United States · United States Congress · 27 October 1990
Budget Process Reform Act - Title I: Statement of Congressional Purpose - Declares that the purpose of this Act is to facilitate rational, informed, and timely decisions by the Congress. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Federal budget process should focus the attention of policymakers and the public on the aggregate impact of Federal spending on the economy, and on the tradeoffs that must be made among priorities in order to control overall levels of spending. Declares that the budget process should contain safeguards against delay and inaction, so that temporary shut-downs of the Government may be avoided. Title II: Binding Budget Law - Requires the Congress to enact a binding budget law, in the form of a joint resolution, by April 15 of the calendar year before that in which the fiscal period commences. Requires the budget law to fit on a single page, which sets forth specific budget ceilings in major functional categories. Makes it out of order in the House of Representatives or the Senate to consider any spending bill affecting spending in a major functional category unless and until a joint resolution on the budget is enacted. Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to prohibit baseline budgeting. Requires the budget to include comparisons of current fiscal year and proposed subsequent fiscal year spending. Title III: Enforcement Mechanisms - Subtitle A: Super majority Required to Break Budget Law - Requires a two-thirds majority vote in the House and the Senate to consider any spending bill prior to the enactment of the budget law. Requires the Congressional Budget Office to provide to the Congress an estimate of the costs in each major functional category of any spending bill as soon as practicable after its introduction. Limits such estimates to those bills likely to result in costs of more than $10,000,000. Requires a two-thirds affirmative vote in the House and the Senate to consider over-budget spending bills. Requires a two-thirds affirmative vote in the House and the Senate to waive any provision of this Act. Subtitle B: Limited Enhanced Rescission Authority - Amends the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to limit the President's rescission authority to spending that is above the limits of the budget law. Subtitle C: "Blank Check" Appropriations Prohibited - Declares the intent of the Congress to end open-ended, "blank check" appropriations which typically authorize spending "such sums as may be necessary." Requires fixed-dollar appropriations for every account except social security and interest on the debt. Prohibits open-ended appropriations. Requires Executive agencies to adjust benefit levels to ensure that appropriations for entitlement programs are not exceeded. Subtitle D: "Pay As You Go" Requirement for New Spending - Prohibits the Congress from considering any legislation which exceeds the budget ceiling unless it offsets such increased spending with an equal amount of reductions. Requires a two-thirds affirmative vote in the House and the Senate to waive such prohibition. Title IV: Sustaining Mechanism - Makes appropriations to provide for an automatic continuing resolution if for any account an appropriation for a fiscal period does not become law before the beginning of such period. Restricts legislation providing funding to the Committees on Appropriations. Title V: Protection of Social Security - Provides that no reduction in benefits under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act shall be made as a consequence of this Act. Title VI: Timetable - Revises the timetable for the congressional budget process. Title VII: Conforming Amendments - Makes various technical and conforming amendments, including changing references to a concurrent resolution on the budget to references to a joint resolution on the budget. Title VIII: Definitions and Rules of Interpretation - Sets forth definitions for specified terms. Title IX: Effective Date - Declares the effective date of this Act to be January 1, 1991, applicable to fiscal years beginning after September 30, 1991.
United States · United States Congress · 24 October 1990
Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to direct the President to use the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in the event of a domestic energy supply shortage. Amends the Export Administration Act of 1979 to prohibit the export of a refined petroleum product except pursuant to an export license specifically authorizing it. Precludes the issuance of such license without the approval of the Secretary of Energy. Requires the Secretary to notify certain congressional committees of the export license application, the name of the exporter, the destination, and the amount and price of the proposed export. Directs the Attorney General to report to specified congressional committees the findings of a special investigation to determine the extent to which domestic or foreign petroleum product suppliers may be charging excessive prices or manipulating the market in violation of antitrust laws. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should seek equitable payments from Saudi Arabia for the deployment and maintenance of troops in that country.
United States · United States Congress · 17 October 1990
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should declare November 2, 1990, a national day of prayer for: (1) members of American military forces and American citizens stationed or held hostage in the Middle East, and for their families; and (2) American and Iraqi authorities to bring about a just resolution of the Persian Gulf crisis.
