United States · United States Congress · 30 July 1992
Vertebrate Paleontological Resources Protection Act - States that it is the intent of the Congress that under this Act: (1) palentological resources will be managed separately from archaeological and cultural resources; and (2) paleontological resources will be managed by or in consultation with palentologists. Requires permits in order to excavate or remove paleontological resources on public lands and to carry out excavation or removal activities. Specifies permit application contents. Limits issuance of permits to qualified applicants for scientific, educational, and public display uses, but not for uses that will further commercial collecting. Permits suitable institutions to contract for commercial excavation services, but maintains the resources excavated as property of the United States. Specifies permit terms and conditions. Provides for suspension and revocation of permits for violations of specified prohibited acts respecting paleontological resources on public lands. Sets forth special rules respecting permits issued under the Antiquities Act of 1906. Requires paleontological resources that the Secretary of the Interior determines are of scientific significance to: (1) be deposited in suitable institutions; and (2) remain in the vicinity of the site from which the resource was removed, to the extent practicable. Imposes certain requirements on institutions that receive such resources. Requires Federal land managers to permit an amateur collector to retain paleontological resources of non-significant scientific value for his or her collection after receiving the collector's report on the discovery of such resources. States that any resource retained by an amateur collector shall remain the property of the United States and may not be sold. Sets forth criminal and civil penalties for specified prohibited acts respecting paleontological resources on public lands. Provides for judicial review of civil penalties. Provides for rewards to persons who furnish information that leads to findings or convictions of violations of this Act. Sets forth guidelines governing disclosure of information related to paleontological resources for which excavation or removal requires a permit. Requires Federal land managers to establish a program to increase public awareness of the significance of paleontological resources on public lands and the need to protect such resources. Provides for improved cooperation and exchange of information between applicable Federal authorities and private individuals having collections of paleontological resources and data that were obtained before enactment of this Act. Requires appropriate parties to: (1) develop plans for surveying Federal lands to determine the nature and extent of paleontological resources on such lands; and (2) prepare schedules for inventorying known paleontological resources.
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 1992
Amends the Small Business Act to increase the 1993 and subsequent fiscal year amounts to be expended in connection with a small business innovative research (SBIR) program by each Federal agency that has an extramural budget for research or research and development (R&D) in excess of $100,000,000. Makes such amount equivalent to 1.25 percent of such R&D budget for FY 1993 and increases such amount for each fiscal year thereafter up to a maximum of 3.0 percent of such R&D budget for FY 1997 and thereafter. Reserves all of such amounts in excess of 1.25 percent of such R&D budget for an SBIR program involving R&D of specified critical technologies. Requires each qualifying Federal agency, in expending such R&D amounts, to give a preference to such critical technology projects. Provides limitations with respect to non-SBIR and Department of Energy defense programs.
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 1992
Brain Injury Rehabilitation Quality Act of 1992 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to provide for optional Medicaid coverage of services provided through a State case management program that meets specified requirements to Medicaid-eligible individuals who sustain traumatic brain injuries. Describes the services provided under such a program. Specifies criteria related to the eligibility of individuals and service providers to participate in such a program. Requires that an individual reside in a State that has designated a State coordinator for traumatic brain injuries in order to receive services under this Act. Requires such coordinator to establish policies and standards for providing services, make necessary reports to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, supervise and coordinate services for persons with traumatic brain injuries, and perform other specified duties, including establishing an advisory committee. Makes such coordinator responsible for a program of activities related to preventing and reducing the rate of traumatic brain injuries in the State. Requires the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control, to establish standards for the reporting of data on traumatic brain injuries and the operation of registries of traumatic brain injuries for coordinator use. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the Administrator for Health Care Policy and Research to conduct a study on the effectiveness of traumatic brain injury interventions. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 1992
Foreign Tax Simplification Act of 1992 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt foreign persons (including corporations) from the uniform capitalization rules in determining earnings and profits for any business not conducted in the United States. Declares that a foreign corporation shall not be considered a passive foreign investment company for any day on which such corporation was a controlled foreign corporation. Revises the application of the separate foreign tax credit limitation for foreign corporations in which U.S. parent companies do not own a controlling interest. Requires that foreign tax credits claimed for foreign income be translated into dollars by using the average exchange rate for the taxable year to which such taxes relate. Provides an exception for taxes not paid within the following two years, and for inflationary currency. Provides for translating taxes not subject to such requirement. Sets forth special rules for making adjustments to accrued taxes not paid within two years. Allows the use of the average exchange rate for the period during which the taxes or adjustment is paid instead of the exchange rate as of the time of such payment. Provides that the look-through rules for controlled foreign corporations do not apply to companies with less than $1 million in all of their separate categories.
