United States · United States Congress · 23 July 1986
Liability Risk Retention Act of 1986 - Amends the Product Liability Risk Retention Act of 1981 to revise its applicability to "liability." Defines "liability" as legal liability for damages because of injuries to other persons, damage to property, or other damage or loss resulting from: (1) any business, trade, product, services (including professional services), premises, or operations; or (2) any activity of any State or local government. Excludes from such definition personal risk liability and employer's liability. Excludes from the coverage of such Act product liability risk retention groups formed on or after January 1, 1985, under the laws of Bermuda or the Cayman Islands. Deems any such groups formed before January 1, 1985, to be risk retention groups only for the purpose of continuing to provide product liability or completed operations liability. Requires that members of a purchasing group have businesses or activities which are similar or related with respect to the risk to which members are exposed by virtue of any related, similar, or common business, trade, product, services, premises, or operations. Authorizes any State in which a risk retention group does business to require such groups to submit to the State insurance commissioner an annual financial statement certified by an independent public accountant. Permits any State to require a group to: (1) comply with a lawful order issued in a voluntary dissolution proceeding; (2) make reinsurance available only to organizations whose businesses are similar or related with respect to the nature of their exposure to the risk of liability; (3) comply with any court injunction issued in accordance with administrative due process upon a State insurance commission's petition alleging that the group is in a hazardous financial condition or is financially impaired; (4) submit to the State insurance commission a plan of operation or feasibility study including specified information; and (5) provide a specified cautionary notice in any insurance policy it issues. Declares that nothing in such Act shall be construed to affect the authority of any court to enjoin: (1) the solicitation or sale of insurance by a risk retention group to persons ineligible to belong to such group; (2) false, deceptive, or fraudulent acts or practices in the solicitation or sale of such insurance; (3) the solicitation or sale of insurance by, or operation of, a risk retention group that is in a hazardous financial condition; or (4) the solicitation or sale of insurance by, or operation of, a risk retention group that has been found, or any of whose officers, organizers, or directors have been found, to have engaged in knowing and willful false, deceptive, or fraudulent conduct within the previous five years, and under circumstances that present a reasonable likelihood that such conduct will recur. Subjects risk retention groups to State no-fault automobile insurance requirements. Limits the authority to provide or purchase insurance under such Act to liability insurance. States that the terms of any insurance policy provided or purchased under such Act shall not be construed to include coverage for punitive damages, or intentional fraudulent or criminal conduct, if any such coverage is prohibited by State law or declared unlawful by State supreme court decisions. Sets forth general enforcement powers of any State insurance commissioner with respect to prohibited conduct by risk retention groups or purchasing groups.
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 1986
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to require that limitations on Medicare payments for home health services be applied on an aggregate rather than a discipline-specific basis for home health agencies. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in establishing such limitations, to take into account: (1) recent cost data; and (2) changes in costs resulting from changes in billing and verification procedure requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 1986
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to require that limitations on Medicare payments for home health services be applied on an aggregate rather than a discipline-specific basis for home health agencies. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in establishing such limitations, to take into account: (1) recent cost data; and (2) changes in costs resulting from changes in billing and verification procedure requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 1986
Health Care Quality Improvement Act of 1986 - Title I: Promotion of Good Faith Professional Review Activities - Provides protection from liability under Federal and State law for members of a professional review body who, in good faith and after a reasonable effort to obtain the facts, take actions which adversely affect the clinical privileges or professional society membership of a physician. Applies this Act to State laws for professional review actions occurring on or after July 1, 1989, unless a State elects to: (1) opt-in early; or (2) opt-out. Title II: Reporting of Information - Requires any entity (including insurance companies) making a payment in a medical malpractice action to report certain information to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and to State licensing boards, including: (1) the name of the physician or health care provider; (2) the amount of the payment; (3) the name of any hospital with which the physician or health care provider is associated; and (4) a description of the acts and injuries upon which the claim was based. Imposes