United States · United States Congress · 14 May 1992
Mortgage Refinancing Reform Act of 1992 - Amends the Truth in Lending Act and the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974 to include within their purview residential mortgage refinancing disclosure requirements. Amends the Truth in Lending Act to require a creditor to promptly refund any unearned portion of the finance charge, together with any unearned portion of the insurance premium, if a consumer prepays in full the financed amount under any consumer credit transaction. Applies this requirement to refinanced transactions, and prepayments made as a result of the acceleration of the obligation to repay. Requires a creditor to calculate the refund of the unearned portion of the finance charge on unearned insurance premiums for any precomputed consumer credit transaction based on a method which is at least as favorable to the consumer as the actuarial method. Entitles consumers to obtain one free annual statement disclosing the amount due on any precomputed consumer credit account. Treats as a statutory mandate a finance charge commitment made by a creditor to a consumer regarding a residential mortgage transaction that is to be consummated within a certain time-frame after the date such commitment is made (unless the offer clearly states that the term is subject to change). Mandates a disclosure statement of the rights and duties of the creditor and consumer with respect to such finance charge commitments. Grants such consumers the right to withdraw a credit application in connection with a residential mortgage transaction without incurring any obligation (other than handling fees) if the withdrawal is made pursuant to prescribed procedures. Increases the civil penalty applicable to creditors who fail to make the disclosures required by this Act in connection with an extension of credit for residential mortgage transactions, including refinancing.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 1992
Central Valley Project Improvement Act - Prohibits the Secretary of the Interior from entering into any new short-term, temporary, or long-term contracts or agreements for water supply from the Central Valley Project (CVP), California (a Bureau of Reclamation facility) for any purpose other than fish and wildlife before certain requirements have been met. Provides an exception to such prohibition for long-term contracts for the sale of the CVP water to California water agencies for municipal and industrial purposes. Requires the revenues from such long-term contracts to be covered into the Restoration Fund established by this Act. Authorizes the Secretary to renew any existing long-term repayment or water service contract for the delivery of CVP water for up to 20 years, provided that the Secretary has analyzed such contract's impact pursuant to Federal environmental laws and complied with applicable State environmental laws. Requires the Secretary to prepare a programmatic environmental impact statement on CVP water contract renewals. Establishes the terms and conditions for all new and newly renewed or amended CVP water contracts for agricultural, municipal, or industrial purposes. Places restrictions on the transfer of water under contract to users in California. Requires contractors to: (1) meter ground and surface water; (2) ensure that drainage discharges meet all applicable State and Federal water quality standards; and (3) make all CVP water subject to contract available pursuant to a specified system of tiered water pricing. Directs the Secretary: (1) to establish and administer an office on CVP water conservation best management practices that develops criteria for evaluating the adequacy of all water conservation plans developed by CVP contractors; (2) to periodically review and evaluate all existing conservation plans submitted by contractors to determine whether they meet conservation and efficiency criteria; and (3) in developing criteria, to grant substantial deference to the recommendations of the Final Report of the San Joaquin Valley Drainage Program. Provides that all increased revenues received by the Secretary as a result of increased water prices established under this Act shall be covered to the Restoration Fund (and, to the extent that such funds are actually expended, credited toward the reimbursable fish, wildlife, and habitat restoration costs established under this Act). Authorizes and directs the Secretary to operate CVP so as to: (1) protect, restore, and enhance affected fish, wildlife, and related habitat; and (2) permit the use of CVP water for fish and wildlife purposes. Directs that mitigation for fish and wildlife losses incurred as a result of construction, operation, or maintenance of the CVP be concurrent with or prior to such activity and be based on the replacement of ecologically equivalent habitat. Authorizes and directs the Secretary to: (1) develop and implement a program to ensure that, by the year 2002, natural production of anadromous fish in Central Valley rivers and streams will be sustained, on a long-term basis, at levels not less than twice the average levels attained during the period of 1981-1990; (2) assign to 1.5 million acre-feet of project yield, upon enactment of this Act, the primary purpose of implementing the fish, wildlife, and habitat restoration purposes and measures authorized by this Act, subject to specified requirements; (3) develop and implement a program to mitigate fully for fishery impacts associated with operations of the Tracy Pumping Plant; (4) develop and implement a program to mitigate fully for fishery impacts resulting from operations of the Contra Costa Canal Pumping Plant No. 1; (5) install and operate a structural temperature control device at Shasta Dam to control water temperatures in the Upper Sacramento River; (6) meet flow standards and objectives and diversion limits set forth in all existing State regulatory and judicial decisions which apply to CVP facilities; (7) investigate the feasibility of using short pulses of increased water flows to increase the survival of migrating juvenile anadromous fish in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and Central Valley rivers and streams; (8) develop and implement a program which, to the extent possible, will eliminate losses of anadromous fish due to flow fluctuations caused by the operation of any CVP storage facility; (9) develop and implement measures to correct fish passage problems for adult and juvenile anadromous fish at the Red Bluff Diversion Dam; (10) rehabilitate and expand the Coleman National Fish Hatchery by implementing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Coleman National Fish Hatchery Development Plan, and modify the Keswick Dam Fish Trap to provide for its efficient operation at all project flow release levels; (11) develop and implement a program to restore the natural channel and habitat values of Clear Creek, construct new fish passage facilities at the McCormick-Saeltzer Dam, and provide flows in Clear Creek to provide optimum spawning, incubation, rearing, and outmigration conditions for all races of salmon and steelhead trout; (12) develop and implement a program for restoring and replenishing, as needed, spawning gravel lost due to the construction and operation of CVP dams, bank protection programs, and other actions that have reduced the availability of spawning gravel in the rivers impounded by CVP facilities; (13) develop and implement a program for closure of the Delta Cross Channel and Georgiana Slough during times when significant numbers of striped bass eggs, larvae, and juveniles approach the Sacramento River intake to the Delta Cross Channel or Georgiana Slough; (14) construct a barrier at the head of Old River to be operated on a seasonal basis to increase the survival of young outmigrating salmon that are diverted from the San Joaquin River to CVP and State Water Project pumping plants; (15) deliver firm water supplies of suitable quality, in support of the objective of the Central Valley Habitat Joint Venture, to maintain and improve wetland habitat on units of the National Wildlife Refuge System in the Central Valley of California, the Gray Lodge, Los Banos, Volta, North Grasslands, and Mendota state wildlife management areas, and the Grasslands Resource Conservation District in the Central Valley; (16) establish a comprehensive assessment program to monitor fish and wildlife resources in the Central Valley and to assess the biological results of actions implemented pursuant to this Act; (17) develop and implement a plan to resolve fishery passage problems at the Anderson-Cottonwood Irrigation District Diversion Dam; (18) assist, if requested by the State of California (the State), in developing and implementing management measures to restore the striped bass fishery of the Bay-Delta estuary; and (19) evaluate and revise, as appropriate, existing operational criteria in order to maintain minimum carryover storage at Sacramento and Trinity River reservoirs sufficient to protect and restore the anadromous fish of the Sacramento and Trinity Rivers. Directs the Fish and Wildlife Advisory Committee to investigate and provide recommendations to specified congressional committees concerning: (1) alternative means of improving the reliability and quality of water supplies currently available to privately owned wetlands in the Central Valley and the need, if any, for additional supplies; (2) water supply and delivery requirements necessary to permit full habitat development for water dependent wildlife on 120,000 acres and feasibility means of meeting that water supply requirement; (3) measures to maintain suitable temperatures for anadromous fish survival in the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers and their tributaries and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta by controlling or relocating the discharge of irrigation return flows and sewage effluent, and restoring riparian forests; (4) opportunities for additional hatchery production to mitigate the impacts of water development on Central Valley fisheries where no other feasible means of mitigation is available; (5) measures to eliminate losses of juvenile anadromous fish resulting from unscreened or inadequately screened diversions on the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers, their tributaries, and in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta; (6) measures to eliminate barriers to upstream migration of adult salmonids in the Central Valley; and (7) construction of temperature control structures on Trinity, Lewiston, and Whiskeytown Dams to conserve cold water for fishery protection. Requires the Secretary to: (1) investigate and report to specified congressional committees on all effects of the CVP on anadromous fish populations and the fisheries, communities, tribes, businesses, and other interests and entities that have now or in the past had significant economical, social, or cultural association with those fishery resources; and (2) develop