United States · United States Congress · 17 June 1991
Outlaw Gang Control Act of 1991 - Title I: Enhanced Penalties for the Misuse of Firearms and Explosives - Amends the Federal criminal code to make it unlawful to possess stolen firearms, ammunition, or explosives, subject to certain conditions. (Current law makes it unlawful to ship, transport, or receive stolen firearms, or to receive, transport, ship, sell, or dispose of stolen explosives.) Makes it unlawful to transfer a firearm having reasonable cause to believe that such firearm will be used to commit a crime of violence or drug trafficking crime. (Current law provides that the transferor must know that the firearm will be used to commit such crimes.) Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the statute of limitations from three years to five years for specified violations of the National Firearms Act. Makes it unlawful for anyone other than a licensed manufacturer, dealer, or collector, who does not reside in any State, to receive a firearm. Specifies that whoever steals a firearm or explosive material that is moving in interstate or foreign commerce shall be fined, imprisoned for between five and ten years, or both. Establishes a mandatory minimum penalty of five years' imprisonment for possession of (current law specifies only using or carrying) a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence or drug trafficking crime. Provides that: (1) the penalty for conspiring to violate the Federal firearms or explosives laws shall be the same as for the substantive offense; and (2) whoever steals a firearm from a licensed importer, manufacturer, dealer, or collector, or explosive material from a licensed importer, manufacturer, dealer, or permittee, shall be fined or imprisoned for up to ten years, or both. Title II: Seizure and Forfeiture - Expands the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury to seize and forfeit: (1) personal property in connection with the investigation of violations of Federal criminal code provisions relating to the use or carrying of firearms during and in relation to a crime of violence or drug trafficking crime; and (2) real or personal property that is involved, used, or intended to be used in connection with, or which constitutes or is derived from proceeds traceable to, specified explosive materials violations. Prohibits the forfeiture of property to the extent of the interest of an owner or lienholder by reason of a violation committed without the knowledge of such owner or lienholder. Sets forth procedures with respect to the seizure and forfeiture of property under this title. Title III: Funds for Undercover Purchases - Requires that moneys expended from appropriations for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (BATF) for the purchase of alcohol, tobacco, firearms, and explosives for evidentiary purposes and subsequently recovered shall be reimbursed to the appropriation current at the time of deposit. Title IV: National Center for Outlaw Gang Analysis - Establishes within the BATF the National Center for Outlaw Gang Analysis to identify outlaw gangs that engage in drug-related and other violent crime, to gather and share intelligence on illegal drug activities undertaken by such gangs, to increase public awareness, to establish a national hotline for the public to report unlawful gang activity, to conduct seminars and conferences for law enforcement and correction agencies and community leaders, and to publish an annual report on gang identification, the incidence of gang use of explosives and firearms, and the results of Federal outlaw gang eradication efforts. Authorizes appropriations. Makes the Director of the BATF responsible for: (1) providing national oversight in the accumulation and dissemination of gang-related information; and (2) coordinating gang-related investigations by Federal law enforcement agencies.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1991
Sets forth U.S. policy with respect to Central and Eastern Europe. Requires the United States to provide assistance for eligible Central and East European countries to the extent that such countries are taking steps toward: (1) constitutional democracy and political pluralism; (2) economic reform; (3) respect for human rights and the protection of civil liberties; and (4) a willingness to build a relationship with the United States. Defines an "eligible country" as: (1) any Central or East European country taking such steps; and (2) democratic governments at the republic level that exist within countries which include a ruling communist majority in other republic governments or at the Federal level as well as states which the U.S. Government has never recognized as part of the Soviet Union. Authorizes ineligible Central or East European countries to receive urgent humanitarian assistance if the President notifies the Congress. Provides that assistance programs should address the promotion of democracy and encouragement of free market systems. Lists authorized types of assistance. Permits assistance to include actions listed under the Support for East European Democracy (SEED) Act of 1989. Makes any authority under such Act to provide assistance or take action with respect to Poland