United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1987
Consumer Rail Equity Act - Reaffirms the intent of the Congress that the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976 and the Staggers Rail Act of 1980 be implemented in a manner which provides both greater competitive alternatives and adequate railroad revenues. Directs the Interstate Commerce Commission, when determining the existence or absence of effective competition, to consider only transportation competition for movement of the same commodity from the same point of origin to the same destination. States that a presumption of overall effective competition is not established by the fact that a railroad faces effective competition with respect to either a point of destination or a point of origin. Shifts the burden of proof regarding transportation rate reasonableness from the shipper to the rail carrier establishing the challenged rate. Declares that it is Federal policy to encourage and promote competitive transportation rates for domestically produced coal and other commodities in order to increase their competitive position in domestic and export markets. Directs the Commission to establish a rail cost adjustment factor which includes changes in railroad productivity, volume, and output mix. Directs the Commission to recompute and republish the Rail Cost Adjustment Factor according to prescribed guidelines. Provides that certain rail carrier rates shall be reduced to the extent of any subsequent decreases in rail cost adjustment factors. Confirms the Commission's authority to promulgate rates set forth in a specified adjudication. Includes within the standards used to determine railroad revenue adequacy: (1) identification of revenues, expenses, and investment base reasonably related to rail transportation service; (2) straight-line depreciation of assets reasonably related to rail transportation service, minus deferred tax reserves resulting from accelerated depreciation; and (3) actual cost of debt capital and reasonable estimates of the current cost of equity capital. Requires the Commission, when making revenue adequacy determinations, to consider specified indicators of a rail carrier's financial status. Requires the Commission to determine, on an annual basis, which rail carriers are earning adequate or inadequate revenues and to determine for each rail carrier the revenues required to achieve or maintain revenue adequacy. Allows (current law requires) the Commission to exempt persons from application of this Act when: (1) such application is not necessary to implement Federal transportation policy; and (2) the Commission finds there is no market dominance involved in the affected transaction. Mandates that the rates and practices application to such exempt persons shall not be considered a matter subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission. Requires any rail carrier providing service under certain line rates to participate in competitive joint rail rates through practicable interchange connections (or publish a competitive proportional rate) if requested to do so by a rail carrier (or shipper or receiver) who has an actual or practicable interchange connection. Directs the Commission, upon petition of any interested party, to require certain terminal facilities owned by a rail carrier in interstate or foreign commerce to be used by another rail carrier if the Commission finds: (1) it is in the public interest to do so; and (2) that the owner of such terminal facility will not suffer substantial impairment of its own business interests. Directs the Commission to require, upon petition by an interested party, that rail carriers enter into reciprocal switching agreements if such an agreement is in the public interest or necessary to provide alternative competitive rail service. Directs the Commission to establish reciprocal switching compensation at a level not to exceed the current percentage of the actual variable costs for such service (unless the carrier demonstrates that a higher level is reasonable and necessary). Revises railroad line abandonment procedures to provide that a rail carrier must wait one year before resubmitting a previously denied abandonment application, unless a substantial change in circumstances can be shown. Requires the Commission to hold hearings in communities affected by a proposed railroad line abandonment if requested to do so by community protestants. Requires the Commission to base its abandonment determination upon financial data regarding the facility proposed to be abandoned rather than upon financial data regarding industry-wide averages. Directs the Commission, when considering any application for a certificate of abandonment or discontinuance, to disregard the impact on traffic volume of any surcharge imposed under specified parts of this Act (unless the surcharge improves the financial performance of the line). Subjects to Commission review any State decision regarding intrastate rates, rules, and practices if a party to such State proceedings petitions for Commission review. Requires the Commission to take action on such petition within 120 days of its receipt. Authorizes the Commission to vacate a State decision found inconsistent with this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1987
Declares that the Congress applauds the recent initiative by the heads of state of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras and congratulates them on the significant contribution made by such initiative toward ending armed conflict and reinforcing democracy in Central America. Declares that the Congress supports such initiative and looks forward to the summit meeting in Guatemala as the next phase in this effort of the Central American heads of state to forge a lasting peace in Central America.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1987
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should negotiate an agreement with Japan providing that Japan pay the United States an annual security fee equal to two percent of Japan's gross national product to compensate the United States for expenditures made pursuant to the United States/Japanese Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 1987
Prohibits the Secretary of the Army from issuing certain permits for the construction of a water supply pipeline and related structures for removing water from Lake Gaston, North Carolina and Virginia, to Virginia Beach, Virginia, until an environmental impact statement is completed.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 1987
Authorizes the President, on behalf of the Congress, to present a gold medal to Mrs. Jesse Owens in recognition of the late Jesse Owens' athletic achievements and humanitarian contributions to public service, civil rights, and international goodwill. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to sell bronze duplicates of the medal.