readily usable and broadly available models and supporting data to evaluate the ecologic and hydrologic effects of existing and alternative operations of public and private water facilities and systems in the Sacramento, San Joaquin, and Trinity river watersheds. Directs the Secretary, commencing in the water year following the year in which this Act is enacted, to: (1) charge full cost for the delivery of CVP water (other than water delivery under a water rights or exchange contract) used in the production of any crop of an agricultural commodity for which an acreage reduction program is in effect, unless the Secretary of Agriculture determines that the domestic stocks of the program commodity are inadequate to provide for a reserve that can reasonably be expected to meet a shortage caused by foreseeable disruptions in the supply of the commodity, subject to specified requirements; and (2) allocate reductions in contract deliveries of CVP water, when hydrologic or weather conditions are deemed by the Secretary to necessitate such reductions, first to contracting districts or agencies by amounts which equal the amount of CVP water (other than water delivery under a water rights or exchange contract) used in the district or agency in the preceding water year to produce crops of an agricultural commodity for which an acreage reduction program is in effect under the provisions of the Agricultural Act of 1949. Establishes the Central Valley Project Restoration Fund for the receipt of revenues and funds provided by this Act. Provides revenues for the Restoration Fund by directing the Secretary to impose an annual operations and maintenance charge on CVP power and water sales. Specifies that the charge shall be added to the costs of CVP water and power sales in a manner that results in rate increases of equal proportion as measured against total revenues received annually from each sector. Authorizes the Secretary to provide funding to non-Federal entities to implement actions authorized by this Act and for specified purposes. Bars the Secretary from expending any funds on construction of capital facilities for which the State is required to contribute a share of total costs until the State has agreed to meet such cost-sharing requirements. Outlines additional authority granted to the Secretary by this Act with respect to the CVP. Specifies that: (1) this Act does not and shall not be interpreted to authorize construction of water storage facilities; and (2) contract modification required solely to implement the provisions of this Act shall not subject CVP contractors, including exchange and water rights contractors, to the provisions of the Reclamation Reform Act of 1982. Sets forth reporting requirements. Authorizes the Secretary to purchase: (1) from willing sellers at fair market value agricultural land and associated water rights and other property interests which receive CVP water under a contract executed with the United States; and (2) agricultural land which, in the Secretary's opinion, would, if permanently retired from irrigation, improve the quality of an irrigation district's agricultural wastewater and assist the district in implementing specified agricultural wastewater management activities, or which are no longer suitable for sustained agricultural production. Establishes: (1) the Central Valley Project Fish and Wildlife Advisory Committee (to make recommendations with respect to fish, wildlife, and environmental restoration actions identified in this Act); and (2) the Central Valley Project Transfer Advisory Committee (to report to the Congress and the President on all issues associated with the transfer of CVP facilities and assets to California). Directs the Secretary to investigate and, if feasible, develop and implement a program using dredged material to restore, protect, and expand San Francisco Bay and Delta wetlands. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 1992
Trade Expansion Act of 1992 - Title I: Market Access Provisions - Subtitle A: Enforcement of United States Rights Under Trade Agreements and Response to Certain Foreign Trade Practices - Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to extend through calendar year 1997 the requirement that the United States Trade Representative (USTR) identify U.S. trade liberalization priorities. Expresses the sense of the Congress that foreign countries that have substantial trade surpluses with the United States, and maintain acts, policies, or practices that are major barriers to, or distortions of, potential U.S. export trade, should be identified (for purposes of "Super 301" under the Trade Act of 1974) as priority foreign countries, and such acts, policies, or practices identified as priority practices. Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to authorize any interested person to request the USTR to review to determine whether a foreign country is in material compliance with the terms of a trade agreement. Defines an "interested person" as any person with a significant economic interest that is being or has been adversely affected by a foreign country's failure to comply materially with terms of a trade agreement. Requires the USTR to determine what action to take if a foreign country is found not in material compliance with such agreement. Directs the USTR to initiate an investigation of all acts, policies, and practices of Japan, Korea, and Taiwan that affect the access of U.S. rice to their markets. Requires the USTR to negotiate the elimination of such acts, policies, and practices, and report to the Congress on the progress of such negotiations. Subtitle B: International Trade in Motor Vehicles and Motor Vehicle Parts - Directs the USTR to initiate an investigation of all acts, policies, and practices of Japan that affect the access of U.S. motor vehicles and motor vehicle parts to its market, including but not limited to: (1) acts, policies, and practices utilized in the Japanese automotive distribution system; (2) toleration of anticompetitive activities by private Japanese firms (including "Keiretsu"); (3) exclusionary business practices; and (4) testing requirements and other government regulations. Requires the USTR to negotiate with Japan for a trade agreement that: (1) eliminates such acts, policies, and practices; (2) provides enforcement of Japan's commitments under the Structural Impediments Initiative, the Market -Oriented Sector Specific agreements, and the Action Plan announced at the Tokyo Summit in January 1992 with respect to trade in, and purchase of, motor vehicles and motor vehicles parts; (3) establishes long term goals for the purchase by Japanese motor vehicle manufacturers of high value-added motor vehicle parts and accessories; and (4) establishes procedures for the exchange of information between the United States and Japan that will permit the accurate assessment of the bilateral trade in motor vehicle parts. Requires the USTR to report to the Congress if such negotiations prove unsuccessful. Directs the President to negotiate with Japan for a voluntary restraint agreement that will provide for the imposition of limitations on the aggregate number of Japanese passenger automobiles and light trucks that may be exported to the United States between 1992 and 2000. Authorizes the President to enforce such agreements. Requires specified reports with respect to such negotiations. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the USTR should refer to the U.S. Government all information pertaining to Japanese acts, policies, and practices that adversely affect access to the purchasing by Japanese motor vehicle manufacturers in the United States of U.S. motor vehicle parts by Japanese-owned or-controlled producers. Requires the Board established by the Foreign-Trade Zones Act to: (1) review the operations of U.S. and foreign motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts producers to determine any positive economic effect on the United States of such Act; and (2) take appropriate action, including revocation or modification of a foreign-trade zone or subzone grant, with respect to any producer whose operations in such zone are determined not to have a net positive effect on the U.S. economy. Title II: Customs Modernization - Customs Modernization and Informed Compliance Act - Subtitle A: Improvements in Customs Enforcement - Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to revise customs procedures with respect to: (1) electronic transmission of forged, altered, or false data to the United States Customs Service with regard to the entry of imported merchandise; (2) penalties for failure to declare imported controlled substances; (3) examination and detention of imported merchandise; (4) certain recordkeeping requirements; (5) examination of books and witnesses; (6) review of protests by the Customs Service; (7) a repeal of a provision relating to the reliquidation on account of fraud; (8) penalties relating to manifests, false drawback or refund claims, and for fraud, gross negligence, and negligence; (9) unlawful unlading or transshipment; (10) public access to Customs Service interpretative rulings and decisions; and (11) seizure of imported merchandise. Subtitle B: National Customs Automation Program - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury (Secretary) to establish the National Customs Automation Program which shall be an automated and electronic system for the processing of commercial imports. Provides for electronic data transmission relating to: (1) remote location filing; (2) effective date of rates of duty on imported merchandise; (3) merchandise manifests; (4) imported merchandise invoices; (5) entry and release of imported merchandise; (6) admissibility in administrative and judicial proceedings of electronically transmitted information; (7) appraisement and liquidations of imported merchandise; (8) the payment of duties; (9) abandonment and damage to imported merchandise; (10) protests of Customs Service decisions; (11) refunds and errors; (12) bonds and other security; and (13) customs house brokers. Requires a refund (drawback) of duties (less one per cent of such duties) on articles produced in the United States with imported merchandise that have been destroyed under Customs Service supervision, provided such articles have not been used prior to such destruction. Sets forth provisions with respect to customs officer's immunity in regard to the appraisement of or collection of duties on imported merchandise. Subtitle C: Miscellaneous Amendments to the Tariff Act of 1930 - Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to authorize the Secretary to disregard the difference, but not less than $20 (currently ten dollars), between the total estimated duties deposited with respect to imported merchandise and the total amount actually due on such merchandise. Authorizes the Secretary to admit duty-free: (1) gifts from persons in foreign countries to persons in the United States whose value does not exceed $100 (currently, $50), or $200 (currently, $100) in