United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1987
Declares that the Commissioner of Social Security and the Secretary of Health and Human Services should immediately study and report to the Congress on ways to correct the benefit disparity caused by the 1977 changes in the social security benefit formula.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1987
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the rate reductions contained in the Tax Reform Act of 1986 for the years 1987, 1988, and thereafter should take effect as scheduled in such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 2 October 1986
Affirms the intent of the Ninety-ninth Congress to oppose any increase in individual or corporate tax rates, or the reduction or elimination of deductions and credits without corresponding tax rate reductions. Calls upon the One hundredth Congress to adopt such a policy.
United States · United States Congress · 10 September 1986
Farm Credit System Borrower Interest Rate Relief Act of 1986 - States that it is the policy of the Congress that Farm Credit System (System) institutions should take steps to establish competitive interest rates based on the marginal cost of funds. Amends the Farm Credit Act of 1971 to repeal provisions for Farm Credit Administration (FCA) approval of interest rates charged by Federal land banks, Federal intermediate credit banks, and banks for cooperatives. Prohibits the FCA from requiring System institutions to maintain capital levels by charging interest rates in excess of commercial rates.
United States · United States Congress · 15 August 1986
Satellite Television Security and Fair Marketing Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to subject any person who willfully or maliciously interferes with the operation of any satellite or the transmission of any satellite communication to up to a $250,000 fine and ten years' imprisonment. Directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to commence an inquiry into equipment, methods, and systems for detecting and preventing such violations and other satellite communication signal interferences. Requires any person who encrypts any satellite cable programming for private viewing: (1) to make such programming available for private viewing by home satellite antenna users; (2) if such person uses cable systems to distribute such programming to home satellite antenna users, to not restrict such systems from selling outside of their franchised areas, to not discriminate in price, terms, or conditions based on whether sale of such programming is for cable subscribers or home satellite antenna users, to establish reasonable financial and character criteria under which noncable distributors may qualify to distribute such programming to home satellite antenna users, and to not discriminate among different distributors offering similar distribution services; and (3) to conduct such encryption according to FCC- approved standards designed to comply with specified criteria. Authorizes aggrieved persons to commence civil actions to enforce this Act. Defines "home satellite antenna user" and "reasonable financial and character criteria" for purposes of such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 14 August 1986
Nevada-Florida Land Exchange Authorization Act of 1986 - Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to exchange specified public lands in Coyote Canyon and Garfield Flat, Nevada, for specified private lands in Dade County, Florida. Authorizes the Secretary to sell the Florida lands to the South Florida Water Management District. Requires funds received from such a sale to be deposited in the land acquisition account of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Requires that the Congress be notified of any proposed use of such funds.
United States · United States Congress · 14 August 1986
Requests the entertainment industry to: (1) refrain from producing material which glamorizes or encourages the use of illegal drugs; and (2) develop material which encourages the rejection of illegal drug usage.
United States · United States Congress · 13 August 1986
Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments of 1986 - Prohibits the expenditure of funds for any nuclear waste site characterization activities before the Federal Nuclear Waste Board (established by this Act) has nominated sites for selection as repositories. Amends the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 to establish the Federal Nuclear Waste Board within the Department of Energy's Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management. Requires such Board to: (1) issue revised guidelines for the recommendation of repository sites; (2) nominate at least five sites considered suitable for characterization within 18 months after such revised guidelines are issued; (3) recommend to the President at least three sites for characterization as candidate sites; and (4) issue an environmental assessment for each such site. Provides that if the President approves certain candidate sites in an order other than the order in which such sites were ranked, then no site characterization activity will be implemented until 18 months after the President's approval. Sets forth procedural guidelines under which the President is required to submit site recommendations to the Congress. Authorizes the Secretary of Energy (the Secretary) to make grants to States which are adjacent to States in which a repository candidate site is approved. Requires the Board to appoint a panel to study the need for disposal capacity beyond a 70,000 metric ton limitation. Requires such panel to submit its findings and recommendations to the Board within 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act. Requires the Board to submit the panel findings to the Congress, along with recommendations for implementation. Requires the Secretary to revise the mission plan in order to implement the amendments made by this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 11 August 1986
Requires the President to: (1) deploy armed forces equipment and personnel to halt aircraft and vessels carrying narcotics across U.S. borders; (2) deploy radar aircraft for continuous aerial radar coverage of the southern U.S. border during darkness; (3) deploy both rotor and fixed wing aircraft for pursuit and seizure purposes; and (4) use National Guard and Reserve members and U.S. Customs Service and Coast Guard personnel and equipment for purposes of these activities. Prohibits such military personnel from making arrests aboard any aircraft or vessel, unless they are in hot pursuit. Requires the President to withhold Federal funding from any National Guard unit whose State does not cooperate in this drug interdiction program. Requires all program expenses to be borne by the Department of Defense. Requires the President to substantially halt border crossings by narcotic-carrying aircraft and vessels within 45 days after enactment of this Act. Requires the President to: (1) report to the Congress within a specified time; (2) request funds from the Congress for FY 1986 and 1987 for purposes of the program; and (3) submit a request in the budget for the Department of Defense for such funds every year beginning in 1988.