United States · United States Congress · 2 July 1992
Traumatic Brain Injury Act of 1992 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control, to conduct a study concerning traumatic brain injury. Requires the study to seek to: (1) determine the major causes of traumatic brain injury; (2) identify common therapeutic interventions which are used for the rehabilitation of individuals with traumatic brain injuries; (3) determine the preventive efforts that are being used by States and non-profit agencies to reduce the occurrence of such injuries; (4) identify effective treatment and long-term rehabilitation services needed to meet the needs of individuals with traumatic brain injuries; (5) develop practice guidelines for the treatment of traumatic brain injury; and (6) determine whether there is a need for national standards for helmets used by bicyclists and others. Requires the results of such study to be reported to the Congress not later than three years after enactment of this Act. Requires the Secretary to biennially prepare a report containing recommendations for the prevention of traumatic brain injuries, including identifying States that have mandated helmet laws for bicyclists and others. Requires such report to be disseminated to State health officers. Makes the Director responsible for gathering data concerning the number of individuals surviving traumatic brain injury and regarding the cost of such injuries. Requires the Director to establish a uniform reporting system under which hospitals and State and local health-related agencies will report on matters including: (1) the occurrence of traumatic brain injuries; (2) the amount of traumatic brain injury research, training, and services; (3) the identification of States and localities that have approved mandated helmet use laws; and (4) the health insurance status of individuals with such injuries. Requires the reporting system to permit the Director to make an accurate assessment of resource needs, provide a basis for the allocation of resources, and track survivors of traumatic brain injury from the provision of initial health care through long-term rehabilitation. Directs the Director to determine which Federal, State, local or other entities collect data on traumatic brain injury and the means by which such entities collect the data. Authorizes the Director to enter into cooperative agreements with other agencies, and to provide assistance to other entities with responsibility for data collection, to establish traumatic brain injury as a specific reportable condition in existing and future reporting systems. Authorizes the Secretary to award grants to State and local entities, and to public or non-profit private entities, to support: (1) special prevention and public awareness initiative projects; (2) model traumatic brain injury prevention, research and support programs; (3) projects that study the service needs of individuals with traumatic brain injury; and (4) projects involving grants for service coordination. Authorizes the Secretary to provide assistance to public and private nonprofit entities to reduce the incidence of traumatic brain injury through the establishment and effectuation of prevention projects. Sets forth eligibility requirements. Authorizes the Secretary, acting through the Director of the National Institutes of Health, to provide assistance to public and private nonprofit entities to support the conduct of basic and applied research concerning traumatic brain injury, especially with respect to the biomechanics of brain injury, the molecular and cellular characteristics of primary and secondary injury to the brain and the development of improved experimental brain injury models. Specifies the research to be conducted. Directs the Secretary to award grants to States for the establishment of Statewide protection and advocacy demonstration projects for individuals affected by traumatic brain injury. Sets forth eligibility requirements. Requires each State that receives assistance under this Act to establish a consumer-controlled advisory board within the Department of Health or Human Services of the State or within another department as designated by the chief executive officer of the State. Directs an advisory board to coordinate communications with and between Federal, State and local agencies, citizen's groups, private industry and labor and nonprofit organizations and to encourage citizen participation through public hearings and other types of community outreach programs. Requires each State to establish a services coordination program to identify the services required to prevent the institutionalization or to minimize the need for residential rehabilitation in the case of traumatic brain injuries. Sets forth the requirements for such program. Authorizes appropriations to carry out provisions of this Act for FY 1993 through 1995. Designates October 1992 as National Head Injury Month.
United States · United States Congress · 2 July 1992
Open Space Preservation Act of 1992 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from the gross estate tax the value of land subject to a qualified conservation easement (less the amount of any indebtedness secured by such land). Includes in the gross estate tax the value of each development right retained by the donor in the conveyance of the easement. Makes such tax due upon the disposition of the property. Provides that such land subject to the exclusion will have a carryover basis for purposes of determining gain or loss. Excludes from the gift tax transfers by gift of land subject to a conservation easement (other than development rights retained by the donor of such easement). Removes the allowance for a tax deduction in the case of a contribution of property where mining rights are retained if the surface estate and mining interests were separated before June 13, 1976, and remain separated.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1992
Interstate Transportation of Municipal Waste Act of 1992 - Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to authorize a State Governor, if requested by an affected local government and an affected local solid waste planning unit, to: (1) prohibit the disposal of out-of-State municipal waste in any landfill or incinerator subject to the jurisdiction of the Governor or the affected local government; or (2) with respect to landfills covered by the exception under this Act, limit the amount of out-of-State municipal waste received at such landfills to an amount equal to the amount of out-of-State waste received during 1991 or 1992, whichever is less. Requires such governments and planning units to provide for public comment before submitting such requests. Prohibits Governors from exercising authority under this Act if such action would result in the violation of a legally binding contract. Permits Governors of States identified as having received more than 1,000,000 tons of out-of-State waste during 1991 to limit the disposal of out-of-State waste at landfills subject to exceptions under this Act without a request