the case of gifts from persons in the Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa; (2) articles accompanying persons for personal or household use whose value does not exceed $200 (currently, $25); or (3) articles whose value does not exceed $200 (currently, five dollars) in other cases. Authorizes the Secretary to waive collection of duties due on merchandise that are worth less than $20, or such greater amount as prescribed by him or her. Requires masters of vessels that have visited a hovering vessel or received merchandise while outside the U.S. territorial sea to report their arrival to the nearest customs facility. Provides for the electronic transmission of vessel documentation to the Customs Service. Requires the following vessels to report to the nearest Customs Service facility within 24 hours (or other period of time) as provided after arrival to a U.S. port: (1) vessels from a foreign port; (2) foreign vessels from a domestic port; (3) U.S. vessels having bonded or foreign merchandise for which entry has not been made; or (4) vessels which visited a hovering vessel or received merchandise outside the U.S. territorial sea. Authorizes the Secretary to permit masters of vessels to make preliminary entry of their vessel with the Customs Service in lieu of or before formal entry is made. Requires U.S. and foreign vessels to obtain clearance from the Customs Service before proceeding from a U.S. port for: (1) a foreign port; (2) another U.S. port (for foreign vessels only), or (for U.S. vessels only) another U.S. port if the vessel has bonded or foreign merchandise for which entry has not been made; or (3) outside the U.S. territorial sea to visit a hovering vessel or to receive merchandise. Exempts from entry and clearance requirements certain passenger vessels on excursion from the U.S. Virgin Islands to the British Virgin Islands and returning, U.S. documented vessels with recreational endorsement, or (as under current law) undocumented U.S. pleasure vessels not engaged in trade, except such vessels must comply upon arrival with specified customs reporting requirements and navigation laws and must not have visited any hovering vessel. Prohibits merchandise, passengers, or baggage from being unladen from any vessel required to make entry or vehicle required to report its arrival until such entry or report of arrival is made and a permit for unlading has been issued by the Customs Service. Authorizes the issuance of such permits through electronic data transmission. Requires every importer of record of merchandise to make and file electronically or otherwise a declaration stating whether such merchandise is imported pursuant to a purchase or purchase agreement and that all other required documents are true and correct. Requires persons who gained any benefit from, or met any obligation to the United States as the result of the prior exportation of merchandise that has returned as undeliverable to inform the Customs Service of the return of such merchandise within a reasonable time. Provides for electronic data transmission of entry information to complete any incomplete entry of imported merchandise. Declares entered or unentered merchandise that remains in customs custody for six months, with an extension at the importer's request of up to a year (currently, for merchandise that remains in custody for one year), and in which duties, taxes, fees, storage, and other charges have not been paid, to be unclaimed merchandise which shall be appraised and sold by the Customs Service at public auction. Authorizes the sale of imported gunpowder and other explosive merchandise that if permitted to remain in a bonded warehouse for six months (currently, one year) would depreciate in value to the extent that its sale would be insufficient to pay such duties, taxes, fees, storage, and other charges. Authorizes the Customs Service, in lieu of sale, to provide notice to interested parties that, unless, within 30 days of such notice, the subject merchandise is entered or withdrawn for consumption and payment made of all duties, taxes, and fees, transfer and storage charges and other expenses that title to such merchandise shall be deemed to vest in the United States. Authorizes the Secretary to pay to a party that has lost a substantial interest in merchandise by virtue of title vesting in the United States, and can establish that it did not receive a vesting notice, an amount from the Customs Forfeiture Fund equal to what such party would have received if such merchandise had been sold and a proper claim filed. Requires any surplus of the proceeds from the sale of such merchandise to be deposited into the Fund if a claim for such surplus is not filed with the Customs Service. Authorizes the Secretary to prescribe regulations for the declaration and entry of merchandise whose value does not exceed a certain amount, not more than $2,500 (currently not greater than $1,250), and/or when different commercial facilitation and risk considerations that may vary for different classes or kinds of merchandise or different classes of transactions may dictate. Requires the Secretary upon seizure and forfeiture of imported merchandise bearing a counterfeit mark to dispose of such merchandise more than 90 days (currently, one year) after such forfeiture. Authorizes withdrawal of imported merchandise from a warehouse for transfer to a foreign trade zone. Authorizes the Customs Service to order the destruction or other appropriate disposition of vessels, vehicles, aircraft, merchandise, or baggage that has been seized under the customs laws if it determines that the expense of keeping such items is disportionate to their value (currently applies only to items of less than $1,000 in value). Authorizes the use of funds from the Customs Forfeiture Fund for the payment of: (1) certain transfer and storage charges and expenses; and (2) claims against Customs Service employees. Requires actions for fraud, gross negligence, and negligence, false drawback or refund claims, and restoration of lawful duties with respect to imported merchandise to be instituted within five years after the alleged violation or discovery of such fraud. Requires the Customs Service to be reimbursed the administrative cost and expense incurred in collecting fees on behalf of other Federal agencies. Authorizes the Secretary to settle, for no more than $50,000 in each case, claims for personal injury, death, or damage to, or loss of, privately owned property caused by an investigative or law enforcement officer of the Customs Service. Authorizes the Secretary to contract with persons for collection services to recover indebtedness arising under the customs laws, provided the Customs Service has exhausted all administrative efforts to collect such indebtedness. Subtitle D: Miscellaneous Provisions and Consequential and Conforming Amendments to Other Laws - Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to exempt from such Schedule articles which are returned within 45 days after being exported from the United States as undeliverable and which have not left the custody of the carrier or foreign customs service. Prohibits such exportations from satisfying any requirement for exportation in order to receive a benefit from, or meet an obligation, to the United States as a result of such exportation. Declares that certain railway locomotives and railway freight cars on which no duty is owed are not subject to the entry or release requirements for imported merchandise under the Tariff Act of 1930. Exempts instruments of international trade, such as containers, lift vans, rail cars and locomotives, truck cabs and trailers, etc., from formal entry procedures. Requires them to be accounted for however, when imported to and exported from the United States through the manifesting procedures required for international carriers by the U.S. Customs Service. Amends the Internal Revenue Code and other specified Federal law with respect to: (1) certain expenditures from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund; and (2) coastwise trade vessels and U.S. vessels visiting foreign ports. Amends Federal law to grant the Court of International Trade exclusive jurisdiction of any civil action for review decisions of the Customs Service that deny, suspend, or revoke accreditation of private customs laboratories. Bars the commencement of such actions unless brought before such Court within 60 days of such decisions. Repeals specified provisions of Federal law. Requires the Commissioner of Customs to report to the Congress each fiscal year after FY 1992 on the collection of duties imposed under the antidumping and countervailing duty laws. Amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 to authorize the Commissioner of Customs to obtain from the operators of centralized cargo examination stations information on fees paid for the provision of services at such stations. Requires the Commissioner to report to specified congressional committees on the payment of such fees. Amends the Customs and Trade Act of 1990 to require the Commissioner of Customs to: (1) devise a methodology for estimating the level of compliance with the U.S. customs laws; and (2) evaluate the extent to which such compliance was obtained during the 12-month period preceeding the 60th day before each fiscal year 1993 through 1995. Directs the Commissioner to initiate, and submit to the Congress, a compliance review of certain carrier services. Title III: Customs and Trade Agency Authorizations for Fiscal Years 1993 and 1994 - Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to authorize appropriations to the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) for FY 1993 and 1994. Earmarks a specified amount for reception and entertainment expenses. Prohibits use of such funds for any special study, investigation, or report requested by an agency of the executive branch unless such agency reimburses the ITC for its costs. Amends the Customs Procedural Reform and Simplification Act of 1978 to authorize appropriations to the United States Customs Service for FY 1993 and 1994 for: (1) noncommercial operations; (2) commercial operations; and (3) the air interdiction program. Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to authorize appropriaitons to the Office of the United States Trade Representative for FY 1993 and 1994. Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to authorize apropriations for FY 1993 and 1994 for certain expenditures from the Customs Forfeiture Fund relating to purchases by the Customs Service of evidence of smuggling of controlled substances. Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to eliminate the East-West Trade Statistics Monitoring System. Title IV: Miscellaneous Trade Provisions - Subtitle A: Nontariff Provisions - Directs the President to negotiate trade agreements that eliminate the adverse effects of anticompetitive practices on international trade. Requires the President to report to the Congress on the status of such negotiations. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President, with respect to ensuring the effectiveness of the U.S. embargo of Cuba, should seek negotiations with countries that trade with Cuba to seek their agreement to restrict trade relations with it. Amends the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 to require the Secretary of the Treasury, at the request of the Secretary of Commerce (currently, authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury): (1) to take necessary action to ensure the attainment of the objectives of the machine tool decision of the President on May 20, 1986, and on December 27, 1991; and (2) to enforce any imported machine tool quantitative limitations, restrictions, or other terms contained in related bilateral arrangements. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to enforce the quantitative limitations and other provisions of bilateral arrangements negotiated with Taiwan on December 31, 1991, pursuant to the President's machine tool decision of May 20, 1986, until bilateral agreements are negotiated with such country pursuant to the President's December 27, 1991, decision. Directs the ITC to report to the Congress propsals for consolidating and simplifying U.S. international trade laws. Requires the Director of the Congressional Research Service to make recommendations to the Congress about establishment of a special unit that would: (1) integrate the resources of the Service, the ITC, and other appropriate agencies; and (2) serve as a central and objective source of information for the Congress on data and trends in trade between the United States and foreign countries. Subtitle B: Foreign Subsidies and Countervailing and Antidumping Duty Amendments - Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to require completion of reviews by the administering authority of the amount of duty with respect to countervailing and antidumping duty orders by the 270th day after the day on which a request for review was received. (Currently, there is no such deadline for completion of such a review.) Requires the ITC to consider contracts with long lead time as a factor when making material injury determinations with respect to an affected domestic industry in countervailing and antidumping duty investigations. Declares that the presence or absence of any factor the ITC is required to consider shall not give decisive guidance with respect to any threat of material injury determinations. Provides that, with respect to the determination of foreign market value of imported merchandise under investigation, no allowance shall be made to account for differences in input costs that are based on whether the end product made from the input is sold in the home market or exported. Requires the United States Customs Service to report annually to the administering authority on the amount of duties collected during each year under each countervailing and antidumping duty order. Requires the administering authority to make such data available to interested parties. Requires the administering authority, when determining whether imported parts or components are circumventing an antidumping or countervailing duty order or finding, and whether to include such parts or components in such order or finding, to consider: (1) the pattern of trade; (2) the value and sources of supply of parts or components historically used in completion or assembly of the merchandise subject to such order; (3) whether the manufacturer or exporter of such parts or components is related to the person who assembles or completes the merchandise sold in the United States from the parts or components produced in the foreign country with respect to which the order or finding applies; and (4) whether imports into the United States of the parts or components produced in such foreign country have increased after the issuance of such order or finding. Authorizes the administering authority to include within the scope of such order or finding imported parts or components that are used in the completion or assembly of certain merchandise sold in the United States and subject to such order or finding, provided: (1) such merchandise is completed or assembled in the United States from parts or components supplied by the exporter or producer with respect to which such order or finding applies, from suppliers that have historically supplied the parts or components to that exporter or producer, or from any party in the exporting country supplying parts or components on behalf of such exporter or producer; (2) the value of such imported parts and components is significant in relation to the total value of all parts and components used in the assembly or completion operation, excluding packing, of the imported merchandise covered by such order or finding; or (3) consideration of specified factors establishes a pattern of circumvention of a countervailing and antidumping duty order or finding. Enables the administering authority to base such a decision on any of such factors by itself, rather than on all of them together. Sets forth similar provisions for merchandise completed or assembled in other foreign countries. Directs the Secretary of Commerce and the ITC to study and report to the Congress on modification of standards applicable to the initiation of countervailing and antidumping duty actions in order to make petitioning for such initiations less costly and more accessible for domestic petitioners. Requires the USTR to report to the Congress on the operation of the Agreement Concerning the Application of the GATT Agreement on Trade in Civil Aircraft between the United States and the European Community. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should not enter into any international trade agreement on antidumping requiring changes in U.S. antidumping laws that would reduce the effectiveness of such laws as a remedy against injurious dumped imports. Urges the President to review antidumping provisions contained in the Draft Final Act Embodying the Results of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations dated December 21, 1991 and seek changes to strengthen the effectiveness of U.S. antidumping laws, including, but not limited to, changes in provisions dealing with cumulation of injury and dispute settlement. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the U.S. Government should not condone the use by foreign governments of trade distorting subsidies, including development subsidies, that cause material injury to U.S. industries. Subtitle C: Other Tariff Provisions - Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to remove the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics from the list of countries ineligible for designation as a beneficiary developing country under the Generalized System of Preferences. Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to create a new tariff classification to cover imports of motor fuel blending stocks. Imposes a duty on such stocks. Revises the classification of linear alkylbenzenesulfonates and linear alkylbenzene sulfonic acids. Revises a specified subheading relating to nonalloy iron and steel pipes and tubes to include non-galvanized forms of such products. Increases the duty on certain other iron and steel pipes and tubes. Imposes a duty on galvanized nonalloy iron and steel pipes and tubes having a specified thickness. Increases the duty on certain stainless steel pipes and tubes. Authorizes the USTR to negotiate compensation for claims made pursuant to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, or any other trade agreement to which the United States is a party, as a result of the amendments made by this Act. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury, with respect to producers of watches in the insular possessions of the United States who are wage certificate holders, to pay to such a holder, at the holder's election, the face value of such certificates less the value of: (1) any duty refunds claimed by the holder under the certificate; and (2) any duty refunds under such certificate that are sold by such holder. Grants duty-free treatment of articles (not over $600 in value) acquired in Bermuda. Grants duty-free treatment to sweaters in which the number of U.S. citizens, nationals, or resident aliens who perform the assembly operations (in Guam) comprise at least 50 percent of the total number of assembly production workers. Sets forth specified exceptions. Provides that stuffed dolls and doll skins that are imported into the United States on or after December 31, 1985, and before October 1, 1988, shall be liquidated as duty free as of October 1, 1988. Declares that a specified production incentive certificate shall be deemed to have been reissued on the 15th day after the enactment of this Act, and shall expire one year after such day. Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to exempt semiconductors from the country of origin marking requirements under such Act. Amends the Foreign Trade Zones Act to extend until December 31, 1994, the exclusion of bicycle component parts from the exemption from customs laws provided by such Act. Treats certain entries of fabric wholly of polyamide as having been exported from the United States in accordance with and in satisfaction of the temporary importation bond and obligations of The Umbrellas: Joint Project for Japan and U.S.A. Corporation if specified conditions are met. Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to authorize the extension of time (not to exceed five years) for the exportation of articles to be repaired, altered, or processed, including processes which result in articles manufactured or produced in the United States, that are imported duty-free under bond, provided that any extension beyond the third year must be accompanied by the importer's certification that such articles are to be incorporated into a communications satellite. Subjects to liquidated damages any such articles imported after January 1, 1983, and before the effective date of this Act, that are certified by the importer as having been dedicated for incorporation into a communications satellite, and as not having been exported within the time required because of launch schedule delays. Limits such liquidated damages to a maximum one percent of the liquidated damages established under the bond.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 1992
