United States · United States Congress · 28 April 1988
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1988 - Provides that no person shall be subjected to discrimination on the basis of handicap in: (1) employment practices and training covered by title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; (2) the sale or rental of housing covered by title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968; (3) any public accommodation covered by title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; (4) transportation services; (5) the actions, practices, and operations of State and local governments; and (6) broadcasts, communications, or telecommunications services. Lists the forms of discrimination which are prohibited by this Act, including: (1) denying any persons the opportunity to participate in or benefit from a service, program, job, or other opportunity on the basis of his or her handicap; (2) establishing (or failing to remove) any architectural, transportation, or communication barriers that prevent the access or limit the participation of persons because of their handicap; (3) failing or refusing to make a reasonable accommodation to permit a handicapped individual to have access to a program, activity, job, or opportunity; (4) imposing any unnecessary standard or criteria that screens out or places the handicapped at a disadvantage; and (5) denying services, programs, jobs, or other opportunities to any person because of that person's relationship to, or association with, a handicapped person. Permits the exclusion or denial of equal access to services, programs, jobs, or other opportunities to persons: (1) for reasons unrelated to the existence of their handicap; or (2) based upon the application of standards or criteria that are necessary and substantially related to the ability to perform essential components of the job, program, activity, or opportunity, and such performance cannot be accomplished by a reasonable accommodation. States that it shall be an act of discrimination, in regard to housing, to discriminate in the sale or rental of a dwelling (or in the terms, conditions, or privileges of such sale or rental) to any buyer or renter because of the physical or mental impairment of: (1) the buyer or renter; (2) a person residing in, or intending to reside in, such dwelling; or (3) any person associated with the buyer or renter. States that it shall be an act of discrimination to: (1) refuse to permit reasonable modifications, at the expense of the handicapped person, to afford such person enjoyment of the premises; (2) refuse to make reasonable accommodation in rules, policies, practices, or services to afford handicapped individuals equal opportunity to use and enjoy the dwelling; or (3) fail to design and construct multifamily dwellings (after a specified date) which are accessible to the handicapped. Provides certain limitations on the duties of accommodation and barrier removal. Sets forth guidelines for the establishment of requirements and promulgation of regulations by specified Federal entities with respect to: (1) the accessibility of buildings and transportation systems; (2) the implementation and enforcement of the requirements of this Act; (3) employment practices; (4) the sale and rental of housing; and (5) the removal of communication barriers. Establishes procedures for the administrative enforcement of the provisions of this Act. Establishes a civil right of action for individuals who are subjected to discrimination in violation of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 28 April 1988
Pro Competition Cargo Allocation Act of 1988 - Amends the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 to repeal various provisions relating to cargo preference shipping requirements for certain agricultural exports, including provisions relating to preserving the percentage share or metric tonnage of certain commodities of waterborne cargoes exported from Great Lakes ports.
United States · United States Congress · 28 April 1988
Amends the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 to extend indefinitely, with regard to certain cargo preference provisions, the requirement that the Secretary of Transportation take steps to preserve the percentage share, or metric tonnage of bagged, processed, or fortified commodities experienced in calendar year 1984, of waterborne cargoes exported from Great Lakes ports pursuant to specified provisions of the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954.
United States · United States Congress · 27 April 1988
Amends Federal veterans' benefits provisions concerning eligibility and entitlement under the All-Volunteer Educational Assistance program to provide that, for a veteran suffering from alcoholism, the ten-year delimiting period during which a veteran is entitled to such educational benefits shall not begin to run until such veteran has recovered from such alcoholism. Provides the same time limitation exception, with respect to a veteran suffering from alcoholism, in the case of a veteran's eligibility for the following benefits: (1) veterans' training and rehabilitation assistance for veterans with service-connected disabilities; (2) post-Vietnam Era veterans' educational assistance; (3) veterans' educational assistance; and (4) survivors' and dependents' educational assistance.
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 1988
Expresses the sense of the Senate that consideration of legislation to repeal statutes requiring the collection of the diesel fuel tax from off-road farm users should be expedited and consequent refunds returned to affected purchasers as quickly as possible.
United States · United States Congress · 19 April 1988
Expresses the sense of the Senate that: (1) the Environmental Protection Agency should encourage the use of biodegradable plastic bags and other degradable plastic applications; and (2) the General Services Administration should implement, when possible, the use of biodegradable bags and other degradable plastic products in its operations.