United States · United States Congress · 24 February 1987
Amends the National Housing Act to make authority permanent for: (1) title I financial institution insurance for housing renovation and modernization; (2) general mortgage insurance; (3) low and moderate income and displaced families mortgage insurance; (4) mortgage co-insurance, including rental rehabilitation and development projects; (5) mortgage insurance for armed forces' civilian employees and defense housing for impacted areas; (6) mortgage insurance for land development; (7) mortgage insurance for medical and dental group practice facilities; (8) mortgage insurance commitment limitations; and (9) graduated payment and indexed mortgage insurance. Amends the Housing Act of 1964 to make authority permanent for urban rehabilitation loan authority. Amends the Housing Act of 1949 to make authority permanent for: (1) insured loans for rental and cooperative housing and related facilities for elderly persons and families in rural areas; and (2) mutual and self-help housing grant and loan authority. Amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1986 to make national flood insurance authority, including emergency implementation provisions, permanent.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1987
Textile and Apparel Trade Act of 1987 - Limits the 1987 imports of textiles and textile products classified under a category to an amount equal to 101 percent of the total 1986 imports classified under such category. Limits the 1987 imports of nonrubber footwear classified under a nonrubber footwear category to an amount equal to: (1) the total 1986 imports of nonrubber footwear classified under such category; and (2) in the case of low priced nonrubber footwear, the total 1986 imports of low priced nonrubber footwear classified under such category. Provides for a one-percent annual growth in the amount of permitted imports of textiles and textile products after 1987. Authorizes the President to: (1) enter into trade agreements to grant new concessions as compensation, to the extent required under U.S. trade agreements for the import limits imposed by this Act; and (2) proclaim such modification or continuance of any existing duty on textiles and textile products and on nonrubber footwear as necessary to carry out such agreements. Prohibits the President from reducing any rate of duty by more than ten percent. Requires the President, before entering into such trade agreements, to consider whether such country has violated trade concessions of benefit to the United States and such violation has not been adequately offset by U.S. action or by the action of such country. Sets forth requirements governing staged rate reductions in the tariffs of articles affected by this Act. Prohibits the President, except as authorized by this paragraph, from entering into trade negotiations with any country with respect to duties on textiles, textile products, and nonrubber footwear. Prohibits the President, except as provided in this paragraph, from decreasing or proposing a decrease in any such duty by any means, including an implementing bill or a proclamation. Requires the President to report annually to the Congress on the administration of this Act. Requires the Secretary of Commerce, ten years after enactment of this Act, to study and report to the Congress on the operation of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 19 February 1987
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the administration should; (1) oppose the establishment of a tax on vegetable and marine fats and oils in the European Community; (2) continue its efforts to ensure that such a tax is not established; and (3) notify the European Community that the United States will view establishment of such a tax as inconsistent with the European Community's obligations under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and as an action that will result in the result in the adoption of strong and immediate countermeasures.
United States · United States Congress · 11 February 1987
Amends Federal veterans' benefits provisions to extend indefinitely (currently ends on June 30, 1988) the required date of entry into the armed forces for eligibility for basic educational assistance entitlement for veterans (both of active-duty and Selected Reserve duty) of the All-Volunteer Force.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 1987
H.U.D. Income Verification Act of 1987 - Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to require Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) program applicants or participants to: (1) disclose their social security or employer identification numbers; and (2) consent to wage information verification. Amends the Social Security Act to provide HUD with access to State employment records. Requires Federal, State, local, or public housing administering agencies to independently verify such information before terminating or reducing any housing benefits. Establishes criminal and civil penalties for misuse of such information.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 1987
Designates August 12, 1988, as National Civil Rights Day and requests the President to issue a proclamation calling for the ringing of church bells during a moment of silence.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 1987
Excellence in Minority Health Education and Care Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to empower the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to: (1) Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tennessee; (2) Xavier University College of Pharmacy, New Orleans, Louisiana; (3) Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine, Tuskegee, Alabama; and (4) Meharry College of Dentistry, Nashville, Tennessee. Requires each institution to use such grants to establish, in the pertinent health care discipline, a Center of Excellence, which shall: (1) improve the recruitment of minority students and high calibre minority faculty to the institution; (2) develop effective techniques for training minorities who will serve minority populations; and (3) establish scholarship programs to attract promising individuals to the Center's programs. Sets forth additional uses for the grants to the institutions, to include: (1) maintenance of a communications network to disseminate information concerning health promotion among minorities; (2) development of patient educational materials tailored to the needs of minority populations; (3) establishment of a research program focusing on the needs of minority women and teenagers; (4) study of alternative models for health care delivery systems; and (5) consultation and assistance by the recipient institutions to other medical schools to aid the latter in effecting more productive education and service programs for minority populations. Enumerates specific grant projects appropriate to the subject matter expertise of each of the four institutions eligible to receive the grants. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1988 through 1991.