DeLauro-Lowey Water Pollution Control and Estuary Restoration Financing Act - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to extend the authorization of appropriations for the State water pollution control revolving fund program through FY 1999. Requires a specified percentage (increasing with each succeeding fiscal year) of such appropriations to be used by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to make capitalization grants for estuary plans to qualified States. Requires States to submit estimates of the need for assistance for implementing and monitoring such plans. Prohibits the submission of such estimates unless the estimates are approved by the appropriate management conference under the National Estuary Program. Makes States that fail to submit approved estimates ineligible for assistance. Directs States to establish separate Estuary Accounts in their water pollution control revolving funds, to be used for implementing approved estuary plans. Permits loans made with amounts in such Accounts to be for terms of up to 40 years or for the useful life of a facility constructed with the loan, whichever is less, if the borrower demonstrates financial hardship. Allows States to use interest earned on amounts in such Accounts to subsidize up to 90 percent of the principal portion of debt service of certain entities that are financially unable to carry out a necessary project for an estuary plan. Establishes a State matching requirement for deposits into Accounts. Authorizes the Administrator to make grants for the implementation of estuary conservation and management plans. Limits the Federal share to 75 percent of the total cost of implementation. Authorizes appropriations. Permits certain grants under the National Estuary Program to be used for interim actions adopted by management conferences to protect the water and sediment quality of estuaries. Extends the authorization of appropriations for management conferences, grants, conservation and management plans, and research under the National Estuary Program through FY 1999. Revises provisions concerning the purposes of management conferences. Directs the Administrator to issue a guidance document that establishes requirements for: (1) management conferences to follow in developing, implementing, and monitoring conservation and management plans; and (2) approving and implementing interim actions to protect water quality of estuaries for which plans are developed. Requires management conferences to be convened for periods of at least five years (currently, up to five years). Permits the extension of a conference for an additional five years if the affected Governors concur in the extension and the extension is necessary to meet requirements. Revises approval and implementation procedures for estuary conservation and management plans and establishes such procedures for interim actions.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 1992
Dire Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1992, for Disaster Assistance To Meet Urgent Needs Because of Calamities Such as Those Which Occurred in Los Angeles and Chicago - Makes dire supplemental appropriations for FY 1992 for: (1) the disaster loans program account of the Small Business Administration; and (2) the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for disaster relief and the disaster assistance direct loan program account.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1992
Industrial Revitalization Act of 1992 - Title I: Domestic Loan Guarantee Fund for the Revitalization of American Industry - Creates an Economic Transition Assistance Board. Authorizes the Board to guarantee principal and interest on loans and, in certain circumstances, provide interest subsidies for the loans, giving priority to aerospace manufacturing loans. Sets forth assistance conditions, including that the applicant be: (1) affected by U.S. defense budget reductions or by assistance by foreign governments to foreign competitors; and (2) engaged in work critical to national security or economic security. Requires full collateralization. Prohibits, during the loan and without Board approval, certain borrower actions, including: (1) declaring an extraordinary dividend; (2) making payment on certain other indebtedness; or (3) shifting any significant part of its manufacturing activities outside the United States. Limits the aggregate amount of obligations of the Board and the maximum obligations to any single enterprise. Establishes in the Treasury an emergency loan guarantee fund to be administered by the Board to pay Board expenses and to fulfill the Board's obligations under this title. Authorizes the Board, if amounts in the fund are insufficient, to issue obligations to the Secretary of the Treasury. Requires any Federal Reserve bank which is requested to do so to act as fiscal agent for the Board. Authorizes appropriations. Title II: Commercial Aircraft Agreement - Requires the U.S. Trade Representative to report on the operation of the Agreement Concerning the Application of the GATT Agreement in Civil Aircraft, including on: (1) subsidies to the aerospace industry by European Community nations; (2) any Agreement benefits to the U.S. aerospace industry; and (3) subsidies by the European Space Agency to Arianespace in commercial launch services. Title III: National Aeronautics and Space Administration Technology Development - Requires the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to: (1) modify procedures for the development, acquisition, and dissemination of technical aeronautics and space information; and (2) conduct technology projects with U.S. industry partners under agreements providing at least partially exclusive rights to participating companies. Title IV: Export-Import Bank Provisions - Requires the Export-Import Bank of the United States to report on: (1) the competitiveness of the bank's export finance services to the domestic commercial aerospace industry as compared to the services offered by foreign governments that finance the export of commercial aircraft; and (2) how the bank can more effectively assist U.S. commercial aircraft manufacturers to sell in the world market. Title V: Skills Conversion - Establishes the Skills Conversion Program to reeducate, retrain, and reorient scientific and technical personnel displaced or threatened with displacement by defense budget reductions to fill positions in existing or emerging industries. Authorizes grants for: (1) retraining services; and (2) assistance to employees during retraining. Mandates a fellowship, not to exceed a specified amount, for an employee while participating in the program.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1992
Extends emergency crop loss assistance to producers who lost crops during the period July 1, 1991, to April 15, 1992, to infestations of sweetpotato whitefly. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to provide specified funds to the Cooperative State Research Service for expanded research on sweetpotato whitefly control.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 1992
Amends the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 and the Defense Authorization Amendments and Base Closure and Realignment Act to provide that the inclusion of a military installation being closed or realigned under such Acts in a report transmitted to the Congress shall be considered a notice of termination to its Department of Defense civilian employees for purposes of determining the employees' eligibility for assistance under the defense conversion adjustment program under the Job Training Partnership Act.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 1992
Federal Facilities Toxics Release Act - Amends the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act to require Federal facilities that are subject to safety or chemical inventory reporting requirements under such Act or that manufacture or use a toxic chemical listed under such Act in excess of threshold amounts to comply with all Federal, State, and local requirements respecting emergency planning, notification, and reporting on substances covered by such Act. Waives sovereign immunity and the immunity of Federal employees for purposes of enforcement and injunctive relief. Authorizes the President to exempt a facility from requirements for one year if it is in the U.S. interest. Prohibits such an exemption due to lack of appropriations unless the President has specifically requested the appropriation as part of the budgetary process and the Congress failed to make it available. Authorizes additional exemptions for periods of up to one year. Permits the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to commence administrative enforcement actions against Federal agencies pursuant to this Act. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Administrator to study and report to the Congress on making chemicals used by Federal facilities subject to toxic chemical release form requirements under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 1992
Amends the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands to require the two judges appointed by the President for the District Court of the Virgin Islands to be selected from a list containing the names of five qualified individuals provided by the Governor of the Virgin Islands.
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 1992
Global Climate Protection Act - Directs the President to promulgate final regulations that will achieve stabilization of carbon dioxide emissions by January 1, 2000. Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to evaluate and report biennially to the Congress on the progress made pursuant to such regulations. Directs the President to promulgate additional regulations to achieve stabilization if the Administrator finds that the regulations will not achieve stabilization. Permits citizen suits against officers of the United States for failures to perform duties in accordance with this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 1992
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the U.S. Government should not condone foreign trade distorting subsidies, including development subsidies, that cause material injury to U.S. industries.
United States · United States Congress · 31 March 1992
Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the Federal Credit Union Act to extend from three to five years the statute of limitations for civil actions brought by a Federal conservator or receiver of a failed depository institution.
United States · United States Congress · 26 March 1992
Airline Deregulation Federal Preemption Clarification Act of 1992 - Amends the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to declare that provisions relating to the prohibition against State regulation of rates, routes, or services of air carriers shall not apply to the transportation of cargo from origin to destination solely by a motor carrier regardless of whether such motor carrier is also an air carrier or a subsidiary or affiliate of an air carrier.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1992
Civil Liberties Act Amendments of 1992 - Amends the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 to increase the authorization of appropriations to the Civil Liberties Public Education Fund. Includes non-Japanese spouses and parents of an individual of Japanese ancestry in the definition of the term "of Japanese ancestry." Modifies requirements regarding payments made in the case of deceased persons. Terminates the duties of the Attorney General a specified period after the Fund terminates (currently, when the Fund terminates).
