United States · United States Congress · 15 August 1986
Pipeline Safety Act of 1986 - Amends the Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Act to direct the Secretary of Transportation (the Secretary) to promulgate regulations establishing Federal hazardous liquid pipeline safety standards, including requirements for release detection, prevention, and correction, for the transportation of hazardous liquids and for pipeline facilities. Sets forth the factors which the Secretary may consider when promulgating such regulations. Permits the States to adopt standards or requirements that are more stringent than Federal standards or requirements. Makes the Federal standards and requirements applicable to both interstate and intrastate pipelines. (Currently such requirements apply only to interstate facilities.) Increases from $1,000 to $25,000 the civil penalty imposed for violations of this Act. Increases from $25,000 to $250,000 the criminal penalty imposed for violations of this Act. Amends the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 to include within its coverage pipelines and pipeline facilities whether or not the liquids in such facilities have been included under such Act's coverage. Authorizes the commencement of citizens' civil action suits against the Secretary for failure to perform a duty under this Act. Amends the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 to increase from $3,000,000 to $40,000,000 the fees assessed against hazardous liquids transported by pipelines. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1987 through 1991.
United States · United States Congress · 15 August 1986
Health Care Financing Reform Amendments of 1986 - Title I: Medicare - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to increase the deductible under part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of title XVIII to $100 plus the percentage increase in the economic index used to determine increases in the prevailing charge for physicians' services. Specifies that Medicare eligibility begins at age 65 and one month. Establishes a coinsurance amount for home health services of one percent of the inpatient hospital deductible for each home health visit, except for visits: (1) occurring after the 100th visit in a year; or (2) related to a recent hospital or nursing facility stay. Revises the formula for computing the supplementary medical insurance premium. Prohibits workers' compensation laws, insurance policies, or large group health plans (covering at least 20 employees) from taking an individual's status as a Medicare beneficiary into account in providing coverage. Prohibits group health plans from taking into account an individual's end stage renal disease benefits under Medicare. Makes Medicare the secondary payor for all Medicare beneficiaries covered by workers' compensation, insurance policies, and group health plans. Authorizes the Federal Government to bring an action and collect double damages from primary payors. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose an excise tax equal to 25 percent of group health plan expenses if such a plan restricts its coverage of Medicare beneficiaries in violation of this Act. Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Act to reduce payments to a State contributing to group plans which provide such restrictive coverage. Specifies the benefits Medicare pays when other payors are primary but do not pay full charge. Eliminates Medicare part B payments for ambulatory surgery facility services furnished in a physician's office. Requires the payment of a deductible for services furnished in ambulatory surgical centers. Reduces the amounts paid to hospitals for the indirect costs of medical education. Prohibits a cost-of-living adjustment in payments for clinical diagnostic laboratory tests for the year beginning July 1, 1986. Provides for a special adjustment in such payments for the 6-month period beginning July 1, 1987. Excludes classroom and other educational program costs from the Secretary of Health and Human Services' determination of reasonable hospital costs for direct graduate medical education. Authorizes the Secretary to count a day on which a patient is in a labor or delivery room at the census-taking hour as a patient day for the purpose of determining hospital routine inpatient per diem costs. Prohibits, under the prospective payment system, any redetermination of any allowable operating costs of inpatient hospital services from affecting any payment for a cost-reporting period that has begun before the date of the redetermination. Incorporates modifications which were not incorporated into the prevailing charge level for participating physicians during the previous calendar year, but which are included in participating physicians' prevailing charge levels for 1987, into the 1987 prevailing charge levels for nonparticipating physicians. Makes administrative changes with respect to: (1) the Medicare deductible and coinsurance; and (2) claims of railroad retirement beneficiaries. Amends the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 to repeal a waiver of paperwork reduction rules in implementing certain Medicare hospital reimbursement provisions. Amends the Medicare program to authorize the Secretary to enter into contracts with intermediaries for Medicare claims processing without regard to any requirement of competition. Requires the Secretary to publish and give the public an opportunity to comment upon standards and criteria to be used in evaluating intermediaries' peformances. Title II: Medicaid - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to place limits on the States' entitlement to Federal funding. Reduces Federal matching rates for State Medicaid administrative costs to the extent such rates exceed 50 percent, but sets the rate for excess administrative costs at 25 percent. Repeals the requirement that States establish mechanized claims processing and information retrieval systems. Permits States to exclude certain benefits that they are presently required to provide. Revises provisions for determining eligibility for and the extent of benefits. Amends the Unemployment Compensation Amendments of 1976 to provide continued Medicaid eligibility for individuals who cease to be eligible for benefits under title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) of the Act because of cost-of-living increases in benefits under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Act. Requires