United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1986
Expresses the sense of the Senate that: (1) it is against the national security interests of the United States to abandon existing strategic offensive arms agreements by exceeding the numerical sublimits of such agreements as long as the Soviet Union remains within such sublimits; (2) the Soviet Union should take steps to resolve U.S. concerns about Soviet violations of existing strategic arms agreements and to negotiate a new agreement; and (3) the Congress and the President should continue to review the policy of mutual adherence to the numerical sublimits on launchers of strategic nuclear delivery systems and the significance of both Soviet compliance and noncompliance with existing strategic offensive arms agreements.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1986
Amends the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate the North Fork Kern River and the South Fork Kern River, California, as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1986
Prohibits the relocation of Navajo and Hopi Indians for an 18-month period. Requires the President to establish an advisory commission to study the remaining problems involved in completing specified required relocations of such tribes. Requires the commission to submit a report to the President and the Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1986
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Director of the National Institutes of Health should transfer the Silver Spring Monkeys to the Primarily Primates, Inc., animal sanctuary in San Antonio, Texas.
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 1986
Nation's Capital Preservation Act of 1986 - Designates areas in the national capital region in which buildings erected, altered, or raised so as to be above specified heights shall be subject to an excise tax imposed by this Act. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish such tax.
United States · United States Congress · 6 June 1986
Medicaid AIDS Amendments of 1986 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to permit States to provide home and community-based Medicaid services to individuals diagnosed as having acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) or AIDS-related conditions. Authorizes States to limit Medicaid case management services to individuals with AIDS or AIDS-related conditions.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 1986
Expresses the sense of the Senate that unless the Health Care Financing Administration allocates sufficient funds and takes other action to ensure prompt payment of Medicare claims, the Senate shall adopt legislation ensuring prompt claims payment.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 1986
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the 50-year-old tax exemption of the 84 nonprofit, community-based Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans be retained without modification.
United States · United States Congress · 3 June 1986
Encourages State and local governments and local educational agencies to require quality daily physical education programs for all children from kindergarten through grade 12.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1986
Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986 - Prohibits U.S. persons from: (1) making loans to South Africa or any organization owned or controlled by South Africa; (2) making any investment in South Africa; (3) contributing technology or technological services to the exploration for, or the research, development, or production of, energy sources in or for South Africa; or (4) making deposits in a foreign bank which is organized under South African law or owned or controlled by South Africans or a branch bank located in South Africa. Prohibits foreign banks organized under South African law or owned or controlled by South Africans from establishing or operating branches in the United States. Excludes from such prohibitions those loans, investments, and technology contracts entered into before May 21, 1986. Prohibits importing uranium ore, uranium oxide, coal, and steel from South Africa. Prohibits: (1) U.S. persons from making or holding any investment in South Africa in a business that sells computers, computer software, or computer services; and (2) exporting computers, computer software, or computer services to South Africa. Provides that such computer investment and export prohibitions shall not apply if, within 12 months of enactment of this Act: (1) the President certifies to the Congress that South Africa has freed Nelson Mandela and all political prisoners and has entered into good faith negotiations with truly representative leaders of the black majority for a new political system or has totally dismantled the apartheid system; and (2) a joint resolution is enacted approving such certification. Provides for expedited consideration of such resolution. Authorizes using additional funds for aid for South Africa under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1962. Earmarks such funds for refugee assistance programs and community development projects. Requires the President to give quarterly reports to specified congressional committees on the assistance provided with such funds. Requires the Secretary of Transportation to prohibit the takeoff and landing in the United States of aircraft owned by South Africa or South African nationals except in emergencies. Provides for the enforcement of this Act and for penalties for violations of this Act. Requires the President to try, through negotiations, to persuade other countries to adopt restrictions on activities with respect to South Africa consistent with this Act. Requires the President to report annually to the Congress on the status of such negotiations. Sets forth information to be included in such reports. Requires the President, during June of 1988, to report to the Congress on whether South Africa has: (1) freed Nelson Mandela and all political prisoners and has entered into good faith negotiations with truly representative leaders of the black majority for a new political system; or (2) has totally dismantled the apartheid system. Requires the President, if such conditions have not been met, to include in such report recommendations on whether U.S. persons should be required to divest themselves of their South African investments. Terminates all the provisions of this Act upon enactment of a joint resolution approving a presidential determination that such conditions have been met.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1986
Directs the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to cause a named vessel to be documented as a vessel of the United States entitled to engage in the coastwise and fisheries trades.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1986
POW/MIA Technical Meetings Initiative of 1986 - Requires the United States to continue to: (1) try to have certain technical meetings with Vietnamese officials resumed; and (2) underscore the importance of pursuing resolution of the POW/MIA issue, apart from all other issues.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 1986
Amends the Export Administration Act of 1979 to direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish a western regional office with the authority to issue export licenses.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 1986