United States · United States Congress · 12 October 1990
Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to authorize a State to enforce laws collecting fees in connection with the treatment and disposal within such State of solid waste generated in another State. Permits a State, after the submission to the Administrator of a certification under this Act, to enforce laws regulating the treatment and disposal of solid waste within the State. Authorizes any State which has adopted a 20-year solid waste management plan to submit a certification to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency on the solid waste treatment and disposal capacity of the State. Sets forth minimum requirements of the plan. Permits the Governor of each State which has adopted a 20-year management plan to certify to the Administrator that the State has adequate capacity to manage all solid waste generated in the State or received from other States for the following 60-month period. Exempts specified types of waste from regulation under this Act. Grants congressional approval to agreements or compacts entered into by two or more States for cooperative efforts and mutual assistance for solid waste management. Authorizes the Administrator to promulgate regulations exempting waste types or recycling practices from the authority granted to States under this Act if such action promotes the development of an interstate market for recyclable materials or is necessary to promote environmentally sound waste disposal practices.
United States · United States Congress · 3 October 1990
Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to provide shoreline protection to maintain the integrity of flood control projects at specified points on the Mississippi and Iowa Rivers. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 24 September 1990
Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to authorize the President to restrict exports of petroleum products, including refined petroleum products. Amends the Export Administration Act of 1979 to prohibit the export of a refined petroleum product except pursuant to an export license specifically authorizing it. Precludes the issuance of such license without the approval of the Secretary of Energy. Requires the Secretary to notify certain congressional committees of the export license application, the name of the exporter, the destination, and the amount and price of the proposed export.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 1990
Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 1990 - Amends the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (the Act) to require that the Federal share, under provisions concerning planning priority area activities for persons with developmental disabilities (PWDDs) and provisions concerning university affiliated programs, of projects targeting people who live in (currently, projects located in) urban or rural poverty areas not exceed 90 percent. Allows the non-Federal share of any project under such planning provisions (currently, any project under the Act) to be provided in kind. Modifies requirements regarding the contents of an annual report by each State Planning Council to the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Changes from April 1 to July 1 the due date for an annual report by the Secretary to the President, the Congress, and the National Council on Disability (currently, the President, the Congress, and the National Council on the Handicapped) and modifies requirements regarding the report's contents. Requires that representatives of the Administration on Children, Youth and Families, the Administration on Aging, and the Health Resources and Services Administration be included on an interagency committee established under existing provisions. Requires open committee meetings and publication of meeting notices and agendas. Modifies requirements regarding State plan contents and accompanying assurances. Requires a limited portion of a State allotment to be available to pay up to one-half of the expenditures for the administration of the State plan (currently, for the exercise of the functions of the State designated agency). Allows State contributions under these provisions to be counted as part of that State's non-Federal share of allotments. Allows the State Planning Council, after October 1, 1990, to request review by the Governor of the designation of the designated State agency. Removes certain reporting requirements applicable to each State Planning Council and each Governor. Requires each State Planning Council to use information developed under specified provisions in developing the State plan. Requires that each State Planning Council serve as an advocate for all PWDDs by carrying out priority area activities. Requires (currently, allows) each State Planning Council to prepare and approve a budget using amounts paid to the State under the provisions relating to planning priority area activities to fund activities under such provisions and to hire staff and obtain the services of such personnel as necessary. Requires each State Planning Council to hire a director and to develop and submit the State plan after consultation with (currently, develop the State plan jointly with) the State designated agency. Revises the formula for determining the amount of allotments under provisions relating to planning priority area activities for PWDDs. Authorizes appropriations. Requires that a State system for protection and advocacy of individual rights of PWDDs (the system) annually: (1) develop a statement of objectives and priorities (currently, a statement of objectives); and (2) provide for comment by the public and specified others (currently, by the public). Modifies requirements regarding the right of the system to access to all records of certain PWDDs. Changes the notice and appeal requirements which must be met before a State may redesignate the agency implementing the system. Directs (currently, authorizes) the Secretary, whenever appropriations exceed previous year appropriations by more than the increase in the Consumer Price Index, to increase allotments for State systems according to a specified formula. Provides for the selection of members of a multimember governing board of a State system. Declares that: (1) the Act does not preclude a system from bringing a suit on behalf of PWDDs against a State or its agencies or instrumentalities; and (2) amounts received pursuant to such suits and used by the system are limited to furthering the purposes of provisions relating to protection and advocacy of individual rights for PWDDs and shall not be used to augment payments to legal contractors or to award personal bonuses. Directs the Secretary, notwithstanding