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1992
Youth Employability Services 2000 Act of 1992 - Amends the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) to authorize appropriations to establish five additional Job Corps centers during each of the ten fiscal years beginning with FY 1993. Directs the Secretary of Labor (the Secretary) to evaluate the educational curricula offered by the Job Corps as to whether participants are being adequately prepared with skills to meet the technological demands of the marketplace. Requires a report to the Congress and dissemination of evaluation results. Revises the age limits for participation in the Job Corps to allow not more than 20 percent of the enrollees to be from age 22 through 24. Declares that JTPA allows participants to participate concurrently or sequentially in both the Job Corps and training services for the disadvantaged. Increases from ten to 20 percent the allowable number of nonresidential participants enrolled in the Job Corps in any year. Requires that, in enrolling nonresidential participants, priority be given to those eligible individuals who are single parents with dependent children. Prohibits the Secretary from reducing the number of residential participants in Job Corps programs during any program year below the number during 1991 in order to increase the number of nonresidential participants. Prohibits use of Department of Labor funds to contract with a nongovernmental agency to administer or manage a Civilian Conservation Center of the Job Corps on public land. Directs the Secretary, as practicable, to provide child care at or near Job Corps centers for individuals who require such care for their children in order to participate in the Job Corps. Requires each Job Corps center to provide alcohol and drug abuse counseling and referral to participants who need such services. Directs the Secretary to provide all nonprofit Job Corps contractors with an equitable and negotiated management fee of not less than one percent of the contract amount.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1992
Amends the Department of Education Organization Act to create the position of Assistant Secretary of Education for Bilingual Education and Minority Languages Affairs: (1) to replace that of Director of the Office of Bilingual Education and Minority Languages Affairs; and (2) to administer such Office.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1992
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide employers with a 50 percent tax credit for English language education expenses incurred on behalf of employees working in the United States or its possessions. Prohibits the deduction of such expenses if such credit is taken.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1992
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should appoint a special envoy to be personally and actively involved in bringing a solution to the conflict in Northern Ireland.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1992
Dire Emergency Job Creation Appropriations Act, 1992 - Makes dire emergency appropriations for FY 1992 to stimulate the economy and to create and retain productive jobs. Title I: Immediate Job Creation Through Vital Public Investments - Appropriates funds for the following investments in transportation to: (1) accelerate the resurfacing, restoration, and rehabilitation of the nation's interstate highway system; (2) accelerate the construction, reconstruction, restoration, and rehabilitation of highways and transit systems; (3) accelerate the construction, alteration, and rehabilitation of runways, taxiways, aprons, and roads within airport boundaries; and (4) accelerate the construction and rehabilitation of National Park Service roads and parkways and the completion of the Appalachian Development Highway System. Declares the Federal share payable for highway projects to be 95 percent. Provides for the apportionment to the States of such funds and exempts such funds from specified limitations. Makes additional funds available for: (1) community development grants; (2) community services block grants to encourage the creation of business and employment opportunities; and (3) child care and development block grants to improve the availability and quality of child care services. Makes additional funds available for investments in: (1) wastewater treatment facilities; (2) water resource, hydroelectric power, irrigation, and reclamation projects; (3) natural resource protection and enhancement; (4) urban forest maintenance; and (5) park and recreation area improvements. Appropriates additional funds for investments in: (1) public housing modernization; (2) rural housing improvements; (3) energy conservation home improvements for low-income households; and (4) military family housing improvements in the United States. Appropriates an additional amount to restore the prior level of Federal support for economic development purposes as in effect immediately before September 30, 1982. Appropriates additional amounts to create jobs and promote economic development in the Appalachian and Tennessee Valley regions. Makes additional new and direct guaranteed loan authority available to increase small business opportunities. Makes available additional loan authority and additional funding for investments in: (1) rural electrification and telephone system upgrades; (2) watershed and conservation development; and (3) rural water and sewer improvements. Appropriates additional funds for: (1) maintaining and protecting public investment in Federal buildings; (2) improving facilities for veterans; (3) expanding and modernizing correctional facilities; (4) improving Indian health/reservation facilities; (5) constructing Federal biomedical research facilities; and (6) accelerating library construction. Appropriates funds to the Department of Labor to establish the emergency job creation program to provide productive jobs in an expeditious manner. Sets forth administrative provisions for such program. Requires the use of such funds to provide unemployed individuals with temporary employment for not more than six months for the repair, maintenance, and rehabilitation of publicly-owned facilities or for the conservation, rehabilitation, and improvement of public lands. Provides for allocating such funds to the territories, native Americans, and the States. Title II: Short-Term Assistance for Those Adversely Affected by the Economic Downturn - Makes additional funds available for: (1) the emergency food and shelter program of the Federal Emergency Management Agency; (2) retraining displaced workers who have been adversely affected by the recession; (3) the special supplemental food program for women, infants, and children (WIC); and (4) the emergency food assistance program. Title III: Investments for Long-Term Economic Expansion - Appropriates additional funds for certain research and development and advanced technology programs concerning: (1) high energy physics; (2) advanced technology and technology transfer; (3) research facility upgrades; and (4) oceanic and atmospheric research. Appropriates additional funds for investments in education through: (1) the Head Start program; (2) vocational skills improvement; (3) construction, reconstruction, or rehabilitation of academic and residential facilities; and (4) science and engineering education and human resources programs. Title IV: General Provisions - Prohibits appropriations contained in this Act from remaining available for obligation beyond the current fiscal year unless expressly so provided. Designates all funds in this Act as emergency requirements for purposes of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act).
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1992
Small Business Innovation Development Amendment Act of 1992 - Amends the Small Business Innovation Development Act of 1982 to extend the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program from October 1, 1993, to October 1, 2000. Amends the Small Business Act regarding small business eligiblity for Federal agency research and development awards to include in the three-phase evaluation process determining the technological feasibility of ideas those ideas which appear to have commercial potential. Prescribes minimum SBIR expenditure amounts for FY 1992 through 1997 and after. Requires each Federal agency that is required to establish an SBIR program to: (1) determine unilaterally research topics within its SBIR solicitations, giving special consideration to topics which permit substantial applicant participation in research project formulation; and (2) make payments in full to SBIR funding agreement recipients, subject to specified audit deadlines. Directs the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (the Administrator) to modify directives for the conduct of general SBIR policy to provide for: (1) rights to data; (2) continued use of agency property; (3) follow-on contracts; and (4) increased amounts of Phase 1 awards. Repeals the requirement for an annual report by the Office of Science and Technology Policy. Provides that if a Federal agency required to establish an SBIR program makes an SBIR solicitation award for which it receives only one proposal, it shall provide written justification of such award in its next annual report. Requires the Comptroller General to report to the Congress on specified aspects of SBIR program implementation.
United States · United States Congress · 27 February 1992
Title I: 1992 White House Commemorative Coins - 1992 Omnibus Commemorative Coin and Medal Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury (Secretary) to issue one-dollar silver coins emblematic of the White House. Requires that the total surcharges received from the sale of such coins be paid promptly to the White House Endowment Fund to assist its efforts to raise an endowment as a permanent source of support for the White House Collection of fine art and historic furnishings, and for the maintenance of the Executive Mansion's historic public rooms. Title II: World Cup USA 1994 Commemorative Coins - World Cup USA 1994 Commemorative Coin Act - Directs the Secretary to issue a specified number of five-dollar gold coins, one-dollar silver coins, and half-dollar clad coins in commemoration of the 1994 World Cup (soccer). Sets forth certain features of such coins and provides for their design, issuance, and sale. Requires that all sales include a surcharge of $35 per coin for the five-dollar coins, $7 per coin for the one-dollar coins, and $1 per coin for the half-dollar coins. Requires that all surcharges be paid to the Organizing Committee for organizing and staging the 1994 World Cup. Requires that ten percent of such funds be made available through the U.S. Soccer Federation Foundation, Inc., for distribution to institutions for scholastic scholarships to qualified students. Title III: Silver Medals for Veterans of the Persian Gulf Conflict - Directs the Secretary to design and strike a silver commemorative medal for members of the U.S. armed forces who served in a combat zone in connection with the Persian Gulf conflict. Title IV: Christopher Columbus Quincentenary Coins and Fellowship Foundation - Subtitle A: Christopher Columbus Quincentenary Coins - Christopher Columbus Quincentenary Coin Act - Directs the Secretary to mint and issue not more than a specified number of five-dollar gold coins, one-dollar silver coins, and half-dollar clad coins emblematic of the quincentenary of the discovery of America, the gold coin bearing a likeness of Christopher Columbus. Sets forth certain features of such coins and provides for their design, issuance, and sale. Terminates the minting of such coins after June 30, 1993. Requires the Secretary to deposit surcharges from their sale in the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Fund (established by this Act) for use by the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation (also established by this Act). Requires the Secretary to report to certain congressional committees with respect to: (1) coin sales marketing activities; and (2) a detailed financial operating statement. Subtitle B: Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation - Christopher Columbus Fellowship Act - Establishes the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation to award fellowships to outstanding individuals to encourage new discoveries in all fields of endeavor for the benefit of mankind. Establishes the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Fund. Directs the Foundation to report to the President and the Congress annually on its operations. Title V: James Madison Coins - James Madison-Bill of Rights Commemorative Coin Act - Directs the Secretary to issue: (1) five-dollar gold coins emblematic of the Bill of Rights; (2) one-dollar silver coins emblematic of James Madison; and (3) half-dollar silver coins emblematic of the Bill of Rights. Sets forth guidelines for their sale and issuance and for financial assurances. Requires that the surcharges received by the Secretary be transmitted to the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Trust Fund to encourage teaching and graduate study of the Constitution of the United States. Requires the Secretary to submit monthly financial status reports to certain congressional committees. Authorizes audits by the Comptroller General. Requires the Chairman of the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation to submit annual surcharge expenditure reports to the Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 1992