or Hungary applicable to assistance or actions with respect to any eligible Central or East European country. Authorizes the President to use funds made available for assistance for Eastern Europe under the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1991 to provide balance of payments support with respect to eligible countries. Authorizes appropriations. Permits the President to provide support to Enterprise Funds for eligible East European countries, subject to the same authorities applicable to Enterprise Funds for Poland and Hungary established under SEED. Permits Federal agencies authorized to provide assistance or conduct programs pursuant to SEED for Poland or Hungary to provide assistance or conduct programs for eligible Central and East European countries. Authorizes the President to designate agencies to implement programs for management and technical assistance to governments and private enterprises in Central and East European countries.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the treatment of rental and nonrental real estate activities under the limitations on losses from passive activities.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1991
Amends the Federal criminal code to punish as a Federal criminal offense acts of international parental child kidnapping. Subjects any individual who removes a child from, or conceals or detains a child outside, the territorial jurisdiction of the United States for payment or promise of payment at the instruction of a person who has not been granted custody of the child by a court of law to a fine, up to three years' imprisonment, or both. Sets forth as affirmative defenses that the defendant: (1) acted within the provisions of a valid court order granting the defendant legal custody or visitation rights, and that such order was obtained pursuant to the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act and was in effect at the time of the offense; (2) was fleeing an incidence or pattern of domestic violence; or (3) had physical custody of the child pursuant to a court order granting legal custody or visitation rights and failed to return the child as a result of circumstances beyond the defendant's control, subject to specified conditions. Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to ensure that sentencing guidelines reflect the appropriateness of imposing a greater sentence than would otherwise be imposed for such offense under specified circumstances, such as where the defendant abused or neglected the kidnapped child or the defendant committed the offense while armed with a deadly weapon. Specifies that if a child was removed from the territorial jurisdiction of the United States prior to the enactment of this Act, charges under this Act may be approved only in cases involving the concealing or detaining of the child in violation of a court order that existed at the time of the child's removal from the territorial jurisdiction of the United States. Authorizes appropriations to conduct national, regional, and State training and education programs on criminal and civil aspects of international and interstate parental child abduction under the State Justice Institute Act of 1984.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 1991
Chinese Student Protection Act of 1991 - Defers enforced departure for certain Chinese student and exchange visitor nationals until January 1, 1994, or July 1, 1994, if the President has not certified to the Congress that conditions in the People's Republic of China permit the safe return of such nationals. Waives the two-year home country residence requirement and authorizes such students to travel abroad and work in the United States. Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for the adjustment to temporary resident status of certain nationals of the People's Republic of China residing in the United States under student, vocational student, or exchange visitor visas. Waives the two-year home country residence requirement for such persons.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 1991
Designates August 1, 1991, as Helsinki Human Rights Day. Authorizes and requests the President to: (1) reassert American commitment to the Helsinki Accords; (2) raise the issue of noncompliance with such Accords with any signatory nation which may be in violation; (3) convey to all signatories of such Accords that respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms is vital to progress in the ongoing Helsinki process; and (4) develop new proposals to advance the human rights objectives of the Helsinki process, including the self-determination of peoples.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 1991
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President, in recommending in 1992 a waiver of human rights and emigration requirements for nondiscriminatory treatment (most-favored-nation treatment) for the Soviet Union under the Trade Act of 1974, should consider whether: (1) specified objectives relating to emigration and Helsinki Accords have been and will be met by such country during the period of the waiver; and (2) Soviet law and intent are resulting in a sustained pattern of emigration and a cessation of hidden barriers to it.