any other provision of law, to pay allotments directly to any system which complies with such provisions relating to protection and advocacy. Authorizes appropriations for allotments under such provisions. Adds to the list of purposes of grants to university affiliated programs (UAPs) that of training personnel to address the needs of PWDDs in the areas of positive behavior management, assistive technology, and programs in other areas of national significance. Requires grants to UAPs to be: (1) in a specified amount, subject to waiver and exception; (2) awarded on a competitive basis; and (3) awarded for a period of three years. Directs the Secretary to require technical and qualitative review of grant applications by peer review groups as established under existing provisions and using specified criteria. Prohibits using the grants for administrative expenses or to carry out provisions relating to grants to UAPs to assist in the administration and operation of UAPs. Specifies the mandatory and permissive uses for grants for positive behavior management, assistive technology, and programs in other areas of national significance. Requires that recipient UAPs establish consumer advisory committees. Requires UAPs, in order to be eligible for funding under these provisions, to have: (1) been operated for at least one year; and (2) demonstrated the capacity to develop an effective training program during the first year the program is operated. Extends through FY 1993 the requirement that the Secretary consider four applications for grants for UAPs or satellite centers for each fiscal year in addition to those receiving grants for the preceding fiscal year. Directs the Secretary to solicit and allows the Secretary to approve applications that encompass multiple universities. Requires such UAPs and centers to be geographically distributed so as to serve States that are underserved as of October 29, 1990. Allows the Secretary, in certain circumstances, to consider applications from States already served by a UAP or center. Adds references to on-site visits and inspections to provisions requiring technical and qualitative peer review. Requires such peer review to be coordinated with certain other peer review. Authorizes appropriations for UAPs. Adds references to improving supportive living and quality of life opportunities which enhance recreation, leisure, and fitness to the list of projects of national significance. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants and enter into contracts for technical assistance and demonstration projects which expand or improve the functions (currently, the advocacy functions) of the State Planning Council, and for other purposes similar to existing provisions. Authorizes appropriations to carry out provisions relating to projects of national significance.
United States · United States Congress · 17 September 1990
Plastic Recycling Assistance Act of 1990 - Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to require plastic containers manufactured or offered for sale in the United States to be coded to identify the principal plastic resin used in such containers. Establishes a symbol and numbers identifying specific types of resins, including degradable resins, for such codes. Prohibits States or political subdivisions from: (1) enforcing any law applicable to plastic coding unless requirements are the same as requirements under this Act; and (2) enforcing any ban on plastic containers coded in compliance with this Act. Prescribes civil and criminal penalties for violations of this Act. Requires the Administrator to study and report to the Congress on technology to facilitate the automated sorting of municipal solid waste from nonrecyclable wastes and to separate such wastes by type or category. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 11 September 1990
Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) to subject the pay of the Vice President, Members of Congress, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and heads of cabinet departments of the executive branch to sequestration. Expresses the sense of Congress that the President forgo pay equal to the percentage reduction in effect under an order relating to the budget account for the Office of the President.
United States · United States Congress · 11 September 1990
Grants free mailing privileges to members of the armed forces who are temporarily deployed overseas for an operational contingency in arduous circumstances. Provides for reimbursement of the U.S. Postal Service for matter sent in the mails under such authority from legislative branch appropriations for franked mailings. Terminates such provisions on June 30, 1991.
United States · United States Congress · 5 September 1990
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should: (1) direct the Department of Energy to take action (including prequalifying of bidders) to draw down the Strategic Petroleum Reserve at a rate which assures an adequate crude oil supply to the market place; and (2) implement such drawdown in coordination with similar drawdowns of government-controlled stocks of crude oil by other member nations of the International Energy Agency.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 1990
Provides that the rate of pay of Members of Congress, judicial officers, and Executive Schedule positions shall be that in effect as of November 1, 1989. Repeals provisions of the Ethics Reform Act of 1989 which provided for a 25 percent salary increase beginning in 1991 for legislative, judicial, and Executive Schedule positions. States that nothing in this Act shall have the effect of reducing the pay of any individual whose compensation may not, under certain provisions of the U.S. Constitution, be diminished during such individual's continuance in office. Continues the current adjustment method.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 1990
Expresses the sense of the Congress that Walker Percy of Covington, Louisiana, be remembered as one of the finest writers and contributors to the culture of the United States of the 20th century.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 1990