Repeals provisions of the Department of Defense Authorization Act, 1985 which: (1) provide a remedy against the United States for loss of property, personal injury, or death due to exposure to radiation based on acts or omissions by a contractor conducting atomic weapons tests under a contract with the United States; and (2) preclude any other civil action by individuals against a contractor for the purpose of determining civil liability from acts or omissions of such contractor. Makes the period during which such provision was in effect inapplicable for purposes of the tolling of any statute of limitations for claims.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 1986
Authorizes the President, on behalf of the Congress, to present a gold medal to Aaron Copland in recognition of his contributions to American musical composition. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to provide for the sale of bronze duplicates of the medal. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 1986
First-Time Homebuyer Opportunity Act of 1986 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow distributions from an individual retirement account or annuity to be used to purchase a home by a first-time homebuyer. Limits the amount of such a distribution to a $10,000 aggregate maximum. Defines a "first-time homebuyer" as any individual who has had no present ownership interest in a principal residence during the three-year period prior to the purchase of the principal residence for which individual retirement account distributions are used.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 1986
Cost-of-Living-Adjustment-Reform Act of 1986 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to replace the requirement that there be at least a three-percent rise in the Consumer Price Index before a cost-of-living adjustment of benefits is made with a requirement that such an adjustment be made whenever the cost of living increase is greater than zero.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 1986
Expresses the sense of the Senate that appropriate tax treatment for long-term capital gains investments should be incorporated into tax reform legislation, and that this can be accomplished by one or both of the following measures: (1) a meaningful differential for long-term capital gains; or (2) a proper indexation of invested assets to account for inflation.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 1986
Veterans' Compensation and Benefits Improvements Act of 1986 - Title I: Disability Compensation and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation Rate Increases - Amends Federal law to increase the rates of: (1) veterans' disability compensation; (2) additional compensation for dependents; (3) the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans; (4) dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and for children; and (5) supplemental dependency and indemnity compensation for children. Requires the Administrator of Veterans Affairs to provide alternative rates of increases for such compensation if the percentage of increase for benefits under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act is not 3.4 percent. Requires the Administrator to publish any alternative rate increases in the Federal Register. Title II: Improvement in the Administration of the Veterans' Home Loan Guaranty Program - Amends Federal law relating to foreclosure of veterans' home loans to prohibit the Administrator from accepting conveyance of a property from the holder of a defaulted loan unless the Administrator is likely to be able to sell such property within one year for a price which would be economically advantageous to the United States. Title III: Improvements in Other Veterans' Programs - Authorizes the Administrator to collect certain debts owed to the Veterans Administration (VA) by veterans through offset of compensation or pension payable to such veterans under laws administered by the VA. Authorizes the Administrator, in certain instances, to require the disclosure of financial information by Federal fiduciaries of veterans or their minors or incompetents. Authorizes the Administrator to undertake the construction, alteration, and acquisition of adequate parking facilities at VA medical facilities and establish fees for the use of such parking facilities. Prohibits a fee from being charged for the accommodation of any vehicle used to transport a veteran to or from any medical facility for examination or treatment. Authorizes appropriations for the construction, operation, and maintenance of such parking facilities. Requires such authorized appropriations and any parking fees collected to be placed in a revolving fund. Prohibits funds other than funds from the revolving fund from being used to construct, alter, or acquire a parking facility at a medical facility after September 30, 1986. Authorizes the waiver of congressional notice-and-wait requirements before allowing the administrative reorganization of certain VA activities. Specifies the reorganization included in such waiver.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 1986
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the current tax treatment of individual retirement accounts should be retained and that such retention is consistent with the goals of tax reform.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 1986
Amends Federal law to establish an increased veterans' home loan guaranty limitation amount of $30,900,000,000 reduced by 4.3 percent for purposes of implementing any sequestration order issued by the President for FY 1986 calling for a reduction of such loan commitments.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 1986
Provides for a right to money damages to any U.S. citizen who has been injured in his business or property by the dumping of a commodity by a foreign person. Allows such a citizen to petition the U.S. Court of International Trade for damages if there has been a final affirmative finding by the Department of Commerce and the International Trade Commission in an antidumping duty investigation. Grants such Court jurisdiction over any foreign person who has been found to have dumped commodities in the United States. Sets forth: (1) the method for calculation of damages by such Court; and (2) procedures for the satisfaction of judgment awards. Provides for the stay of actions for damages pending review by such Court. Requires a petitioner, after an affirmative finding of dumping, to make an election, in writing, to the Commission, that it chooses to: (1) allow the imposition of antidumping duties according to specified Federal law; or (2) preserve the right to seek damages from foreign producers who dump their products in the United States. Provides for a different assessment of antidumping duties depending on such election. Allows a petitioner to seek additional damages if there is a finding of continued dumping of such foreign commodities. Provides for civil penalties for foreign persons who have been the subject of multiple affirmative antidumping determinations. Requires the Secretary of Commerce to maintain a list of all persons who produce commodities which have been the subject of a final affirmative determination by the administering authority. Requires the Secretary to commence an action in the U.S. Court of International Trade for the collection of penalties against persons who have been the subject of two or more affirmative determinations. Grants the U.S. Court of International Trade exclusive jurisdiction over civil actions for damages commenced pursuant to this Act. Prohibits the award of damages or the assessment of civil penalties which are found to violate U.S. legal obligations under international agreements, including the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). Requires the President to negotiate bilateral and multilateral agreements to harmonize the provisions of this Act with the U.S. legal obligations under such international agreements (including GATT).
