United States · United States Congress · 26 September 1989
Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in any case in which there has been either a disallowance of a veterans benefits claim or a partially awarded claim, to provide to the claimant a written statement setting forth notice of procedural rights of the claimant and the rationale for the disallowance. Requires that such statement: (1) be provided at each procedural stage relating to the disposition of a claim; (2) include a summary of the evidence supporting the disallowance or the partial award; (3) be in such forms as the Secretary prescribes by regulation; (4) include a description of each subsequent procedural stage before the Department of Veterans Affairs; (5) include a description of all rights of the claimant expressly provided for in the veterans' benefits code, the claimant's right to a hearing, to reconsideration, to appeal, and to representation, and any specific procedures necessary to obtain the various forms of review available for consideration of the claim; and (6) include such other information as the Secretary determines would be useful and practical to assist the claimant in obtaining full consideration of the claim. Adds parallel requirements with respect to the Chairman of the Board of Veterans' Appeals.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 1989
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Government of Yugoslavia should: (1) guarantee its citizens fundamental human rights and freedoms; (2) grant unconditional amnesty to all political prisoners; (3) dismiss the charges against human rights activist Dobroslav Paraga, allow him and his family to return to their home, and stop harassing them; and (4) investigate the death of Ernest Brajder, who reportedly died under "mysterious circumstances," and make the findings public.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 1989
Designates the period of September 16 through October 9, 1989, as Coastweeks '89, recognizing the importance of coastal zones. Designates September 16, 1989, as National Estuaries Day and September 23, 1989, as National Beach Cleanup Day.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 1989
Includes service of at least one year but less than two years in the Cadet Nurse Corps during World War II as creditable service for purposes of civil service retirement. (Current law provides for individuals with two or more years of service.) Requires affected individuals to: (1) file an appropriate written application with the Office of Personnel Management within 14 months of enactment of this Act; and (2) make required deposits to the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund with respect to service in the Corps.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 1989
Expresses the sense of the Congress that illegal aliens should not be counted in the 1990 decennial census for purposes of congressional reapportionment.
United States · United States Congress · 13 September 1989
Farm Animal and Research Facilities Protection Act of 1989 - Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to make it unlawful to disrupt or damage a farm animal facility, its animals, or property. Sets forth penalties for violations of this Act. Allows the Secretary of Agriculture to investigate such offenses. Grants U.S. district courts jurisdiction in such cases. Provides for a private right of action.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 1989
Drug War Funding Enhancement Act of 1989 - Transfers funds appropriated or otherwise available to the Department of Defense for FY 1990 for procurement relating to the B-2 aircraft to the President to be used for programs authorized in the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988. Allocates half of such funds for drug treatment, prevention, and education, and half for law enforcement and drug interdiction.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 1989
Designates October 27, 1989, as National Hostage Awareness Day in recognition of the 42d birthday of Terry Anderson and his fifth year in captivity. States that efforts should be made to have such date declared International Hostage Day by the United Nations. States that all Federal and international agencies should increase efforts to secure the release of the remaining hostages in Lebanon. Calls for prayer on such date for the release of all U.S. and foreign hostages in Lebanon.
United States · United States Congress · 6 September 1989
Animal Welfare Improvements Act of 1989 - Amends the Animal Welfare Act to authorize: (1) citizen suits to compel enforcement of such Act; and (2) suits by animal research facilities injured by reason of violations of such Act. Precludes recovery by such facilities if such injury leads to the conviction of any person for a violation of any Federal regulation relating to the handling, care, treatment, or transportation of animals by any research facility. Specifies courts having jurisdiction to enforce, prevent, and restrain violations of such Act. Makes it unlawful to: (1) intentionally cause the loss of any animal from a research facility, except temporarily, for the purpose of documenting violations of Federal regulations relating to the handling, care, treatment, or transportation of animals by such facility; (2) damage or steal any equipment or property of a research facility; or (3) break and enter any research facility with intent to destroy material or equipment or to obtain unauthorized possession of records, data, materials, equipment, or animals. Provides for fines of up to $5,000 for each such violation. Specifies that, if as a result of such a violation documentation is obtained showing that a violation of any Federal regulation relating to the handling, care, treatment, or transportation of animals by a research facility has occurred, such person shall not be subject to the fine and such facility shall pay costs of the trial or proceedings. Requires the U.S. district courts or the U.S. Magistrate, as the case may be, to determine the reasonable costs of: (1) replacing materials, data, equipment, or animals, and records that may have been damaged or cannot be returned in connection with such violation; and (2) repeating any experimentation that may have been interrupted or invalidated as a result of such violation. Requires any person convicted of such violation to be ordered to make restitution to the facility involved unless documentation is obtained showing that a violation of any Federal regulation relating to the handling, care, treatment, or transportation of animals by such facility has occurred, in which case the facility shall pay litigation costs. Prohibits specified acts relating to farm animals, including theft, vandalism, and trespassing on a farm animal facility if such action disrupts or damages business. Establishes criminal penalties of up to $10,000 and three years imprisonment for such acts. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct an investigation, at the request of such a facility or on his own initiative, to determine whether a violation has occurred. Authorizes the Secretary to obtain the assistance of Federal, State, or local government agencies to conduct such investigation. Grants specified courts jurisdiction to enforce, prevent, and restrain violations. Authorizes parties injured in their business or property to recover damages and costs from the person who violated such Act. Requires specified Federal officials and animal welfare organization officers to jointly study and report to the Congress on the extent and effect of the use of animals by research facilities.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1989