Employee Benefits Simplification Act - Title I: Nondiscrimination Provisions - Amends the Internal Revenue Code with respect to employee benefit plans. Redefines the term "highly compensated employee" for pension, profit sharing, stock bonus plans, etc. purposes. Makes such employee one who is a five-percent owner or who has compensation from the employer in excess of $50,000. Provides a special rule where no employees are treated as highly compensated. Redefines "compensation" to mean in general the amount of wages shown on the W-2 form for the calendar year. Allows self-employed individuals to use their earned income amount. Includes the following deferrals as those which an employer may elect to take into account when determining salary reduction contributions: (1) deferred compensation plans of State and local government and tax-exempt organizations; (2) contributions to an employee trust; and (3) trusts for benefit payments funded by employer contributions. Permits an employer to elect to use base pay for all purposes, other than indentifying highly compensated employees, in lieu of W-2 compensation. Provides that the cost-of-living adjustment with respect to any calendar year is based on the increase in the applicable index as of the close of the calendar quarter ending September 30 of the calendar year. Requires the rounding of such amounts to the nearest $1,000, except that elective deferrals and elective contributions to simplified employee pensions are rounded to the nearest $100. Provides that the minimum participation rule applies only to defined benefit pension plans. Requires such plans to benefit not less than 25 employees, or the greater of 40 percent of all employees or two employees (or if there is only one employee, such employee). Sets forth alternative methods of meeting nondiscrimination requirements for cash or deferred arrangements, including specified contribution and notice requirements. Sets forth alternative methods of satisfying the nondiscrimination test for matching contributions. Revises the method of distributing excess contributions to highly compensated employees. Title II: Distribution - Allows distributions from qualified pension plans to be rolled over tax-free to an individual retirement account or another qualified plan or annuity. Eliminates five-year averaging for lump-sum distributions from qualified plans. Requires certain tax-free distributions to be made in the form of a direct trustee-to-trustee transfer to an eligible individual retirement plan. Sets forth administrative requirements in making such distributions. Requires distributions to be made from qualified plans by April 1 of the calendar year following the later of: (1) the calendar year in which the employee attains age 70; or (2) the calendar year in which the employee retires. (Present law requires such distributions no later than April 1 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the employee attains age 70 1/2.) Title III: Miscellaneous Provision - Revises the definition of a leased employee to include one whose services are performed under the control of a service recipient, instead of one whose services are historically performed by employees. Replaces the 59 1/2- and 70 1/2-year age requirement with 59- and 70-year age requirements for specified pension plans. Eliminates the special aggregation rules that apply to plans maintained by owner-employees that do not apply to other qualified plans. Makes the 150 percent current liability limitation on the deduction allowed for employer contributions to qualified pension plans inapplicable to multiemployer plans. Repeals the present law annual valuation requirement for such plans and applies the prior law requirement that valuations be performed at least every three years. Sets forth affiliation requirements for employers jointly maintaining a voluntary employees' beneficiary association. Makes the following limitation inapplicable to plans maintained by State and local governments and certain tax-exempt organizations: (1) excess benefit limitations; (2) compensation limitation on benefits; (3) limitations on disability and survior benefits; and (4) the limitation on benefits exceeding 100 percent of the participant's average compensation. Modifies provisions relating to simplified employee pensions. Increases the number of allowable participants for salary reduction arrangements from 25 to 100. Allows participation after one year of service (currently, three years of service is required). Repeals the requirement that at least 50 percent of eligible employees participate in a salary reduction arrangement. Eliminates certain requirements regarding contributions on behalf of disabled employees. Allows rural cooperative plans which include cash or deferred arrangements to make distributions to participants after attainment of age 59. Includes reports of pension and annuity payments in information returns and payee statements. Deletes reports of designated distributions from the scope of the $25 per day penalty. Provides a $10 reporting threshold for designated distributions.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 1990
Financial Crimes Prosecution and Recovery Act of 1990 as Reported By the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives - 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) and the Resolution Trust Corporation (RTC) acting as conservator or receiver. Amends the Federal Deposit 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 to 30 years (currently, 20 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 of disposition of property obtained as a result of a banking law violation. Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance 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). Makes it a prerequisite of 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 to empower the FDIC (acting as conservator) to avoid fraudulent conveyances by a debtor institution-affiliated party. Prohibits an insured depository institution 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 may make golden parachute payments and covered benefits payments with FDIC approval. Amends the Federal criminal code to revise 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 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 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 to ten years (currently, five 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 · 24 July 1990
Employee Investment Opportunity Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish opportunity stock options which are granted to an individual for any reason connected with employment by a corporation. Provides for the deferral of income for an individual who exercises an opportunity stock option if: (1) no disposition of shares is made within two years of stock transfer to the individual; and (2) the individual is employed by such corporation at all times during the period beginning on the date of the granting of the option and ending on the day three months before the date of such exercise. Requires, upon disposition of the stock, the inclusion as ordinary income of the excess ("spread") of the fair market value of such stock on the date of option exercise over the amount paid for such stock. Allows a business expense deduction to the employer equal to the "spread" at the time the individual disposes of such stock. Declares that a grant option shall be deemed to be an opportunity stock option if not more than 60 percent of the value of the grant is received by employees who were senior management employees during the three-year period immediately preceding the date of the grant. Imposes an interest charge on the premature disposition of opportunity stock options.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 1990