United States · United States Congress · 3 February 1987
Plastic Pollution Research and Control Act - Title I: Regulation of Disposal of Certain Materials at Sea - Directs the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to enforce specified regulations promulgated under the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 (the Annex V Regulations) and also to prescribe any regulations necessary to carry out this Act. Prohibits a person from disposing of any material from a ship of U.S. registry, or nationality, or operated under the authority of the United States, in violation of Annex V. Prohibits such disposal from a foreign vessel when such disposal is made from within a specified distance from the United States as enumerated under the Annex V Regulations. Requires any disposal violations to be immediately reported to the Secretary, and sets forth penalties for such violations. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury, upon the request of the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, to refuse or revoke the clearance or the permit to proceed of a ship liable for a penalty under this Act. Directs the Secretary to undertake inspections and investigations to enforce the provisions of this Act. Directs the President to ensure public-vessel compliance with the provisions of this Act. Title II: Negotiations, Research, and Regulation Regarding Fishing With Plastic Driftnets - Directs the President, acting through the Secretary of State and in consultation with the Secretaries of Commerce and of the Interior, to promptly initiate negotiations with each foreign government that conducts driftnet fishing operations that result in the taking of marine resources of the United States: (1) to arrange for cooperative monitoring of such operations; and (2) to agree on methods to reduce the unintended mortality of marine resources during such operations. Directs the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, to conduct a study on the impacts of driftnet fishing on marine resources of the United States. Directs the Secretary to assess the need for developing a system for the marking, registration, and identification of driftnets in order to determine the origin of lost, discarded, or abandoned driftnets or fragments of driftnets. Directs the Secretary to evaluate the feasibility of developing decomposable material for use as fishnets. Establishes the Aleutian Island Seabird Protection Zone surrounding the Aleutian Islands off Alaska within which no driftnet fishing is permitted. Provides for the enforcement of such prohibition and penalties for its violation. Directs the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, to conduct a study on the impacts of discarded plastic materials on the marine environment, together with recommendations. Directs the President, within one year after the enactment of this Act, to report to the Congress the results of negotiations regarding driftnet fishing by foreign vessels. Directs the Secretary of Commerce, within 18 months after the enactment of this Act, to report to the Congress regarding various studies required under this Act. Authorizes appropriations to the Department of Commerce for FY 1988 and 1989 to carry out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 3 February 1987
Directs the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National Park Service, to conduct a study of the proper minimum altitude which should be maintained by aircraft flying over areas within units of the national park system. Directs the Secretary of Transportation, acting through the Federal Aviation Administration, to provide technical assistance to the Secretary of the Interior for such study. Requires the Secretary of the Interior to report to the Congress within two years after enactment of this Act regarding the study results. Requires the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to: (1) review, on the basis of aviation safety, current regulations pertaining to aircraft flights over units of the national park system addressed in the study conducted by the Secretary of the Interior; and (2) report to the Congress the results of such review together with recommendations for changes. Authorizes appropriations for such studies. Prohibits any fixed wing aircraft or helicopter from flying below specified minimum altitudes during such study and review periods over the surfaces of Yosemite National Park and Haleakala National Park. Requires the Secretary of the Interior to submit a final plan for air traffic management and noise abatement over Grand Canyon National Park to the Administrator. Prescribes guidelines under which the Administrator is required to implement such plan. Requires the Secretary of the Interior to report to the Congress whether such final plan has succeeded in substantially restoring the natural quiet in the Grand Canyon National Park. Exempts certain helicopter flights of river runners from prohibition under the noise abatement plan.
United States · United States Congress · 2 February 1987
Volunteer Protection Act of 1987 - Prescribes circumstances under which volunteers working for nonprofit organizations or government entities shall be immune from personal civil liability. Requires each State to certify to the Secretary of Health and Human Services before the beginning of each fiscal year (commencing with FY 1989) that it has enacted or has in effect a State law which provides such immunity. Requires the Secretary to reduce by one percent the fiscal year allotment which would otherwise be made to such State to carry out the Social Services Block Grant Program under title XX of the Social Security Act if such law is not in effect.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 1987
Title I: Authorization - Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to undertake research, investigations, appraisals, surveys, and related activities of the Nation's water resources. Authorizes the Secretary to cooperate with other government agencies and to perform such activities on a reimbursable basis, as specified. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1988 through 1990. Title II: National Ground Water Contamination Research - National Ground Water Contamination Research Act of 1987 - Makes the Secretary of the Interior primarily responsible at the Federal level for collecting, analyzing, and disseminating information concerning the state of the Nation's groundwater. Requires the Secretary to report within two years to specified congressional committees and the States on the condition of the Nation's groundwater. Requires that such report be accompanied by an independent evaluation by State individuals charged with responsibility for water pollution control matters. Directs the Secretary to establish a national groundwater quality assessment program within three years of enactment. Requires such program to coordinate government efforts in such area, seek to achieve uniform data collection, and provide information and assistance as required. Directs the Secretary to establish a national groundwater clearinghouse. Requires the Secretary to establish a technical assistance program to serve other Federal and governmental agencies. Amends the Water Resources Research Act of 1974 to make conforming changes. Authorizes appropriations for such programs.