United States · United States Congress · 3 June 1991
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the American public should observe the 100th anniversary of filmmaking in 1993 and recognize the American Film Institute's leadership role in preserving the art of film.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 1991
Alternative Fuels Incentive Act of 1991 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax deduction for the costs of qualified clean-burning (natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, or alcohol) motor vehicle fuel property or refueling property. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to make equivalent payments to States and to local governments in connection with qualified property.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 1991
Federal Mass Transportation Act of 1991 - Amends the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964 (the Act) to declare that one of the purposes of the Act is to provide assistance to State and local governments in their efforts to implement programs that support national goals, improve air quality, energy conservation and independence, international competitiveness, and mobility for elderly, disabled, and economically disadvantaged persons. Redesignates the Urban Mass Transportation Administration as the Federal Transit Administration. Declares that the Congress strongly supports a Federal policy that promotes increased use of commute-to-work benefits and that is consistent with national objectives of energy conservation, reduced reliance on energy imports, lessened congestion, and clean air. Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation (Secretary) to make discretionary grants or loans to States and local agencies to finance mass transportation services to meet the special needs of elderly and handicapped persons. Authorizes the Secretary to pay any costs (inclusive of debt service) to retire any long-term debt incurred by an applicant to finance mass transportation projects, including debt to complete such a project for which a letter of intent or full funding contract has been issued by the Secretary when the debt is incurred, in spite of an approved project budget, because of lack of funds made available in an appropriations Act. Revises criteria for the award of grants or loans for the construction of any new fixed guideway system or extension of such a system to require a project to be based upon a thorough assessment of a variety of innovative financing mechanisms in connection with its construction and operation, as well as for its long-range finance plan for meeting overall system capital and operating costs. Sets forth specified factors to be considered by the Secretary in making such grants or loans. Requires the Secretary to make specified determinations with respect to such projects. Requires the Secretary to consider specified factors in assessing the availability of local funding for such projects. Requires such projects to be implemented by means of a full funding contract. Allocates such grants and loans based on a percentage formula for: (1) rail modernization; (2) new fixed guideway systems and extensions; and (3) purchase of buses and the construction of bus-related facilities. Requires apportionment of funds based on a percentage formula for urbanized areas with fixed guideway facilities. Revises provisions relating to the development and planning of transportation systems in urbanized areas. Authorizes the Secretary, as an alternative to grants and contracts with State and local agencies to enter into working agreements with other Federal departments for the planning of public transportation projects and for other technical studies. Revises the formula for apportioning public transportation block grantees for urbanized areas according to fixed guideway revenue vehicle or route miles. Includes in such formula, in the case of routes where multiple tracks or lanes are in use in the same direction, all such tracks or lanes in the computation of total fixed guideway route miles. Provides for a special apportionment of block grants based on the fixed guideway revenue vehicle miles whenever grantees can certify to the Secretary certain energy or operating efficiencies without a reduction in service. Requires block grantees to submit to the Secretary an annual certification that such grantee has continuing control, through operation or lease, including domestic and offshore safe harbor lease transactions, over the use of facilities and equipment (excluding track, signal and communications, and other wayside equipment). Allows grant recipients, when developing a program to propose the sum of proposed program projects concerning activities for local planning purposes, to propose projects whose sum exceeds annual mass transportation apportionments made to urbanized areas. Includes certain supplies (excluding fuel and lubricants) as associated capital maintenance items. Requires a recipient of a mass transportion project grant to retain net income received from the use, lease, or sale of certain acquired airspace or adjacent property acquired or derived from the disposal of certain fungible items. Prohibits the Secretary from awarding grants or making loans on the condition that such net income must be used to finance part of any mass transportation project, or to reimburse the United States for grants or loans made with respect to such projects, or use such net income in any calculation of net project costs. Authorizes the use of a specified percentage of mass transportation funds to finance capacity expansion construction projects, improve the movement or use of mass transit and shared ride programs, or facilitate the development of intermodal facilities. Prohibits the award of a grant unless the recipient certifies that basic transit maintenance needs have been addressed in the metropolitan