civil penalties for the failure to report such information. Requires each Board of Medical Examiners which revokes or suspends a physician's license for reasons relating to the physician's professional competence or conduct to report such information to the Secretary. Requires each health care entity which takes a professional review action that restricts the clinical privileges of a physician to report such information to the Board of Medical Examiners. Requires hospitals to obtain certain information from the Secretary regarding staff physicians (or physicians being considered for staff positions). Directs the Secretary to make such information available to: (1) the physician; (2) State licensing boards; (3) hospitals; and (4) other health care entities. Title III: Definitions - Defines certain terms for the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 1986
Farm Mortgage Marketing Corporation Act of 1986 - Establishes the Farm Mortgage Marketing Corporation. Provides for a five-member Board of Directors. Authorizes the Corporation, with specified limitations, to buy farm mortgages from qualified agricultural lenders and dispose of such mortgages through security issues. Prohibits the Corporation from buying a mortgage unless: (1) the seller retains at least a ten-percent participation in the mortgage, or agrees to replace or repurchase the mortgage if the borrower defaults; and (2) at the time of purchase, the outstanding principal balance of such mortgage is less than 80 percent of the securing property's value, or the portion of the unpaid balance in excess of 80 percent is insured or guaranteed by a qualified insurer. Provides for an initial Treasury capitalization of $200,000,000. Sets forth Corporation authority. Terminates the Corporation ten years after enactment of this Act. Prohibits the making of any mortgage purchase commitments later than seven years after enactment of this Act. Provides for Treasury administration of any remaining Corporation assets or obligations. Authorizes appropriations beginning with FY 1987 for the purchase of Corporation stock.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 1986
Dislocated Farmer Training Amendments of 1986 - Amends the Job Training Partnership Act (the Act) to include under the definition of "community-based organizations" locally and regionally based farm, business, and industrial organizations, local rural service organizations, and rural planning and development organizations. Revises the definition of "economically disadvantaged" to base determinations of income eligibility on a 12-month (rather than a six-month) period prior to application. Directs the Secretary of Labor (the Secretary), within 30 days after enactment of this Act, to promulgate regulations to permit the exclusion of any proceeds of a sale of farm or business assets of a family resulting from a foreclosure, forfeiture, or bankruptcy in determination of income eligibility for programs under the Act. Includes mental health care and counseling among supportive services under the Act. Includes State and local agricultural agencies and social service agencies under the Governor's coordination and special services plan. Requires such plan to provide, where appropriate, for: (1) collecting and disseminating to service delivery areas information on the number of permanent dislocations of farmers and ranchers due to farm and ranch failures; and (2) identifying farm and ranch family members in need of retraining and job search assistance, on a State and local basis. Includes rural areas under designated areas for which certain labor market projections are to be made. Requires inclusion of individuals who are geographically isolated due to rural residence under eligibility provisions for part A (Adult and Youth Programs) of title II (Training Services for the Disadvantaged) of the Act. Prohibits requiring States to match grants from the Secretary's discretionary funds under title III (Employment and Training Assistance for Dislocated Workers) of the Act. Includes as eligible for dislocated worker assistance individuals who were self-employed (including farmers) and who are or will be unemployed as a result of general economic conditions in the community in which they reside or because of natural disasters. Directs the Secretary to establish categories of self-employed individuals and of economic conditions and natural disasters. Provides that farmers may qualify for eligibility by certifying or showing that the farm's operations will terminate because of specified kinds of circumstances. Revises provisions for national and multistate programs to include: (1) information networks and cooperation among Federal, State, and local programs; (2) coordination at the national level among Federal agencies responsible for administering interrelated employment, training, and support services; (3) regional or nationwide efforts to foster economic development or employment generating activities in rural areas; and (4) national and regional programs addressing the special problems of dislocated farmers. Revises research and demonstration provisions to include references to dislocated farmers, farm spouses, changes in the agricultural sector, and easing the transition from farming to other work places. Provides for seeking improved methods of collecting data and accounting for employment and unemployment in rural areas. Includes dislocated farmers under pilot project provisions. Revises cooperative labor market information program provisions to take into account both urban and rural areas. Directs the Secretary to collect specified types of statistical data relating to permanent