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 1988
Rural Regeneration Act of 1988 - Title I: Education and Training Opportunities for Rural Americans - Subtitle A: Transition Assistance - Amends the Job Training Partnership Act to provide grants for the Federal share of State demonstration projects to aid dislocated or threatened farmers and ranchers and agriculture-related businesses in distressed rural areas. Sets forth: (1) grant allocation and priority criteria; (2) State application requirements; and (3) recipient and activity eligibility (including child care services). Requires a program report to the Congress. Authorizes appropriations beginning with FY 1989. Permits States to qualify for certain job training funds under such Act on the basis of agricultural economic downturns. Directs the Secretary of Labor to collect data and publish a report on rural unemployment and farmer and rancher dislocation. Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to authorize matching grants to improve courses of instruction for students in rural institutions. Authorizes appropriations beginning with FY 1989. Subtitle B: Development Assistance - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to make institutions having 75 percent of their students residing in economically distressed rural areas eligible for development assistance grants. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 1992 the income exclusion of amounts from educational assistance programs with respect to rural employees. Title II: Agricultural Assistance Programs - Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to make income supplements to certain economically distressed Farmers Home Administration farm borrowers to enable them to: (1) engage more effectively in farming or ranching; or (2) use in the transition to other careers. Requires repayment of such amounts plus interest within three years. Converts such loan to a grant if the recipient leaves farming within 12 months of receipt of the first payment. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary to establish a pilot program of lump sum payments to producers in lieu of price support, loan, and program adjustment payments. Requires participants to remove their land from support and adjustment crops for ten years. Administers such program through the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service. Title III: Rural Community Programs - Amends the Rural Development Act of 1972 to expand the scope of local, State, and Federal rural development efforts. Title IV: Infrastructure Resources - Subtitle A: Transitional Assistance - Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to establish a program of State rural infrastructure grants. Obligates a specified amount for Indian and territorial programs. Sets forth: (1) allocation provisions; (2) program requirements; and (3) grant use provisions. Authorizes FY 1989 through 1991 appropriations. Subtitle B: Developmental Assistance - Amends the Farm Credit Act of 1971 to require the Farm Credit Administration to permit Federal land banks and production credit associations to lend to local businesses if other credit is not available. Requires an applicant to provide certification of such commercial credit unavailability. Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to capitalize revolving loan and grant funds on a matching basis with State and local entities to promote rural business opportunities in distressed areas. Authorizes appropriations. Provides for rural set-asides in Federal formula funding. Amends the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act to establish rural area priority in certain construction projects. Title V: Health Care Provisions - Amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 to increase the FY 1989 and 1990 authorization of appropriations, and authorize FY 1991 appropriations, for the rural hospital grant program. Title VI: Rural Communications - Amends the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 to give priority to rural telephone loan applications for advanced communications projects which will enhance rual economic development. Expresses the sense of the Senate regarding the importance of maintaining telephone toll rate averaging. Expresses the sense of the Senate that the Rural Electrification Administration should extend its consideration to all standard form contracts and bring its contracts in line with current developments in technology and commercial law. Title VII: Miscellaneous - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture, in cooperation with other Federal agencies, to enter into cooperative rural development agreements with States for certain services, including information and education services. Authorizes FY 1989 appropriations. Directs the Secretary, in conjunction with other Federal agencies, to conduct a study of overlapping Federal rural programs, with special emphasis on related administrative expenses, and report to the appropriate congressional committees. Directs the Office of Management and Budget to score outlays and budget authority that result from agricultural loan extensions at no greater than the amount of each guarantee or the historic loss level for programs with an adequate history.
United States · United States Congress · 12 April 1988
Condemns the use of chemical weapons by Iraq and calls upon Iraq to halt the use of such weapons. Commends the President for his prompt condemnation of Iraq's recent chemical weapons attack on civilians. Urges the President to: (1) seek allied cooperation to tighten controls on the export of chemical compounds to countries seeking to develop a chemical weapons capability; (2) make appropriate diplomatic efforts to prevent Iran from developing or using chemical weapons; and (3) intensify American efforts at the Geneva Conference on Disarmament and in bilateral discussions with the Soviet Union to achieve an arms control agreement banning the production, use, and transfer of chemical weapons.
United States · United States Congress · 31 March 1988
Amends the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 to declare that its requirements do not apply to motor vehicles used solely for firefighting, emergency rescue, medical purposes, or farming purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 31 March 1988
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to disallow both an income tax deduction and application of the foreign tax credit in connection with taxes paid or accrued after March 24, 1988, to the Republic of Panama, except for taxes paid to the government recognized as legitimate by the United States. Terminates these limitations when the Secretary of State certifies to the Congress that progress toward restoration of constitutional government in Panama has been made.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 1988
Directs the Federal Communications Commission to establish and implement a telecommunications relay system to increase access to Federal departments and agencies for users of Telecommunications Devices for the Deaf (TDDs). Requires the system and its associated plans to include: (1) expansion of the existing relay system to a prescribed minimum service level; (2) accessibility of TDDs in Federal agencies; (3) publication of a TDD directory of Government access numbers; (4) adoption and display of logos identifying TDD stations; and (5) support for the development of cost-effective and hardware-based technologies. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1988
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should negotiate an agreement with the Government of Vietnam to establish interest sections in the capitals of both countries to resolve specific issues between the countries.