Older Workers Benefit Protection Act - Amends the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA) to specify that it prohibits discrimination against older workers in all employee benefits except when age-based reductions in employee benefit plans are justified by significant cost considerations. Declares that, as used in ADEA, the phrase "compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment" encompasses all employee benefits, including those provided under a bona fide employee benefit plan. Requires that the actual amount of payment made or cost incurred on behalf of an older worker be no less than that made or incurred on behalf of a younger worker, for each benefit or benefit package, in order for an employee benefit plan not to violate ADEA. Places on the employer, employment agency, or labor organization the burden of proving, in any civil enforcement proceeding brought under ADEA, that specified actions are lawful. Requires a seniority system or employee benefit plan to comply with ADEA regardless of the date of adoption of such system or plan. Applies this Act to all actions or proceedings under ADEA that were brought after June 23, 1989, or that were pending on such date (which is the date on which the Supreme Court issued the decision in Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio v. Betts).
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1989
Amends Federal copyright law to permit the unlicensed viewing of videos in a hospital, hospice, nursing home, or other group home providing health care if the institution: (1) provides long-term health care services to individuals on a regular basis; and (2) serves as a temporary or permanent home for such individuals. Prohibits such institutions from levying a direct charge for the video viewing, and from transmitting such video viewing via closed-circuit television or other means.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1989
Yosemite National Park Centennial Medal Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to strike and sell not more than 750,000 gold, silver, and bronze medals in commemoration of the centennial of Yosemite National Park, California, in 1990. Requires that all sales of such medals include a surcharge of $35 per medal for the gold medals, $7 per medal for the silver medals, and $2 per medal for the bronze medals. Requires that all surcharges be paid to an endowment fund for the benefit of the Park to be administered by the National Park Foundation. Requires that the interest from the fund be paid to the Secretary of the Interior to fund special supplemental projects relating to back country trail development and rehabilitation and the preservation of Sequoia groves within the boundaries of the Park. Requires the Secretaries to enter into a memorandum agreement to allow: (1) the Secretary of the Treasury to deliver medals to the Secretary of the Interior; and (2) the Secretary of the Interior to provide for the sale of the medals in National Park facilities. Grants the Comptroller General the right to examine all records of the National Park Foundation which are related to such medals. Provides that no medals may be struck after December 31, 1991.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1989
Catastrophic Coverage Repeal Act of 1989 - Repeals Medicare (title XVIII of the Social Security Act) catastrophic health care coverage provided under the Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act of 1988. Makes transitional and conforming amendments.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1989
School Completion and Incentives Act - Directs the Secretary of Education to make matching grants to each State for planning and carrying out a program to increase the high school completion rate. Requires States to assure that, under such program, requirements for obtaining a high school diploma or its equivalent will not be lowered. Requires that at least 40 percent of a State's grant funds be used for grants to individual schools that have: (1) a dropout rate above the State average; (2) an aggregate achievement rate below the State average; or (3) a student enrollment of which 30 percent of the students come from families below the official poverty line. Directs the Secretary to publish an application notice for such grants by January 1, 1991. Requires grant recipient annual reports by local educational agencies and individual schools to the State, and by the States to the Secretary. Directs the Secretary to develop, from information in such reports, an information base on dropout prevention programs. Directs the Secretary, at least once every three years, to publish the high school completion rate for each State, with the first such publication to be made by January 1, 1995. Authorizes appropriations for: (1) planning grants for such programs, for FY 1991 and 1992; and (2) grants to carry out such programs, for FY 1993 through 1999. Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to revise provisions relating to programs for basic skills improvement and dropout prevention and reentry. Adds assistance to elementary school programs for such purposes (current law includes only secondary school programs). Requires each State educational agency and local educational agency that conducts a specified evaluation pursuant to such provisions to report the evaluation results to the National Diffusion Network. Increases the amounts authorized to be appropriated for such programs for FY 1990 through 1993.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1989