dislocation of farmers and ranchers due to farm and ranch failures. Directs the Secretary to publish an annual report based upon such data, including: (1) a comparison with data currently used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in determining the Nation's annual employment and unemployment rates; and (2) an analysis of whether farmers and ranchers are being adequately counted in such employment statistics. Includes the Secretary of Agriculture under interdepartmental cooperation provisions. Includes the Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Economics on the National Occupational Information Coordinating Committee. Adds to the functions of the National Commission for Employment Policy the evaluation of: (1) the effectiveness of federally assisted employment and training programs in rural America; (2) employment difficulties inherent to rural areas; (3) rural needs for employment generating activities; (4) the employment, training, and vocational education needs of dislocated farmers; (5) the current system used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for collecting rural employment and unemployment data; and (6) current Federal coordination efforts in administering federally assisted employment and training programs.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 1986
Medicare Timely Payment Amendments of 1986 - Amends parts A (Hospital Insurance) and B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to require fiscal intermediaries and carriers to pay the claims of Medicare providers and beneficiaries, and give such providers and beneficiaries notice of improperly submitted claims, within 22 days of receiving such claims (unless payment is made on a periodic interim payment basis). Requires the Federal Government to pay the interest accruing on such claims for the period during which the payment or notice is past due. Prohibits the Secretary of Health and Human Services from modifying certain regulations relating to the periodic interim payment method of reimbursing providers.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 1986
Designates July 3, 1986, as Let Freedom Ring Day. Requests the President to encourage people to ring bells immediately following the relighting of the torch of the Statue of Liberty.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1986
Social Security Administrative and Investment Reform Act of 1986 - Title I: Establishment of the Social Security Administration - Amends title VII (Administration) of the Social Security Act to establish as an independent executive agency a Social Security Administration, headed by a Social Security Board. Provides that it shall be the duty of the Administration to administer the programs established by titles II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) and XVI (Supplemental Security Income) of the Social Security Act. Requires the Board to study and make recommendations as to the most effective methods of providing economic security through social insurance and as to legislation and matters of administrative policy. Establishes in the Administration: (1) a Commissioner of Social Security; (2) a Deputy Commissioner of Social Security; (3) a General Counsel; (4) an Inspector General; and (5) an Office of the Beneficiary Ombudsman, to be headed by a Beneficiary Ombudsman who shall represent the interests of beneficiaries under the Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance program and the Supplemental Security Income Program within the Administration. Requires the annual report of the Board to include a description of the activities of the Beneficiary Ombudsman. Requires the Board to make annual budgetary recommendations relating to the Administration. Requires that appropriations requests by the Administration for staffing and personnel be based upon a comprehensive workforce plan as established by the Board. Provides for the apportionment of administrative costs. Requires the annual report of the Board to include a section reflecting the use of budget authority provided to the Administration. Requires that authority for automated data processing procurement and facilities construction be provided in the form of contract authority covering the total cost of such acquisitions. Makes amounts needed for the liquidation of contract authority so provided available from the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund to the extent that such amounts are not needed to meet current obligations for benefit payments. Requires the Board and the Director of the Office of Personnel Management to implement demonstration projects relating to personnel matters. Directs the Board and the Administrator of General Services to implement such projects relating to delegations from the Administrator. Specifies the authorities which are to be delegated to the Board from the Administrator and the Director. Requires the Comptroller General to report to specified congressional committees concerning such projects, including an evaluation of the Board's readiness to assume full and permanent authority. Requires the Board to cause a seal of office to be made and judicial notice taken thereof. Provides for the transfer to the Administration of all functions carried out by the Secretary of Health and Human Services with respect to the programs and activities to be carried out by the Administration under this Act. Abolishes the position of Commissioner of Social Security in the Department of Health and Human Services. Sets forth effective date and transitional rule provisions. Title II: Conforming Amendments and Rules of Construction - Requires the Secretary and the Board to