United States · United States Congress · 7 August 1986
Prohibits the Secretary of Energy from providing uranium enrichment services under certain contractual criteria that were submitted to the Congress pursuant to the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 on July 24, 1986, and were published in the Federal Register on July 29, 1986.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 1986
Amends rule XLVII of the Rules of the House of Representatives (limitations on outside earned income) to make officers and employees subject to its provisions (currently, such rule only applies to Members). Requires officers and employees who receive outside earned income and who are not required to file a report under the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 to file a disclosure statement with the Clerk of the House by May 15 of each calendar year on outside income received during the preceding calendar year. Requires the Clerk to make such statements available for public inspection.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 1986
National Forests of Nevada Enhancement Act of 1986 - Transfers specified public lands in Nevada to the Secretary of Agriculture for inclusion in the Toiyabe, Humboldt, and Inyo National Forests. Requires lands designated for inclusion in such Forests to be managed according to whether or not they have been designated for or released from inclusion as wilderness. States that water rights and mineral resources management remain unaffected by this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 1986
Honors the United Way on the occasion of its 100th anniversary. Encourages the United Way to continue its fine work and achieve its goal of doubling its resources by 1991.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 1986
Voluntarism Protection Act of 1986 - Applies this Act to State liability laws which are applicable to any civil action brought during FY 1988 and thereafter. Prescribes circumstances under which volunteers working for nonprofit organizations and governmental entities shall be immune from personal civil liability in State court actions. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to reduce by one percent a State's fiscal year award to implement the Social Services Block Grant Program under title XX of the Social Security Act if such State fails to enact such immunity for volunteers as of FY 1988.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 1986
Long-Term Care Patient Advocacy Act of 1986 - Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to authorize ombudsmen to designate agents to perform ombudsman functions. Directs the State agency administering the programs under such Act to establish a mandatory training program for ombudsmen and their agents, providing instruction on investigative techniques and the laws and regulations pertaining to long-term care facilities. Protects ombudsmen and their agents from liability if they exercise reasonable care in pursuit of their duties. Directs the State agency to establish: (1) a statewide register which lists information relating to reported incidents of abuse in skilled nursing or intermediate care facilities; and (2) a procedure by which an employee of such facilities or an ombudsman may enter a report in the statewide register detailing alleged incidents of abuse. Amends titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to require ombudsmen access to patient records in skilled nursing and intermediate care facilities upon the patient's consent and the establishment of reasonable cause. Imposes civil fines and other sanctions upon skilled nursing or intermediate care facilities failing to satisfy Medicare skilled nursing facility requirements. Grants skilled nursing facilities a hearing before the imposition of sanctions. Prohibits the reinstatement of skilled nursing or intermediate care facility participation in the Medicare or Medicaid program earlier than two years from the termination of their participation by reason of their failure to satisfy program requirements. Requires the administrative staff of skilled nursing or intermediate care facilities to clear a criminal background check. Prohibits such facilities from employing individuals within 12 months of their having been dismissed from a facility and cited in a report to the statewide register as suspected abusers of patients in such a facility. Requires skilled nursing and intermediate care facilities to consider only the severity of an applicant's illness and the application date in deciding admissions, unless at least 80 percent of the facility's population are Medicare or Medicaid beneficiaries. Sets forth reporting requirements regarding the quality of care and conditions at long-term and intermediate care facilities.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 1986
Medicare Timely Payment Amendments of 1986 - Amends parts A (Hospital Insurance) and B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to require fiscal intermediaries and carriers to pay the claims of Medicare providers and beneficiaries, and give such providers and beneficiaries notice of improperly submitted claims, within 22 days of receiving such claims (unless payment is made on a periodic interim payment basis). Requires the Federal Government to pay the interest accruing on such claims for the period during which the payment or notice is past due. Prohibits the Secretary of Health and Human Services from modifying certain regulations relating to the periodic interim payment method of reimbursing providers.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 1986
Designates July 3, 1986, as Let Freedom Ring Day. Requests the President to encourage people to ring bells immediately following the relighting of the torch of the Statue of Liberty.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1986