planning process, and projects have been programmed in the transportation improvement program to meet such needs. Authorizes designated recipients of mass transportation funds prior to enactment of this Act for urbanized areas with populations under 200,000 to continue to receive and dispense such funds. Authorizes the Governor of a State to transfer an amount of the State's apportionment of grants and loans for mass transportation services to meet the needs of the elderly and handicapped to supplement funds apportioned to such State for public transportation projects and technical assistance to non-urbanized areas. Authorizes the Secretary to issue regulations providing for the delegation of environmental review, decisionmaking, and other action pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) to certified recipients of mass transportation assistance. Authorizes a grant for the research and investigation by nonprofit institutions of higher learning of urban transportation problems to cover the safety aspects related to such problems. Requires the Secretary to make grants to the National Cooperative Transit Research Center to research short-term operating problems experienced by assisted public transportation service providers. Authorizes the Secretary to permit recipients of mass transportation assistance to transfer, under specified conditions, facilities and equipment that are no longer needed for a mass transportation project to a public body for a public use, with no further obligation to the Federal Government. Directs the Secretary to promulgate regulations to allow the leasing to public transit operators of vehicles purchased by States, local agencies, private nonprofit corporations, and associations for elderly and handicapped persons. Prohibits a State from imposing further terms or conditions with respect to the administration of public transportation grants awarded to it for non-urbanized areas. Authorizes appropriations for mass transportation projects. Makes specified amounts available: (1) from the Mass Transit Account of the Highway Trust Fund; (2) for substitute mass transportation projects; (3) for rural transportation programs; (4) for planning and design of mass transportation facilities for elderly and handicapped persons; (5) for research, planning, and training programs; and (6) for administrative expenses. Requires the Secretary to make a report to the Congress that includes: (1) actions taken to identify conditions in any facility, equipment, or manner of operation as part of findings and determinations required in providing mass transportation grants and loans; (2) actions to correct or eliminate conditions that create a serious hazard of death or injury as a condition for making such grants and loans; (3) a summary of passenger-and employee-related deaths and injuries resulting from unsafe conditions in such facilities, equipment, or manner of operation, including actions taken to correct or eliminate such conditions; (4) a summary of actions taken to alert transit operators to such conditions; and (5) recommendations to the Congress of any legislative or administrative actions necessary to ensure that recipients of transportation assistance will institute the best means available to correct or eliminate hazards of death or injury. Makes a specified amount of Mass Transit Account funds available: (1) to the Secretary for grants or contracts for specifed mass transportation planning and research projects, including special demonstration initiatives and transit technology development; and (2) for State and local transit cooperative research and planning and research programs. Sets forth a formula for the apportionment and allocation of such funds among the States. Authorizes the Secretary to charge fees for planning and research conferences, seminars, and training sessions. Requires the Secretary to establish an Industry Technical Panel consisting of representatives of transportation suppliers and operators and others involved in technology development to assist in the identification of priority technology development areas and in establishment of guidelines for project development, sharing, and execution. Requires a 80 percent matching Federal share for State and local planning and research programs, with specified exceptions. Requires the Secretary to negotiate and execute a letter of intent and a full funding agreement that provides the Federal share of the cost of construction of the Queens Local/Express Connection in New York City. Directs the Secretary to provide mass transportation funds to the State of New York to meet the transportation needs associated with the staging of the 1993 World University Games. Requires the Secretary to determine, in cooperation with the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), the environmental impact as required by NEPA of the Cross-County Metro project from Morrisville to Downingtown, Pennsylvania. Requires the Secretary, upon a finding that NEPA requirements have been met, to enter into a Full Funding Grant Agreement with SEPTA for the construction of such project. Directs the Secretary to prepare a multiyear funding contract for the rehabilitation of the Drake/Library and Overbrook trolley lines in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Requires the Secretary to report to specified congressional committees on the status of completion of such agreement.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 1991