report to the Congress within 120 days after the beginning of each regular session on their administration under this Act. Requires the Secretary to study and make recommendations on the most effective methods of providing economic security and on the administrative policy for the programs. Directs the Board to appoint, quadrennially, an Advisory Council on the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Program and an Advisory Council on Health and Supplementary Medical Insurance to review the relation of the trust funds supporting the OASDI program and the Medicare program and the long-term commitments of those programs. Requires each council to submit a report to the Board for transmittal to the Congress and the Board of Trustees of each Trust Fund. Title III: Management of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund - Amends the OASDI program to direct the Managing Trustee of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund (OASDI trust funds) to immediately invest that portion of the OASDI trust funds which is not required for current withdrawals. Requires the investment to be made in accordance with policies established by the Social Security Board. Prohibits the sale and redemption of OASDI trust fund assets or the expenditure of OASDI trust fund amounts for purposes other than those specified in title II of the Act. Requires members of such trust funds' Board of Trustees to faithfully execute their duties, but does not impose a fiduciary duty. Requires that, in consideration of the public debt limit, required investment of trust fund amounts occur prior to the issuance of other obligations. Directs that tax receipts earmarked for the OASDI program be immediately transferred (currently, monthly transfers are made) from the general fund of the Treasury to the OASDI trust funds. Requires the Board of Trustees of the OASDI trust funds to meet at least twice each year. Sets forth provisions requiring reports by the Board of Trustees and the Managing Trustees to the Congress regarding the operation and status of the OASDI trust funds. Title IV: Additional Matters - Amends the OASDI program to prohibit the payment of OASDI benefits to individuals who have been deported pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality Act because of activities conducted under the direction of or in association with the Nazi government of Germany or its allies. Requires individuals to be paid interim benefits in cases where an administrative law judge has determined their entitlement to certain OASDI or SSI (Supplementary Security Income) benefits, but the Secretary's final decision has not been issued within 90 days of the judge's decision. Excludes any representative of the Department of Health and Human Services, the Social Security Administration, any other agency of such department, or an involved State agency from appearing as a party at an OASDI or SSI benefit hearing or participating in the development of the record of such hearing, unless, in the latter case, the presiding officer requests such participation.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1986
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission should not take more than 60 days to review and act upon charges filed under title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by 2,000 or more employees against an employer with which they are engaged in a labor dispute affecting commerce.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1986
Amends the National Housing Act to extend authority through FY 1987 for: (1) title I financial institution insurance for housing renovation and modernization; (2) general mortgage insurance; (3) low and moderate income and displaced families mortgage insurance; (4) homeownership for lower income families including mortgage insurance authority and housing stimulus authority; (5) mortgage co-insurance, including rental rehabilitation and development projects; (6) graduated payment and indexed mortgage insurance; (7) the demonstration mortgage reinsurance program; (8) mortgage insurance for armed forces' civilian employees and defense housing for impacted areas; (9) mortgage insurance for land development; and (10) mortgage insurance for medical and dental group practice facilities. Sets forth specified limits on FY 1986 and 1987 insured housing loans and on FY 1987 guaranteed mortgage-backed securities. Amends the Housing Act of 1964 to extend urban rehabilitation loan authority through FY 1987. Amends the Housing Act of 1949 to extend Farmers Home Administration authority through FY 1987 for: (1) insured loans for rental and cooperative housing and related facilities for elderly persons and families in rural areas; (2) rural communities with 10,000 to 20,000 population to participate in rural housing programs; and (3) mutual and self-help housing grant and loan authority. Amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to extend authority for national flood insurance, including emergency implementation and flood-risk zones through FY 1987. Amends the National Housing Act to extend authorities for the national crime insurance program and existing contracts through FY 1987. Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to extend community development block grant entitlement authority for certain metropolitan city and urban county areas through FY 1987. Amends the Housing and Urban-Rural Recovery Act of 1983 to extend for 30 days the maximum interest rate limitation on loans for housing and related facilities for elderly or handicapped families through FY 1987. Extends the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act through FY 1987.