from an affected local government and solid waste planning unit. Authorizes Governors, with respect to such landfills and if requested by an affected local government and solid waste planning unit, to prohibit the disposal of such waste in landfill cells that do not meet design and locational standards, leachate collection, and groundwater monitoring requirements of State laws and regulations in effect on January 1, 1992, for new landfills. Prohibits discrimination against any particular landfill and against shipments of out-of-State waste on the basis of State of origin with respect to limitations and responses to requests by local governments. Exempts from a Governor's authority to prohibit the disposal of out-of-State waste: (1) landfills that received documented shipments of such waste in 1991 and are in compliance with State laws relating to design and locational standards, leachate collection, groundwater monitoring, and financial assurance for closure and post-closure and corrective action; (2) proposed landfills that, prior to April 29, 1992, received an approval from the affected local government to receive municipal waste generated outside of the county or State and a State notice of decision to grant a construction permit; or (3) incinerators that received documented shipments of such waste during 1991 and are in compliance with performance standards under the Clean Air Act and State laws relating to facility design and operations. Bars a Governor, after January 1, 1997, from prohibiting or limiting the disposal of such waste unless all operating municipal waste landfill cells in the State: (1) meet the design and location standards applicable to such cells after October 1993; or (2) are on enforceable schedules to stop receiving waste by January 1, 2000, and to implement closure plans.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1992
Crow Settlement Act - Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to settle contractually the 107th Meridian dispute over the eastern boundary of the Crow Indian Reservation, Montana. Creates the Indian Claims Settlement Trust Fund for making Indian claims settlement payments. Establishes within the Fund the Crow Tribal Trust Account. Requires contracts with the Crow Tribe and the Northern Cheyenne Tribe concerning property issues related to the boundary dispute, including coal, oil, and other mineral ownership. Requires an exchange of Montana public lands for State school lands within the Crow Indian Reservation and the disputed area. Makes special provision for the Yellowtail Afterbay Dam and construction of a powerplant and bypass. Revokes, upon effect of the settlement contract with the Crow Tribe and the Secretary, the authority of the Bureau of Reclamation to operate specified irrigation projects. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 1992
Local Exchange Infrastructure Modernization Act of 1992 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to exercise its authority to: (1) preserve and enhance universal telephone service at reasonable rates; (2) achieve universal availability of advanced network capabilities and information services; (3) assure a seamless nationwide distribution network through joint network planning, coordination, and service arrangements between and among local exchange carriers (LECs); (4) maintain high standards of quality for advanced network services; and (5) assure adequate communication for the public health, safety, defense, education, national security, and emergency preparedness. Defines "local exchange carrier" for purposes of such Act as a carrier that: (1) is required to provide upon request, under tariff or subject to other government oversight (by the FCC or a State commission), interstate and intrastate access services and telephone exchange service; (2) is, or was, a participant in one or more interstate pools established by the FCC, or would have been required to participate in one or more such pools had the carrier been engaged in interstate and intrastate access and telephone exchange service while such participation was mandatory; (3) is subject to the requirements imposed by the FCC or a State commission related to the provision of equal access; and (4) conforms with the provisions of the North American Numbering Plan applicable to the assignment of numbering resources for telephone exchange service, as defined by the Plan's Administrator. Requires the FCC to prescribe regulations that require: (1) joint coordinated network planning, design, and cooperative implementation among all LECs in the provision of public switched network infrastructure and services; (2) development of standards for interconnection between the LEC public switched network and others by appropriate standard-setting bodies; and (3) a LEC to share public switched network infrastructure and functionality with requesting LECs which serve a geographic area for which they lack economies of scale or scope for the particular required network functionality. Specifies that: (1) no LEC shall be prohibited from transporting or processing signalling and information for another LEC in adjoining or reasonably proximate serving areas upon request of that LEC to the same extent that the providing LEC is permitted to engage in such activities for itself; (2) nothing in such Act shall be construed to alter, limit, or supersede the authority of any State with respect to the regulation of intrastate communication service; and (3) nothing contained in Federal or State antitrust law shall render unlawful any action taken by a LEC or any individual or concerted action taken such as lobbying before the Congress, the FCC, or communicating by any means with other LECs, by any LEC, or its directors, officers, agents, employees, affiliates, subsidiaries, joint ventures, counsel, or other persons purporting to act on behalf of such carrier.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1992
Mike Mansfield Fellowship Act - Establishes the Mike Mansfield Fellowship Program. Directs the Secretary of State (Secretary) to make grants to the Mansfield Center for Pacific Affairs (Center) to award two-year fellowships to eligible Federal employees. Requires fellowship recipients (Mansfield Fellows): (1) during their first year, to study, in Washington, D.C., the Japanese language and political economy; and (2) during their second year, to serve as a Fellow in a parliamentary office, ministry, or other agency of the Government of Japan, or, subject to Center approval, a nongovernmental Japanese institution associated with the recipient's interests. Requires the Center to comply with specified program requirements in order to be eligible for such grants. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into an arrangement with the Government of Japan to place Fellows in that Government. Authorizes the Foreign Service Institute to assist in carrying out Japanese language training by the Center through providing classroom space, teaching materials, and facilities, insofar as this is not detrimental to the Institute's other responsibilities. Authorizes the Center to accept and use gifts from private sources for such program, subject to review and approval of the Mansfield Fellowship Review Board. Provides that specified amounts from Department of State funds shall be available to the Secretary to make program grants to the Center for FY 1993 through 1996. Sets forth program requirements. Requires that the Federal employees eligible for such fellowships have: (1) at least two years experience in any branch of the U.S. Government; and (2) a strong career interest in U.S.-Japan relations and a commitment to further Federal service. Requires that at least ten such fellowships be awarded annually. Prohibits Mansfield Fellows from engaging in any intelligence or intelligence-related activity on behalf of the U.S. Government. Allows Federal agencies to separate from service such Fellows for a specified period, but requires that: (1) Fellows be reemployed or reinstated in an appropriate position and with all attendant rights and benefits as they would have acquired if they had not been so separated; and (2) they continue to participate during the fellowship period, as if they were not separated, in specified programs for health and life insurance, workers' compensation leave, and retirement (with employer contributions to be made by the Center, and employee deductions to be taken from fellowship stipends). Establishes the Mansfield Fellowship Review Board to review program administration and submit annual reports. Authorizes appropriations for the Board.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1992
Tax Extension Act of 1992 - Title I: Extension of Certain Expiring Tax Provisions - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend from August 1, 1992, until August 1, 1993, the provisions governing the allocation of research and experimental expenditures for purposes of determining sources of income. Extends the following provisions from June 30, 1992, until December 31, 1993: (1) the tax credit for increasing research activities; (2) the targeted jobs credit; (3) the authority to issue qualified mortgage bonds and qualified mortgage credit certificates; (4) the authority to issue qualified small issue bonds to finance manufactuiring facilities and farm property; (5) employer-provided educational assistance; (6) the tax exclusion for employer-provided group legal services plans; (7) the energy investment credit for solar and geothermal property; (8) the credit for clinical testing expenses for certain drugs for rare diseases or conditions; and (9) health insurance costs of self-employed individuals. Extends the low-income housing credit until December 31, 1993, with modifications. Expands the ten-year anti-churning rule waiver to certain projects substantially assisted, financed, or operated under the National Housing Act. Allows units occupied by certain full-time students to qualify for such credit. Authorizes the Treasury Department to waive penalties for certain de minimis errors and recertifications. Provides that certain community service facilities in projects in qualified census tracts are included in eligible basis as functionally related and subordinate facilities. Requires housing credit agencies, in determining whether the credit allocated to a building exceeds the amount necessary to assure the project's feasibility, to consider the reasonableness of total project costs and the appropriateness of amenities. Allows certain building owners to elect to use apartment size or family size in determining the credit's gross rent limitation. Provides for the tax treatment of resale price control and subsidy lien programs under mortgage revenue bond provisions. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from the five-year occupancy requirement under the tax-exempt mortgage revenue bond program any two-family residence which: (1) is a targeted area residence; or (2) is located in an area designated as an economic development zone or enterprise zone by Federal or State law. Amends the Railroad Retirement Solvency Act of 1983 to extend, from October 1, 1992, until January 1, 1994, the authority to transfer income tax revenues attributable to the taxation of tier railroad retirement benefits to the railroad retirement account. Extends the termination date of the nonconventional source fuels credit for one year. Repeals the tax preference for the appreciated property charitable deduction during 1992 and 1993. Requires a report by the Secrretary of the Treasury to certain congressional committees on an advance valuation procedure. Title II: Repeal of Certain Luxury Excise Taxes; Imposition of Tax on Diesel Fuel Used in Noncommercial Boats - Repeals the luxury excise tax on boats, aircraft, jewelry, and furs. Provides an inflation adjustment for the threshold amount on which luxury vehicles are taxed. Terminates the luxury tax on passenger vehicles after December 31, 1999. Extends the diesel fuels excise tax to diesel fuel used in noncommercial boats. Exempts from such tax diesel fuel used for fisheries or commercial navigation. Retains diesel fuel taxes in the general Treasury (instead of the Highway Trust Fund and the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund).
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1992
Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research on Space and Aeronautics Act - Directs the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), using the National Science Foundation infrastructure, to make grants (and supplemental grants) to eligible States in areas of research important to NASA. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1992
Designates February 21 through February 27, 1993, as American Wine Appreciation Week. Commends the winegrape and fruit growers and vintners of the United States for the production of high quality agricultural products.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 1992
Civil War Battlefield Commemorative Coin Act of 1992 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to issue a specified number of five-dollar gold coins, one-dollar silver coins, and half-dollar clad coins to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Civil War battlefield preservation. Sets forth certain features of such coins and provides for their design, issuance, and sale. Requires that all sales include a surcharge of $35 per coin for the five-dollar coins, $7 per coin for the one-dollar coins, and $1 per coin for the half-dollar coins. Requires that all surcharges be paid to the Civil War Battlefield Foundation for the preservation of historically significant Civil War battlefields.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 1992
Authorizes the President, on behalf of the Congress, to present a gold medal to a representative of the American Philosophical Society in commemoration of the 250th anniversaries of the founding of the Society and the birth of Thomas Jefferson. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to strike and deliver bronze duplicates of such medal to the Society, upon receipt of full payment for them.