Felon Gun Prohibition Act - Amends the Federal criminal code to: (1) deny convicted individuals the opportunity to seek administrative relief from prohibitions against possessing, shipping, transporting, or receiving firearms or ammunition; (2) eliminate provisions permitting persons to appeal for judicial review of denials of relief; (3) eliminate the authority of the Federal courts to admit additional evidence in reviewing denials of such relief; and (4) require publication of additional information about administrative relief granted to any person.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 1992
Amends the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS) to include as eligible for CHAMPUS benefits a member of the armed forces (and dependents) who has completed eight or more, but less than 20, years of active service and who is involuntarily or voluntarily separated from such service after September 30, 1990. Provides that such eligibility shall begin on the date of separation and run for a period equal to one-third of the total period of active service.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 1992
Voting Rights Improvement Act of 1992 - Amends the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to extend the termination date on the prohibition of covered States and political subdivisions providing voting materials only in English. Modifies criteria for determining whether a State or subdivision is covered.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 1992
Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Amendments Act of 1992 - Title I: General Provisions - States that the provisions of this Act shall not be construed to provide new budget authority. Title II: Interagency Council on the Homeless - Amends the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act (McKinney Act) to extend: (1) authorization of appropriations for the Interagency Council on the Homeless; and (2) the Council's sunset date. Title III: Federal Emergency Management Food and Shelter Program - Amends the McKinney Act to extend the authorization of appropriations for the Federal emergency management food and shelter program. Title IV: Housing Assistance - Subtitle A: Existing FEMA and HUD Programs - Amends the McKinney Act to extend the authorization of appropriations for: (1) the emergency shelter grants program; (2) the supportive housing demonstration program; (3) supplemental assistance for facilities to assist the homeless; and (4) the shelter plus care program (rental housing and rental housing for the elderly or handicapped). Increases budget authority for single room occupancy assistance. Amends the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act to extend the transition period for homeless housing programs under title IV of the McKinney Act. Subtitle B: New FmHA Programs - Amends the McKinney Act to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out programs: (1) for disposing of single family Farmers Home Administration properties to house homeless individuals and families; and (2) of rural homelessness grants. Authorizes appropriations for such grants. Title V: Health Care for the Homeless - Subtitle A: Categorical Grants for Primary Health Services and Substance Abuse Services - Amends the Public Health Service Act to extend the authorization of appropriations for health care grants for the homeless. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants for programs of substance abuse prevention and treatment among the homeless. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle B: Formula Grants to States for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness - Amends the Public Health Service Act to extend the authorization of appropriations for State formula grants for homelessness transition. Subtitle C: Authorization of Appropriations for Community Demonstration Projects - Amends the McKinney Act to extend the authorization of appropriations for mental health services for homeless persons with chronic mental illness. Title VI: Education, Training, and Community Services Program - Amends the McKinney Act to extend the authorization of appropriations for: (1) adult education for the homeless; (2) education for homeless children and youth; (3) the emergency community services homeless grant program; (4) family support centers; and (5) job training for the homeless, including homeless veterans' reintegration projects. Title VII: Veterans Programs - Amends the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Amendments Act of 1988 to extend the authorization of appropriations for veterans' medical care. Provides for disposition of single family Department of Veterans Affairs properties to house homeless individuals and families. Title VIII: National Homeless Advocate Demonstration Grant Program - Amends the McKinney Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a homeless advocate demonstration grant program. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 20 February 1992
Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to repeal certain requirements relating to the guaranteed student loan program, which, as added by the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act of 1991 (Public Law 102-164), include requiring that student loan applicants over age 21 have: (1) credit reports, for which the lender may charge up to $25; and (2) cosigners if they have an adverse credit history.
United States · United States Congress · 20 February 1992
American Veterans' Health Care Reform Act of 1992 - Defines as a "core-entitled veteran" any veteran currently eligible for hospital, nursing home, and domiciliary care through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Makes the provision by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs of nursing home and domiciliary care for core-entitled veterans mandatory (currently discretionary). Requires (currently authorizes) the Secretary: (1) when Department facilities are not available, to contract with non-Department facilities for hospital care and medical services for core-entitled veterans; and (2) to transfer to a non-Department nursing home for adult day care core-entitled veterans who cannot be kept at a Department nursing facility. Makes the provision of dental services in non-Department facilities mandatory for core-entitled veterans (currently discretionary) when such veterans cannot be furnished such treatment in a Department facility because of incapacity or geographical inaccessability. Requires (currently allows) the provision of domiciliary care to certain low-income veterans. Authorizes the provision of domiciliary care to ineligible (non-core-entitled) veterans who agree to participate in a managed health care plan established under this Act. Directs (currently authorizes) the Secretary to correct or treat any non-service-connected disability of a core-entitled veteran when such veteran is already receiving hospital or nursing home care in a Department facility. Makes an identical change with respect to the provision of dental services and treatment for a non-service-connected dental condition. Authorizes the Secretary to perform outpatient services for certain veterans if the Secretary determines they are needed (currently, only for medical services necessary in preparation for hospital admission or to obviate the need for such admission). Makes mandatory (currently discretionary) the provision by the Secretary on an ambulatory or outpatient basis of needed medical services for: (1) former POWs; (2) any veteran of the Mexican border period or World War I; and (3) any veteran in receipt of an increased pension or allowance based on the need for regular aid or attendance or by reason of being permanently housebound. Requires the provision of outpatient dental services, treatment, and related appliances to any core-entitled veteran. Allows any other veteran to be furnished such services if they participate in the Department-managed health care plan. Directs the Secretary to furnish readjustment counseling to any veteran who served on active duty (currently, only to any active-duty Vietnam era veteran). Directs the Secretary to provide seeing eye or guide dogs and related expenses and mechanical or electronic equipment used for overcomining blindness to any core-entitled veteran. Allows the Secretary to provide such dogs, expenses, or equipment to any other veteran who agrees to participate in the Department-managed health care plan. Directs the Secretary, in the case of core-entitled veterans, to: (1) furnish home health services (including lifts) found necessary to treat a veteran's disability or if medically necessary; (2) furnish devices for assistance in overcoming deafness; (3) repair or replace any artificial limb, truss, brace, hearing aid, spectacles, or similar appliance reasonably necessary and belonging to a veteran; (4) transfer such veteran from a Department to a non-Department nursing home at his or her request; (5) contract for care, treatment and rehabilitative services in halfway houses, therapeutic communities, psychiatric residential treatment centers, and other community-based treatment facilities for those suffering from alcohol or drug dependence or abuse; and (6) furnish respite care services. Makes permanent the provision of such respite care services (currently terminates on September 30, 1992). Directs the Secretary to provide certain of such services to non-core-entitled veterans who agree to participate in the Department-managed health care plan. Exempts core-entitled veterans from any required medication copayments. Makes permanent (currently terminates September 30, 1991) such required copayments for non-core-entitled veterans. Directs the Secretary to furnish preventive health care services to any core-entitled veteran requesting such services. Authorizes the Secretary to provide such services to any other veteran who either agrees to pay the United States a reasonable amount for such services or participates in the Department-managed health care plan. Outlines the various preventive services offered. Requires the Secretary, in carrying out such services, to emphasize the use of interdisciplinary health care teams composed of various professional and paraprofessional personnel. Directs the Secretary to design, implement, and maintain a managed health care services plan to make a variety of health care services packages available to non-core-entitled veterans and their survivors and dependents. Directs the Secretary to determine a range of premiums for such packages which are affordable to potential participants in the plan. Requires such plan to be established within two years after enactment of this Act. Authorizes payments by non-core-entitled veterans for discretionary services provided to such veterans and their survivors and dependents through the Department to be paid directly to the Government, from a plan fund derived from the payment of premiums, or through reimbursement under Medicare, Medicaid, the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS), private health insurance, or by any combination of such payment alternatives. Authorizes appropriations, for fiscal years beginning after 1992 and to the extent provided in advance in appropriation Acts, of necessary sums to provide benefits to which entitlement is established under this Act, including the cost necessary to allow the Department to practice quality management and assurance functions. Authorizes appropriations for the same period to cover administrative expenses in carrying out this Act. Includes Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements under the definition of a "health plan contract," thereby allowing such reimbursements to be included in the health plan established under this Act. Authorizes: (1) the United States to collect for care and services provided to non-core-entitled veterans and their survivors and dependents under CHAMPUS, Medicare, Medicaid, or any other health insurance plan; and (2) the Secretary to use funds collected in the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical-Care Cost Recovery Fund for providing benefits and paying administrative and operational expenses for the delivery of health care services. Exempts all health benefits which core-entitled veterans are provided under appropriate Federal provisions from sequestration under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm- Rudman-Hollings Act). Directs the Secretary to report annually to the Senate and House Veterans' Affairs Committees on the implementation and operation of health care plans and reforms made effective by this Act. Directs the Secretary, as part of each such report, to request and take into account comments provided by congressionally-chartered veterans' organizations.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1992