Adult Literacy and Employability Act of 1989 - Title I: Literacy Coordination - Establishes a Joint Presidential-Congressional Task Force on Adult Literacy. Requires the Task Force to report to the Council for Literacy Coordination established by this Act. Terminates the Task Force six months after its last member is appointed. Authorizes appropriations for the Task Force for FY 1990. Establishes the Cabinet Council for Literacy Coordination (the Council). Requires the Council to report annually to the Congress and the President. Authorizes appropriations for the Council for FY 1990 through 1993. Amends the Department of Education Organization Act to establish in the Department of Education an Office of Adult Literacy, to be administered by a Director of such Office. Requires the Director to: (1) coordinate the administration of literacy programs within the Department; and (2) work with the Cabinet Council for Literacy to coordinate related activities. Establishes the National Center for Adult Literacy as a nonprofit corporation which will not be an agency or establishment of the Federal Government. Divides the Center into a research institute, a technical assistance and training institute, and a policy analysis institute. Requires an annual report to the Congress. Authorizes appropriations for the Center for FY 1990 through 1994. Directs the Chairperson of the Council to make grants to States for a network of State or regional adult literacy resource centers. Authorizes appropriations for such grants for FY 1990 through 1992 and succeeding fiscal years. Requires each State that receives adult literacy assistance under an applicable Federal program to: (1) establish a State advisory board on literacy; and (2) submit a State literacy coordination plan. Requires the State Governor to report annually to the Council. Title II: Investment in Literacy - Amends the Adult Education Act (AEA) to increase and extend through FY 1995 the authorization of appropriations for AEA programs. Revises allotment provisions. Requires limitations on the use of funds to: (1) eliminate a cap on high school equivalency certificate programs; and (2) require that a specified amount be used to support adult education and literacy services provided by community-based organizations and nonprofit volunteer agencies. Includes among projects for which State must expand a portion of their AEA allotments: (1) development and expansion of innovative programs; and (2) support for statewide volunteer technical assistance activities. Eliminates certain maintenance of effort requirements. Authorizes the Chairperson of the Council to make matching challenge grants to State for investment in adult literacy instruction staff training and educational technology. Allows States, for purposes of matching such grants, to reserve specified portions of funds for FY 1990 through 1995 under specified Federal laws. Requires that States receiving such grants make available federally-assisted adult literacy program equipment, facilities, or training services, when not in program use or when surplus capacity exists, to other adult literacy programs (without charge or in certain circumstances at cost). Authorizes appropriations for such challenge grants for FY 1990 and succeeding fiscal years. Establishes a Literacy Leader Training Fund. Directs the Secretary of Education (the Secretary), through the Office of Adult Literacy, to make scholarship grants from the Fund to individuals pursuing careers in adult education, instruction, management, research, or innovation, for education or research to expand their expertise. Authorizes appropriations for such purposes for FY 1990 and succeeding fiscal years. Amends the Library Services and Construction Act (LSCA) to establish a library literacy demonstration program. Directs the Secretary to make grants to State and local public libraries for model innovative programs for delivery of adult literacy services, including development of technology-based centers. Requires that a peer review panel advise on grant criteria and application review, and that an expert in library literacy activities administer such program in the Department of Education. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1990 through 1994 for such library literacy demonstration program. Extends through FY 1994 the authorization of appropriations for other LSCA library literacy programs. Title III: Family Literacy - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary to carry out through the Office of Adult Literacy the Secretary's functions under the Even Start program (which integrates early childhood education and adult education for parents). Title IV: Workplace Literacy - Amends the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) to provide for workplace literacy skills and programs. Revises State education coordination and grant programs to provide financial assistance for any State education, labor, or economic development agency (or consortia) to enhance provision of statewide workplace literacy training and education through cooperative agreements between appropriate agencies and organizations. Requires that at least 75 percent of funds for such activities be used to improve program quality by means such as application of learning technology, model program development, and investment in staff training and services targeted at participants lacking workplace skills. Revises general program requirements for the service delivery system to require private industry councils to give priority to participant placements with businesses and industries that have a workplace literacy program or are willing to develop one with other public and private agencies. Makes individuals lacking workplace literacy skills eligible for adult and youth training program services. Requires, beginning in program year 1990, that at least 40 percent of adult program participants in each service delivery area (SDA) be in need of and be offered basic training through an individual workplace literacy plan. Requires assessment and testing of each potential participant's workplace literacy skills and employment skills. Allows participants who have been placed in employment to continue workplace literacy training until they have achieved their goal or for at least two years, whichever is earlier. Requires SDAs to provide such training for such duration to participants who need and would benefit from it. Allows such training to include workplace literacy training and English-as-a-second-language. Requires such activities to be described in an individualized workplace literacy plan for each participant, including goals based on participant needs. Requires that eligible dislocated workers lacking workplace literacy be offered basic skills training for at least a two-year period from the date of entry into the program. Establishes a Workplace Literacy Demonstration Program. Authorizes the Secretary of Labor to make grants for joint ventures of business, industry, or labor (or consortia) cooperating with State, County, or local governments or private industry councils (or consortia) to provide large-scale model development approaches to improving the basic workplace skills of the workforce. Requires the use of such funds for: (1) basic skills training; (2) specific program offerings; (3) assessments of individual and workplace skill needs; (4) program evaluations; and (5) technology-based learning environments. Sets forth matching requirements for grantees. Requires independent evaluation of such programs. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1990 through 1995 for such programs.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1989