Social Security Administrative and Investment Reform Act of 1986 - Title I: Establishment of the Social Security Administration - Amends title VII (Administration) of the Social Security Act to establish as an independent executive agency a Social Security Administration, headed by a Social Security Board. Provides that it shall be the duty of the Administration to administer the programs established by titles II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) and XVI (Supplemental Security Income) of the Social Security Act. Requires the Board to study and make recommendations as to the most effective methods of providing economic security through social insurance and as to legislation and matters of administrative policy. Establishes in the Administration: (1) a Commissioner of Social Security; (2) a Deputy Commissioner of Social Security; (3) a General Counsel; (4) an Inspector General; and (5) an Office of the Beneficiary Ombudsman, to be headed by a Beneficiary Ombudsman who shall represent the interests of beneficiaries under the Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance program and the Supplemental Security Income Program within the Administration. Requires the annual report of the Board to include a description of the activities of the Beneficiary Ombudsman. Requires the Board to make annual budgetary recommendations relating to the Administration. Requires that appropriations requests by the Administration for staffing and personnel be based upon a comprehensive workforce plan as established by the Board. Provides for the apportionment of administrative costs. Requires the annual report of the Board to include a section reflecting the use of budget authority provided to the Administration. Requires that authority for automated data processing procurement and facilities construction be provided in the form of contract authority covering the total cost of such acquisitions. Makes amounts needed for the liquidation of contract authority so provided available from the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund to the extent that such amounts are not needed to meet current obligations for benefit payments. Requires the Board and the Director of the Office of Personnel Management to implement demonstration projects relating to personnel matters. Directs the Board and the Administrator of General Services to implement such projects relating to delegations from the Administrator. Specifies the authorities which are to be delegated to the Board from the Administrator and the Director. Requires the Comptroller General to report to specified congressional committees concerning such projects, including an evaluation of the Board's readiness to assume full and permanent authority. Requires the Board to cause a seal of office to be made and judicial notice taken thereof. Provides for the transfer to the Administration of all functions carried out by the Secretary of Health and Human Services with respect to the programs and activities to be carried out by the Administration under this Act. Abolishes the position of Commissioner of Social Security in the Department of Health and Human Services. Sets forth effective date and transitional rule provisions. Title II: Conforming Amendments and Rules of Construction - Requires the Secretary and the Board to report to the Congress within 120 days after the beginning of each regular session on their administration under this Act. Requires the Secretary to study and make recommendations on the most effective methods of providing economic security and on the administrative policy for the programs. Directs the Board to appoint, quadrennially, an Advisory Council on the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Program and an Advisory Council on Health and Supplementary Medical Insurance to review the relation of the trust funds supporting the OASDI program and the Medicare program and the long-term commitments of those programs. Requires each council to submit a report to the Board for transmittal to the Congress and the Board of Trustees of each Trust Fund. Title III: Management of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund - Amends the OASDI program to direct the Managing Trustee of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund (OASDI trust funds) to immediately invest that portion of the OASDI trust funds which is not required for current withdrawals. Requires the investment to be made in accordance with policies established by the Social Security Board. Prohibits the sale and redemption of OASDI trust fund assets or the expenditure of OASDI trust fund amounts for purposes other than those specified in title II of the Act. Requires members of such trust funds' Board of Trustees to faithfully execute their duties, but does not impose a fiduciary duty. Requires that, in consideration of the public debt limit, required investment of trust fund amounts occur prior to the issuance of other obligations. Directs that tax receipts earmarked for the OASDI program be immediately transferred (currently, monthly transfers are made) from the general fund of the Treasury to the OASDI trust funds. Requires the Board of Trustees of the OASDI trust funds to meet at least twice each year. Sets forth provisions requiring reports by the Board of Trustees and the Managing Trustees to the Congress regarding the operation and status of the OASDI trust funds. Title IV: Additional Matters - Amends the OASDI program to prohibit the payment of OASDI benefits to individuals who have been deported pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality Act because of activities conducted under the direction of or in association with the Nazi government of Germany or its allies. Requires individuals to be paid interim benefits in cases where an administrative law judge has determined their entitlement to certain OASDI or SSI (Supplementary Security Income) benefits, but the Secretary's final decision has not been issued within 90 days of the judge's decision. Excludes any representative of the Department of Health and Human Services, the Social Security Administration, any other agency of such department, or an involved State agency from appearing as a party at an OASDI or SSI benefit hearing or participating in the development of the record of such hearing, unless, in the latter case, the presiding officer requests such participation.