Procompetitiveness and Antiboycott Act of 1991 - Directs the U.S. Ambassador to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to discuss with representatives from other OECD member nations and to report to the Congress on: (1) the extent to which companies obey the secondary and tertiary boycotts of Israel by Arab nations; (2) the effectiveness of antiboycott laws of nations that have them; (3) the extent to which such boycotts have skewed global trade and investment, as well as in the Middle East; (4) the extent to which companies not obeying the boycotts are placed at a competitive disadvantage; (5) the extent to which such boycotts contradict OECD trade and investment policy; and (6) the development of guidelines, using the Arrangement on Export Credits as a model, that OECD nations can agree on to eliminate compliance with such boycotts. Requires the United States Trade Representative to enter into discussions with representatives from member nations of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and to report to the Congress on the extent to which: (1) the Arab boycotts of Israel have distorted trade; (2) members of and observers to the GATT encourage actions, including the furnishing of information or entering into agreements, which support such boycotts; (3) the GATT should work to eliminate the boycotts; and (4) GATT articles can be used to eliminate compliance with such boycotts. Requires the President to report to the Congress on progress made to end such boycotts.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 1991
Omnibus Nuclear Proliferation Control Act of 1991 - Requires the President to impose sanctions upon any foreign or U.S. person who has knowingly and materially contributed, through the exports of goods or technology, to the efforts by any individual, group, or non-nuclear weapon state to acquire unsafeguarded special nuclear material or to use, develop, stockpile, or acquire any nuclear explosive device. Lists such sanctions as prohibitions on procuring goods or services, or importing products, from such persons. Imposes such sanctions on successor entities to such persons, as well as subsidiaries, parents, and affiliates if they knowingly participated in such activities. Urges the President to initiate consultations with foreign governments with jurisdiction over such foreign persons with respect to the imposition of sanctions. Requires the President to impose sanctions unless he certifies to the Congress that a government has taken actions to terminate the involvement of a person in such activities. Exempts from prohibitions on procurement the procurement of defense articles or services: (1) under existing contracts; (2) if the person to whom sanctions would be applied is a sole source supplier, the articles or services are essential, and alternative sources are not available; or (3) that are essential to national security under defense coproduction agreements. Applies such exemption to: (1) products or services provided under contracts entered into before the date the President publishes his intention to impose sanctions; (2) spare or component (not finished) parts essential to U.S. products or routine servicing and maintenance of products, if alternative sources are not available; (3) information and technology essential to U.S. products; and (4) medical or other humanitarian items. Applies sanctions for at least 12 months and terminates sanctions only if the President certifies to the Congress that a person has ceased to, and will not in the future, aid individuals or governments in efforts to acquire unsafeguarded special nuclear material or nuclear explosive devices. Permits the President to waive sanctions after the 12-month period if he certifies to the Congress that the continued imposition of sanctions would have a serious adverse effect on U.S. interests. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. executive directors of specified international institutions to oppose any use of funds to promote the acquisition of unsafeguarded special nuclear material or the development, stockpiling, or use of nuclear explosive devices by non-nuclear weapon states. Amends the Export-Import Bank Act to prohibit Export-Import Bank assistance to any country that has aided or abetted a non-nuclear weapon state in acquiring a nuclear explosive device or unsafeguarded nuclear material. Amends the Arms Export Control Act to add to the list of eligibility requirements for the receipt of defense articles or services that a country or international organization is in full compliance with international treaty commitments with respect to the non-proliferation of nuclear explosive devices. Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to prohibit assistance to any country that transfers any component or design information prepared for use in a nuclear explosive device to a non-nuclear weapon state. Repeals a provision that waived prohibitions on nuclear transfers with respect to Pakistan for purposes of allowing assistance to Pakistan. Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act to include within the definition of "international terrorism," for purposes of making rewards, any act contributing to the acquisition of unsafeguarded nuclear material or nuclear explosive devices by an individual, group, or non-nuclear weapon state. Requires the President to report to the Congress on noncompliance by foreign governments with commitments to the United States concerning the prevention of the spread of nuclear explosive devices. Directs the Secretary of State to report to the Congress on the effectiveness of U.S. diplomatic demarches intended to halt the proliferation of nuclear explosive devices. Amends the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to apply a specified consultation requirement with respect to nuclear exports to exports or transfers of more than 5 kilograms (currently, 20 kilograms) of specified enriched uranium.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 1991