School Dropout Prevention Act of 1989 - Requires the Secretary of Transportation to withhold a portion of Federal highway funds from States which: (1) issue a motor vehicle license or instructional permit to an individual under 18 years of age who is not enrolled in an elementary or secondary school or in a State-certified course leading to a high school diploma or who has not obtained a high school diploma; and (2) fail to suspend or revoke a license or permit issued to an individual under 18 who withdraws from the school or course other than to enroll in another such school or course. Allows States to issue or not suspend or revoke a license or permit where individual circumstances so warrant.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1989
Declares that the Congress acknowledges and appreciates the commitment, devotion, and sacrifices of present and former military families. Designates November 20, 1989, as National Military Families Recognition Day.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1989
Steel Fair Trade Review Act - Requires the President to submit to the Congress a report concerning progress achieved, pursuant to the steel trade liberalization program, on an international consensus to remove trade distorting practices in global steel markets. Specifies the issues such report must address.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1989
Urges the people of the United States to buy American, and calls upon the President, the State Governors, leaders of civic and consumer organizations, the mass media, and U.S. producers and manufacturers to promote consumer awareness of, and to identify, such American goods and services.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1989
High Risk Occupational Disease Notification and Prevention Act - Establishes a Risk Assessment Board (the Board), within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to: (1) review pertinent medical and scientific reports on the incidence of disease associated with exposure to occupational health hazards; (2) identify and designate populations at risk that should receive notification; (3) develop a form and method of notification that will be used by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary); and (4) determine the appropriate type of medical monitoring or beneficial health counseling. Sets forth factors for Board consideration and priorities in designating populations at risk of disease for notification. Directs the Secretary to make every reasonable effort to ensure that each individual within a population at risk of disease is notified of the risk. Requires the Secretary, through the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), to conduct the required notification, with specified exceptions. Allows an employer to apply to NIOSH for an exemption from such employee notification because that employer's employees are not at risk of disease because of significant mitigating factors. Provides for telephone "hot lines" and other dissemination of information. Authorizes the Secretary to certify a private employer or a State or local government to conduct notification. Provides for judicial review of Board determinations. Requires the Secretary to establish and certify ten occupational and environmental health centers to: (1) provide education, training, and technical assistance to personal physicians and health and social service professionals who serve employees notified that they are at risk under this Act; and (2) provide diagnosis, treatment, and medical monitoring and family services for such employees. Directs the Secretary to make grants to conduct research, training, and education aimed at improving the means of identifying employees exposed to occupational health hazards and improving medical assistance to such employees. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants and contracts for training and curriculum development in occupational medicine or health to schools of medicine and of nursing. Provides that such assistance shall be for projects: (1) at schools with occupational medicine or health programs, for faculty continuing education, curricula and training materials for undergraduate medical or nursing training, and clinical training for residents in graduate medical programs; and (2) at schools without such programs, for faculty training. Directs the Secretary, during FY 1991 through 1993, to make such grants and contracts to at least ten schools of medicine or nursing. Requires that the medical monitoring recommended by the Board be provided by the current employer: (1) at no additional cost to the employee (above any existing employee health care contribution), if any part of the exposure occurred in the course of employment by that employer; or (2) at a charge to the employee not exceeding the additional cost to the employer (above any existing employer health care contribution), or at no charge, if no part of such exposure occurred in the course of employment by that employer. Sets forth special rules for medical monitoring by small businesses and of seasonal agricultural workers. Prohibits discharging or discriminating against employees, or applicants for employment, on the basis that they are or have been members of a population at risk. Makes an exception to such prohibition if the position which the applicant seeks requires exposure to the occupational health hazard which is the subject to the notice. Allows an employer with 50 or fewer employees to transfer an employee who is or has been a member of a population at risk to another job if earnings, seniority, and other employment rights and benefits are as comparable as possible to the old job and if the terms of an applicable collective bargaining agreement are not violated. Grants the option of being transferred to a less hazardous or nonexposed job to any employee member of a population at risk who is determined by a physician to show evidence of developing the disease described in the notice or other symptoms or conditions increasing the likelihood or incidence of such disease. Requires that the employee maintain earnings, seniority, and other employment rights and benefits of the former job. Sets forth procedures for independent reconsideration of the initial medical determination. Sets forth special rules for medical removal. Makes such protection inapplicable to seasonal agricultural workers with less than six months continuous employment with an employer. Exempts from the requirement of medical removal protection any employer who has 50 or fewer employees and who has made or is making a reasonable good faith effort to eliminate the occupational health hazard that is the basis for the medical removal decision. Provides for