that instead of a State's Medicaid plan being in effect Statewide, only required services must be provided to those individuals required to be covered. Limits the applicability of freedom of choice in the selection of a provider of required services for the categorically needy. Permits individuals enrolled with one of the following entities to receive benefits during a minimum enrollment period despite the fact that they would otherwise become ineligible for benefits during such period: (1) a health maintenance organization (HMO) under a Medicaid contract; (2) an entity receiving certain grants under the Public Health Service Act or the Appalachian Regional Development Act of 1965; or (3) a case management system approved under Medicaid. Prohibits charging any enrollment fee, premium, deductible, or like charges for required services provided to groups required to be covered under a State's plan. Permits only nominal coinsurance or similar charges with respect to such services provided to such groups. Permits a State to exempt from deduction, cost sharing, or similar charges services provided: (1) to children and youths; (2) for pregnant women; (3) to inpatients required to spend their income in order to receive services; (4) in emergencies; or (5) to individuals by HMOs. Repeals requirements that a State's plan provide for payment of services provided under the plan which are reasonable and adequate. Requires a State's plan to include a description of the methodology to be used by the State in setting payment rates. Requires a State's plan to provide for an effective method of verifying whether services billed by providers were furnished. Repeals a provision reducing payments to a State for expenditures it would not have made if certain Medicare eligible individuals had been enrolled under part B of Medicare. Revises requirements with respect to the utilization control penalty applicable for inspections of mental hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and intermediate care facilities so as to not impose the penalty: (1) (in the case of an institution with more than 50 Medicaid patients) if the lesser of ten such patients or two percent of Medicaid patients were not reviewed; or (2) (in the case of an institution with less than 50 Medicaid patients) one Medicaid patient was not reviewed.
United States · United States Congress · 14 August 1986
Amends the Department of Housing and Urban Development-Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1986 to make an additional repayable cash advance to the Hazardous Substance Response Trust Fund (Superfund).
United States · United States Congress · 12 August 1986
Declares that the Congress: (1) calls upon the Soviet Union to cease interference with radio broadcasting, particularly the Voice of America; (2) urges the President to enter into discussions with the Soviet Union with respect to such interference; and (3) calls upon the people of the world to lend their support in this effort.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 1986
Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986 - Title I: Policy of the United States with respect to Ending Apartheid - Requires U.S. policy toward South Africa to be designed to bring about the establishment of a nonracial democracy in South Africa. Sets forth actions that the United States shall encourage South Africa to take, including releasing Nelson Mandela and establishing a timetable for the elimination of apartheid laws. Requires the United States to adjust its actions toward South Africa to reflect the progress made by South Africa in establishing a nonracial democracy. Declares that U.S. policy toward the victims of apartheid is to use economic, political, diplomatic, and other means to remove the apartheid system and to assist the victims of apartheid to overcome the handicaps imposed on them by apartheid. Sets forth actions the United States will take to help the victims of apartheid. Declares that U.S. policy toward the other countries in the region shall be designed to encourage democratic forms of government, respect for human rights, political independence, and economic development. Sets forth actions the United States will take toward such countries. Declares that it is U.S. policy to promote negotiations among representatives of all citizens of South Africa to determine a future political system. Declares that the United States will encourage all participants in the negotiations to respect the right of all South Africans to participate in the political process without fear of retribution. Requires the United States to work for an agreement to suspend violence and begin negotiations through coordinated actions with the major Western allies and with the governments of the countries in the region. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the achievement of such an agreement could be promoted if the United States and its major allies would meet to develop a plan to provide multilateral assistance for South Africa in return for South Africa implementing: (1) an end to the state of emergency and the release of political prisoners; (2) the unbanning of groups willing to participate in negotiations and a democratic process; (3) a revocation of the Group Areas Act and the Population Registration Act and the granting of universal citizenship to all South Africans, including homeland residents; and (4) the use of a third party to bring about negotiations to establish power-sharing with the black majority. Urges the President to seek cooperation among all individuals, groups, and nations to end apartheid. Title II: Measures to Assist Victims of Apartheid - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to earmark increasing amounts of the education and human resources development assistance funds for FY 1987 through 1989 and a fixed amount for each fiscal year thereafter for scholarships for the victims of apartheid who are attending universities, colleges, and secondary schools in South Africa. Sets forth the manner of selecting the scholarship recipients. Earmarks a specified amount of the funds available for human rights assistance for FY 1986 for anti-apartheid nongovernmental organizations in South Africa. Earmarks a specified amount of the funds made available to such organizations to provide assistance to political detainees and prisoners and their families. Requires the Secretary of State (the Secretary) and any other head of a Federal agency carrying out activities in South Africa to try, in procuring goods and services, to assist businesses having more than 50 percent beneficial ownership by nonwhite South Africans. Amends the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 to require the Export-Import Bank to take active steps to encourage the use of its guarantee, insurance, and credit facilities in connection with South African businesses that are majority owned by nonwhite South Africans. Exempts from a specified certification requirement exports to or purchases from such businesses. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the labor practices used by the U.S. Government in South Africa should represent the best of U.S. labor practices and should serve as a model for U.S. nationals in South Africa. Requires the Secretary and the heads of other agencies carrying out activities in South Africa to ensure that the labor practices used in South Africa are governed by a specified Code of Conduct. Requires the Secretary to acquire residential properties in South Africa that shall be made available to assist victims of apartheid who are U.S. employees in obtaining adequate housing. Requires such property to be acquired only in neighborhoods open to other U.S. employees. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1987 for such housing. Requires any U.S. national who employs more than 25 persons in South Africa to insure that the Code of Conduct is implemented. Prohibits U.S. intercession with any foreign government or foreign nation on behalf of any U.S. national employing more than 25 persons in South Africa if such U.S. national does not implement the Code of Conduct. Declares that the Code of Conduct is as follows: (1) desegregating employment facilities; (2) providing equal employment opportunity for all employees; (3) assuring that the pay system is applied to all employees; (4) establishing a minimum wage and salary structure; (5) increasing the number of persons in managerial, supervisory, administrative, clerical, and technical jobs who are disadvantaged by apartheid; (6) taking reasonable steps to improve the quality of employees' lives outside the work environment; and (7) implementing fair labor practices by recognizing the right of all employees to unionize. Expresses the sense of the Congress that, in addition to the Code of Conduct, U.S. nationals in South Africa should seek to take reasonable measures to extend the scope of influence on activities outside the workplace. Authorizes the President to issue guidelines and, upon request, advisory opinions on compliance with such principles. Authorizes the President to require all U.S. nationals employing more than 25 persons in South Africa to register with the Federal Government. Prohibits providing assistance under this Act to any group that maintains within its ranks any individual who has been found to engage in gross violations of human rights. Prohibits any U.S. national from making or approving any new investment in South Africa to or on behalf of any controlled South African entity employing 25 or ore individuals if such entity is not adhering to the Code of Conduct. Title III: Measures by the United States to Undermine Apartheid - Prohibits importing from South Africa: (1) any gold coin minted in South Africa or sold by its Government; (2) arms, ammunition, or military vehicles or any manufacturing data for such articles; and (3) any article grown, produced, or manufactured by an organization owned or controlled by the South African Government except for certain strategic minerals. Prohibits exporting computers, computer software, or computer technology to or for the use of: (1) the South African military, police, prison system, national security agencies; (2) ARMSCOR and its subsidiaries or the weapons research activities of the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research; (3) the administering authorities for apartheid; (4) any apartheid enforcing agency; or (5) any governmental entity which performs any of the above functions. Permits exports of computers, computer software, and technology to South Africa for other purposes only if a system of end use verification is in effect to ensure that the computers involved will not be used for any function of any of the entities listed above. Prohibits any U.S. national from making or approving any loan to the South African Government or to any entity owned or controlled by such government. Exempts from such prohibition: (1) loans for any education, housing, or humanitarian benefit which is available to all persons on a nondiscriminatory basis or is available in a geographic area accessible to all population groups; or (2) loans entered into before enactment of this Act. Requires the Secretary to terminate the 1947 air services agreement between South Africa and the United States. Requires the Secretary of Transportation, upon termination of such agreement, to prohibit any aircraft of a foreign air carrier owned by South Africa or by South African nationals from engaging in air transportation with respect to the United States. Prohibits, unless the Secretary certifies to the Speaker of the House and the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that South Africa maintains certain international nuclear safeguards: (1) the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) from issuing a license for the export to South Africa of certain nuclear facilities, material, technology, or components; (2) the Secretary of Commerce from issuing a license for the export to South Africa of certain goods or technology that may be of significance for nuclear explosive purposes; (3) the Secretary of Energy from authorizing any person to engage in the production of special nuclear material in South Africa; and (4) any executive branch agency or the NRC from approving the retransfer of nuclear goods or technology to South Africa. Exempts certain exports, retransfers, or other activities from such prohibition if specified conditions are met. Prohibits the issuance of a visa for admission to the United States to any person who is a South African Government official or a member of such official's immediate family except on a case by case basis in the discretion of the Secretary. Terminates the validity of visas held by certain nonimmigrant aliens 30 days after enactment of this Act if such visa was issued before enactment of this Act. Authorizes the President