Urges the Government of Iran to extend to the Baha'i community the rights guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international agreements to which Iran is a party. Calls upon the President to continue to: (1) urge the Government of Iran to emancipate the Baha'i community by granting such rights; (2) emphasize that the United States regards the human rights practices of such Government, particularly its treatment of the Baha'is and other religious minorities, as a significant element in the development of U.S.-Iranian relations; and (3) cooperate with other governments and international organizations in efforts to protect the religious rights of the Baha'is and other minorities in Iran.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1991
National Commemorative Events Advisory Act - Establishes the President's Advisory Commission on National Commemorative Events to: (1) establish criteria for recommending to the President that a proposed commemorative event be approved or disapproved; (2) review proposals for national commemorative events submitted in accordance with procedures published by the Commission; and (3) issue recommendations to the President concerning each proposal reviewed. Prohibits the Commission from issuing a recommendation to the President for approval of certain commemorative events. Provides that the specified period of time designated by the Commission for a commemorative event may not begin unless more than one year after such designation date. Prohibits the Commission from designating the same commemorative event within a single calendar year. Terminates the Commission five years after its first meeting.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1991
Radiation Protection Act of 1991 - Amends the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to require Federal agencies to comply with all Federal, State, and local requirements concerning the imposition of fees for the storage or disposal of low-level radioactive waste in the same manner as nongovernmental entities. Amends the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Act Amendments of 1985 to apply requirements concerning the disposal of Federal low-level radioactive waste at non-Federal facilities to the storage of such waste at such facilities. Declares that no Federal law may be construed to prohibit or otherwise restrict the authority of a State to regulate, on the basis of radiological hazard, the disposal of low-level radioactive waste designated a State responsibility for which the Nuclear Regulatory Commission does not require disposal in a low-level radioactive waste disposal facility licensed by the Commission or by an Agreement State. Provides that no Federal law may be construed to preclude or otherwise restrict the authority of any State to impose standards for the protection from radiological hazards more stringent than the Commission's for such disposal. Revokes certain policy statements of the Commission relating to radioactive waste below regulatory concern. Prohibits the Commission or the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency from issuing policies exempting radioactive materials or practices from regulation unless there is advance notice of the proposed regulatory action in the Federal Register and the public is provided an opportunity to comment or to participate in an adjudicatory hearing.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1991
Condemns the murder of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and others in the bomb explosion on May 21, 1991. Expresses regret over the deaths of Gandhi and other victims of election violence in India. Offers condolences to Gandhi's widow and children and to the people of India. Stands in solidarity with the Indian people in their effort to sustain the most successful democratic tradition in the developing world.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1991
Expresses the sense of the Congress that Tibet is an occupied country under established principles of international law and that its true representatives are the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government in Exile.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1991
Expresses the sense of the Congress that Germany and Austria should take steps to halt the distribution of specified neo-Nazi video games and prosecute anyone found in possession of such games to the full extent of the law.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 1991
Grants the United States Claims Court jurisdiction to hear, determine, and render judgment upon any claim for back pay by the estate of a named individual against the United States arising out of the termination of her employment at the United States Information Agency.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 1991
Youthbuild Act of 1991 - Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to provide grants for Youthbuild projects which shall employ economically and educationally disadvantaged youth to help construct or rehabilitate rental and transitional housing for homeless persons and low-income families. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 1991
Support for Democracy, Human Rights, and Fair Trade in China Act of 1991 - Prohibits most-favored-nation treatment for Chinese products. Terminates such prohibition upon the President's certification to the Congress that China: (1) has ceased committing violations of internationally recognized human rights; (2) has ceased persecution of pro-democracy movement members; (3) permits unrestricted emigration; (4) has ceased religious persecution in China and Tibet; (5) has provided adequate protection of U.S. intellectual property rights, opened access to markets, increased purchases of U.S. goods and services, and has not attempted to hide the origin of goods manufactured in China; (6) has demonstrated its good faith participation in international efforts to control the proliferation of sophisticated military weapons and chemical, biological, and nuclear technologies; and (7) has ceased exporting products manufactured by forced or convict labor.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 1991