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 1986
Access to Health Care Act of 1986 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose an excise tax on large employers equal to ten percent of the expenses paid for employee health benefits if the employer does not participate in a State established qualified health insurance pooling association. Defines a "large employer" as an employer who has employed 20 or more individuals on each of 20 days during the taxable year. Defines a "qualified pooling association" as a State chartered nonprofit corporation which offers individuals and their dependents health insurance which: (1) has a limit of annual out-of-pocket expenses for covered services of $1,500 for individual coverage and $3,000 for family coverage; (2) has a lifetime benefit limit for any individual of not less than $500,000; (3) has deductibles which do not exceed $1,000; (4) denies services for preexisting conditions for no more than six months; (5) has a pool premium rate which does not exceed 150 percent of the average premium rates for comparable health insurance coverage; and (6) assesses losses of the pool equitably among all participating members. Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to require States to develop programs of health care assistance for the uninsured and the underinsured. Requires that such program must provide for payment for the unreimbursed costs incurred by each hospital in the State in furnishing medically necessary inpatient and outpatient services. Requires States to implement such a program by January 1, 1988, or on the first January 1st following State legislative sessions which do not occur before January 1, 1988, in order to continue to qualify for Federal matching funds for Medicaid administrative expenses. Denies an income tax deduction for employer contributions made to group health plans unless: (1) the employer allows terminated employees the option of continuing health insurance for a period of up to 22 months after termination (extended from 18 months); (2) the employer continues premium payments for health benefits for a period of four months after an employee has been involuntarily terminated; and (3) the employer provides an open-enrollment period when an employee's spouse has lost employment. Allows an income tax deduction for certain group health plan contributions for the benefit of self-employed individuals. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct studies and demonstration projects on ways to reduce the cost for small employers and self-employed individuals in obtaining health insurance. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress on the results of such studies and demonstration projects not later than January 1, 1988.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 1986
Access to Health Care Act of 1986 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require each large employer (employing 20 or more individuals) that offers a health benefits plan to be a member of a qualified pooling association in its State. Subjects non-complying large employers to a civil penalty. Requires each State to: (1) have in effect a qualified State plan of assistance for the uninsured and underinsured; or (2) provide health care coverage for such individuals. Expands title XXII (Requirements for Certain Group Health Plans) of the Public Health Service Act to cover private, as well as public, employers. Extends the maximum period of continuation coverage from 18 to 22 months. Requires employers to continue to pay the premiums of certain terminated or reduced hours employees for up to four months. Requires such group health plans to provide for an open enrollment period for each married employee who is, or would be, covered under the plan and whose spouse loses or will lose coverage due to a qualifying event. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide for studies and demonstration projects on ways to reduce the costs for small employers and self-employed individuals in obtaining health insurance.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1986
Veterans' Administration Health-Care Programs Extension and Improvement Act of 1986 - Amends Federal veterans' benefits provisions to require Veterans Administration (VA) police officers to enforce State and local traffic laws (currently, only Federal law is enforced) on VA property. Includes as a veterans' medical benefit medical services necessary to overcome a service-connected disability which impairs the veteran's procreative ability. Includes as a veterans' benefit the continued counseling services for a deceased veteran's family member for up to six months following the veteran's death. Makes veterans eligible for domiciliary care if such veteran: (1) has a service-connected disability; or (2) is incapacitated with no means of support. Extends eligibility for readjustment counseling and related mental health services to veterans serving on active duty who also: (1) served on active duty during the Vietnam era; or (2) served on active duty after May 7, 1975, in an area where hostile action occurred. Authorizes the Administrator of Veterans Affairs, beginning on October 1, 1986, and ending on September 30, 1989, to conduct a pilot program to furnish respite care services to certain veterans with service-connected disabilities. Defines "respite care." Requires the Administrator to conduct a study concerning the furnishing of such care, and to submit the results of such study, together with any recommendations, to the Senate and House Veterans' Affairs Committees no later than February 1, 1990. Directs the VA, beginning on January 1, 1987, and ending on December 31, 1990, to conduct a pilot program under which certain veterans will be furnished medical, rehabilitative, and health-related care in noninstitutional settings at ten demonstration project sites. Gives priorities for selecting veterans to such