United States · United States Congress · 25 September 1986
Provides for the continuation of the three-year income tax basis recovery rule with respect to annuities of Federal employee contributions to Federal retirement systems. Directs the Office of Personnel Management to report to specified congressional committees on the effects of a retroactive repeal of such rule on the Federal workforce.
United States · United States Congress · 12 September 1986
Philippines Sugar Quota Act of 1986 - Permits a foreign country to be allocated a portion of the U.S. import quota on sugars, syrups, and molasses only if the President determines that such country is a friendly developing country and is a net exporter of sugars, syrups, and molasses. Requires the reallocation of a foreign country's allotment of the U.S. sugar import quota to the Philippines (until the Philippine share of such quota reaches 27 percent of its total) if such country is no longer determined to be a friendly developing country and a net exporter of sugar. Provides for the reallocation of a country's sugar import quota among all foreign countries if the Philippine share of the total import quota is 27 percent. Provides that the terms for sugar imports from the Philippines shall be as favorable as the terms for such imports from any other countries (including countries granted duty-free treatment).
United States · United States Congress · 11 September 1986
Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to repeal the Secretary of Agriculture's authority to reduce the soybean loan rate. Provides, with regard to the 1986 and 1987 soybean crops, that unless a producer option payment plan is in effect the Secretary shall permit loan repayments at the lesser of the loan level or the prevailing world market price. Authorizes the Secretary to implement a producer option payment program for the 1986 and 1987 soybean crops.
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
Renames a specified Veterans Administration care center in Queens, New York, the Joseph P. Addabbo Veteran's Administration Extended Care Center at Saint Albans.
United States · United States Congress · 15 August 1986
National Appliance Energy Conservation Act of 1986 - Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to add to the list of products covered under the Act: (1) freezers which can be operated by alternating current electricity (with specified exceptions); (2) central air conditioning heat pumps; (3) direct heating equipment; and (4) pool heaters. Deletes from specific coverage: (1) television sets; (2) humidifiers; and (3) dehumidifiers. Excludes from such coverage consumer products designed solely for use in recreational vehicles and other mobile equipment. Authorizes the Secretary of Energy (the Secretary) to amend Federal energy efficiency test procedures for appliances under specified guidelines. Prohibits manufacturers from making any representations regarding the energy efficiency of appliances covered by this Act unless such appliances have been tested in accordance with the Federal test procedures, and the manufacturer's representations fairly disclose the results of such testing. Sets forth specific Federal energy conservation standards for products covered by this Act and manufactured after certain dates. Establishes deadlines by which the Secretary must issue rules regarding such standards. Details the criteria to be applied if such standards are revised. Revises the information requirements with which manufacturers must comply to provide that the Secretary shall exercise authority in a manner designed to minimize unnecessary burdens on manufacturers of covered products. Revises the rules under which State regulations are superseded by the Federal regulations for testing and labeling requirements and energy conservation standards. Permits the waiver of Federal preemption if the Secretary finds that such waiver is needed to meet compelling and unusual local energy conditions. Prescribes procedural guidelines for such a waiver. Details conditions under which State and local building code requirements regarding energy conservation standards are not superseded by the standards promulgated under this Act. Permits the commencement of a citizen's suit against the Secretary for failure to comply with a nondiscretionary duty to issue rules according to prescribed schedules. Directs the courts to expedite the disposition of such suits. Vests jurisdiction in the Federal district courts over actions brought by any adversely affected person to determine whether a State or local government is complying with the requirements of this Act. Declares that the required submission by the Secretary of an annual report regarding Federal energy efficiency standards does not constitute a defense or justification for a failure by such Secretary to comply with the nondiscretionary duty provided for in this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 15 August 1986
White House Conference on Small Business Authorization Act - Calls upon the President to conduct a National White House Conference on Small Business once every four years to: (1) increase public awareness of the contributions of small business; (2) identify small business problems; (3) examine the status of minority and women small business owners; (4) assist small business in carrying out its role as the nation's job creator; (5) develop specific recommendations for executive and legislative action; and (6) review the status of recommendations adopted at the Conferences. Authorizes and directs Federal departments, agencies, and instrumentalities to provide support and assistance to the planning of such Conferences. Requires a final report of the Conference, within six months from the date a Conference is convened, to be submitted to the President and the Congress. Requires the Small Business Administration to report annually to the Congress for the next three years following the submission of the final report of the Conference. Authorizes appropriations.