United States · United States Congress · 23 March 1988
Amends the Revenue Act of 1987 to delay until October 1, 1988, the imposition of excise tax on wholesale sales of diesel and aviation fuels. (Under current law the tax applies to sales after March 31, 1988.)
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1988
Designates the period beginning September 15 and ending October 15 each year as National Hispanic Heritage Month. (Current law designates the week including September 15 and 16 each year as National Hispanic Heritage Week.)
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1988
Amends the Department of Transportation Act regarding local rail service assistance to authorize appropriations for FY 1989 through 1991. Decreases the Federal share of rail service assistance program costs from 70 percent to 60 percent. Provides that the Federal share of costs to rehabilitate rail properties for the purpose of facilitating rail freight service shall be 70 percent.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1988
Petroleum Marketing Practices Act Amendments of 1987 - Amends the Petroleum Marketing Practices Act to provide that, with respect to the sale, consignment, or distribution of motor fuel, the term "franchise" includes any contract between specified parties which is economically necessary to the operation of the franchise. Provides that the termination or non-renewal of a franchise relationship, upon expiration of an underlying lease for marketing premises, is reasonable in the event that the franchisor: (1) has an option to renew or purchase an underlying lease or premises and, at least 90 days before such option expires, provides the franchisee with the name, address, and phone number of the owner or lessor; and (2) agrees not to terminate the franchise relationship solely because of the lease and option expiration during any term during which the franchisee is able to retain possession of the premises as a result of entering into an agreement with the owner or lessor.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 1988
Amends the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 to declare that its requirements do not apply to motor vehicles registered for farm use which are not driven more than 15,000 miles per year.
United States · United States Congress · 14 March 1988
Declares that the President should: (1) posthumously award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Charles E. Thornton, Lee Shapiro, and Jim Lindelof in honor of their efforts to document the Afghan struggle for freedom; and (2) present the award to those individuals' families on March 21, 1988, the start of the new year in Afghanistan.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1988
Amends the National School Lunch Act to require that eligibility for free lunches under the school lunch program be based on the nonfarm income poverty guidelines prescribed by the Office of Management and Budget.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1988
Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to make certain commodity land consisting partially of wetland or converted wetland eligible for inclusion in the conservation reserve program.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1988
National Mars Commission Act - Establishes the National Mars Commission to: (1) develop a strategy for U.S.-Soviet cooperation on unmanned Mars projects, including safeguards against unwanted transfers of technology; and (2) prepare a detailed proposal for a joint U.S.-Soviet manned Mars mission. Details membership and administrative features of the Commission. Directs the Commission, six months after this Act's enactment, to prepare and submit to both the President and the Congress: (1) a report outlining preliminary U.S.-Soviet cooperative strategies with respect to both independent unmanned Mars projects and a joint manned mission; and (2) a final proposal for a joint manned Mars mission by the two countries. Terminates the Commission 30 days following the submission of its final report.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 1988
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt from the required application of uniform inventory cost capitalization rules any animal produced in a farming business, regardless of the animal's preproductive period.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 1988
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the Sergeant at Arms, in exercising authority to compel the attendance of absent Senators pursuant to rule VI of the Standing Rules of the Senate, should comply with certain conditions in the execution of arrest warrants.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 1988
Child Care and Nutrition Enhancement Act of 1988 - Title I: Child Care Grant Program - Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) to make formula grants to States for authorized child care related activities under an approved State plan. Authorizes the Secretary to make competitive grants to eligible child care providers for such authorized activities under an approved application. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1989 through 1991 to carry out this Act (with a separate amount authorized for competitive grants). Directs the Secretary to reserve a portion of such funds for payments to specified U.S. territories and possessions. Directs the Secretary to allot the remainder to each State according to a formula based on the number of single parents and dual-earner family members with children under age 13. Sets forth requirements for use of most recent data and for reallotment. Defines eligible providers as: (1) local governments; (2) local educational agencies; (3) nonprofit organizations, including certain tax-exempt organizations; (4) professional or employee organizations; (5) consortia of small businesses; (6) institutions of higher education; (7) hospitals or health facilities; (8) family child care providers who would qualify for assistance under the Child Care Food Program under the National School Lunch Act; or (9) entities which the State determines are able and appropriate to carry out a project assisted under this title. Authorizes use of grants under this title for: (1) provision of child care services to low- and moderate-income parents (including use of appropriate fee schedules); (2) resource and