program. Outlines certain administrative actions to be taken in order to avoid duplication of services from the VA and other sources, including the providing of case management services by the VA for each veteran furnished such services. Authorizes the Administrator to furnish in-kind assistance to facilities furnishing services to veterans under these provisions. Prohibits the total cost of conducting the pilot program from exceeding 60 percent of the cost incurred by the VA if the VA had instead furnished such services. Requires the Administrator to conduct a study concerning such program, and report the study's findings, concerning the operation of the program during its first 36 months, to the Senate and House Veterans' Affairs Committees no later than February 1, 1990. Requires the Administrator to submit a final report concerning the study to the same committees no later than April 1, 1991. Extends until September 30, 1989, the authority of the Administrator to contract for medical care for veterans in the Philippines. Extends until September 30, 1989, the authorization of appropriations for making grants to upgrade medical equipment used for veterans in the Philippines. Extends indefinitely the pilot program of providing independent living services and assistance to certain eligible veterans. Extends through FY 1991 the authorization of appropriations for making grants to State facilities for the furnishing of medical services to veterans.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1986
Amends Federal law to establish an increased veterans' home loan guaranty limitation amount of $30,900,000,000 reduced by 4.3 percent for purposes of implementing any sequestration order issued by the President for FY 1986 calling for a reduction of such loan commitments.
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 1986
Amends part A (Hospital Insurance) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to freeze the inpatient hospital deductible in the case of any spell of illness beginning after 1985. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to propose to the Congress methods by which the annual adjustment in the inpatient hospital deductible may be made more comparable to the annual adjustment made in the prospective payment rates used to cover the operating costs of inpatient hospital services.
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 1986
Medicare Quality Protection Act of 1986 - Title I: Quality Assurance in Inpatient Hospital Settings - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop and submit to the Congress a legislative proposal to improve the prospective payment system established under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act so that it more accurately approximates the costs of inpatient hospital services and accounts for variations in case complexity. Amends the Medicare program to require a hospital to give Medicare beneficiaries, upon their admission to the hospital, a written statement explaining: (1) the individual's rights to benefits for inpatient hospital and post-hospital Medicare services; (2) the circumstances under which such individual will be liable for charges for a continued hospital stay; (3) the individual's right to appeal denials of continued hospital services; and (4) the individual's liability for payment for services if such a denial of benefits is upheld on appeal. Amends part B (Peer Review) of title XI of the Act to require peer review organizations receiving a hospital inpatient's request for review of a hospital's decision that the patient no longer needs inpatient care to inform the patient of its decision within two days of receiving the request. Prohibits hospitals from charging patients for inpatient hospital services provided while patients wait for a peer review organization to respond to their timely review requests. Imposes a civil money penalty on hospitals which make payments to physicians and on physicians who knowingly receive payments which constitute an inducement to curtail the stay of, or services provided to, an identifiable patient. Directs the Secretary to study the adequacy of standards used for hospital compliance with Medicare participation conditions in assuring the quality of hospital services. Requires the Secretary to study the adequacy with which the prospective payment system compensates hospitals, and distributes such compensation among hospitals, for costs attributable to patients' extended hospital stays necessitated by delays in patient placement in skilled nursing facilities. Title II: Access to Appropriate Post-Hospital Care - Amends part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of the Medicare program to require hospitals to implement a discharge planning process which meets guidelines and standards, to be established by the Secretary, ensuring patients a timely and smooth transition to the most appropriate type of, and setting for, post-hospital or rehabilitative care. Extends the limitations on beneficiary liability for disallowed Medicare claims to cover home health services provided to certain unqualified individuals. Provides that skilled nursing facilities and home health agencies which keep their services for which Medicare coverage is denied below specified percentages and comply with certain administrative requirements shall not subsequently be denied payment for care provided. Sets forth reporting requirements. Directs the Secretary to develop a uniform needs assessment instrument enabling health care providers and fiscal intermediaries to evaluate an individual's need and ability to pay for post-hospital extended care, home-health, and long-term care services. Requires the Secretary to develop procedures to expedite fiscal intermediaries' determinations as to whether provider claims for post-hospital extended care and home health services may be reimbursed under the Medicare program. Directs the Secretary to