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 · 8 August 1986
Textile and Apparel Import Licensing Act - Prohibits the importation of textiles or textile products during a quota year (the calendar year or a specified 12-month period depending upon U.S. agreements with the country that is the source of the textiles) unless: (1) an import license is issued; and (2) a copy of the import license is presented to the appropriate customs official. Sets forth the method for determining the amount of textiles each importer is allowed to import during a quota year and the method for obtaining an import license. Requires the Commissioner of Customs (the Commissioner) to ensure that textiles that are entered under an import license conform to the specifications set forth in the license. Requires the Secretary of Commerce (the Secretary) to provide the Commissioner with copies of import authorizations and licenses. Directs the Commissioner to provide copies of import licenses to appropriate customs officials so that such officials can conduct pre-entry verification and screening procedures of such imports. Directs the Commissioner to prohibit the entry of articles covered by an import license if a foreign manufacturer of such articles refuses to cooperate in the making of such verifications. Requires the Commissioner to notify the Secretary of: (1) all entries made or denied under such import licenses; (2) the basis for each denial; and (3) any final administrative or judicial disposition regarding any such denial and any citation or indictment for customs violations involving a license or any textile shipment subject to this Act. Directs the Secretary to impose and collect a fee for import authorizations and licenses issued under this Act. Prohibits any person that is issued an import authorization under this Act regarding a limited category of textiles from importing less than 90 percent of the quantity authorized. Sets forth penalties and enforcement procedures. Prohibits the Secretary from issuing an import authorization under this Act to any person who is classified as a multiple customs law offender. Provides that such prohibition shall apply to such person for five years.
United States · United States Congress · 6 August 1986
Authorizes the use of limited circulation postal rates for certain publications which are addressed for delivery within adjacent counties. Limits the number of copies of publications which may be mailed under such rates.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 1986
Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to make available at no cost to farmers and ranchers in drought disaster areas (as defined by this Act) surplus Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) commodities (including transportation costs) for emergency livestock or poultry feed. Directs the Secretary to use specified regulations issued under the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 to determine feed needs and commodity amounts. Makes such assistance available until the earlier of the period beginning three days after enactment of this Act and ending March 31, 1987, or the date, as determined by the Secretary, on which the emergency no longer exists. Directs the Secretary to make emergency livestock and poultry feed assistance available under section 1105 of the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 to farmers and ranchers in drought disaster areas. Provides for in-kind reimbursement from CCC stocks. Directs the Secretary to permit any 1986 drought-affected producer of wheat, feed grains, upland cotton, or rice who is participating in specified acreage reduction programs under the Agricultural Act of 1949 to devote such acreage to hay or grazing without regard to certain limitations imposed by such Act. Directs the President, in carrying out on emergency assistance program under the Disaster Relief Act of 1974, to require the Secretary to implement an emergency hay program, including paying 80 percent of transportation costs. Stipulates that such program shall be undertaken only if the Secretary determines, after consultation with the Governor and other State officials, that: (1) available stocks of hay are insufficient; and (2) emergency feed assistance and additional haying and grazing acreage will be insufficient to prevent substantial livestock loss or herd liquidations. Makes such emergency feed assistance and additional haying and grazing provisions effective 15 days after enactment of this Act. States that such assistance shall be available until the earlier of March 30, 1987, or the date, as determined by the Secretary, on which the emergency no longer exists. Directs the Secretary to make disaster payments in-kind to requesting producers of 1986 wheat, feed grain, upland cotton, rice, soybean, and peanut crops in drought areas. Limits aggregate payments to any one producer to $100,000. Prohibits reductions in the price received by milk producers in drought areas for the period beginning August 16, 1986, and ending November 15, 1986. Increases such reductions during the period beginning November 16, 1986, and ending September 30, 1987, in order to make up for such prohibited price reductions. Directs the Secretary to make cost-sharing payments (at least 50 percent) available in drought areas for: (1) conservation measures designed to prevent soil erosion due to loss of vegetative cover; and (2) reestablishment of stands of pine trees. Provides for in-kind cost-sharing payments. Makes such assistance available during the period beginning 15 days after enactment of this Act and ending March 30, 1987. Authorizes the Secretary, in making in-kind payments, to use commodities owned by the CCC, or pledged to the CCC, as loan security. Permits such payments to be made by: (1) warehouse delivery; (2) transfer of negotiable warehouse receipts; (3) issuance of negotiable commodity certificates; or (4) other appropriate methods. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Secretary of Agriculture should: (1) establish a coordinating mechanism within the Department of Agriculture to coordinate Federal assistance; (2) ensure that Government and voluntary agencies, and the farmers and ranchers, in each natural disaster area are provided a single contact person or unit for Federal assistance, and that a similar contact is provided for assistance from outside such areas; and (3) consult with the Governor and other appropriate State officials concerning the disaster needs of affected farmers and ranchers.