Equity for Victims Act of 1990 - Amends the Federal criminal code to authorize courts to: (1) order restitution in any criminal case, to the extent agreed to by the parties in a plea agreement under the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure; and (2) refer any issue arising in connection with a proposed order of restitution to a magistrate or special master for proposed findings of fact and recommendations as to disposition, subject to a de novo determination of the issue by the court. Specifies that the victim of a criminal offense, for purposes of restitution, includes any person harmed by the defendant's criminal conduct.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 1990
State Thrift Deposit Insurance Premium Act of 1990 - Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to direct the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to determine and apportion among the States the cumulative cost of Federal assistance provided to State-chartered savings associations for case resolutions. Declares as "high risk" any State whose share of State resolution costs exceeds twice its share of 1980 State deposits. Mandates that each high risk State pay to the Savings Association Insurance Fund prescribed premiums reflecting such risk. Sets forth insurance termination procedures if a State fails to pay the required premium. Requires depositor notification of such insurance termination.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 1990
Rural Law Enforcement Drug Act of 1990 - Makes funds available from the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund to the Attorney General for the Rural Law Enforcement Drug Grant Program. Authorizes the Attorney General to make grants of up to $50,000 each to rural law enforcement agencies in rural counties where the population does not exceed 25,000 for: (1) conduct of training programs for law enforcement officers; (2) acquisition of vehicles and communications and other equipment; (3) special prevention and education programs for children; and (4) other programs that will reduce drug use in the county. Requires the Attorney General to prescribe criteria for the allocation of grant amounts among applicants and to prescribe program requirements for such grants. Requires reports to the Attorney General describing grant activities.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 1990
Designates September 16 through 22, 1990, as National Rehabilitation Week. Urges each State Governor and local government chief executive to issue proclamations calling upon their citizens to observe such week with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 1990
Restitution Enhancement and Personal Accountability Act of 1990 - Title I: Expansion and Improvement in Administration of Restitution Orders - Amends the Federal criminal code to order criminal defendants to pay, as part of appropriate restitution expenses, prosecution and incarceration expenses as well as the cost of services provided to defendants as part of a drug or alcohol rehabilitation or job training or life skills program. Gives the sentencing court discretion to consider the financial needs of the defendant's dependents in the issuance of an order of restitution. Directs the Attorney General to promulgate rules and regulations for procedures to ensure that crime victims: (1) receive maximum appropriate restitution for injury or loss sustained as the result of a criminal act; and (2) receive proper and full notice as to the filing of charges against a suspected offender and the right to be heard by the sentencing court before the acceptance of a plea agreement disposing of the case. Requires the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Postal Inspection Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and such other departments and agencies as designated by the Attorney General to incorporate into training programs for officers and employees assistance in the performance of their duties in connection with restitution. Requires the heads of such agencies to report to the Director of the Office of Victims Assistance of DOJ on agency success in identifying and notifying crime victims, including any officer and employee training and incentives program. Title II: Incentive Grants for Establishment of Restitution Centers - Requires DOJ to make grants to States for the establishment of programs for the placement of nonviolent offenders in restitution centers, which would: (1) provide such offenders the opportunity to earn adequate resources to compensate their crime victims; and (2) place such offenders in an environment conducive to their rehabilitation. Authorizes a State correctional agency or department to apply for such a grant to establish or expand a restitution center. Outlines grant application requirements. Allows States to use surplus Federal lands and facilities as sites for the restitution centers. Authorizes appropriations for such grants.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1990
Amends the Public Health Service Act to provide for grants to establish at least five projects in which addicted mothers in residential drug abuse treatment facilities are allowed to have their children reside with them during treatment. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 1990
Title I: National Writing Program - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to enter into a contract with the National Writing Project (a nonprofit educational organization) to support costs of programs of teacher training and classroom research to improve the teaching of writing and the quality of student writing and learning. Directs the Project to establish a National Advisory Board. Title II: Research and Development - Directs the Secretary, through the Office of Educational Research and Improvement, to make grants to individuals and higher education institutions for research on the teaching of writing. Title III: Authorization of Appropriations - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1991 through 1996.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 1990
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the memory of Walt Disney should be honored on the 35th anniversary of his contribution to the American dream (the opening of Disneyland).