to sell U.S. gold stocks on the open market and to engage in other gold transactions whenever necessary to affect world gold prices and thereby carry out this Act. Prohibits a U.S. depository institution from accepting, receiving, or holding a deposit account from the South African Government or from any entity owned or controlled by South Africa. Terminates the sanctions contained in title III of this Act and certain sanctions contained in title V of this Act if South Africa: (1) releases Nelson Mandela from prison; (2) repeals the state of emergency and releases all detainees held under such state of emergency; (3) unbans political parties; and (4) repeals the Group Areas Act. Authorizes the President, unless the Congress enacts a joint resolution of disapproval, to suspend or modify such sanctions after the President determines and reports to the Congress that South Africa has: (1) taken any two of the four actions listed in the preceding paragraph; and (2) made substantial progress toward dismantling apartheid and establishing a nonracial democracy. Title IV: Multilateral Measures to Undermine Apartheid - Declares that: (1) it is U.S. policy to seek international cooperation with the industrialized democracies on measures which will encourage an end to apartheid; and (2) negotiations to reach international cooperative arrangements with such countries should begin promptly and be concluded within 180 days of enactment of this Act. Authorizes the President to modify the sanctions imposed under title III of this Act to conform with such an agreement. Declares that each such agreement shall enter into force and effect if: (1) the President, at least 30 days before entering into such agreement, notifies the Congress of the intention to enter into such agreement and publishes such notice; (2) after entering into the agreement, the President sends a copy of the agreement and certain other materials to the Congress; and (3) the Congress does not adopt a joint resolution of disapproval within 30 days of transmittal of such documents. Declares that it shall be an unfair trade practice under the Trade Act of 1974 for any foreign person, partnership, or corporation to benefit from or otherwise take commercial advantage of any sanction or prohibition against a U.S. national imposed by this Act. Creates a private right of action for U.S. nationals who are required to terminate or curtail business in South Africa against anyone who benefits or takes commercial advantage of such termination or curtailment. Title V: Future Policy Toward South Africa - Declares that it is U.S. policy to impose additional measures against South Africa if substantial progress has not been made within 12 months of enactment of this Act in ending apartheid and establishing a nonracial democracy. Requires the President to report annually to the Speaker of the House and the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee beginning one year after enactment of this Act on the extent to which significant progress has been made toward ending apartheid. Requires the report to contain a recommended additional measure if the President determines that South Africa has not made significant progress in ending apartheid and establishing a nonracial democracy. Provides for expedited congressional consideration of a joint resolution which would enact such additional measures. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress by December 1, 1986, on the health conditions and on the extent of starvation and malnutrition in the "homelands" areas of South Africa. Requires the President to report to the Congress, within 90 days of enactment of this Act, on the extent to which the United States is dependent on imports from South Africa of chromium, cobalt, manganese, platinum group metals, ferroalloys, and other strategic and critical materials. Requires the President to develop a program which reduces the U.S. dependence on such imports. Directs the President to report to the Congress, within 180 days of enactment of this Act, on the role of American assistance in southern Africa describing what needs to be done and what can be done to expand the trade, private investment, and transport prospects of southern Africa's landlocked nations. Directs the President to report to the Congress, within 180 days of enactment of this Act, on the economic and other relationships of other industrialized democracies with South Africa. Title VI: Enforcement and Administrative Provisions - Provides for enforcement and administration of this Act. Provides for expedited consideration by the Congress of certain joint resolutions relating to sanctions against South Africa.
United States · United States Congress · 28 July 1986
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the conferees on the bill entitled the "Tax Reform Act of 1986" (H.R. 3838) should require that any amount refunded under such Act to steel companies filing bankruptcy petitions in 1986 or thereafter be dedicated for the continuation of company-paid health insurance costs for employees and retired employees.
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 1986
Requires LTV Corporation and all of its subsidiaries which filed for bankruptcy to continue to pay all medical and life insurance benefits to retirees until an appropriate court orders otherwise.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 1986
Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to require the U.S. Trade Representative and the Secretary of Agriculture to initiate negotiation of a reciprocal agreement on international trade that establishes uniform standards for measuring the quality of exported grain. Amends the United States Grain Standards Act to require the Administrator of the Federal Grain Inspection Service to: (1) require a sublot of grain to meet the standards and procedures of a lot of grain; and (2) require the separate measurement of the quantity of dockage and foreign material in grain shipped in interstate or foreign commerce and the deduction of the sum of the two quantities from the gross weight of the grain. Prohibits the export of grain that has been recombined or combined with any dockage or foreign material. Requires an official certificate issued for a lot of grain to include a statement of: (1) with respect to corn, the separate quantities of broken corn and foreign material; and (2) with respect to wheat, the quantity of dockage and the protein content of the wheat.