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 1986
Honors the late Portuguese diplomat, Dr. Aristides de Sousa Mendes do Amarel e Abranches, for his extraordinary acts of mercy and justice during World War II.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1986
United States House of Representatives Election Recount Act of 1986 - Declares that any recount of ballots for the office of Representative shall be completed: (1) in a general election by December 31 of the year of the election; and (2) in a special election by the end of six weeks after the election.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 1986
Social Security Disability Determination Act of 1986 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to establish a sequential disability evaluation process culminating in the determination as to whether an individual who is not engaged in substantial gainful activity has impairments which are of such severity that the individual should be deemed disabled for medical reasons alone or whether such individual lacks the residual functional capacity to engage in substantial gainful work anywhere in the economy. Codifies standards regarding the consideration of disability evidence. Requires the Congress to be given notice of, and the opportunity to comment on, proposed regulations governing disability determinations.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 1986
Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to make 1986 wheat and feed grain deficiency payments not later than the end of the fifth month of the marketing year for such crops.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 1986
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member countries should make a reassessment of the Atlantic Alliance, including a strategic study of whether current armed forces deployments by NATO still fit strategic reality; (2) Western European countries should assume greater responsibility for their own conventional defense; and (3) those U.S. armed forces based in Western Europe which are not earmarked for Western European defense should be withdrawn to the United States for use as a strategic reserve.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1986
Amends the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964 to increase from 2.93 percent to five percent the amount allocated in any fiscal year for public transportation projects in non-urbanized areas.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 1986
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow homeowners to deduct the full amount of prepaid interest in connection with the refinancing of their principal residences for the taxable year in which paid.
United States · United States Congress · 19 May 1986
Prohibits any regulation which is issued under specified Executive Orders that impose sanctions on Libya from being effective if such regulation would allow U.S. persons to participate in production, marketing, or distribution activities with respect to crude oil produced in Libya.
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 1986
Requires the Secretary of Transportation (the Secretary) and the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (the Administrator) to: (1) repeal a certain final rule which permits airlines to buy and sell landing rights at specified high density traffic airports; and (2) refrain from issuing a rule, regulation, or order restricting instrument flight rule takeoffs or landings at any airport that is inconsistent with this Act (thus prohibiting future rules permitting the transfer of operating rights). Requires the Administrator to establish a method for the equitable allocation of operating rights ("slots") at high density traffic airports which is consistent with aviation safety. Requires that such slot allocations be made by separate air and commuter carrier scheduling committees established for each high density traffic airport. Directs the Administrator to establish the composition of such committees. Requires such committees to allocate and reallocate slots according to a time schedule established by the Administrator. Requires the Administrator to provide slots for foreign air transportation and for essential air transportation. Requires the Administrator to: (1) establish a special mechanism for slot allocation if the scheduling committee is unable to agree on allocation within the established time schedule; and (2) formulate an allocation mechanism for all new, voluntarily returned, and unused slots. Terminates such special slot mechanism after December 31, 1988. Requires that any slot allocation mechanism established by the Administrator: (1) adequately ensure the opportunity for new entry; (2) maintain essential air transportation; and (3) protect the access rights of commuter operators. Prohibits the sale, lease, or transfer of allocated slots by an air carrier or a commuter air carrier, with specified exceptions. Declares that slots are public property and that their use represents a nonpermanent operating privilege within the exclusive control and jurisdiction of the Administrator. Authorizes the Administrator to recall or reallocate such slots for specified reasons (including withdrawal if a slot is substantially unused). Requires the Administrator to employ a slot withdrawal method that ensures that no carrier incurs the loss of an undue proportion of its slots. Prohibits the Administrator from restricting aircraft operation at certain airports by means of slot control (except on an emergency basis) unless a written report has been transmitted to the Congress justifying the need for such a restriction within a 90-day notice period. Requires the Secretary to conclude a rulemaking to reauthorize or eliminate all high density traffic airport slot controls no later than January 1, 1987, and every two years thereafter. Terminates any slot control regulation two years from the date it becomes effective (unless such regulation has been reauthorized). Requires the Secretary and the Administrator to report to the Congress regarding legislative recommendations and the extent to which slot allocation mechanisms and slot control regulations have minimized barriers to entry at high density traffic airports.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 1986