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 · 26 June 1986
Expresses the support of the Congress for the programs regarding the understanding of slavery of the National Council for Education and Economic Development, Incorporated, and for the program to raise an endowment to assure the permanent location of a commemorative structure within the National Park System dedicated to understanding, knowledge, opportunity, and equality for all people.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 1986
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Secretary of Agriculture should exercise specified authority under the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to transfer funds from amounts authorized for guaranteed loans to amounts authorized for insured loans.
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 · 22 May 1986
Constitutional Amendment - Requires the President, prior to each fiscal year, to transmit to the Congress a proposed Federal budget in which total outlays do not exceed total estimated revenues. Permits the President to recommend an alternative budget in which outlays exceed revenues with a detailed explanation of the need for such excess. Prohibits the Congress from making any law which would cause outlays to exceed revenues in a fiscal year. Permits the Congress to suspend such prohibition in time of war or national emergency by passing a concurrent resolution by a three-fifths vote of both Houses. Prohibits enactment of a bill to increase revenue unless it passes each House of Congress by a majority rollcall vote.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 1986
Commends Major General William C. Lee for his long, faithful, and outstanding military service to our Nation. Designates June 6, 1986, as William C. Lee Day.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 1986
Requests the President to establish a cooperative international research program concerning the greenhouse effect of increased concentration of carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere. Requires any such program established by the President to be started during or before 1990.
United States · United States Congress · 23 April 1986
Processed Products Inspection Improvement Act of 1986 - Amends the Federal Meat Inspection Act to redescribe the manner and frequency of inspection of meat food products to include the requirement that the Secretary of Agriculture take into account for each establishment: (1) the nature and frequency of processing operations; (2) the adequacy and reliability of processing controls and sanitary procedures; and (3) the history of inspection compliance. Changes the requirement that condemned meat food products be destroyed for "food purposes," to a requirement that they be destroyed for "human food purposes." Provides that amendments made by this Act shall not be construed to authorize the Secretary to refuse to provide inspection solely because an establishment does not participate in a total plant quality-control program.
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 1986
Requires the implementation of a controlled substances testing program for civilian, military, and congressional employees and Members of Congress whose duties involve access to classified information.
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 1986
Declares that the House of Representatives, on behalf of the U.S. people, expresses its gratitude to the Government and people of the United Kingdom who assisted the United States in its exercise of self-defense against Libya and in the fight against state-sponsored international terrorism.
United States · United States Congress · 15 April 1986
Expresses the sense of the Congress that, in light of specified international human rights agreements, the Soviet Union should approve the exit visa applications of Doctor Naum Meiman and his wife, Inna Kitrosskaya, and arrange for them to go to the country of their choice. Urges the President to: (1) protest the Soviet Government's refusal to consider the exit visa applications of Dr. Meiman and his wife; (2) call upon all other signatory nations of the Helsinki Accords to join in such protest; and (3) instruct the U.S. delegation to the meeting of experts on human contacts organized under the auspices of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, to be held in Bern, Switzerland, to pursue this matter.
United States · United States Congress · 8 April 1986
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Farm Credit Administration and its associated agencies and institutions should take additional actions to alleviate the agricultural financial situation, including restructuring, rather than foreclosing, loans.