United States · United States Congress · 24 July 1986
Declares that the Congress: (1) supports the efforts of democratic forces in Paraguay to achieve a return to democracy and believes that all Paraguayans should be allowed to participate in the political process; (2) calls upon the Government of Paraguay and leaders of all sectors of Paraguayan society to demonstrate their commitment to a transition to democracy; and (3) commends the U.S. Ambassador to Paraguay for implementing a policy of support for human rights and political freedom in Paraguay.
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 1986
Infant Mortality Reduction and Child Health Act of 1986 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to give States the option of extending coverage to women in need of pregnancy-related medical services and children up to age six whose family income exceeds current income eligibility thresholds, but does not exceed a State maximum income level to be established at or below the Federal poverty level. Leaves to each State's discretion the decision as to whether a resource standard shall be applied in determining the eligibility of such women and children. Prohibits States which provide coverage pursuant to this Act from reducing Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) payment levels after enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 1986
Rural Enterprise Zone Act of 1986 - Title I: Designation of Rural Enterprise Zones - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the designation of enterprise zones by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Specifies that States and local governments shall nominate areas for such designation. Limits to 45 the total number of areas which may be designated as enterprise zones. Limits the period during which such designations shall remain in effect to a maximum of 15 years. Specifies that the Secretary may designate such zones only if: (1) the area is within the jurisdiction of the nominating local government; (2) the boundary of the area is continuous; (3) the area has a population of at least 1,000 or is entirely within an Indian reservation; and (4) the area meets specified unemployment and poverty requirements. Requires nominating local governments, as a condition of the Secretary's designation, to agree in writing to follow a course of action which may include reducing tax rates, improving local services, and providing job training to residents of the area. Terminates the authority of the Secretary to designate rural enterprise zones on January 1, 1987, or three years after the publication of regulations pertaining to such zones. Describes areas to which preference shall be given in deciding to designate enterprise zones. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress every three years on the effects of such enterprise zones' designation in accomplishing the purposes of this Act. Requires that any property tax reduction effected by a local government under the terms of this Act be disregarded for purposes of determining the eligibility of a State or local government for Federal assistance or benefits. States that the designation of an enterprise zone shall not give displaced persons from such an area any rights or benefits under the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970. Provides that the designation of a rural enterprise zone shall not constitute a Federal action for purposes of applying the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act or other provisions of Federal law relating to the protection of the environment. Title II: Federal Income Tax Incentives - Subtitle A: Credits for Employers - Allows employers located in rural enterprise zones an income tax credit for increased employment expenditures. Sets the amount of such credit at ten percent of the increase in payroll. Limits the dollar amount of wages taken into account with respect to any employee to an amount equal to the lower living standard for a family of four as determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Disallows an income tax deduction for the portion of wages taken into account for such credit. Subtitle B: Deferrals of Gain or Loss With Respect to Investment in Tangible Property in Rural Enterprise Zones - Allows the nonrecognition of gain or loss on the sale or exchange of rural enterprise zone property if the proceeds realized from such sale or exchange are used by the taxpayer to acquire rural enterprise zone property within one year. Subtitle C: Rules Relating to Industrial Development Bonds - Exempts rural enterprise zone property from the limitation of the accelerated cost recovery deduction on property financed with tax-exempt bonds. Provides that the termination of the small issue exemption shall not apply to industrial development bonds the proceeds of which are used to finance facilities in such enterprise zones. Modifies certain small issue volume limitations with respect to rural enterprise zone facilities. Requires that five percent of the industrial development bond volume cap for a State which has one or more rural enterprise zones shall be set aside for use only in such rural enterprise zones in such State. Subtitle D: Sense of the Congress With Respect to Tax Simplification - Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Internal Revenue Service should simplify the administration and enforcement of any provision of the Internal Revenue Code affected by this Act. Title III: Regulatory Flexibility - Revises the definition of "small entity" for purposes of the analysis of regulatory functions to include qualified business, government, and nonprofit enterprises operating within enterpise zones. Authorizes Federal agencies, upon request by a designating government, to waive or modify rules and regulations which pertain to the carrying out of projects or activities within an enterprise zone. Requires agencies to approve such request if the resulting benefits of job creation, community development, or economic revitalization outweigh the public interest in continuation of the rule unchanged. Disallows waiver or modification of a rule that would directly violate a statutory requirement (including the Fair Labor Standards Act) or which would present a danger to the public health and safety. Provides that such waivers or modifications of a rule shall remain in effect as long as the zone designations. Amends the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act to direct the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to promote the coordination of all enterprise zone programs and consolidate all periodic reports required under such programs into one summary report. Title IV: Establishment of Foreign-Trade Zones in Rural Enterprise Zones - Requires the Foreign-Trade Board to consider on a priority basis and 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. States that, to the maximum extent practicable, foreign-trade zones should be established within enterprise zones.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 1986
Expresses the sense of the Congress that during the official ceremony of the lighting of the torch of the Statue of Liberty, a moment of silence be held for the return of the American captives in Lebanon.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 1986
White House Conference on Small Business Authorization Act - Calls upon the President to conduct a National White House Conference on Small Business once every four years to: (1) increase public awareness of the contributions of small business; (2) identify small business problems; (3) examine the status of minority and women small business owners; (4) assist small business in carrying out its role as the nation's job creator; (5) develop specific recommendations for executive and legislative action; and (6) review the status of recommendations adopted at the Conferences. Authorizes and directs Federal departments, agencies, and instrumentalities to provide support and assistance to the planning of such Conferences. Requires a final report of the Conference, within six months from the date a Conference is convened, to be submitted to the President and the Congress. Requires the Small Business Administration to report annually to the Congress for the next three years following the submission of the final report of the Conference. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 1986
Medicare Timely Payment Amendments of 1986 - Amends parts A (Hospital Insurance) and B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to require intermediaries and carriers to pay the claims of Medicare providers and beneficiaries, and give such providers and beneficiaries notice of improperly submitted claims, within 22 days of receiving such claims (unless payment is made on a periodic interim payment basis). Requires the Federal Government to pay the interest accruing on such claims for the period during which the payment or notice is past due.