Wetlands Reform Act of 1992 - Title I: Amendments to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to make any pollutant discharge or alteration of navigable waters unlawful. Revises certification requirements for persons seeking to conduct activities which may result in discharges or other alterations of navigable waters to provide State certifications that such activities will allow for the protection, achievement, and maintenance of designated uses included in water quality standards. Authorizes the issuance of permits for other alterations of navigable waters. Defines "other alterations" as activities which impair the flow, reach, or circulation of surface water, or which result in changes in the hydrologic regime, bottom contour, or configuration of the waters or in the type, distribution, or diversity of vegetation. Revises provisions concerning general permits for the discharge of dredged or fill material into, or other alteration of, navigable waters. Prohibits authorization for an activity within a State that has denied or revoked a water quality certification for such activity. Provides for biennial review of permits and revision or revocation to avoid or minimize adverse effects on navigable waters and for reports to the Congress. Directs the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, to establish a special Fast Track team in each district office to expedite the review and processing of minor permits. Prohibits the issuance of permits if there is a practical alternative to the proposed activity that would have less adverse impact on navigable waters. Requires all adverse impacts to wetlands and other U.S. waters to be fully mitigated to achieve full restoration of the functions and values lost. Applies exemptions from permit requirements for agricultural and certain other activities to other alterations of navigable water that occur as a result of such activities. Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Secretary of the Army to promulgate final regulations determining the circumstances under which discharges of dredged or fill material or other alterations of navigable waters which were converted to production of commodity crops prior to December 23, 1985, shall be exempt from permit requirements. Authorizes citizen suits for violations of general permits or permit conditions. Title II: Other Provisions - Directs the Comptroller General to submit to the Congress an analysis of needs of the Corps of Engineers and EPA for additional personnel, administrative resources, and funding to improve implementation of the wetlands permit program. Requires funds to be used for: (1) the training and certification of wetlands delineators authorized by the Water Resources Development Act of 1990; and (2) the improvement of existing education and outreach programs of the Corps of Engineers or EPA regarding wetlands permitting. Requires the Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service to use funds for wetlands mapping and for the delineation of wetlands in watersheds and ecosystems for which the need for delineation is particularly acute. Provides for the update of existing maps at least once every 15 years. Directs the Administrator to contract for an independent study of the scientific basis for wetlands identification and delineation to be conducted by the National Academy of Sciences. Requires such study to specifically address the scientific bases of certain Federal manuals for identifying and delineating wetlands and to recommend appropriate scientific methods and procedures for identification and delineation. Provides for the submission of study results to specified congressional committees. Prohibits revisions to or clarifications of the Federal Manual for Identifying and Delineating Jurisdictional Wetlands or regulations related to the definition, delineation, or identification of wetlands until the study has been completed. Title III: Wetlands Restoration Pilot Program - Directs the Secretary to initiate a pilot program of wetlands restoration.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1992
Brain Injury Rehabilitation Quality Act of 1992 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to provide for optional Medicaid coverage of services provided through a case management program that meets specified requirements to Medicaid-eligible individuals who suffer traumatic brain injuries. Describes the services provided under such a program, which include: (1) rehabilitation services; (2) transitional and independent living services; (3) home care; (4) behavior disorder treatment services; and (5) respite or recreation services to aid the individual and members of the individual's family in adapting to residual deficits resulting from brain injury. Authorizes such program to: (1) obtain for participating individuals other benefits and services for which such individuals are eligible under other Federal, State, or local programs, including employment services, education benefits, old age services, and disability insurance; and (2) waive restrictions on the amount, duration, and scope of services otherwise applicable under State plans. Declares that an individual must reside in a State that has designated a State coordinator for traumatic brain injuries in order to receive services under this Act. Requires such coordinator to establish policies and standards for providing services, make necessary reports to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, supervise and coordinate services for persons with traumatic brain injuries, and perform the duties set out below. Makes such coordinator responsible for a program of activities related to preventing and reducing the rate of traumatic brain injuries in the State. Requires such coordinator to: (1) establish and maintain a central registry of persons who sustain traumatic brain injury in order to collect information necessary to facilitate such programs and ensure the provision to such persons of information on rehabilitative service providers; (2) notify the State employment agency of individuals reported to have suffered a traumatic brain or spinal cord injury; (3) establish standards for marketing of services to traumatic brain injury patients or family members, in consultation with the advisory committee established below; (4) collect and analyze injury incidence information for coordinator studies concerning traumatic brain injury; (5) provide summary registry data to entities to conduct studies; (6) establish an advisory committee to provide recommendations regarding the needs of persons with traumatic brain injuries; (7) adopt such rules as are necessary to carry out this Act; and (8) establish a reporting system that notifies the coordinator of the identity of any person treated for a traumatic brain injury in the State. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish standards for the reporting of data on traumatic brain injuries and the operation of registries on traumatic brain injuries for coordinator use. Requires the Administrator for Health Care Policy and Research to conduct a study on the effectiveness of traumatic brain injury interventions.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1992
Revises the overtime pay system for United States Customs Service inspectors, with changes providing overtime pay for: (1) overtime services provided on other than Sundays, holidays, or on callback at twice the hourly rate of basic pay of the customs inspector or canine enforcement officer (inspector), with no work for which overtime is authorized to be treated as being less than two hours in duration (unless the work occurs immediately before or after a shift, in which case the hourly rate shall be applied to the actual time worked); (2) Sunday and holiday work at such rate, with no work for which overtime is authorized to be treated as being less than four hours in duration; and (3) unscheduled work at such rate (or, where the inspector is required to return to such employee's place of work at such rate plus an amount equal to the product of the employee's hourly rate of basic pay multiplied by three hours, as compensation for commuting time), with no work for which overtime is authorized to be treated as being less than two hours in duration. Specifies that customs officers and employees who may be required to remain on duty between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. to perform services in connection with the lading or unlading of cargo, the lading of cargo or merchandise for transportation in bond or for exportation in bond or with benefit of drawback, the receiving or delivery of cargo on or from the wharf, or the unlading, receiving, or examination of passengers' baggage, shall receive overtime compensation at the rates provided under this Act. Treats inspectors as law enforcement officers for purposes of the Civil Service Retirement System and the Federal Employees' Retirement System. Ties the Customs User Fee Account under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 to Civil Service retirement provisions regarding deductions, contributions, and deposits. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to fix the rates of pay for journeyman level inspectors undertaking inspectional services at no less than the minimum rate payable for GS-11.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1992
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) consideration of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) should be a high priority; (2) LIHEAP funding for FY 1993 should be increased to a level greater than or equal to funding for FY 1992; and (3) the President should accept the LIHEAP funding level for FY 1993 as recommended by the Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 18 February 1992
Declares that the Congress: (1) commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Midway on June 4, 1992; (2) salutes the vision and dedication of those Americans who planned and participated in this heroic battle; (3) reveres the memory, bravery, and spirit of those who fought and perished in it; and (4) honors the sacrifices and devotions of those gallant men who fought in such battle and who, in a single master stroke, reversed the tide of war in the Pacific.
United States · United States Congress · 14 February 1992
American Shipyard Worker Protection Act - Prohibits the Secretary of Defense from contracting with a foreign nation or firm for the overhaul, repair, or maintenance of naval vessels until he certifies to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees that at least one of the following conditions exist: (1) the work was unplanned and is of an emergency nature; or (2) there is a compelling national security or economic reason for the work to be done by a foreign nation or firm.
United States · United States Congress · 14 February 1992
Amends the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act of 1991 (Public Law 102-164) to provide that the eligibility requirements applicable to regular (rather than extended) unemployment compensation benefits shall apply in determining eligibility for emergency unemployment compensation benefits under such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1992
Cancer Registries Amendment Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize grants or contracts to operate population-based, statewide cancer registries in order to collect certain data for each form of in-situ and invasive cancer except basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin. Authorizes grants for planning the registries. Mandates a study on factors contributing to elevated rates of breast cancer mortality in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and the District of Columbia. Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services, directly or through grants and contracts, or both, to provide technical assistance to the States in the establishment and operation of statewide registries. Authorizes appropriations.
![Official portrait of Rep. Torres, Esteban Edward [D-CA-34]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/t000316_200.jpg)