referral centers (including information, training, and recruitment activities); (3) programs to increase child care slots for infants, handicapped children, and minority children; (4) neighborhood child care centers, after-school child care programs, and startup costs of onsite child care at small businesses; (5) recruitment and training of senior citizens to serve as child care workers; (6) assistance to eligible providers and family-based child care providers to meet State licensing standards; and (7) coordination of programs assisted under this Act with State or federally assisted child care programs, including Head Start, education of disadvantaged children in elementary schools, preschool programs, and handicapped children programs, in order to extend the program hours of child care services. Sets forth requirements for State plans to be carried out by designated State agencies. Sets forth requirements for applications, by eligible providers for grants from States under this title. Requires States to give priority to programs that significantly expand or improve provision of child care services to children of low- and moderate-income parents. Directs the Secretary to make competitive grants from specified funds to eligible providers for authorized activities. Requires the Secretary to give priority to projects of national significance and projects which when replicated will further the objectives of this Act. Requires the designated State agencies to evaluate assisted projects biennially, make such evaluations public, and report to the Secretary on them. Requires the Secretary to summarize the evaluations in the annual report of the Department of Health and Human Services to the Congress. Sets forth provisions for payments to, and expenditures by, States and eligible providers under this title. Title II: Child Care Food Program - Amends the National School Lunch Act to allow reimbursements under the Child Care Food Program for up to two meals and two supplements or one supplement and three meals per day per child. Amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to increase by three cents the reimbursement for each breakfast served under the School Breakfast Program and the Child Care Food Program. Title III: Child Care Homes Tax Credit - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish a child care homes tax credit. Grants home providers of such care a credit for expenditures to acquire, construct, rehabilitate, or expand a qualified child care home to meet State or local requirements. Sets such credit at 20 percent of up to $5,000 of such expenditures per year. Applies the credit to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1988, on expenditures made before December 31, 1993. Title IV: Employer On-Site Child Care Facility Credit - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for employer expenditures for certain on-site child care facilities. Sets such credit at 25 percent of up to $400,000 of expenditures per year. Provides the same credit to groups of businesses which cooperate to establish an off-site child care facility. Applies the credit to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1988, on expenditures made before December 31, 1993. Title V: Dependent Care Services Tax Credit - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for a phase-out of the dependent care services tax credit for higher income households. (Indicates one-child households earning between $35,000 and $45,000, and two-or-more-children households earning between $45,000 and $55,000.) Makes the dependent care services tax credit refundable. Title VI: Child Care Study - Directs the Secretary, within 90 days after the enactment of this Act, to prepare and submit to specified congressional committees a report that: (1) describes the demographic and societal trends that are increasing the need for child care; (2) describes the reasons for the greatly increased need for child care; and (3) develops recommendations for joint efforts by Federal, State, and local governments targeted towards enabling parents to care for children in their own homes.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 1988
Amends the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 to declare that its requirements do not apply to: (1) motor vehicles registered for farm use which are driven less than 15,000 miles per year; or (2) motor vehicles used solely for fire fighting purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 29 February 1988
Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to permit eligible producers to enroll 1988 through 1990 set-aside acreage in a three-year wildlife habitat and vegetative cover set-aside program (program). Directs the Secretary to offer cost-sharing program incentives. Provides for Federal-State cost sharing. Limits program participation to producers who have participated in farm programs in two of the three crop years prior to program enrollment. Limits program acreage to not more than 50 percent of a producer's set-aside acreage, and authorizes the enrollment of up to 50 percent of paid land diversion acreage in the program. Requires the program to be carried out through the Commodity Credit Corporation.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 1988
Requires the Secretary of Commerce to ensure that no member of the armed forces, civilian employee of the Department of Defense, or dependent of such member or employee is excluded from any decennial census based on such member or employee being assigned to a post outside the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 1988
Expresses the sense of the Senate with respect to the banning of political activity in South Africa. Urges: (1) the U.S. Government to increase pressure on the South African Government through political, diplomatic, and economic measures; (2) the President to take immediate action to achieve numerical equivalence in diplomatic missions of the South African and U.S. Governments; and (3) approval of temporary U.S. visas requested by South Africans on a case-by-case basis only after consideration of the South African Government's record of allowing South African citizens, particularly members of anti-apartheid organizations, to travel to the United States.
![Official portrait of Sen. Boschwitz, Rudy [R-MN]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/b000647_200.jpg)