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 · 13 June 1986
Medicare Information Act - Title I: Information for Evaluation of and Maintenance of Quality Under the Prospective Payment System - Requires that the Medicare Automated Data Retrieval System, which is to provide integrated information on beneficiaries' claims under parts A (Hospital Insurance) and B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, include information for all fiscal years following FY 1979. Extends Medicare hospital cost reporting through FY 1993 (currently, required through FY 1988). Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to report to the Congress, within a year of enactment of this Act, recommendations for revising hospital cost reporting so that information is provided which is appropriate for the timely evaluation of the prospective payment system. Makes the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation of the Department of Health and Human Services responsible for coordinating and overseeing the evaluation of the prospective payment system. Requires hospitals, by July 1, 1987, to use the HCFA Common Procedure Coding System to code the procedures performed in their outpatient departments on the bills they submit to Medicare's fiscal intermediaries. Title II: Research on Outcomes of Specific Medical Treatments and Surgical Procedures - Amends the Medicare program to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a program providing for research regarding outcomes of selected medical treatments and surgical procedures so as to assess their quality and effectiveness. Places a priority on the selection of procedures and treatments with significant costs, risks, hospitalization periods, and utilization patterns. Authorizes appropriations from the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund for FY 1987 through 1993 to carry out such research. Requires that at least 90 percent of the funds available in any fiscal year be used to fund grants to, and cooperative agreements with, non-Federal research entities. Directs that the program be administered by the National Center for Health Services Research and Health Care Technology (Center). Requires the Center to report to the Congress, within 18 months of enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, on the findings of the project. Title III: National Medical Expenditure Survey - Amends part A (General Provisions) of title XI of the Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a nationwide survey at least once a decade, beginning in 1987, on the impact Federal health care expenditures have on the health care costs faced by individuals and groups of individuals. Funds the survey from appropriations previously set aside for Department of Health and Human Services evaluation projects.
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 1986
Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act - Requires States to provide by law for elections for Federal office: (1) absentee registration and absentee voting for uniformed services voters and overseas voters; and (2) the use of alternative write-in absentee ballots by overseas voters when State absentee ballots are not available. Directs the President to designate the head of an executive department to have primary responsibility for the administrative functions of this Act, including: (1) prescribing an official postcard form containing a voter registration and an absentee ballot application; (2) prescribing an alternative write-in ballot for overseas voters; (3) prescribing forms and designs for balloting materials; (4) distributing election materials; (5) reporting to the Congress in the year immediately following a presidential election year on its effectiveness; and (6) consulting State and local election officials in carrying out this Act. Provides for the distribution of official postcards. Sets forth recommendations to the States in carrying out provisions of this Act. Provides for Federal and State write-in absentee ballots for overseas voters. Declares balloting materials under this Act free of postage. Establishes criminal and civil penalties for violations of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1986
Prompt Payment Amendments of 1986 - Revises Federal law to deem the head of an agency to receive an invoice on the fifth day after the date on which a property is actually delivered, or final performance of a service is actually completed, unless the contract specifies otherwise. Makes Federal prompt payment provisions applicable to the United States Postal Service. Reduces the 15-day grace period for payment of interest penalties to eight days for solicitations issued before October 1, 1988. Requires an agency to pay a double interest penalty if it fails to meet such grace period and the business concern makes a written demand that the agency pay such penalty. Makes the interest penalty provisions applicable to construction contracts for progress payments and retained amounts. Specifies the calculation of time for interest penalties on discount payments. Revises agency reporting requirements on interest penalty payments to include a description of agency payment practices. Requires the modification of Government-wide procurement regulations to implement Federal prompt payment provisions.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1986
Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1987 - Title I: Intelligence Activities - Authorizes appropriations for intelligence activities in specified departments and agencies of the U.S. Government, including the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Department of Defense. Authorizes the Director of Central Intelligence to employ civilian personnel in excess of the ceiling for such personnel when necessary to the performance of important intelligence functions. Title II: Intelligence Community Staff - Authorizes appropriations for the Intelligence Community Staff for FY 1987. Establishes an end strength ceiling of 239 full-time Intelligence Community Staff employees. Provides that such staff shall be administered in the same manner as the CIA. Title III: Central Intelligence Agency - Authorizes appropriations for the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability Fund for FY 1987. Title IV: Administrative Provisions Related to Intelligence Agencies - Provides that properly classified CIA and National Security Agency documents proposed for disposal shall not be listed in the Federal Register. (Current law requires the Archivist to provide notice in the Federal Register of all such records proposed for disposal.) Extends through FY 1988 the special authority of the Secretary of Defense to terminate the employment of Defense Intelligence Agency civilian employees. Allows the Secretary to authorize the Defense Mapping Agency to furnish data, supplies, and services to a foreign country or international organization. Grants Defense Intelligence Agency employees medical evacuation benefits. Allows the Secretary to use the proceeds from counterintelligence operations conducted by components of the military departments to offset reasonable and necessary expenses. Amends the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement Act of 1964 to provide that certain former spouses of CIA employees are entitled to survivor annuities. Amends the Central Intelligence Agency Act of 1949 to provide that certain former spouses of CIA employees are eligible for coverage under a health benefits plan. Amends the National Security Agency Act of 1959 to permit the Director of the National Security Agency to assign Agency employees within the United States to perform security functions within Agency installations. Title V: Enhanced Federal Bureau of Investigation Counterintelligence Capabilities - Amends the Right to Financial Privacy Act of 1978 to grant the FBI access to the financial records of suspected foreign agents. Requires the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation to inform specified congressional committees of all such requests. Grants the FBI access to State and local criminal records for security clearances. Grants the FBI access to the telephone records of suspected foreign agents. Title VI: Protection of United States Interests - Amends the State Department Basic Authority Act of 1956 to include any "entity" owned or controlled by a foreign government within the definition of "foreign mission." Limits the number of Soviet nationals admitted to the United States as members of the Soviet mission to the United Nations to the same number of United States nationals who serve as members of the United States mission to the United Nations (unless the President determines that the admission of additional Soviet nationals would be in the interest of the United States). Requires the Secretary of State and the Attorney General to report to specified congressional committees on the number of Soviet nationals admitted to the United States and on the implementation of this policy. Requires certain persons engaged in legal commercial transactions to register as agents of foreign governments. Title VII: General Provisions - Declares that funding under this Act does not constitute authority for the conduct of otherwise unauthorized intelligence activity.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1986
Authorizes and requests the President, on behalf of the Congress, to present gold medals to Doctor Andrei Sakharov and Doctor Yelena Bonner in recognition of the sacrifices they have made to further the causes of human rights and world peace. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to provide for the sale of bronze duplicates of the medals. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1986
Health Plan Promotion Act of 1986 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require the inclusion in gross income of contributions by an employer to accident and health plans for compensation to employees for personal injuries and sickness. Permits individuals to claim a nonitemized deduction for the cost of their accident and health insurance to the extent such costs do not exceed specified levels. Permits such deduction whether such costs are paid by the taxpayer or the taxpayer's employer. Establishes the maximum amount of the deduction as follows: (1) $75 per month for an individual; (2) $175 per month for an individual and the individual's spouse; and (3) $225 per month for an individual's spouse; and (3) $225 per month for an individual and the individual's family. Provides for a cost-of-living adjustment in such amounts. Provides that amounts paid for accident and health insurance in excess of the monthly limits would be allowable as deductible medical expenses. Raises the threshold for the medical expense deduction from five percent of adjusted gross income to ten percent of adjusted gross income.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1986
Uninsured Workers' Health Insurance Act of 1986 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an income tax credit for amounts paid for health insurance premiums by individuals who are not eligible for employer-sponsored health insurance and who are not covered by a Federal health program. Limits the amount of such credit based on the uninsured individual's taxable income. Disallows such credit for individuals with a taxable income over $30,000 per year. Allows an income tax deduction for the amounts paid for health insurance premiums by self-employed individuals who own the entire interest in an unincorporated trade or business.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1986