United States · United States Congress · 2 April 1992
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the U.S. Government should not condone foreign trade distorting subsidies, including development subsidies, that cause material injury to U.S. industries.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 1992
America the Beautiful Passport Act of 1992 - Title I: Recreation Admission Fees and Use Fees - Amends the Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 to repeal provisions mandating charges for entrance or admission fees only at designated units of the National Park System or National Recreation Areas administered by the Departments of the Interior or of Agriculture (Departments). Authorizes the Secretaries of the Departments (Secretaries) to charge admission fees at any land and water area which they administer and designate for such charges. Limits the Secretary of Agriculture's authority to charge admission fees to only National Recreation Areas, National Monuments, National Volcanic Monuments, National Scenic Areas, and developed recreation complexes within the National Forest System. Replaces an annual admission permit known as the Golden Eagle Passport with an America the Beautiful Passport for admission into any such designated area. Requires the Secretary of the Interior, with the advice and consent of the Secretary of Agriculture, to set a $30 fee for such permit in lieu of the maximum $25 fee. Authorizes them to change such fee upon the recommendation of the Federal Recreation Fee Advisory Commission. Releases the holder of a permit under this Act from additional fees charged for specified Federal recreation areas, except for overnight camping fees or the use of group facilities. (Currently, a permit holder is prohibited from using the permit for such fees.) Repeals provisions that authorize the Secretary of the Interior to make an annual admission permit available for a reasonable fee for admission into specific designated units of the National Park System. Authorizes the Secretaries to make a $15 12-month admission permit available as an America the Beautiful Passport to only designated units in a particular geographic area. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior, with the advice and consent of the Secretary of Agriculture, to permit State or local government units, individuals, organizations, businesses, or nonprofit entities to sell and collect fees for the America the Beautiful Passport for a maximum 12-month period and to withhold reasonable amounts up to, but not exceeding, ten percent of the gross fees collected from such sales as reimbursement for necessary expenses. Requires the sellers to provide information to America the Beautiful Passport purchasers about recreation activities on Federal lands. Requires all net receipts from the sales of permits under this Act to be deposited into a special account in the Treasury to be available at the end of each fiscal year for appropriation to any agency collecting fees under this Act to fund the agency's share of challenge cost-share agreements negotiated and implemented pursuant to this Act. Establishes the Federal Recreation Fee Advisory Commission to prepare biannually an advisory report for the Secretaries regarding the admission fee system, including: (1) the fee charged for the America the Beautiful Passport; (2) the designation of sites where admission fees are collected; (3) the amount of fees at designated and proposed sites; (4) whether the Passport should waive existing recreation fees; and (5) recommendations on projects to fund under challenge cost-share agreements. Authorizes the Secretaries to provide essential support staff and services to the Commission, upon request. Terminates the Commission upon its fourth biannual report to the Secretaries. Defines "developed recreation complexes" as areas administered by the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary). Authorizes the Secretary, under certain conditions, to charge an admission fee at other developed recreation complexes within the National Forest System in addition to those listed in this Act after providing notice to specified congressional committees. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior, with the advice and consent of the Secretary of Agriculture, to change such fees upon the recommendation of the Commission. Provides that no admission fee may be charged under this Act of any person less than 16 years of age. (Currently, such fee is prohibited at a unit of a National Park System for admission of any person 16 years of age or less.) Repeals limitations on admission fees for single visits at the following parks: (1) Yellowstone National Park; (2) Grand Teton National Park; and (3) Grand Canyon National Park. Requires America the Beautiful Passport receipts and recreation use fees collected by the Secretary: (1) to be collected at the place of use or other location convenient to the user and the collector; and (2) not to be subject to a requirement that ten percent be earmarked for road construction and maintenance in national forests. Title II: Challenge Cost-Share Agreements - Authorizes the Secretaries to negotiate and enter into challenge cost-share agreements with cooperators to share costs or services in carrying out functions of land management agencies administered by the Secretaries. Authorizes the Secretaries to provide the Federal funding share from any funds available to such land management agencies.
United States · United States Congress · 26 March 1992
National Triad Program Act - Requires the Director of the National Institute of Justice to conduct a national assessment of: (1) the nature and extent of crimes against the elderly; (2) the needs of law enforcement, health, and social service organizations in working to prevent, identify, investigate, and provide assistance to victims of such crimes; and (3) promising strategies to respond effectively to those challenges. Specifies that such assessment shall address: (1) the analysis and synthesis of data from a range of sources; (2) the problems of elderly who are living alone or in high crime areas and who are abused and neglected, and the fear of victimization; (3) the identification of strategies and techniques that have been shown to be effective or which show promise; (4) the analysis of the factors that enhance or inhibit development of a coordinated response by law enforcement, health care, and social service providers; and (5) the research agenda needed to develop a comprehensive understanding of the problems of crimes against the elderly. Requires the Director to disseminate the results of such assessment. Authorizes the Director to make awards to coalitions of local law enforcement agencies, victim service providers, and organizations representing the elderly for pilot programs and field tests of promising strategies and models for forging partnerships for crime prevention and service provision. Specifies that pilot programs funded under this Act may include existing general service coalitions of law enforcement, victim service, and elder advocate organizations that wish to use additional funds to work at a particular problem in their community or to target a particular geographic area in need of intensive services. Authorizes the Director to make awards to: (1) coalitions of national law enforcement, victim service, and elder advocate organizations for training and technical assistance in implementing pilot programs; (2) research organizations to investigate the types of elder victimization shown by the assessment to present particularly critical problems or emerging crimes about which little is known, to evaluate the effectiveness of selected pilot programs, and to conduct research and development identified as being critical; and (3) public service advertising coalitions to increase public awareness of, and promote ideas or programs to prevent, crimes against the elderly. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1992
Appropriations Category Reform Act of 1992 - States that the Congress declares that it is essential that the Nation achieve savings in national defense beyond those agreed to in the budget summit agreement of 1990, reduce the deficit, and invest in areas of pressing domestic need that have been neglected since the 1980s. Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to revise the discretionary spending limit for FY 1993 by merging the defense and domestic categories into a national category. Makes conforming changes to the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act).