confidentiality of employee records unless disclosure is authorized by and is necessary to carry out a provision of this Act, or is authorized by the employee. Permits employees aggrieved by violations of provisions involving medical monitoring, medical removal, discrimination, and confidentiality to apply, within six months after the violation occurs, to the Secretary of Labor for a review of the alleged violation. Sets forth provisions for investigations, actions, defenses, determinations, and appeals in such cases. Provides for reinstatement and other relief for employees injured by such violations. Sets forth civil penalties for such violations. Authorizes the Secretary (of HHS) to bring an action in U.S. district court to enjoin an employer from violating this Act. Directs the Secretary of Labor to report annually to the Congress on the implementation and enforcement of the hazard communication standard. Directs the Secretary of HHS to report annually to the Congress on the implementation and enforcement of notification under this Act. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1989 through 1993.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 1989
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the people of the United States should buy American and calls upon the President, the State Governors, leaders of civic and consumer organizations, the mass media, and U.S. producers and manufacturers to promote consumer awareness of, and to identify, such American goods and services.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 1989
Commends the citizens of the Sioux City, Iowa, tri-State area for their heroism and volunteerism in providing assistance to the passengers and crew of crashed United Airlines Flight 232.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 1989
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) human rights violations in Cuba should be condemned; and (2) the President should award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Armando Valladares.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 1989
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the United States Postal Service should issue a postage stamp commemorating the life and work of Doctor Thomas Anthony Dooley III.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 1989
Fastener Quality Act - Prohibits the offering for sale or sale in commerce of any fastener (screw, nut, bolt, stud, similar threaded device, or washer) unless it is part of a lot which: (1) conforms to standards and specifications represented by the manufacturer; and (2) has been inspected, tested, and certified according to this Act. Sets forth special rules for small lots. Requires manufacturers to have a fastener lot sample inspected by a laboratory accredited under an approved system (including one owned or affiliated with the manufacturer if it is so accredited). Requires the laboratory, upon determination of conformance with the appropriate standards and specifications, to provide the manufacturer certificates with respect to such lot. Directs the Secretary of Commerce, through the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, to establish: (1) a program for the accreditation of laboratories engaged in the inspection and testing of fasteners; (2) conditions under which accreditation by private entities using standards issued by consensus standards organizations shall be deemed to satisfy the accreditation requirements of this Act; and (3) conditions, no less stringent than those for private accrediting entities, under which accreditation of foreign laboratories by their governments shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of this Act. Limits accreditation to three years. Requires that laboratory accreditation standards issued by one or more consensus standards organizations selected by the Director be used to accredit laboratories under the accreditation program. Authorizes the Director to hire contractors as necessary to carry out the accreditation program. Requires costs for the establishment and operation of the program to be fully reimbursable through fees or other charges for accreditation services. Directs the Secretary to ensure that private accrediting entities and laboratories accredited by such entities or by foreign governments comply with conditions and requirements in this Act. Requires the Director to periodically transmit recommendations to consensus standards organizations. Prohibits any manufacturer from selling any container of fasteners manufactured in the United States unless delivery to the first purchaser is accompanied by a written notification of testing and certification by an accredited laboratory. Prohibits any person from selling any container of fasteners manufactured outside the United States to any importer or end user unless delivery is accompanied by an original certificate from an accredited laboratory. Allows delivery to an importer or private label distributor without the required certificate if: (1) the manufacturer discloses in writing the appropriate standards and specifications; and (2) the importer or private label distributor assumes responsibility in writing for inspection and testing. Requires that, in a sale of any quantity for resale at wholesale, the container be conspicuously marked with the lot number. Requires persons who make significant alterations to a fastener subsequent to manufacture to have the altered fastener inspected and tested unless delivery is accompanied by a disclosure of the alteration and a warning. Requires subsequent disclosures of the alteration in resales. Prohibits commingling of fasteners from different lots in the same container. Requires fastener manufacturers or private label distributors to comply with requirements of a program for recordation of insignias. Directs the Secretary to establish such a program, including regulations to ensure traceability. Sets forth civil remedies, including declaratory and injunctive relief, and criminal penalties, including fines and imprisonment, for violations of this Act. Provides that nothing in this Act shall be construed to: (1) preempt any rights or causes of action that any buyer may have with respect to any seller of fasteners under the law of any State, except insofar as such State law conflicts with this Act; and (2) limit or otherwise affect the authority of any consensus standards organization to establish, modify, or withdraw any standards and specifications under any other law or authority in effect on the date of enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 1989