Health Equity and Incentives Reform Act of 1986 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to include in the employee's income contributions by an employer to accident or health plans for compensation to employees for personal injuries or sickness. Excludes from income contributions made: (1) with respect to coverage under any workers' compensation Act; (2) for in-plant first aid; or (3) for treatment of occupationally related illness or injury. Excludes certain contribution amounts made on behalf of Medicare recipients. Includes the amounts of the employer's contribution to an accident or health plan in the social security wage base. Permits an individual a refundable tax credit equal to 40 percent of the qualified health premiums of the individual for the taxable year. Provides that "qualified health premium" means the amount paid or incurred by or on behalf of the taxpayer as a premium to a qualified health care financing and delivery plan for coverage under such plan. Limits the amount of qualified premiums eligible for the tax credit to $65 per month per household member covered under the plan up to a maximum of $195 per month. Provides for an annual cost-of-living adjustment in the monthly limitation amount. Sets forth the requirements for qualified health care financing and delivery plans. Provides that nonresident aliens are not allowed the tax credit for contributions to accident and health plans. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to study and report to the Congress, not later than March 31, 1988, on alternative methods for adjusting the monthly limitation of premiums eligible for the tax credit so as to take into account the ages of different individuals and other actuarial factors that reflect the relative cost of health care services for different individuals. Amends the Public Health Service Act to provide that if an employer or State or political subdivision employs an individual who, immediately preceding the date of the employment, is enrolled with a qualified health maintenance organization and who continues to reside in the area served by the organization, such employer, State, or political subdivision shall include in the health benefits plan offered to such employee the option of continuing membership in such qualified health maintenance organization.
United States · United States Congress · 20 May 1986
Health Care Innovation Act of 1986 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to pay hospitals for their use of a new medical device or procedure which causes hospital operating costs to exceed 110 percent of the price of the diagnosis-related group (DRG) to which the device or procedure is applied. Funds 60 percent of the amount by which the cost of the innovative treatment exceeds 110 percent of the DRG price. Terminates such funding when the decision is made to incorporate or exclude the treatment from the DRG price, but not later than two years after the provision of such funding. Requires that new devices have premarket approval by the Food and Drug Administration and new procedures be suitable for inclusion in the DRG system before such funding is provided. Directs hospitals which receive funds pursuant to this Act to supply the financial and clinical data the Secretary needs to assess the usefulness of the treatment and establish an appropriate DRG rate for the innovative treatment. Sets forth a formula based, in part, on the percentage of total Medicare hospital payments a hospital receives, limiting payments a hospital may receive for the application of innovative treatments. Limits the aggregate payments made pursuant to this Act to one percent of the total Medicare payments made for the operating costs of inpatient hospital services. Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress within one year of enactment of this Act on methods of paying health maintenance organizations and competitive medical plans for their application of innovative treatments. Requires the annual adjustment of DRG classifications and weighting factors. (Currently, adjustments are made every four years.)
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 1986
Amends Federal armed forces provisions to designate one of the Assistant Secretaries of Defense as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict, whose principal duty shall be the overall supervision of special operations and low intensity conflict affairs (including terrorism, insurgency, and other unconventional warfare threats) of the Department of Defense. Directs the President to establish a unified command for special operations forces, unless such action is not in the national interest. Amends the National Security Act of 1947 to require the National Security Council to establish within the Council the Board for Low Intensity Conflict to coordinate the low intensity conflict policy for the United States. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should establish the position of Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs for Low Intensity Conflict, and that such Deputy Assistant should act as chairman of the Board for Low Intensity Conflict as established under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 1986
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Farm Credit System should take specified actions to assist borrowers, including: (1) participating to the maximum extent possible with the Farmers Home Administration and other Government guarantee programs to provide 1986 operating loans; (2) following policies of reasonable loan forbearance; (3) using loan restructuring; (4) emphasizing loan servicing approaches that help borrowers meet the conditions of their loan contracts; (5) resorting to foreclosure only when there is no alternative or when the associated costs would be less than loan restructuring; (6) providing defaulting borrowers with the opportunity to bid on foreclosed property; and (7) maintaining sound institutional credit policies.
United States · United States Congress · 7 May 1986
Fair Credit Card Act of 1986 - Amends the Truth in Lending Act to direct the Federal Reserve Board to issue regulations requiring that credit card solicitations mailed to consumers disclose information about finance charge conditions, interest rates, and annual fees and related charges. Requires the balance upon which such finance charges may be imposed to be computed using an average daily balance method or alternative method which benefits the consumer. Directs the Federal Reserve Board to issue regulations on such methods.
United States · United States Congress · 6 May 1986
Commends the Steger International Polar Expedition for becoming the first unsupported dogsled expedition to reach the North Pole and sending the first woman to the North Pole.
![Official portrait of Sen. Durenberger, Dave [R-MN]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/d000566_200.jpg)