United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1986
Amends the National Housing Act to extend authority through FY 1987 for: (1) title I financial institution insurance for housing renovation and modernization; (2) general mortgage insurance; (3) low and moderate income and displaced families mortgage insurance; (4) homeownership for lower income families including mortgage insurance authority and housing stimulus authority; (5) mortgage co-insurance, including rental rehabilitation and development projects; (6) graduated payment and indexed mortgage insurance; (7) the demonstration mortgage reinsurance program; (8) mortgage insurance for armed forces' civilian employees and defense housing for impacted areas; (9) mortgage insurance for land development; and (10) mortgage insurance for medical and dental group practice facilities. Sets forth specified limits on FY 1986 and 1987 insured housing loans and on FY 1987 guaranteed mortgage-backed securities. Amends the Housing Act of 1964 to extend urban rehabilitation loan authority through FY 1987. Amends the Housing Act of 1949 to extend Farmers Home Administration authority through FY 1987 for: (1) insured loans for rental and cooperative housing and related facilities for elderly persons and families in rural areas; (2) rural communities with 10,000 to 20,000 population to participate in rural housing programs; and (3) mutual and self-help housing grant and loan authority. Amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to extend authority for national flood insurance, including emergency implementation and flood-risk zones through FY 1987. Amends the National Housing Act to extend authorities for the national crime insurance program and existing contracts through FY 1987. Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to extend community development block grant entitlement authority for certain metropolitan city and urban county areas through FY 1987. Amends the Housing and Urban-Rural Recovery Act of 1983 to extend for 30 days the maximum interest rate limitation on loans for housing and related facilities for elderly or handicapped families through FY 1987. Extends the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act through FY 1987.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 1986
Repeals Federal guidelines in the Nuclear Waste Policy Act regarding nuclear waste repository site recommendations and site characterizations. Prohibits the Secretary of Energy from expending any funds for any site selection or characterization activities before new congressional guidelines are issued for such site selection under this Act. Requires the appropriate congressional committees to: (1) hold hearings on the Secretary's decision to indefinitely postpone the selection of a second repository site; and (2) issue revised guidelines for repository site selection.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1986
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Director of the National Institutes of Health should transfer the Silver Spring Monkeys to the Primarily Primates, Inc., animal sanctuary in San Antonio, Texas.
United States · United States Congress · 9 June 1986
Prohibits the authorization or expenditure of any funds for site characterization activities for a nuclear waste repository site at the Yucca Mountain Site in the State of Nevada.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 1986
Amends the Disaster Relief Act of 1974 to establish a cost-sharing formula for certain Federal disaster assistance programs. Declares the Federal share of assistance to be 75 percent for the repair of damaged public facilities and debris removal on the condition that remaining costs are paid by a State or local government. Declares the Federal share of assistance to be 100 percent for: (1) unemployment assistance; (2) temporary housing assistance; and (3) crisis counseling assistance and training.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 1986
Amends the Disaster Relief Act of 1974 to authorize the establishment of local disaster assistance centers which shall: (1) gather and disseminate information regarding Federal, State, and local assistance programs; (2) accept applications; and (3) provide program counseling. Provides for the removal from private property of debris (including dying trees) that is within 200 feet of a residence situated on such property. Requires that at least two 60-day offers of temporary housing assistance be made to qualifying persons in a disaster area. Increases aggregate individual and family grant amounts. Sets a 60-day deadline for payment of approved work under such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 1986
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that the value of transportation provided to any person on a noncommercially operated aircraft shall be considered "no-additional-cost service" and therefore excludible from gross income if: (1) such transportation is provided on a flight made in the ordinary course of the trade or business of the taxpayer owning or leasing such aircraft for use in such trade or business; (2) the flight on which the transportation is provided would have been made whether or not such person was transported on the flight; and (3) no substantial additional cost is incurred in providing such transportation to such person.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 1986
Amends the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 with respect to air carrier mergers or acquisitions to require the Secretary of Transportation to impose, as a condition of approval of such transactions, labor protective conditions that are calculated to mitigate possible adverse effects upon air carrier employees' employment, wages, or working conditions. Makes this Act applicable to any merger or acquisition approval application submitted to the Secretary of Transportation on or after February 1, 1986.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 1986
