemaking within a reasonable time after the petition is filed, with the Commission prohibited from denying a petition on the basis of a voluntary standard unless the standard is in existence and other requirements are met. Amends the CPSA to direct the President, in making appointments to the Commission, to at least consider individuals with experience in the safety of consumer products or in related fields. Revises quorum requirements applicable to periods in which there are vacancies on the Commission. Creates the position of Director of Compliance, makes the Director an officer of the Commission, and requires the Director to be an attorney. Makes certain existing positions officers of the Commission and removes the pay cap on those positions. Allows the Chairman, with the approval of the Commission, to remove officers. Amends the FHSA and the FFA to empower an attorney general of a State who alleges a violation under those Acts to bring a civil action for enforcement. Amends the CPSA to add to the list of reasons a manufacturer is required to notify the Commission that of: (1) apparent failure to comply with a voluntary standard; and (2) the product being the subject of a civil action. Prohibits the Commission from disclosing information about a civil action. Amends the CPSA to increase, and the FHSA and the FFA to establish, basic and maximum civil monetary penalties for prohibited acts. Requires increases in the maximum penalties for inflation. Amends the CPSA to require the Commission to annually establish an agenda and priorities for Commission action under the Acts under its jurisdiction. Requires, subject to exception, a presiding hearing officer to transmit any settlement offer to the Commission. Authorizes appropriations. Title II: Related Provisions - Directs the Commission to: (1) study and report to the Congress on whether a special flammability standard is needed for sleepwear (other than for children); and (2) pursue its pending proceedings to establish a safety standard for cigarette lighters. Revises the CPSA definition of "amusement ride." Includes amusement rides expressly within the framework of such Act, subjecting them to public disclosure and inspection requirements and to notification and remedy provisions applicable to substantial product hazards when serious injury occurs. Directs the Commission to issue rules in this regard by July 1, 1991. Directs the Commission to: (1) report to the Congress on its activities to reduce exposure of individuals to an enumerated list of indoor air pollutants; (2) issue a consumer product safety standard to require cautionary labeling in connection with certain toys intended for use by children at least three years old; (3) submit to the Congress a report including specified information about particular products that pose a major hazard to children; and (4) conduct a survey to determine compliance with voluntary industry manufacturing guidelines designed to reduce the entrapment of children in reclining chairs and report the results to the Congress. Requires the Commission to initiate proceedings to establish a safety standard for reclining chairs if a substantial lack of compliance is found.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 1990
National Wildlife Refuge System Act of 1990 - Amends the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 to require the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, to issue regulations governing the manner of finding whether an existing or proposed new use in a refuge is compatible or incompatible with the established purposes of such refuge. Directs the Secretary to prepare and revise at least once every ten years a comprehensive plan governing the administration of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Requires the Director to: (1) review, within two years of enactment of this Act, cooperative agreements and memoranda of understanding governing refuges not under the primary jurisdiction of the Service; and (2) negotiate modification of terms and conditions with the appropriate agencies, if needed, to achieve the purposes for which the refuges were established. Directs the Secretary to identify and discontinue incompatible and harmful uses of refuges that do not meet established refuge purposes. Requires annual reports to specified congressional committees, together with one special report, a year after enactment, on: (1) the usefulness of comprehensive planning for individual refuges; (2) the extent to which inappropriate uses have occurred on refuges because of insufficiently clear or comprehensible purposes; and (3) the role of the System in maintaining biological diversity in the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 1990
Disaster Assistance Act of 1990 - Title I: Emergency Crop Loss Assistance - Subtitle A: Annual Crops - Extends disaster crop loss assistance through the 1990 crop year for wheat, feed grains, cotton, rice, peanuts, sugar, tobacco, soybeans, and other nonprogram crops. Extends crop quality reduction disaster assistance through the 1990 crop year. Reduces disaster assistance payments in relation to Federal crop insurance payments. Requires producers to obtain Federal crop insurance for 1991 in order to be eligible for disaster payments and other specified assistance for 1990 crop losses. Sets forth exempted circumstances. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to announce within a specified time the conditions for establishing a 1990 farm yield for forage-use-crops. Limits assistance under this Act to $100,000. Authorizes the substitution of crop insurance program yields for 1990 disaster assistance eligibility purposes. Subtitle B: Orchards - Provides disaster assistance (up to $25,000 or an equivalent value in seedlings) to orchardists who suffered qualifying tree losses as a result of 1990 freeze, earthquake, or related condition. Expresses the sense of the Congress that Federal crop insurance should be made available to all orchard crops. Subtitle C: Forest Crops - Provides disaster assistance (up to $25,000 or an equivalent in seedlings) to commercial tree farmers who suffered qualifying tree seedling losses as a result of 1990 drought, earthquake or related condition. Subtitle D: Additional Assistance - Prohibits the Secretary from reducing rental payments to an owner or operator who hays or grazes livestock during the 1990 crop year on land subject to a conservation reserve program contract to the extent that such owner or operator carries out and pays for specified additional conservation practices. Directs the Secretary to establish the emergency agricultural restoration program to restore the productivity of cropland degraded by floods or other natural disasters. Authorizes appropriations beginning with FY 1991. Subtitle E: Administrative Provisions - Makes a person with qualifying annual gross income (as defined by this Act) in excess of $2,000,000 ineligible for assistance under this Act. Title II: Disaster Credit and Forbearance - Makes producers who suffered 1990 crop losses eligible for emergency loans even if they had crop insurance. Directs the Secretary to make 1991 direct and guaranteed farm operating loans (including funds from the Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund) available to producers who suffered 1990 crop losses due to moisture, freeze, or related condition, and 1988 or 1990 crop losses due to drought or related condition. Title III: Rural Businesses - Directs the Secretary to provide loan guarantees through the Rural Development Insurance Fund to rural business enterprises (including Indian tribes) which have suffered disaster damage in 1989 or 1990. Limits: (1) individual guarantees to the lesser of 90 percent of principal and interest or $2,500,000; and (2) aggregate guarantees to $200,000,000. Title IV: General Provisions - Amends the Disaster Assistance Act of 1989 to base the determination of the 1989 harvestable amount of sugarcane on the quantity of recoverable sugar. Directs the Secretary to compensate livestock producers for certain flood-caused losses in 1990 if such losses exceed specified fair market values.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 1990
Disaster Assistance Act of 1990 - Title I: Emergency Crop Loss Assistance - Subtitle A: Annual Crops - Extends disaster crop loss assistance through the 1990 crop year for wheat, feed grains, cotton, rice, peanuts, sugar, tobacco, soybeans, and other nonprogram crops. Extends crop quality reduction disaster assistance through the 1990 crop year. Reduces disaster assistance payments in relation to Federal crop insurance payments. Requires producers to obtain Federal crop insurance for 1991 in order to be eligible for disaster payments and other specified assistance for 1990 crop losses. Sets forth exempted circumstances. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to announce within a specified time the conditions for establishing a 1990 farm yield for forage-use-crops. Limits assistance under this Act to $100,000. Authorizes the substitution of crop insurance program yields for 1990 disaster assistance eligibility purposes. Subtitle B: Orchards - Provides disaster assistance (up to $25,000 or an equivalent value in seedlings) to orchardists who suffered qualifying tree losses as a result of 1990 freeze, earthquake, or related condition. Expresses the sense of the Congress that Federal crop insurance should be made available to all orchard crops. Subtitle C: Forest Crops - Provides disaster assistance (up to $25,000 or an equivalent in seedlings) to commercial tree farmers who suffered qualifying tree seedling losses as a result of 1990 drought, earthquake, or related condition. Subtitle D: Additional Assistance - Prohibits the Secretary from reducing rental payments to an owner or operator who hays or grazes livestock during the 1990 crop year on land subject to a conservation reserve program contract to the extent that such owner or operator carries out and pays for specified additional conservation practices. Subtitle E: Administrative Provisions - Makes a person with qualifying annual gross income (as defined by this Act) in excess of $2,000,000 ineligible for assistance under this Act. Title II: Disaster Credit and Forbearance - Makes producers who suffered 1990 crop losses eligible for emergency loans even if they had crop insurance. Directs the Secretary to make 1991 direct and guaranteed farm operating loans (including funds from the Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund) available to producers who suffered 1990 crop losses due to moisture, freeze, or related condition, and 1989 or 1990 crop losses due to drought or related condition. Title III: Rural Businesses - Directs the Secretary to provide loan guarantees through the Rural Development Insurance Fund to rural business enterprises (including Indian tribes) which have suffered disaster damage in 1989 or 1990. Limits: (1) individual guarantees to the lesser of 90 percent of principal and interest or $2,500,000; and (2) aggregate guarantees to $200,000,000. Title IV: General Provisions - Amends the Disaster Assistance Act of 1989 to base the determination of the 1989 harvestable amount of sugarcane on the quantity of recoverable sugar.
![Official portrait of Rep. Synar, Mike [D-OK-2]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/s001139_200.jpg)