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1992
Automotive Competitiveness Act of 1992 - Directs the President to: (1) negotiate a trade agreement with Japan limiting Japanese automotive exports (including vehicles with less than 70 percent of incorporated U.S. goods) to the United States; and (2) increase tariffs on such exports in order to achieve similar reductions if an agreement is not reached by a specified date. Terminates the trade agreement after seven years. Directs the International Trade Commission to: (1) review such agreement biennially and recommend its termination of notification; and (2) recommend termination unless U.S. automobiles take quality improvement and executive salary reduction measures. Makes any Commission recommendation effective unless disapproved by passage of a joint resolution of both Houses of the Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1992
Every Fifth Child Act - Makes appropriations for FY 1993, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, in specified amounts to begin a phase-in toward full funding of: (1) the special supplemental food program for women, infants, and children (WIC) under the Child Nutrition Act of 1966; (2) Head Start programs under the Head Start Act; and (3) the Job Corps program under the Job Training Partnership Act. Expresses the sense of the Congress that such programs should receive specified minimum levels of funding to allow: (1) the WIC program to be fully funded through FY 1996; (2) Head Start programs to be fully funded through FY 1998; and (3) the Job Corps to establish at least 50 additional centers and serve at least 50 percent more of low-income disadvantaged youth by the year 2000.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 1992
Rural Jobs and Investment Act of 1992 - Title I: Agriculture, Rural Development and Related Agencies - Subtitle A: Farmers Home Administration - Makes supplemental FY 1992 appropriations for: (1) rural housing loans; (2) rural housing repair loans; (3) rural rental housing loans; (4) rural rental multifamily housing loans; (5) rural water and sewer facility loans; (6) community facility loans; (7) the rural development loans program account; (8) rural water and waste disposal grants; (9) very low-income housing repair grants; (10) supervisory and technical assistance grants; (11) rural housing preservation grants; (12) rural development grants; and (13) local technical assistance grants. Subtitle B: Rural Electrification Administration - Provides supplemental FY 1992 appropriations for insured rural electrification loans. Subtitle C: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Science and Education - Provides supplemental FY 1992 appropriations for alternative agricultural research and commercialization. Title II: Interior - Makes supplemental FY 1992 appropriations for Department of Energy programs of: (1) low-income weatherization assistance; and (2) institutional energy conservation and the State energy conservation programs. Title III: Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development - Provides supplemental FY 1992 appropriations for: (1) community development grants; (2) home investment partnerships; (3) water treatment works; and (4) State water pollution control revolving funds. Title IV: Commerce, Justice, and State - Provides supplemental FY 1992 appropriations for the Small Business Administration microloan demonstration program.
United States · United States Congress · 25 February 1992
Appropriations Category Reform Act of 1992 - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to revise the discretionary spending limit for FY 1993 by merging the defense and domestic categories into a national category. Makes conforming changes to the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act).
United States · United States Congress · 20 February 1992
Taxpayer Bill of Rights 2 - Title I: Taxpayers Advocate - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish in the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) the Office of Taxpayer Advocate, headed by the Taxpayer Advocate, appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Requires the Office to: (1) assist taxpayers in resolving problems with the IRS; (2) identify areas in which taxpayers have problems in dealings with the IRS; (3) propose changes in the administrative practices of the IRS to mitigate such problems; and (4) identify potential legislative changes which may be appropriate to mitigate such problems. Requires the Taxpayer Advocate to annually report to specified congressional committees on Office activities. Requires the Commissioner of Internal Revenue to establish procedures requiring a formal response to all recommendations submitted to the Commissioner by the Taxpayer Advocate. Replaces the Office of the Ombudsman with the Office of the Taxpayer Advocate. Revises the terms of a Taxpayer Assistance Order to: (1) assist a taxpayer suffering a hardship (currently, a significant hardship); (2) allow the Order to require the Secretary of the Treasury to act within a specified time period; and (3) require the Secretary to take certain actions (currently, only to cease or refrain from taking certain actions). Title II: Modifications to Installment Agreement Provisions - Grants certain taxpayers the right to an installment agreement for the payment of tax liability less than $10,000. Requires prior notification to taxpayers under an installment agreement to pay tax liability before altering, modifying, or terminating such an agreement. Provides for administrative review of denials of requests for installment agreements. Suspends the failure to pay penalty during any period an installment agreement is in effect. Title III: Interest - Requires the abatement of interest in the case of an assessment due to the unreasonable error or delay of an IRS act. Extends from ten to 21 days the period for which interest will not be imposed after notice and demand for payment, if such payment is less than $100,000. Increases the interest rate for overpayment of tax from two percent to three percent (making such rate equal to the interest rate for underpayment of tax). Title IV: Joint Returns - Requires separate deficiency notices in the case of a joint income tax return if the most recent data available to the IRS shows that such spouses did not file a joint return with each other. Allows the disclosure of collection activities to an individual requesting such information in the case of a joint return where such individual is no longer married to or resides in the same household as the other joint filer. Removes limitation on filing a joint return after filing separate returns. Provides that in the case of an examination of an individual with respect to a joint income tax return, the absent divorced or separated spouse cannot be represented by the individual without such acknowledgement in writing. Title V: Collection Activities - Requires the Secretary to send notices of a proposed tax deficiency. Authorizes the Secretary, in certain cases, to: (1) withdraw a notice of a lien; (2) return property that has been levied upon; and (3) offer compromises in civil or criminal cases. Requires the Secretary, at the request of the taxpayer, to make reasonable efforts to notify credit reporting agencies and financial institutions of such withdrawal notice. Requires prior notification to the taxpayer that the taxpayer is under examination and an explanation of the process. Removes certain limits on the standard of conduct and the dollar limit on the recovery of civil damages for unauthorized