United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1989
Legislative Line Item Veto Act of 1989 - Amends the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to grant the President legislative line item veto rescission authority. Authorizes the President to rescind all or part of any budget authority if the President determines that such rescission: (1) would help balance the Federal budget, reduce the Federal budget deficit, or reduce the public debt; (2) will not impair any essential Government functions; and (3) will not harm the national interest. Requires the President to notify the Congress of such a rescission by: (1) special message not later than 20 calendar days after enactment of appropriations legislation; or (2) special message accompanying the budget when such rescissions have not been proposed previously for that fiscal year. Makes such a rescission effective unless the Congress, during a review period of 20 calendar days, enacts a rescission disapproval bill. Describes: (1) information to be included in the President's message; and (2) procedures to govern consideration of rescission disapproval legislation in the Senate and the House of Representatives.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1989
Marginal Energy Producers Incentives Act of 1989 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code with respect to the oil and natural gas allowance to allow a tax deduction to the transferee in the case of a transfer of proven oil or gas property. Increases from 50 to 100 percent (thus removing) the net income limitations on the use of such depletion allowances. Sets a percentage depletion allowance of 15 percent for the marginal production of domestic crude oil or natural gas by independent producers. Makes the alternative minimum tax preference for percentage depletion inapplicable to such marginal production.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1989
Declares that it is the sense of the Congress that the Secretary of Agriculture and the United States Trade Representative should: (1) review recent conditions in the livestock trade between the United States and Mexico; and (2) work with Mexican officials to achieve free livestock trade between the two nations.
United States · United States Congress · 4 August 1989
Requests: (1) the Soviet Union to release the prison records of Raoul Wallenberg and account for his whereabouts; and (2) the President to pursue such release and accounting through diplomatic actions with the Soviet Union.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1989
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to deny tax-exempt status to organizations that directly or indirectly perform or provide facilities for abortions. Denies the income, estate, and gift tax charitable contribution deductions for donations to them.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 1989
Emergency Chinese Immigration Relief Act of 1989 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for the adjustment to temporary or permanent resident status, or change to another nonimmigrant status, of certain nonimmigrant (student, exchange visitor) nationals of the People's Republic of China. (Waives the two-year home country residence requirement for "J" visa exchange visitors.) Authorizes such persons to travel abroad and to work in the United States. Establishes a deferred departure period for such persons through June 5, 1993. Authorizes the Attorney General as of June 5, 1990, to terminate such deferred departure period if the President certifies to the Congress that conditions in China have changed.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 1989
Farm Animal Facilities Protection Act of 1989 - Makes it unlawful to disrupt a farm animal facility (as defined by this Act) by removing animals, vandalizing, trespassing, or entering with intent to commit a prohibited act. Sets forth penalties for violations of this Act. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to investigate such actions upon request. Grants U.S. district courts jurisdiction in such cases. Provides for a private right of action.
United States · United States Congress · 23 June 1989
Expresses the sense of the Congress that science, mathematics, and technology education should be a national priority (with emphasis on an educated citizenry, curriculum planning, teacher preparation, and service to traditionally underserved students, including those from inner cities and remote areas).
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 1989
Constitutional Amendment - Declares that the Congress and the States have the power to prohibit the desecrating, mutilating, defacing, defiling, or burning of the U.S. flag.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 1989
Declares that the Senate: (1) expresses its disappointment that the Texas statute prohibiting the desecration of the flag was found to be unconstitutional; (2) expresses its commitment to preserving the honor and integrity of the flag; (3) intends to make a study of the impact of the Supreme Court decision on Federal and State laws and to seek ways to restore sanctions against such conduct; and (4) urges the American people to continue to display proudly the American flag.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 1989
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the current Nicaraguan refugee crisis is a direct result of Sandinista tyranny and congressional unwillingness to provide consistent support to the Nicaraguan freedom fighters.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 1989
Chinese Foreign Student and Exchange Visitor Relief Act - Grants U.S. permanent resident status to certain nonimmigrant (students and exchange visitors) nationals of the People's Republic of China.