Veterans Agent Orange Exposure and Vietnam Service Benefits Act of 1989 - Provides that the disease of chloracne in Vietnam veterans shall be considered to have been service-connected if such disease became manifest to a ten percent or more degree of disability within one year after the last date on which the veteran performed such service in Vietnam. Presumes the following diseases to be service-connected for veterans who performed active service in Vietnam during the Vietnam era, notwithstanding that there is no record of evidence of such disease during the period of such service: (1) non-Hodgkins lymphoma; (2) soft-tissue sarcoma; and (3) melanoma and basal cell carcinoma. Provides a presumption of service-connection in the case of a Vietnam veteran suffering from a disease associated with effects of exposure to certain dioxins or other herbicide agents during such service in Vietnam. Directs the Secretary to prescribe regulations listing a positive association between any disease and the biological effects of exposure to an herbicide agent in Vietnam. Requires the Secretary to update such list continually. Requires the Secretary, in prescribing and revising such list, to obtain by contract the determinations and estimates of a contract scientific organization. Requires such organization to: (1) determine which diseases have any degree of association with the biological effects of exposure to an herbicide agent; and (2) estimate the extent of association between each such disease and each such biological effects. Requires the organization to determine such association specifically with respect to non-Hodgkins lymphoma, each soft-tissue sarcoma, lung cancer, and each other cancer. Outlines contract provisions required in such agreements between the Secretary and the scientific organization, including surveys, evaluations, and periodic determinations. Requires such scientific organization to provide reports to the Secretary and the Senate and House Veterans' Affairs Committees regarding its determinations and evaluations. Requires such organization to determine, in the effect of a positive association, whether there is a reasonable basis for concluding that a Vietnam veteran with the highest level of exposure to that herbicide agent in Vietnam was exposed to such agent under the circumstances necessary for such biological effects. Requires a report from the organization to the Secretary and the veterans' committees when there is no such reasonable basis found. Requires the Secretary to make certain determinations and follow-up reports after receiving such reports from the contract scientific organization, including the issuance of a report to the veterans' committees and the promulgation of positive association regulations, if necessary. Requires benefits to be continued even though a disease is removed from the regulations listing diseases having positive associations. Terminates such contracting authority ten years after the first day of the fiscal year in which a scientific organization transmits its first report to the Secretary. Provides special effective dates. Directs the Secretary to compile and analyze all clinical data that: (1) is obtained by the Department in connection with examinations and treatment of veterans for disabilities related to exposure to certain herbicides or to service in Vietnam; and (2) is likely to be scientifically useful in determining the association, if any, between the disabilities of such veterans and their exposure to such herbicides and other toxic substances. Requires the Secretary to submit an annual report to the veterans' committees concerning such analysis and its results. Directs the Secretary to consult with the Director of the National Institutes of Health Research and Grants Division (NIH) before compiling and analyzing such information. Requires the Director of NIH to review each annual report submitted by the Secretary and transmit to the Secretary an evaluation of the contents of each report. Directs the Secretary to establish and maintain a system for the collection and storage of voluntarily contributed samples of blood and tissue of veterans who performed active service in Vietnam during the Vietnam era. Outlines provisions concerning the security and authorized uses of such specimens, as well as limitations on the acceptance of such samples. Requires the Secretary to consult with the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to the extent that an agreement has been reached with the NAS serving as the contract scientific organization for the Secretary. Requires the Secretary to consult with the Director of the Medical Follow-up Agency in the event of no agreement with NAS. Directs the Secretary to establish a program to provide for the conduct of studies of the feasibility of conducting additional scientific research on health hazards resulting from: (1) exposure to dioxin; (2) exposure to other toxic agents in herbicides used in support of U.S. and allied military operations in Vietnam during the Vietnam era; and (3) active military, naval, or air service there. Requires the Secretary to report to the veterans' committees on the results of such studies. Requires the Secretary to consult with the NAS before undertaking such studies and requires the NAS, to review such studies and report recommendations to the Secretary and the veterans' committees, to the extent provided under any agreement between the Secretary and NAS. Amends the Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 1988 to require the Secretary to annually furnish updated information to veterans listed in the Department of Veterans Affairs' Agent Orange Registry on health risks resulting from exposure to dioxin or other toxic agents in herbicides as a result of service in Vietnam during the Vietnam era. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to report to the veterans' committees on the research being conducted to develop treatments for psychological absorption of dioxin and other toxic agents used in herbicides by the United States in Vietnam, including research relating to exposure to dioxin and other toxic agents outside Vietnam. Extends through December 31, 2000, the eligibility for hospital and nursing home care for veterans exposed to toxic substances in Vietnam. Amends the Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 1988 to authorize direct consultation between the Ranch Hand Advisory Committee and Department of the Air Force scientists conducting the Ranch Hand Study (a study of the long-term health effects of exposure to phenoxy herbicides and contaminants). Requires the preparation and submission of annual reports and a final report in connection with such study.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 1989
Designates the week of October 22 through October 29, 1989, as National Red Ribbon Week. Recognizes and commends the hard work and dedication of certain individuals and organizations and urges activities that support community and alcohol education during such week. Encourages Americans to wear or display red ribbons during such Week to present and symbolize their commitment to a healthy, drug-free lifestyle, and to develop an attitude of intolerance to the use of drugs.