collection actions. Revises provisions with respect to a designated summons concerning the standard of review, requirements for issuance, and quash proceedings. Title VI: Information Returns - Requires payee statements to provide the phone number of the person providing payment. Establishes civil damages for the fraudulent filing of information returns. Requires the Secretary to make reasonable investigations to corroborate the accuracy of an information return when making a determination of a deficiency by a third party, when such return is disputed by the taxpayer. Title VII: Modifications to Penalty for Failure to Collect and Pay Over Tax - Establishes requirements for preliminary notice and declaratory judgment proceedings for failure to pay tax. Authorizes the Secretary to disclose certain information where more than one person is liable for a penalty. Declares that a person shall not be liable for any penalty for failure to collect and pay over tax if such person: (1) is not a significant owner or highly compensated employee of the trade or business; (2) notifies the Secretary within ten days after such failure; and (3) such notification was before any notice by the Secretary with respect to such failure. Directs the Secretary to ensure that IRS employees are aware of their responsibilities under the tax depository system, the circumstances under which they may be liable for penalties, and reporting responsibilities. Exempts unpaid, volunteer board members of tax-exempt organizations from collection penalties. Title VIII: Awarding of Costs and Certain Fees - Repeals the "substantially justified" test for determining whether a taxpayer may recover costs and fees incurred as part of an administrative or court proceeding. Denies such costs where the position of the United States is substantially justified. Revises the commencement date of reasonable administrative costs. Increases the limit on attorney fees. Provides that any failure to agree to an extension of time for the assessment of any tax shall not be taken into account in determining whether a prevailing party has exhausted all administrative remedies. Title IX: Other Provisions - Revises provisions on the required content of tax due, deficiency, and other notices. Provides protection for noncorporate taxpayers who rely on certain guidance published by the IRS. Requires any final, temporary, or proposed regulation issued by the Secretary to be applied prospectively from the date of publication in the Federal Register. Requires notice to the taxpayer of the inability to associate any payment with any outstanding tax liability. Makes the costs of preparing certain tax returns fully deductible.
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 1992
Supplemental Transportation Appropriations Reinvestment To Upgrade Productivity (Start-Up) Act of 1992 - Makes supplemental appropriations for FY 1992 to: (1) the Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration to maintain and repair the Nation's highways and bridges, stimulate economic activity, and expand the efficiency of public transportation systems; (2) the Federal Aviation Administration for airport improvement programs; (3) the Federal Railroad Administration for Northeast Corridor improvements; and (4) the United States Coast Guard.
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Repeals the Assault Weapon Manufacturing Strict Liability Act of 1990, signed by the Mayor of the District of Columbia. Restores or revives any provisions of law amended or repealed by it.
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow certain business entities to elect to use a fiscal year for tax purposes other than the required taxable year. Modifies provisions concerning required payments for such entitites.
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Nuclear Testing Moratorium Act - Prohibits any funds made available under any law from being used to conduct any explosive nuclear weapons test during the one-year period following the enactment of this Act unless the President certifies to the Congress that the Soviet Union or a successor state has conducted such a test during such period.
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Equal Remedies Act of 1991 - Amends Federal law relating to damages in cases of intentional employment discrimination to remove provisions limiting the dollar amount of damages awarded for pecuniary and nonpecuniary losses and punitive damages.
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Title I: General Provisions - Judicial Space and Facilities Management Act of 1991 - Sets forth definitions for purposes of this Act. Title II: Congressional Approval of Public Buildings for Federal Judiciary - Requires approval by specified congressional committees before an appropriation can be made to construct, alter, exchange, condemn, purchase, dispose of, or acquire any space or facility to be used as a court accommodation which involves a total expenditure that exceeds $1,650,000 (which may be adjusted annually by the Director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts) (Director). Requires the Director to: (1) transmit a prospectus to the Congress of the proposed judicial space or facility to secure consideration for such approval; and (2) report to the Congress, within a 15-day period of the convening of each new Congress, a program for the two succeeding fiscal years of projects and actions which the Director determines necessary to carry out his duties. Requires the Director to: (1) certify in such program that a public hearing has been held or an opportunity for such hearing has been afforded in the locality or proposed locality of each major construction, renovation, or acquisition project included in the program; and (2) provide, along with each certification, the final environmental impact statement, a report indicating the consideration given to facts and issues concerning the project, and various alternatives which were raised during the hearing or which were otherwise considered. Authorizes the Director to contract for the acquisition, construction, alteration, purchase, exchange, condemnation, or disposition of any space or facility with the Administrator of the General Services Administration (Administrator) (GSA), the Secretary of the Army, the U.S. Postmaster General, or other officer of the executive branch of the Federal Government with similar expertise. Provides that title to space or facility approved pursuant to this Act shall be held by the Administrator. Amends the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 to require the Administrator of GSA to charge the Judiciary at rates to approximate the applicable cost incurred by GSA for providing space and services to the Judiciary. Title III: Judicial Buildings Fund - Establishes the Federal Judicial Building Fund in the Treasury. Authorizes the Director, subject to the approval of the U.S. Judicial Conference, to impose and collect such user charges and fees necessary for the purpose of financing the construction, purchase, acquisition, or alteration of facilities or space for the judicial branch of the Federal Government.
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Physician Assistant Incentive Act of 1991 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide increased Medicare reimbursement for physician assistants at 97 percent of the physician fee schedule amount for services performed without regard to location or practice setting. Provides for bonus payments for services provided by physician assistants in health professional shortage areas.