United States · United States Congress · 26 January 1987
School Dropout Demonstration Assistance Act of 1987 - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1988 through 1990 for grants to local educational agencies (LEAs) for demonstration programs of dropout prevention, reentry, and information. Allots specified percentages of such funds to various categories of LEAs. Limits the Federal share of project cost to no more than 90 percent in the first fiscal year, 75 percent in the second, and 60 percent in the third. Sets forth grant application requirements, including plans for dropout information collection and reporting systems. Sets forth authorized activities for which such grants may be used. Requires that: (1) at least 30 percent of grant funds be used for dropout prevention activities; (2) at least 30 percent of grant funds be used for dropout reentry persuasion and assistance activities; and (3) not more than 15 percent of any grant be used for administrative costs. Requires that grants be used to supplement other funds. Requires grant recipients to cooperate with the coordination and dissemination efforts of the National Diffusion Network and State educational agencies. Directs the Secretary of Education to report annually to the appropriate committees of the Congress on the activities under this Act. Sets forth provisions for auditing and withholding payments.
United States · United States Congress · 22 January 1987
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) no Medicare (title XVIII of the Social Security Act) physician payment methodology should be implemented which is based on hospital discharge classifications or requires mandatory assignment; and (2) no drastic change in the Medicare physician payment methodology should be undertaken without the receipt of reports required by legislation enacted in the 99th Congress and a detailed analysis of the long-range impact of such change on the provision of health care.
United States · United States Congress · 21 January 1987
Requires the Secretary of Transportation to withhold five percent of the amount required to be apportioned to any State under the Federal-aid highway program if it is lawful in such State to: (1) possess an open alcoholic beverage container in the passenger area of any motor vehicle on a public highway; (2) consume any alcoholic beverage in such motor vehicle on a public highway; or (3) drive a motor vehicle on a public highway when the driver's blood alcohol concentration is at least 0.10 percent. Exempts from such withholding measures charter buses of ten or more passengers whose drivers are not permitted by State law to possess open alcoholic beverages in the passenger area. Sets forth guidelines for the withholding of such funds. Provides for the release of withheld funds to States which comply with this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 21 January 1987
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the proposed rescissions of budget authority for the Department of Housing and Urban Development for the community development block grant program (R87-46) and for the urban development action grant program (R87-47) should not be approved. Requires that funds withheld under these proposed rescission requests be made available for obligation. Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to resume the funding allocation and application processing appropriate to the respective grant programs.
United States · United States Congress · 21 January 1987
Allows the display of the National League of Families POW/MIA flag in the Capitol Rotunda until the fullest possible accounting of all Vietnam POW/MIAs has taken place.
United States · United States Congress · 8 January 1987
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an income tax deduction for interest paid or incurred on a qualified educational loan. Defines "qualified educational loan" as any indebtedness incurred to pay the educational expenses of the taxpayer or the taxpayer's spouse or dependent. (Present law requires that such a loan be secured by an interest in real property.)
United States · United States Congress · 8 January 1987
Home Employment Enterprise Act - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to permit individuals to engage in industrial homework (including sewing, knitting, jewelry, or craftmaking) or perform any service in or about their place of residence as employees of any employer covered by such Act if the employer complies with minimum wage and maximum hours requirements under such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 8 January 1987
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that specified minimum tax and accounting rules applicable to installment obligations shall not apply to obligations arising from sales of property by nondealers.
United States · United States Congress · 8 January 1987
Constitutional Amendment - Proclaims the English language to be the official language of the United States. Grants the Congress the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
United States · United States Congress · 7 January 1987
Nuclear Waste Policy Act Amendments of 1987 - Amends the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 to remove the statutory requirements and deadlines for second (and subsequent) nuclear waste repositories, thus eliminating Department of Energy authority to site such repositories. Removes the volume limitations placed upon first repositories. Instructs the Secretary of Energy to revise the repository mission plan to reflect the provisions of this Act and to submit such revisions within six months after enactment of this Act. Prohibits the Secretary from expending funds from the Nuclear Waste Fund for any activity relating to a second or subsequent repository.
![Official portrait of Rep. Valentine, Tim [D-NC-2]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/v000006_200.jpg)