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 1989
Drug War Bond Act of 1989 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to issue: (1) Drug War Bonds for a three-year period with a 12-year maturity date; and (2) Drug War Stamps to evidence payments for or on account of such bonds. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude the interest earned on such War Bonds from an individual's gross income. Authorizes a taxpayer to designate a specified portion of any tax overpayment or make cash contributions to the War on Drugs Trust Fund (established by this Act). Authorizes the Attorney General to make expenditures from the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund into the War on Drugs Trust Fund. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish the War on Drugs Trust Fund. Transfers to such Fund: (1) proceeds from the sale of Drug War Bonds and stamps; and (2) certain cash contributions and portions of tax overpayments. Prescribes expenditures from the War on Drugs Trust Fund, including the construction of Federal prison facilities and education and rehabilitation programs. Precludes the receipts and disbursements from the War on Drugs Trust Fund from being included in either the congressional budget totals or in the budget totals as submitted by the President. Exempts the receipts and expenditures from the War on Drugs Trust Fund from: (1) statutory expenditure and lending limitations; and (2) certain orders issued under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act). Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress on programs established by this Act. Directs the Attorney General to make recommendations to the Congress regarding the merits of privatizing Federal prisons.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 1989
Dolphin Protection Act of 1989 - Amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to require any person who sells tuna or a product made from tuna which was caught using a method which directly results in the death of a marine mammal to disclose such information on the tuna or product label.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 1989
National Academy of Science, Space, and Technology Act - Establishes in the Department of Education the National Academy of Science, Space, and Technology for the instruction and preparation for Federal service of selected persons. Establishes a commission to advise the Secretary of Education on the selection of a permanent location for the Academy, a course of study, and administrative matters. Directs the Secretary to determine the location of the Academy in the United States according to a specified process. Authorizes the Secretary to acquire land, prepare plans and designs, and construct and equip temporary or permanent public works at the location. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) provide for the erection of temporary buildings and the modification of existing structures on existing government property; (2) provide for the functioning, equipping, maintaining, and repairing of those buildings and structures; and (3) contract with institutions for operation and instruction. Empowers the Secretary to determine the course of study and the organizational structure of the Academy, establish rules, appoint officials, determine the size of the student body, and oversee admissions. Requires each Senator and Representative to nominate candidates for admission, with the number of vacancies allocated to a State proportional to that State's representation in the Congress and with apportionment in the order of merit established by competitive examinations. Requires vacancies allocated to other sources to be filled from among candidates in each category in order of merit established by similar competitive examinations, not to exceed 15 percent of the total appointments authorized. Requires that each student at the Academy, in return for his or her education and room and board, owes the Federal Government four years of service in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Health and Human Services, or any other Federal organization devoted to endeavors relating to science, space, or technology, subject to the approval of the Secretary. Allows the commitment also to be served in the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps, subject to the rules and regulations of the particular branch.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 1989
Dolphin Protection Consumer Information Act of 1989 - Provides for the labeling of all tuna products as "DOLPHIN SAFE" if the products are, in their entirety: (1) not caught with specified nets or technologies; and (2) regardless of the country of origin, sold or consumed in the United States. Requires tuna products sold or consumed in the United States and not so labeled to bear the statement: "The tuna in this product has been captured with technologies that are known to kill dolphins." Deems a can, box, or package containing any tuna product mislabeled if it is not labeled as required by these provisions, or if its label contains any false or misleading information pertaining to dolphins, whales, or other cetaceans. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the Food and Drug Administration, to conduct inspections to determine if tuna products are being labeled in accordance with provisions of this Act. Authorizes any person to commence a civil action against the Secretary where there is alleged a failure of the Secretary to perform the inspection. Provides for injunction proceedings, jurisdiction, burden of proof, trial by jury, and awarding of costs. Authorizes any U.S. citizen to seek an injunction or restraining order. Provides for criminal penalties.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 1989
Authorizes the use of the official expenses allowance of each Member of the House of Representatives for production of newsletters containing directories of State, local, and nonprofit private drug counseling, treatment, and information programs.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 1989