Pledge of Allegiance Commemorative Coin Act - Establishes the Pledge of Allegiance Commemorative Coin Advisory Board to: (1) consult with the Secretary of the Treasury (the Secretary) regarding coin design; (2) oversee the expenditure of funds provided to the U.S. Capitol Historical Society for assisting its educational programs and providing non-operating improvements to the Capitol; and (3) establish rules and operating procedures to implement this Act. Directs the Secretary to issue five-dollar gold coins, one-dollar silver coins, and half dollar clad coins emblematic of the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Declares a general waiver of public contract procurement regulations governing coin mintage under this Act. Mandates that surcharges be distributed equally between the Treasury and the U.S. Capitol Historical Society. Provides for audits by the Comptroller General. Requires that: (1) all amounts received from the sale of coins be deposited in the coinage profit fund; and (2) the Secretary take actions to ensure that coin mintage and issuance under this Act will not result in any net cost to the Federal Government.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 1991
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to waive certain service-connected disabilities as health-related grounds for denying an alien admission into the United States. Provides with regard to naturalization through armed forces service for: (1) a reduction in qualifying service time from three years to two years; and (2) eligibility based on any period of service in the case of a service-connected disability.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 1991
Private Long-Term Care Insurance and Accelerated Death Benefit Incentive Act of 1991 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for treatment of: (1) long-term care insurance contracts as accident or health insurance contracts; (2) amounts received under such contracts with respect to qualified long-term care services as amounts received for personal injuries or sickness; and (3) employer plans providing such services as an accident or health plan. Includes amounts paid for qualified long-term care services as medical expenses for individual itemized deductions. Excludes benefits received under such contracts from gross income. Provides for the treatment of prefunded post-retirement long-term care benefits plans in the same manner as prefunded post-retirement medical and life insurance benefit plans. Permits qualified long-term care insurance contracts to be offered in cafeteria plans (plans which offer two or more benefits). Allows the tax-free exchange of life insurance contracts for long-term care insurance contracts. Provides for the treatment of amounts paid to a terminally ill individual or one who is chronically ill and confined to a qualified facility as death benefits. Allows insurance companies to issue such accelerated death benefit riders on life insurance contracts. Declares that gross income does include excessive long-term care benefits.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 1991
Enterprise Zone Jobs-Creation Act of 1991 - Title I: Designation of Enterprise Zones - Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (Secretary) to designate enterprise zones for purposes of providing tax and regulatory relief and improving local services. Limits choices to areas nominated by States and local governments. Limits the total number of areas that may be designated, and the time period of the designation. Authorizes the Secretary to designate a zone only if the area meets certain locational, demographic, unemployment, and poverty criteria. Requires nominating local governments, as a condition of the Secretary's designation, to agree in writing to follow a course of action that may include reducing tax rates, improving local services, simplifying or streamlining regulation of business, and providing job training to area residents. Describes areas to which the Secretary must give preference in selecting areas for designation. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress every four years on the effects of such enterprise zones' designation in accomplishing the purposes of this Act. Title II: Federal Income Tax Incentives - Allows a nonrefundable income tax credit to enterprise zone employees for five percent of any wages earned as do not exceed a specified amount. Phases out such credit. Provides for the nonrecognition of capital gain on the sale of enterprise zone property. Allows a taxpayer a deduction on the aggregate amount paid for the purchase of enterprise stock on its original issue by a qualified issuer. Requires any gain from the disposition of the stock to be treated as ordinary income. Title III: Regulatory Flexibility - Amends Federal law to revise the definition of "small entity" for purposes of the analysis of regulatory functions to include qualified business, government, and nonprofit enterprises operating within enterprise zones. Authorizes Federal agencies, upon request by a designating government, to waive or modify rules and regulations pertaining to the implementation of projects or activities within an enterprise zone. Requires agencies to approve the request if the resulting benefits of job creation, community development, or economic revitalization outweigh the public interest in retaining the rule unchanged. Disallows waiver or modification of a rule that would directly violate a statutory requirement or present a danger to the public health and safety. Title IV: Establishment of Foreign-Trade Zones in Enterprise Zones - Requires the Foreign-Trade Zone Board to consider on a priority basis and to expedite the processing of applications for the establishment of foreign-trade zones within enterprise zones. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to give priority to, and expedite applications for, the establishment of ports of entry necessary to establish such zones. Title V: Repeal of Title VII of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1987 - Repeals title VII (enterprise zone development) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1987.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 1991