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 1990
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to reduce the age of eligibility for widow's and widower's insurance benefits from age 60 to age 55. Provides disability-based widow's and widower's insurance benefits without regard to the recipient's age. Eliminates the reduction of widow's and widower's insurance benefits on account of early retirement.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 1990
Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to permit the Federal Communications Commission to accept the voluntary services of amateur radio license holders in the processing of amateur radio license applications.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 1990
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to disregard up to five additional years from the calculation of an individual's annual earnings for OASDI benefit computation purposes if such individual's earnings for each such additional year were less than $5,000 due to his or her need to care for a child or chronically dependent relative.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 1990
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to provide that the combined earnings of a couple which are attributable to the period of their marriage shall be divided and shared between them for OASDI eligibility and benefit purposes if they become divorced after at least three years of marriage and agree in writing to such division and sharing.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 1990
Amtrak Reauthorization and Improvement Act of 1990 - Amends the Rail Passenger Service Act to authorize appropriations through FY 1992 for the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak). Limits the liability for certain rail accidents occurring in the District of Columbia to no more than the limits of coverage maintained by a publicly funded commuter transportation authority established under Virginia law to indemnify Amtrak or any railroad over which the authority conducts its operations. Authorizes the use of proceeds from the sale of railroad lines that were acquired and rehabilitated with funds under the Rail Safety and Service Improvement Act of 1982 for similar purposes with respect to railroad lines connected with such a line for the purpose of continued rail service on them. Requires Amtrak to cooperate with the efforts of the Washington State Department of Transportation in designing a study of the feasibility of reestablishing rail service between Seattle, Washington, and Vancouver, British Columbia. Directs Amtrak to study and report to the Congress on the revenue and cost implications of separating the California Zephyr-Desert Wind-Pioneer train into two service routes serving a southern and a control route through Iowa. Prohibits the compensation of any rail or motor carrier employee who works in more than one State from being subject to State income taxes in any State but the State in which the employee resides. Amends the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act to treat Amtrak as a publicly funded rail carrier with respect to its contribution toward employees' unemployment compensation benefits. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to study and report to the Congress on the potential need among Class II and Class III railroads for Federal guarantees of obligations for funding rehabilitation and improvement of facilities and equipment, acquisition of new railroad facilities, or refinancing of existing debt. Directs Amtrak to report to the Congress on its plan to eliminate its need for Federal operating support by the year 2000. Requires Amtrak to study the economic feasibility of providing new service to areas not served by it as of the enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 1990
Expresses congressional appreciation and support of the Foster Grandparent Program (providing opportunities for low-income older persons to volunteer their time for the benefit of children who have special needs) on its 25th anniversary.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 1990
Drug Abuse Resistance Education Act of 1990 - Amends the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1986 to authorize the Secretary of Education to award grants to local education agencies, in consortia with entities which meet specified requirements, to provide drug abuse resistance education to students in kindergarten through grade six. Reserves specified amounts for such grants.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 1990
Financial Crimes Prosecution and Recovery Act of 1990 - Title I: National Commission on Financial Crimes - Establishes the National Commission on Financial Crimes to investigate fraud and abuse in the financial services industry and to recommend procedures for improving interagency cooperation and tactics for law enforcement officers in the investigation and prosecution of financial crimes. Sets forth provisions with respect to the membership, powers, pay, reporting requirements, and termination of the Commission. Title II: Improvements in Administration of the Department of Justice - Directs the Attorney General to establish a financial crimes strike force in each Federal judicial district which is in the top quartile of such districts with respect to the total number of criminal referrals filed with the Attorney General by the appropriate Federal banking agencies relating to residents of, or persons located in, such district. Provides for local control of each such strike force, through the U.S. Attorney for such district, except as otherwise provided by the Attorney General. Sets forth provisions regarding pay for attorneys on financial crimes strike forces. Directs the Attorney General to: (1) establish a merit system to recognize and reward outstanding efforts of individuals engaged in the investigation and prosecution of financial crimes; (2) prohibit any U.S. attorney or any other attorney employed by the Department of Justice from taking into account the dollar amount of any loss incurred in connection with any financial crime in making a determination with respect to the investigation or prosecution of such crime; and (3) prescribe by regulation that the investigation of any referral from an appropriate Federal banking agency related to a financial crime involving an insured depository institution in default or in danger of default, or of any troubled institution, be given