Designates the school year of September 1986 through May 1987 as National Year of the Teacher and January 28, 1987, as National Teacher Appreciation Day.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 1986
Title I: Short Title; Findings - Child Care Act of 1986 - Sets forth congressional findings regarding the child care policies of the country. Title II: Dependent Care Tax Credit and Voucher System - Part 1: Changes in Dependent Care Tax Credit - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to disallow dependent care tax credits when a taxpayer's adjusted gross income exceeds $50,000. Provides for a yearly cost-of-living adjustment to both base and ceiling amounts. Disallows such credit where any of the employment-related expenses are paid with any vouchers. Part 2: Voucher System for Child Care - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to each State having an approved plan for child care vouchers for certain low income individuals. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1987 through 1990. Directs the Secretary to establish criteria, standards, and a timetable for the State plan. Requires the Secretary to reimburse a State for 75 percent of its costs under such plan. Provides for proportional allotments based upon the amount received under title XX (Grants to States for Social Services) of the Social Security Act. Permits a State to use block grant funds for the voucher plan. States that the redemption of a voucher for child care services by a child care provider constitutes receipt of Federal funds for purposes of provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 relating to racial discrimination. Prohibits sex discrimination by any child care program. Exempts child care providers serving seven or fewer children. Permits the Secretary to withhold payment from a noncomplying State. Excludes the amount of any voucher from determinations of income or resources for purposes of any Federal or State law. Requires each State to report biennially to the Secretary on the implementation of the plan including the amounts used on vouchers from block grant funds. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress an analysis of the State reports.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 1986
Product Liability Reform Act of 1986 - Preempts inconsistent State laws. Declares that the provisions of this Act are inapplicable in certain actions under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954. Bases liability for damages in product liability actions on whether: (1) the design, production, distribution, or sale of the product was negligent; or (2) the product was defective, and such defect rendered the product unreasonably dangerous. Includes among the applicable defenses in such actions proof that: (1) the defect was the subject of an adequate warning; (2) the defect was apparent to a reasonable person, or the subject of common knowledge; (3) the injury resulted from an unreasonable or unforeseeable use or alteration of the product; and (4) at the time the product was made, the ability to discover and eliminate the defect was unavailable. States that joint and several liability may not be applied to any product liability action subject to this Act (unless persons acting in concert were the proximate cause of the injury). Limits the amount of damages for noneconomic losses to $100,000. Requires that damage awards for future economic losses exceeding $100,000 be made by periodic payments. Requires that damage awards be offset by amounts received as compensation for the same injury. Establishes a contingency fee schedule for plaintiffs' attorneys. Directs the Attorney General to provide recommendations regarding the creation, adoption, and use of alternative dispute resolution techniques.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 1986
Directs the Secretary of Defense to recover from Ferdinand Marcos certain expenses incurred by the Department of Defense in connection with the transportation of Marcos, his family, and his associates from the Republic of the Philippines and all subsequent expenses incurred by the Department on their behalf.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 1986
Expresses the sense of the Congress that dairy cattle designated for slaughter under the dairy buyout program should be instead shipped to the Soviet Union and any European countries found to have been contaminated by the Chernobyl nuclear accident and to those countries not contaminated by the accident but which can provide food products to affected areas. Provides that feed grain from the Commodity Credit Corporation as well as dairy beef resulting from the buyout program's slaughtering activities should be made available to the stricken countries.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 1986
Expresses the sense of the Congress that, in the application of deficit reduction legislation, adjustments to Federal retirement programs which provide periodic cost-of-living increases should be treated uniformly. Declares that the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act (Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985) should be modified to reflect such treatment.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1986
Manufacture and Public Distribution of Certain Copyrighted Material Act - Amends the copyright law to extend indefinitely the manufacturing clause, which prohibits the importation of certain English language books not manufactured in the United States or Canada. Eliminates the Canadian exemption, per se, after 1988. Permits exemptions from such restriction if a foreign country, including Canada, is certified by the United States Trade Representative as providing adequate copyright protection for U.S. nationals and such country freely trades in printed matter with the United States or adheres to a bilateral or multilateral agreement with the United States and supports internationally recognized workers' rights.
![Official portrait of Rep. Vucanovich, Barbara F. [R-NV-2]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/v000124_200.jpg)