Rural Health Care Improvement Act of 1986 - Amends part A (General Provisions) of title XI of the Social Security Act to require that whenever the Secretary of Health and Human Services proposes a regulation or promulgates a final version of a regulation under titles XVIII (Medicare), XIX (Medicaid), or part B (Peer Review) of title XI of the Act which will have a substantial impact on small rural hospitals, the Secretary make a regulatory impact analysis available to the public. Amends the Medicare program to continue, beyond FY 1986, current law regarding Medicare payment to sole community hospitals for capital-related costs, treating such costs as distinct from operating costs of inpatient hospital services. Provides certain small sole community and rural hospitals with payment for extremely high cost cases (outlier payments) which represent five or six percent of the total payments made to such hospitals. Sets aside ten percent of amounts expended by the Secretary on certain experiments and demonstration projects for projects relating exclusively to rural health issues. Requires fiscal intermediaries to pay certain small rural hospitals for Medicare claims, at the latest, 30 days after receiving the request for such payment. Amends title VII (Administration) of the Act to establish an Office of Rural Health Policy in the Office of the Administrator of the Health Care Financing Administration to: (1) advise the Administrator regarding the effects of changes in the Medicare and Medicaid programs on rural health; and (2) oversee compliance with provisions of this Act requiring regulatory impact analysis and rural health demonstration projects.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 1986
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that if the basis recovery rule for annuities of employees who contribute to their retirement program is changed in tax reform legislation, in no event should such change apply to individuals retiring before the date of enactment of such legislation.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 1986
Childhood Vaccine Supply Protection Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to limit to $100,000 an award (for non-economic loss) in any action for damages for injuries relating to the administration of a vaccine providing immunization against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, poliomyelitis, measles, mumps, or rubella. Provides that no punitive damages shall be awarded in such actions. Preempts State laws inconsistent with this Act. Establishes an Advisory Commission on Childhood Vaccines to review: (1) the compensation policies under current law for vaccine-related injuries; (2) the current public and private systems for providing childhood vaccines; (3) research into the improvement of childhood vaccines and the development of new vaccines; (4) the dissemination of information concerning childhood vaccines; and (5) childhood vaccine programs in other countries. Directs the Commission to submit a report on the results of its review to the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 1986
Expresses the sense of the Congress that dairy cattle designated for slaughter under the dairy buyout program should be instead shipped to the Soviet Union and any European countries found to have been contaminated by the Chernobyl nuclear accident and to those countries not contaminated by the accident but which can provide food products to affected areas. Provides that feed grain from the Commodity Credit Corporation as well as dairy beef resulting from the buyout program's slaughtering activities should be made available to the stricken countries.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 1986
Amends titles II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) and XVI (Supplemental Security Income) of the Social Security Act to provide that the severity of an individual's physical or mental impairment shall be the primary basis for any determination of the individual's inability to engage in substantial gainful activity. Provides that before such impairment may constitute the basis for a finding of disability it must: (1) be medically determinable; (2) have limited one's ability to work; and (3) be expected to result in death or last for no less than 12 months. Frees the Secretary of Health and Human Services from conducting further inquiry where these indicia of severity are not satisfied.
United States · United States Congress · 5 May 1986
Declares that the President should: (1) suspend the importation of food and drink from countries affected by radioactive contamination from the Chernobyl accident until such countries can show that such food and drink are safe; and (2) appoint a task force to establish guidelines for the resumption of importation of such food products. Requires that the ban on such imported food products remain in effect until such guidelines are formed and put into effect.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1986
Grain Quality Improvement Act of 1986 - Amends the Grain Standards Act of 1916 to authorize the rounding off of numbers relating to grain condition or quality. Requires that any rounding off shall be in a direction to understate the condition or quality of the grain. Authorizes the Administrator of the Federal Grain Inspection Service to refuse to certify an export crop of grain if he believes that such cargo will deteriorate significantly in quality enroute to a foreign destination. Requires a quality variation statement on all official grade certificates issued for export grain lots. Prohibits the recombination of dockage and foreign material with any grain intended for export when the result will be to reduce quality or spoilage resistance. Amends the Agricultural Act of 1956 to provide in-kind bonuses to producers and exporters of specified high-quality export corn. Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to make in-kind reimbursements for: (1) inventory loss of value; and (2) cleaning and blending equipment.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1986
Provides that, for taxable years beginning after 1984, rural letter carriers are permitted to compute the amount of their deduction for use of their automobiles in performance of such services: (1) by using a standard mileage rate for all such miles of such use equal to 150 percent of the basic standard rate; or (2) without applying the limitation on deductions rules where the business use of the automobile used in performing such services is not greater than 50 percent of the time. Prohibits the use of 150 percent of the basic standard mileage rate in determining the allowable deduction where the taxpayer claimed an investment tax credit or depreciation deduction for such automobile.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1986
Provides that employee benefit plans required to be amended to meet the requirements of the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982, the Tax Reform Act of 1984, and the Retirement Equity Act of 1984 shall be granted additional time to comply with requirements imposed by such legislation.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1986
Declares that the House of Representatives: (1) condemns the Soviet Union's failure to provide notification and information about the nuclear accident at Chernobyl; and (2) calls upon the Soviet Union to permit outside nuclear experts to assist with the accident and to allow the international press corps to cover the situation.