Amends the Federal criminal code to make it a Federal criminal offense to leave or remain outside a State for the purpose of avoiding payment of arrearages in child support. Specifies that an absence of six months without any payment of arrearage shall create a rebuttable presumption of intent to avoid arrearage payment.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 1991
National Child Abuser Registration Act of 1991 - Authorizes a State child abuse information repository (State repository) to report child abuser information to the National Crime Information Center. Directs the Attorney General to establish guidelines for the reporting of such information. Specifies that such guidelines shall require that: (1) a reporting State ensure that reports of all convictions under the criminal child abuse law of the State are maintained by a State repository; and (2) a State repository maintain close liaison with the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children for the exchange of information and technical assistance in cases of child abuse. Requires the Attorney General to publish an annual statistical summary of the child abuser information reported under this Act. Makes compliance with this Act a condition to the receipt by a State of any grant, cooperative agreement, or other assistance under the Victims of Crime Act and the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 1991
Designates the week beginning July 21, 1991, as Korean War Veterans Remembrance Week. Requires the President to urge that the American flag be flown at half staff on July 27, 1991, in honor of those Americans who died as a result of their service in Korea.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 1991
Supports the transition to multiparty democracy in Angola. Expresses the sense of the Senate that: (1) such support should continue to be bipartisan and dedicated to implementing the ceasefire in Angola and ensuring a free and fair election in that country, including support for United Nations Peacekeeping Forces and humanitarian support to the civilian population; and (2) upon the completion and validation of free and fair elections, the President should recognize and establish full diplomatic relations with the Government of Angola.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 1991
Horn of Africa Recovery and Food Security Act of 1991 - Sets forth U.S. policy with respect to the Horn of Africa (Ethiopia, Somalia, and Sudan). Requires the President to consult with other nations, armed and unarmed parties in the Horn of Africa, and the United Nations Secretary General to bring about negotiated settlements of the wars in the region. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should: (1) direct the U.S. representative to the United Nations to take specified steps with respect to peace and the implementation of an arms embargo in the region; (2) play an active role in other fora in pressing for settlements to such wars; and (3) participate in regional and international peace consultations. Sets forth U.S. policy with respect to the equitable distribution of relief and rehabilitation aid in the Horn of Africa. Declares that development assistance in the Horn of Africa should be targeted to aid the poor. States that U.S. Government aid institutions should seek to: (1) build upon the capabilities and experiences of organizations active in local grassroots relief, rehabilitation, and development efforts; (2) consult with such organizations and incorporate their views into the policymaking process; and (3) support the expansion of their activities without compromising their private nature. Declares that current legislative provisions that restrict assistance to Ethiopia, Somalia, and Sudan should be retained until concrete steps toward peace, democracy, and human rights are achieved. Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize emergency assistance for relief and rehabilitation in the Horn of Africa. Makes available a percentage of assistance for management support activities of the Agency for International Development. Authorizes the President to transfer funds from unobligated economic support fund and military assistance to carry out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 1991
Fire Safety Enhancement Act of 1991 - Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to require the installation of smoke detectors in all residential units financed or assisted by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 1991
Microenterprise Development Act of 1991 - Authorizes the President, acting through the Administrator of the Agency for International Development (AID), to provide assistance for microenterprises in developing countries. Directs AID to establish specified criteria for determining the financial intermediaries that will receive such assistance. Requires a significant portion of such assistance to be used to support direct credit assistance by, and the institutional development of, financial intermediaries with a primary emphasis on assisting people living in absolute poverty, especially women. Outlines funding sources for such assistance. Permits the President, in order to generate local currencies for providing such assistance, to use development and economic support fund assistance to provide assistance to developing countries on a loan basis repayable in local currencies. Sets forth minimum levels of assistance to be provided under this Act. Requires the Administrator to develop a monitoring system to evaluate AID's microenterprise development activities.