priority in case management. Amends the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 to make specified civil money penalties collected under such Act available to the Attorney General to carry out any provision of law. Amends the Federal criminal code to grant specified officials of the Federal Bureau of Investigation administrative subpoena authority regarding specified financial crimes. Sets forth provisions: (1) with respect to standards governing production of items subpoenaed; and (2) granting persons complying in good faith with a summons or order issued under this Act and producing the materials sought immunity from civil liability to the consumer for such production or nondisclosure of such production. Title III: Improvements in the Administration of the FDIC and the RTC - Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (FDIA) to grant subpoena authority to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Resolution Trust Corporation (RTC) as a conservator or receiver or for carrying out authority with respect to an insured depository institution. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to grant the FDIC and the RTC access to Internal Revenue Service returns and return information upon written requests by the respective Board of Directors and upon certification by the Board that it has a substantial need for such returns or return information. Amends the FDIA to authorize Federal banking agencies, in conducting any investigation, examination, or enforcement action under such Act, to: (1) request the assistance of any foreign banking authority; (2) maintain an office outside the United States for such purposes; (3) provide assistance to a foreign banking authority, upon request, if the requesting authority is conducting an investigation involving a violation of laws or regulations relating to banking matters that the requesting authority administers or enforces; and (4) conduct such an investigation as is necessary to collect information and evidence pertinent to such a request without regard to whether the facts stated in the request also constitute a violation of U.S. law. Authorizes the FDIC and the RTC, as conservator or receiver of any insured depository institution, to request the assistance of any foreign banking authority and provide assistance to any such authority in accordance with this Act. Requires the FDIC and the RTC to each maintain a permanent office to coordinate foreign investigations or investigations on behalf of foreign banking authorities. Authorizes the Board of Directors of the FDIC to act in its own name and through its own attorneys in any action or proceeding in which the FDIC is an interested party, whether in its corporate capacity or as conservator or receiver for any insured depository institution. Grants priority to the FDIC over certain claims or actions filed or begun against an affiliated party of the insured depository institution by depositors, creditors, or shareholders of the institution after enactment of this Act. Authorizes the FDIC, as conservator or receiver for any insured depository institution, to avoid any transfer of interest of an institution-affiliated party or any transfer of interest or obligation of person determined to be a debtor of the institution that was made within five years of appointment of the FDIC as conservator or receiver, if such party made such transfer or incurred such liability with intent to hinder, delay, or defraud the insured depository institution. Specifies circumstances under which the FDIC may recover the property transferred or the value of such property. Sets forth provisions regarding prejudgment attachments of assets where an institution-affiliated party may be required to provide restitution to the institution or where the party is a debtor of the institution, and where the assets will be dissipated or otherwise placed beyond the jurisdiction of the court or FDIC before any recovery may be completed unless a trustee is appointed. Establishes criminal penalties for knowingly concealing assets or property from the FDIC or the RTC as a conservator or receiver for any insured depository institution. Requires each Federal banking agency to require directors of depository institutions to complete an educational course on their duties as directors every three years. Authorizes a court or the Attorney General to direct disclosures of matters occurring before a grand jury during an investigation of a banking law violation to identified personnel of a financial institution regulatory agency upon a finding of substantial need, subject to specified conditions. Excludes the payment of restitution under specified Acts including the FDIA from discharge under bankruptcy provisions. Amends the Federal criminal code to subject to civil forfeiture property which constitutes or is derived from proceeds traceable to mail fraud, or fraud by wire, radio, or television, affecting a financial institution. Amends the FDIA, the Federal Credit Union Act, the Revised Statutes, the Federal Reserve Act, the Bank Holding Company Acts of 1956 and 1970, and the Home Owners' Loan Act to permit the appropriate Federal banking agency, the FDIC, or, in the case of the latter statute, the Director, to apply to specified courts to recover from a depository institution administrative costs arising out of actions taken to recover a civil penalty. Title IV: Taxpayer Recovery Act - Taxpayer Recovery Act of 1990 - Makes an exception to a discharge in bankruptcy for: (1) restitution that the debtor has been ordered to pay by a State or Federal court in any criminal proceeding arising from an act that caused a loss to any bank, savings association, or credit union (bank); or (2) damages provided in any judgment, order, or consent decree entered in any State or Federal court, or in any settlement agreement entered into by the debtor, arising from any act involving fraud or reckless disregard for the law committed with respect to any such institution. Requires that any individual acting as a director, officer, or institution-affiliated party of a bank be considered to be acting in a fiduciary capacity with respect to such institution for purposes of a provision making an exception to a discharge from bankruptcy involving fraud or defalcation while acting in such capacity. Specifies that reliance by a creditor will not be required to establish an exception to discharge if the creditor is a financial regulatory agency that is a successor to a bank. Sets forth time limits for the filing of a complaint objecting to the discharge of a debt owed to: (1) a bank that is closed, is in receivership or conservatorship, or is sold to another bank in a transaction assisted by a financial regulatory agency; or (2) such an agency. Specifies that an individual debtor who has committed an act involving fraud or reckless disregard for the law or is subsequently adjudicated to have committed such an act during the pendency of his bankruptcy proceeding with respect to any bank that is in receivership or conservatorship or that is sold to another bank assisted by a financial regulatory agency shall not be exempt from: (1) more than $7,500 in value of the debtor's aggregate interest in any real property that the debtor uses as a residence: and (2) the debtor's interest in any insurance policy or annuity.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 1990