provide for prompt response (within 24 hours) to beneficiary requests as to whether the beneficiary's Medicare coverage for post-hospital extended care services has been exhausted. Authorizes providers to represent beneficiaries on appeals of benefit determinations. Permits beneficiary appeals of the Secretary's denials of claims for home health service benefits. Amends the Social Security Amendments of 1983 to extend, through 1989, the annual report on the impact of the prospective payment system and require the inclusion of information in such reports regarding the quality, and accessibility to Medicare beneficiaries, of post-hospital services. Title III: Improved Review of Quality by Peer Review Organizations - Amends part B (Peer Review) of title XI of the Act to require hospitals to submit data to peer review organizations on a monthly basis. Requires peer review organizations to review selected cases where individuals are readmitted to a hospital within 30 days of their most recent hospital discharge to determine if the previous inpatient hospital services and post-hospital services met professionally recognized health care standards. Directs each peer review organization to commit a reasonable proportion of its activities to review of the quality of services provided in cases and settings where potential quality problems have been identified. Requires the Secretary to identify methods facilitating the discovery of such cases. Requires each peer review organization to have at least one consumer representative on its board of directors. Directs such organizations to investigate all written beneficiary complaints about the quality of Medicare services which are filed with the organization. Requires peer review organizations to share data with organizations responsible for accrediting providers or State officials responsible for assuring quality care if such data reflects a substantial failure by providers or practitioners to provide quality care. Title IV: Study to Develop a Strategy for Quality Review and Assurance - Directs the Secretary to arrange a study which will serve as the basis for establishing a strategy for reviewing and assuring the quality of care provided under the Medicare program. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress regarding the study within two years of enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 17 April 1986
Directs the President, within a specified time, to report to the Congress on the status and implementation of the recommendations of the President's Commission on Industrial Competitiveness.
United States · United States Congress · 16 April 1986
Agricultural Credit Act of 1986 - Title I: Deferrals - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture, and a State at its option, to provide interest rate subsidies to lenders who defer principal or interest payments on agricultural loans. Limits eligible aggregate loan amounts. Sets forth rate reductions. Establishes a three-year deferral period. States that at the end of such period lenders may not charge interest rates in excess of existing comparable rates. Permits lenders to enforce pre-deferral loan terms in the event of a nonmonetary borrower default. Requires lenders to develop debt restructuring guidelines. Terminates Federal and State subsidy payments upon foreclosure. Directs the Secretary to use the Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund to carry out such subsidy program. Authorizes the use during FY 1986 through 1989 of additional specified funds under the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act. States that the fixed rate mortgage requirement in any restructured loan under this Act supersedes State law. Sets forth penalties for misuse of funds under this Act. Title II: Conservation Provisions - Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to prohibit such loan deferral assistance to producers who cultivate crops on erodible land or wetlands. Title III: Accounting Provisions - Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to require the appropriate Federal banking agency to: (1) permit an insured agricultural bank to account for debt restructuring according to generally accepted accounting principles by not requiring a change in the recorded investment unless the investment exceeds total, reasonably anticipated, future receipts given the new terms of the loan; (2) establish a program of capital standard forbearance for such an insured bank for which capital reduction is attributable to problems in the agricultural sectors of the economy; and (3) implement call report requirements for renegotiated loans which authorize such loans to be disclosed as "restructured and in compliance with modified terms." Requires States to conform their appropriate regulations to such amendments. Prohibits a national banking association from holding real estate under mortgage or purchased to secure debts for longer than ten years with no extension (currently, five years with a five-year extension if approved by the Comptroller of the Currency). Directs the Comptroller of the Currency to establish new lending limits for banks covered by the capital standard forbearance program. Prohibits such a lending limitation from exceeding 20 percent of the unimpaired capital and unimpaired surplus of the lending institution. Requires participating banks to establish debt restructuring guidelines. Permits participating banks to enforce pre-restructured loan terms in the event of a nonmonetary borrower default.
United States · United States Congress · 15 April 1986
Amends veterans' benefits provisions to extend from September 30, 1986, to September 30, 1989, the period of time during which veterans readjustment appointments (noncompetitive civil service position appointments) may be made for Vietnam veterans.
![Official portrait of Sen. Cranston, Alan [D-CA]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/c000877_200.jpg)