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Primary Care Health Practitioner Incentive Act of 1991 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide increased Medicare reimbursement for nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, and certified nurse midwives (practitioners) at 97 percent of the physician fee schedule amount for services performed without regard to location or practice setting. Provides for bonus payments for services provided by such practitioners in health professional shortage areas. Defines "clinical nurse specialist" as an individual who is a registered nurse and is licensed to practice nursing in the State in which the clinical nurse specialist services are performed and holds a master's degree in a defined clinical area of nursing from an accredited educational institution.
United States · United States Congress · 25 November 1991
Establishes a Commission on the Bicentennial of the United States' Democratic Party to coordinate ceremonial events and related activities during 1992. Requires the Commission to submit periodic reports and a final one to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro tempore of the Senate on its activities. Terminates the Commission on February 13, 1993, unless otherwise provided by law.
United States · United States Congress · 21 November 1991
Prescription Drug Cost Containment Act of 1991 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require, in the case of any manufacturer of single source drugs or innovator multiple source drugs, a reduction in the Puerto Rico and possession tax credit according to a specified formula involving the amount of the manufacturer's wages paid to eligible employees in Puerto Rico, the sales of the drug, and price increases. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish at least 15 five-year demonstration projects to determine the impact on: (1) cost, quality of care, and access to prescription drugs of developing, in the area of each project, a Medicare (title XVIII of the Social Security Act) outpatient prescription drug benefit using various forms of benefit design and reimbursement policies; and (2) cost and quality of care of extending coverage of outpatient prescription drugs to Medicare beneficiaries served by community health centers. Sets forth additional purposes for at least some of the projects. Requires a project to provide for coverage of all drugs and biologicals approved by the Federal Food and Drug Administration and all medically accepted indications of the drugs. Requires establishment of a Drug Use Review Board (DUR Board) in each project area, or use of the State Medicaid (title XIX of the Social Security Act) DUR Board, to recommend the design and development of the benefit within the area and establish a program of prospective and retrospective drug use review. Amends the Social Security Act to establish in the Treasury the Medicare Outpatient Prescription Drug Trust Fund. Appropriates to the Fund amounts raised by the credit reduction under this Act. Makes amounts in the Fund available for: (1) carrying out the projects; (2) the expenses of the Prescription Drug Policy Review Commission established by this Act; and (3) improving the accessibility of prescription drugs to the elderly. Establishes the Prescription Drug Policy Review Commission. Mandates a report to specified congressional committees on Federal subsidies and incentives to the pharmaceutical industry. Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to modify reporting requirements regarding average prices for covered outpatient drugs in specified countries.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 1991
Requires a consignee of imported foreign grain to: (1) include an end-use certificate in the documentation covering the entry of such grain; and (2) submit to the Secretary of Agriculture certain quarterly reports regarding the use of such grain. Sets forth civil penalties. Prohibits the Commissioner of Customs from permitting the entry of such grain unless the importer of record presents such certificate at the time of entry.
United States · United States Congress · 12 November 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend for one year the following expiring provisions: (1) the credit for increasing research activities; (2) the targeted jobs credit; (3) the tax exclusion for employer-provided educational assistance; (4) the authority to issue qualified small issue bonds to finance manufacturing facilities and farm property; (5) the itemized deduction for health insurance costs of self-employed individuals; (6) the authority to issue mortgage revenue bonds and mortgage credit certificates; (7) the rules on allocating research and experimental expenditures in determining income from sources within or without the United States; (8) the low-income housing credit; (9) the energy investment credit for solar and geothermal property; (10) the credit for clinical testing expenses for certain drugs for rare diseases or conditions; and (11) the minimum tax exception for gifts of appreciated tangible property.
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1991
Enterprise Capital Formation Act of 1991 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a deduction for gain on investments in new small business stock (seed capital) held for at least five years. Establishes special rules for such investments. Provides for determining the maximum capital gains rate for small business net capital gain or seed capital gain. Treats capital gains on the sale of such stock as a preference item for purposes of the minimum tax.
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1991
Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to report to appropriate congressional committees regarding Department of Agriculture lamb price and supply reporting services, including recommendations for an information gathering system reflective of the lamb industry's market structure.
United States · United States Congress · 6 November 1991
Tax Fairness and Savings Incentive Act of 1991 - Title I: Tax Credit for Children - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit of $300 per qualifying child. Title II: Retirement Savings Incentives - Subtitle A: Retirement Savings Incentives - Removes the limitations on deductions for individual retirement accounts (IRAs) and provides a cost of living adjustment for deductible amounts. Establishes special individual retirement accounts that are nondeductible. Makes such accounts nontaxable if earnings on contributions are held for at least five years. Applies the early withdrawal penalty to distributions made before the end of the five year-period. Subtitle B: Penalty-Free Distributions - Provides exemptions from the ten-percent penalty on early withdrawals from individual retirement plans for: (1) first home purchases; (2) higher education expenses; and (2) financially devastating medical expenses. Requires contributions to be held in certain IRAs (other than special IRAs) for at least five years prior to distributions. Title III: Reduction in Defense Spending - Sets forth limits on budget outlays and authority for defense spending for FY 1993 through 1997. Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to prohibit the Congress from exceeding such limits. Provides for reducing maximum deficit amounts. Prohibits sequestration under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act).
![Official portrait of Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/b000243_200.jpg)