United States · United States Congress · 8 April 1986
Expresses the sense of the Congress that Federal telecommunications policy should maintain universal telephone service, retain nationwide toll rate averaging for interstate long distance calls, and reduce regulatory and administrative burdens on small telephone systems. Provides that any Federal access charge plan should: (1) support rural telephone systems through a universal service fund designed to ensure affordable rural telephone rates; (2) allocate to interstate long distance service no less than the proportion of the local telephone system access costs currently allocated to such service; (3) retain the current arrangement for the pooling of such costs; and (4) avoid collecting all of such costs by means of flat rate access charges.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1986
Emergency Livestock Feed Assistance Act of 1986 - Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to implement an emergency (livestock) feed assistance program in States (currently includes Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands) threatened by natural disasters. (Current law authorizes but does not mandate such an assistance program.) Requires that requests for such assistance be made by the Governor of the affected State, after consultation with a special emergency board constituted in accordance with this Act. Requires at least a 30 percent feed loss in order to qualify for such assistance. Includes within program assistance (in addition to feed cost reimbursement): (1) transportation assistance; and (2) Commodity Credit Corporation feed donations and sales. Subjects a producer who sells such feed to civil and criminal penalties.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1986
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that Federal excise taxes and tariffs when incurred by business in the production of income should remain deductible for Federal income tax purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1986
General Aviation Tort Reform Act of 1986 - Amends the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to provide uniform rules for negligence and products liability claims arising from general aviation accidents. Allows any person claiming damages from such an accident to bring a products liability action against the general aviation manufacturer if: (1) the product was defective when it left the control of the manufacturer; (2) the defective condition was the proximate cause of the harm; (3) the condition would not have been corrected by actions described in directives issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or the manufacturer; and (4) the aircraft was being used for a purpose and in a manner for which it was manufactured. Provides an alternative method to establish manufacturer liability where the manufacturer failed to provide reasonable warnings (unless such warnings would not have affected the conduct of the product user). Provides a third method to establish manufacturer liability where: (1) the manufacturer made an express warranty with respect to the product; (2) the warranty related to that aspect of the product which caused the harm; (3) the product failed to conform to the warranty; and (4) such failure was the proximate cause of the harm. States that all actions for damages arising from a general aviation accident shall be governed by the principles of comparative responsibility. Provides that defendants in such actions are severally but not jointly liable for damages (except that manufacturers of airframes and systems or components of aircraft may be jointly and severally liable under certain circumstances). Provides a 12-year limitation on liability of manufacturers. States that express warranties running for a longer period of time and the duty to provide additional warnings shall not be affected by such limitations. Allows awards of punitive damages. Prescribes a statute of limitations for such actions. Preempts State laws to the extent that this Act establishes applicable rules or procedures. Grants Federal district courts (concurrently with State courts) original jurisdiction (without regard to the amount in controversy) in all civil actions for damages arising out of a general aviation accident. Allows the removal of State actions to an appropriate Federal district court by any defendant. Prescribes venue restrictions. Expresses the intent of the Congress that orders to pay reasonable expenses, including attorney's fees, be enforced.
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 1986
Nuclear Waste Policy Improvement Act of 1986 - Amends the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 to direct the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to disqualify any nuclear storage site from development as a second or subsequent repository if any surface facility of such repository will be less than 400 miles from a monitored retrievable storage facility.
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 1986
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the President should award the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously to Michael J. Smith, Francis R. Scobee, Ronald E. McNair, Ellison S. Onizuka, Sharon Christa McAuliffe, Gregory B. Jarvis, and Judith A. Resnik, all of whom died in the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 1986
Prohibits any benefits payable from the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund, including cost-of-living increases, during calendar year 1987 from being subject to reduction or suspension by statute or presidential order.
United States · United States Congress · 16 December 1985
Requires United States contributions to an international financial institution in a fiscal year to be reduced by the U.S. proportionate share of any assistance provided by that institution to any foreign country for the production of any fiber, textile, or article of apparel.
United States · United States Congress · 11 December 1985
Agricultural Patent Reform Act - Amends the patent laws to extend the terms of patents which encompass specified products or methods for using a product, including methods of manufacturing which primarily use recombinant DNA technology, any of which are subject to certain nonpatent regulatory review periods. Sets forth the terms and conditions of such extension, including a five-year limitation on the extension and a 25-year maximum patent term for the earliest filing. Directs the Commissioner of Patents to notify the appropriate Federal agency upon receipt from the product sponsor of a notice of extension to determine the applicable regulatory review period and whether, within that period, the sponsor acted with due diligence. Provides for notice and informal hearings for persons interested in such determinations. Permits the setting of fees to cover the costs of review. Directs the Commissioner, upon a final determination of the applicable regulatory review period, to issue to the owner of record of a patent a certificate of extension stating the fact and length of the extension and identifying the product and the use and the claim to which such extension is applicable. Makes such certificate a part of the original patent. Limits the application of such patent term extension to patents for: (1) any new animal drug or antibiotic subject to regulation under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; (2) any veterinary biological product subject to regulation under the Virus-Serum-Toxin Act; (3) any pesticide subject to regulation under the Federal Insecticide Act; and (4) any chemical substance or mixture subject to regulation under the Toxic Substances Control Act.
![Official portrait of Rep. Whitley, Charles O., Sr. [D-NC-3]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/w000419_200.jpg)