United States · United States Congress · 23 April 1986
Amends Federal armed forces provisions to direct the Secretary of the military department concerned to conduct an independent operational test and evaluation with respect to a major defense acquisition program under which a major system is to be acquired. Requires such test and evaluation to be conducted before the program may proceed into the production stage. Requires side-by-side testing as part of such test and evaluation. Requires the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation to independently analyze the results of each such operational test and evaluation, and to report such analyses to the Secretary of Defense. Prohibits the operational testing to be conducted until the Director approves in writing the adequacy of the plans for such operational test and evaluation. Authorizes the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary concerned to contract for low-rate initial production of a program only for the purpose of acquiring items for use in operational tests and evaluations. Prohibits a final decision from being made to proceed with full production of a program until 30 days after the congressional defense committees have received the report of the Director. Authorizes the President to suspend any provision of this Act in time of a declared war.
United States · United States Congress · 23 April 1986
Provides that any cost-of-living adjustment in military retirement and survivor benefit programs provided by law to take effect during FY 1987 shall be made in accordance with such law and not subject to any reduction, suspension, or contrary presidential order. Defines "military retirement and survivor benefit programs."
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 1986
Social Security Reorganization Act of 1986 - Title I: Establishment of the Social Security Administration - Subtitle A: Establishment - Amends title VII (Administration) of the Social Security Act to establish as an independent executive agency a Social Security Administration, headed by a Social Security Board. Provides that it shall be the duty of the Administration to administer the programs established by titles II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) and XVI (Supplemental Security Income) of the Social Security Act. Requires the Board to study and make recommendations as to the most effective methods of providing economic security through social insurance and as to legislation and matters of administrative policy. Establishes in the Administration: (1) a Commissioner of Social Security; (2) a Deputy Commissioner of Social Security; (3) a General Counsel; (4) an Inspector General; and (5) an Office of the Beneficiary Ombudsman, to be headed by a Beneficiary Ombudsman who shall represent the interests of beneficiaries under the Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance program and the Supplemental Security Income Program within the Administration. Requires the annual report of the Board to include a description of the activities of the Beneficiary Ombudsman. Requires the Board to make annual budgetary recommendations relating to the Administration. Requires that appropriations requests by the Administration for staffing and personnel be based upon a comprehensive workforce plan as established by the Board. Provides for the apportionment of administrative costs. Requires the annual report of the Board to include a section reflecting the use of budget authority provided to the Administration. Requires that authority for automated data processing procurement and facilities construction be provided in the form of contract authority covering the total cost of such acquisitions. Makes amounts needed for the liquidation of contract authority so provided available from the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund to the extent that such amounts are not needed to meet current obligations for benefit payments. Requires the Board and the Director of the Office of Personnel Management to implement demonstration projects relating to personnel matters. Directs the Board and the Administrator of General Services to implement such projects relating to delegations from the Administrator. Specifies the authorities which are to be delegated to the Board from the Administrator and the Director. Requires the Comptroller General to report to specified congressional committees concerning such projects, including an evaluation of the Board's readiness to assume full and permanent authority. Requires the Board to cause a seal of office to be made and judicial notice taken thereof. Provides for the transfer to the Administration of all functions carried out by the Secretary of Health and Human Services with respect to the programs and activities to be carried out by the Administration under this Act. Abolishes the position of Commissioner of Social Security in the Department of Health and Human Services. Sets forth effective date and transitional rule provisions. Subtitle B: Conforming Amendments and Rules of Construction - Requires the Secretary and the Board to report to the Congress within 120 days after the beginning of each regular session on their administration under this Act. Requires the Secretary to study and make recommendations on the most effective methods of providing economic security and on the administrative