Campaign Limitations and Election Accountability Now Act of 1990 - Title I: Contribution Reforms - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to: (1) decrease from $5,000 to $1,000 the amount a multicandidate political committee may contribute to a candidate and the candidate's political committee; (2) prohibit intermediaries from delivering or arranging to have delivered contributions from more than two employees of the same employer or members of the same trade association, membership organization, or labor organization; (3) prohibit lobbyists from acting as intermediaries with respect to a contribution to a candidate for Federal office; (4) prohibit a political committee that is not an authorized committee of a candidate for Federal office and is not a political committee of a political party from making contributions, or otherwise transferring funds, to any other such committee; (5) direct the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to promulgate regulations to limit contributions to any legal defense fund established by or on behalf of a holder of Federal office to $1,000, to prohibit lobbyists from serving as intermediaries in connection with any such contribution, and to require any such office holder to disclose such contributions as is required under the Ethics in Government Act of 1978; and (6) ban the use of soft money (any amount raised or contributed outside of source restrictions, contribution limits, and disclosure requirements of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971) to influence any Federal election. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide tax credits for contributors to congressional campaign candidates. Limits such credits to an annual total of $100 for individual congressional campaign contributions. Prohibits credits if they are transmitted to candidates or their campaign committees through any intermediary. Prohibits such credits from being provided to any estate or trust. Title II: Miscellaneous Provisions - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to: (1) require disclosure in the reports filed by political committee treasurers with the FEC of debt settlement and loan security agreements; (2) include as a contribution any gift, subscription, loan, advance, or deposit of money or anything of value made by any person to draft or encourage a clearly identified individual as a candidate for Federal office; (3) treat such a contribution as a candidate contribution whether or not the individual becomes a candidate; (4) require a candidate for Federal office to sign and attest to FEC reports of principal campaign committees of candidates for the House or Senate; (5) prohibit an incumbent in, or 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; (6) revise restrictions on the use of contributed amounts to require candidates for Federal office to pay their campaign debts within 90 days after the general election and to distribute the remaining balance to charitable organizations, political party committees, and to any person for any lawful purpose; and (7) prohibit candidates for the House or Senate from accepting less than 50 percent of their campaign contributions from their constituents. Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to prohibit a Federal candidate or office holder from soliciting funds to, or receiving funds on behalf of, any Federal or non-Federal candidate or political committee: (1) which are to be expended in connection with any Federal election unless such funds are subject to that Act; or (2) which are to be expended in connection with any election other than a Federal election unless such funds are not in excess of amounts permitted with respect to Federal candidates and political committees under that Act, or are not from sources prohibited by that Act with respect to Federal elections. Provides that the appearance or participation by a candidate or individual in any activity conducted by a committee of a political party or a candidate for other than Federal office shall not be treated as such a solicitation if: (1) such appearance or participation is otherwise legal; and (2) such candidate or individual does not solicit or receive, or make expenditures from, any funds resulting from such activity. Amends postal law to require House Members to annually register their franked mass mailing with the Clerk of the House who is required to make available for public inspection a copy of such mail matter.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 1990
Authorizes the States to waive application of the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 to vehicles used either for transporting farm supplies from retail dealers to or from a farm, or for custom harvesting, regardless of whether or not they are controlled or operated by a farmer.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 1990
Prohibits further negotiations between the United States and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) because the PLO has failed to adhere to its renunciation of terrorism as required under the International Security and Development Cooperation Act of 1985. Suspends such prohibition only if the President certifies to the Congress that the PLO: (1) recognizes Israel's right to exist; (2) accepts United Nations Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338; and (3) has renounced the use of terrorism and has adhered to that renunciation for at least 120 days.
![Official portrait of Rep. Tauke, Thomas Joseph [R-IA-2]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/t000053_200.jpg)