Department of Defense Acquisition Reorganization Act of 1989 - Establishes in the Department of Defense (DOD) a defense acquisition system that shall be administered by the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition (Under Secretary). Requires all DOD functions relating to the acquisition of property and services to be performed using the defense acquisition system. Terminates the separate defense procurement authority currently held by the Secretaries of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Establishes in DOD a Defense Acquisition Corps (DAC), to be headed by the Under Secretary. Requires the Secretary of Defense to make appointments to DAC from the best-qualified civilian applicants. Directs the Secretary to establish a personnel program for civilian personnel within DAC. Outlines personnel rules to be issued by the Secretary in connection with such program. Exempts DAC personnel from certain competitive service and other requirements applicable to other Federal employees. Authorizes the Secretary to establish a merit pay program for such members of the DAC as the Secretary considers appropriate. Provides for assignment of civilian personnel to positions within DAC, requiring the Secretary to review current acquisition-related positions within the military departments and to make initial appointments to DAC from the best-qualified civilian and military personnel currently assigned to acquisition-related functions within DOD. Directs the Secretary to review each major defense acquisition program before such program proceeds into each of the following stages: (1) validations of plans and requirements; (2) initial research and development; (3) full-scale development; and (4) production. Prohibits the Secretary or the Secretary of a military department from obligating or expending funds with respect to a stage of such a program unless the Secretary approves such program at the beginning of such stage. Prohibits the Secretary from delegating any such approval power to the Secretary of a military department. Directs the Secretary to establish and operate a Defense Acquisition University which shall include all acquisition-related defense schools in existence as of the enactment of this Act. Outlines rules to be issued by the Secretary in establishing and operating such University.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 1989
Amends the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act to direct the Secretary of Transportation to promulgate regulations: (1) for the safe transportation of hazardous materials in the vicinity of bodies of water serving as drinking water sources; and (2) prohibiting transportation in commerce of hazardous materials over any public highway designated by a Federal or State official as hazardous due to its design or accident rate. Sets forth civil penalties for violations of this Act. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1990. Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress the results of a study regarding methods of containing hazardous materials spills occurring on bridges and methods of responding to such spills which are likely to contaminate water supplies.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 1989
Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to provide a lump sum payment of $100,000 (adjusted to reflect the annual percentage change in the Consumer Price Index) to public safety officers (law enforcement officers and fire fighters) who become permanently and totally disabled as a result of a catastrophic injury sustained in the line of duty. Prohibits the payment of both a lump sum disability payment and a lump sum death benefit.
United States · United States Congress · 29 June 1989
Police Corps Act - Establishes an Office of the Police Corps within the Justice Department to be headed by a Director appointed by the President and subject to Senate confirmation. Authorizes the Director of the Office of the Police Corps to agree to repay the educational loans of State Police Corps program participants and reimburse them for educational expenses of up to $40,000 following their completion of: (1) an educational course of study; (2) Federal training; and (3) four years of State or local police force service. Limits participants in such programs to 25,000 people per year. Declares that the Director's obligation to pay a participant's educational expenses shall be void and the Director shall be entitled to recover from the participant the amount of any interest on an educational loan that the Director has paid if the participant fails to complete the educational study, Federal training, and required service unless the failure is the result of death or permanent disability. Provides that a dependent child of a law enforcement officer who is not a program participant and who is killed in the line of duty shall be entitled to the educational assistance authorized in this Act without incurring any service obligation. Sets forth selection criteria of and qualifications for participants for State Police Corps programs. Requires each State participating in the Police Corps to make special efforts to seek and recruit minorities without relaxing admission standards. Requires the Director to establish up to three training centers to provide basic law enforcement training to State Police Corps program participants. Requires participants to attend two eight-week training sessions at such training centers and to meet certain performance standards in order to remain in the Police Corps program. Requires the Director to pay participants a weekly stipend during training. Establishes a nine-member Board of Directors, appointed by the President and subject to Senate confirmation, to administer such training centers. Requires the Director to serve as chairman of the Board. Requires a State, in order to participate in the Police Corps program, to submit a plan for implementing such program to the Director for approval. Requires such plan to: (1) include assurances that participants will receive additional State or local training after completing Federal training which shall count toward the four-year service obligation; and (2) provide that program participants shall be assigned to community and preventive patrol in geographic areas with the greatest need for additional law enforcement personnel. Provides for the swearing in of participants as members of the police force to which they are assigned after completing Federal training and meeting the requirements of that police force. Requires the Director to report to the President and the Congress not later than April 1 of each year. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 29 June 1989
Prohibits any cable system from being required, before January 1, 1991, to delete programming pursuant to certain Federal Communications Commission rules and regulations concerning syndicated program exclusivity.