policy for the programs which he or she administers. Directs the Board to appoint, quadrennially, an Advisory Council on the Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance Program and an Advisory Council on Health and Supplementary Medical Insurance to review the relation between the trust funds supporting the Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance program and the Medicare program and the long-term commitments of those programs. Requires each council to submit a report to the Board for transmittal to the Congress and the Board of Trustees of each Trust Fund. Sets forth the effective dates of this title. Title II: Social Security Court - Establishes, under article I of the Constitution, a Social Security Court (Court) having exclusive jurisdiction over cases arising under titles II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance), XVI (Supplemental Security Income), XVIII (Medicare), and XI of the Social Security Act. Amends title VII (Administration) of the Act to provide for the President's appointment of 20 judges to the Court. Authorizes review by the Court by means of hearings conducted before filed panels of one or more judges and held in a manner and at locations which the Court's chief judge prescribes as providing claimants with a reasonable opportunity to appear before the Court without great inconvenience. Allows the Court, within certain guidelines, to prescribe its procedural rules and punish, by fine or imprisonment, contempt of its authority. Requires the claimant and Secretary to be given notice and the opportunity to be heard upon a proceeding in the Court. Provides that within 60 days of a field panel's decision such decision shall be the decision of the Court, unless, within that period, a party petitions the Court's chief judge, or the chief judge makes his own motion, for the Court's review of the decision. Requires the publication for public use of precedential decisions. Authorizes any individual who has exhausted administrative remedies and was a party to a final decision rendered after a hearing under title II, XI, XVI, or XVIII of the Act to bring a timely action for review of such decision in the Court. Authorizes the Court to affirm, modify, or reverse the Secretary's decision, but restricts the Court's authority to reconsider factual findings. Subjects the Court's review to regulations of the Secretary or Social Security Board. Gives the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit exclusive jurisdiction to review Social Security Court decisions upon a party's appeal, but prohibits such appeal until the Social Security Court has reviewed or denied a petition for review of its decision. Grants the district courts of the United States exclusive jurisdiction to review any final decision rendered after a hearing under titles II, XI, XVI, or XVIII of the Act if the claim arises under the Constitution or challenges the validity of any regulation of the Secretary or Social Security Board, but requires that the parties stipulate that there is no dispute as to material facts. Authorizes any party to the hearing (other than the Secretary or Social Security Board) to bring such claims to the district courts. Gives the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit exclusive jurisdiction to review the final decisions of the district courts. Requires, when a district court decision necessitates regulatory change, that the Secretary and Social Security Board either make regulations conform to such decision or appeal such decision to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Abolishes the Department of Health and Human Services' Appeals Council one year after enactment of this Act. Title III: Disability Benefit Entitlement Review Procedures - Amends the OASDI and SSI programs of the Social Security Act to set forth a separate procedure for review of the Secretary's determination that the disability on which a benefit claim is based does not exist. Requires the Secretary, where such a determination is made, to issue a statement of the reasons for such decision and give interested parties notice of their right to an evidentiary hearing before a hearing officer who is not the individual who made the initial determination. Subjects the hearing officer's decision to court review only after an interested party (which may include the Secretary) makes a timely application for review by an administrative law judge. Permits the administrative law judge to modify or reverse the decision only if it is contrary to law or the case presents a novel question of law, though the judge may order additional evidence to be taken before the hearing officer. Authorizes the Secretary to review disability denials when the individual fails to meet time limits on filing for review, but considers a decision by an administrative law judge to be the Secretary's final decision. Alters the method for determining when a period of disability begins. Requires the payment of interim benefits under the OASDI and SSI programs where the Secretary appeals a decision rendered by a hearing officer or administrative law judge which is favorable to the applicant for or recipient of benefits and 60 days pass without resolution of the appeal.
![Official portrait of Rep. Tauke, Thomas Joseph [R-IA-2]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/t000053_200.jpg)