United States · United States Congress · 1 June 1989
United States Coast Guard Bicentennial Medal Act - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to design, strike, and sell a medal in commemoration of the bicentennial of the U.S. Coast Guard in 1990. Requires the design of the medal to be selected by the Secretary of the Treasury after consultation with the Secretary of Transportation and the Commission of Fine Arts.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 1989
Amends the Panama Canal Act of 1979 to prohibit the appointment of the Administrator of the Panama Canal Commission until the President certifies to the Congress that the ruling Panamanian Government is democratically elected pursuant to procedures specified in the Constitution of Panama providing for a civilian government in control of all military and paramilitary forces.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 1989
Disaster Assistance Act of 1989 - Title I: Emergency Crop Loss Assistance - Amends the Disaster Assistance Act of 1988 to extend disaster assistance to winter wheat and other winter crops planted in 1988 for harvest in 1989. Title II: Emergency Livestock Assistance - Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to make funds available for emergency livestock transportation and water assistance in 1989. Title III: Businesses - Amends the Disaster Assistance Act of 1988 to extend Federal principal and interest guarantees on rural business loans based on 1989 winter crop losses. Title IV: Planting of Alternate Crops on Permitted Acreage - Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to extend alternate crop authority through 1990. Title V: Implementation - Offsets disaster payments made under this Act by deficiency payment reductions.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 1989
Directs the Secretary of Defense, no later than 15 days after the enactment of this Act, to establish an Anti-Drug Task Force composed of personnel from the armed forces, the Coast Guard, and the U.S. Customs Service. Requires the Task Force, in cooperation with the Director of National Drug Control Policy, to develop a plan for the support of the drug interdiction activities of Federal law enforcement agencies, providing for the assignment of military personnel and the use of equipment and resources of the Department of Defense. Directs the Secretary and the Director, within 30 days after enactment of this Act, to report to the Congress on the activities of the Task Force.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 1989
Designates the Labor Day Weekend beginning on September 2, 1989, as National Drive for Life Weekend. Calls on people to observe that weekend with a pledge to be responsible by driving sober.
United States · United States Congress · 10 May 1989
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the problem of geographical variation in physician reimbursement under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act needs to be addressed so that only those variations justified by regional differences in the cost of medical practice or the need to maintain access to high quality health care are permitted.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 1989
Provides for the establishment of categories of aliens who are subject to persecution in the Soviet Union or in Vietnam and therefore admissible as refugees into the United States. (Deems Jews and Evangelical Christians in the Soviet Union and Vietnamese registered with the Orderly Departure Program to be such categories.) Provides for the adjustment of status to refugee status for certain Soviet and Vietnamese parolees residing in the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 1989
Prohibits the United States from making any voluntary or assessed contributions to the United Nations or any of its affiliated organizations if such entity grants full membership as a state to any organization or group that does not have the internationally recognized attributes of statehood.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 1989
Enhanced Oil and Gas Recovery Tax Act of 1989 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to set a depletion allowance of 27.5 percent in connection with domestic oil and natural gas recovered through enhanced recovery techniques. Reduces this percentage (but not below 15 percent) as the average annual removal price during the calendar year exceeds $30 (indexed for inflation). Terminates this provision with respect to production after 2009. Increases from 50 percent to 100 percent the net income limitation on percentage depletion in connection with incremental tertiary oil or natural gas. Makes the alternative minimum tax preferences for percentage depletion and intangible drilling costs in connection with oil and gas removed through enhanced recovery methods inapplicable whenever the average annual removal price for the year is less than $30 (indexed for inflation). Terminates this provision with respect to production or costs after 2009. Permits a ten percent income tax credit for research to discover or improve tertiary recovery methods for domestic crude oil or natural gas.
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 1989
Natural Gas Wellhead Decontrol Act of 1989 - Amends the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 to declare that the price guidelines for the first sale of natural gas do not apply to: (1) expired (and expiring) or terminated (and terminating) contracts and any contracts executed after enactment of this Act; and (2) certain renegotiated contracts. Repeals wellhead price controls as of January 1, 1993.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 1989
PLO Commitments Compliance Act of 1989 - Reiterates the U.S. policy that any dialogue with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) shall be contingent upon the PLO's recognition of Israel's right to exist, its acceptance of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338, and its abstention from, and renunciation of, all acts of terrorism. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the United States should seek the implementation of concrete steps by the PLO consistent with its commitments to move towards peace and recognition of Israel and away from terrorism and other violence, to include: (1) disbanding units which have been involved in terrorism; (2) publicly condemning all acts of terrorism for which they are not responsible and abstaining from committing such acts; (3) ceasing the intimidation of Palestinians seeking peace with Israel; (4) calling on the Arab states to recognize and end the economic boycott of Israel; and (5) amending the PLO's Covenant to remove provisions which undermine Israel's legitimacy and call for Israel's destruction. Requires the President, as long as the dialogue between the United States and the PLO continues, to report every 120 days to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the PLO's progress in achieving such goals.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 1989
Animal Research Facilities Protection Act of 1989 - Makes it unlawful for any person to: (1) release, steal, or intentionally cause the loss of any research facility animal; (2) damage, vandalize, or steal any animal research facility property; (3) falsely obtain access to any research facility for unauthorized purposes; (4) break into a facility with an intent to destroy, alter, duplicate, or obtain unauthorized possession of records, equipment, or animals; (5) gain control over or to use the records, material, data, equipment, or animals of any such facility knowing or reasonably believing that they have been obtained by theft or deception; or (6) enter or remain on a research facility with the intent to commit an act prohibited by this Act. Imposes a $5,000 fine and/or one year imprisonment for violations of this Act. Provides for a private right of action for any research facility injured in its business or property by a violation of this Act. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture and the Attorney General to jointly conduct a study on the extent and effects of domestic and international terrorism on facilities in which animals are used for research, food production, exhibition, or pets and to submit a report on the results of such study to certain congressional committees.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 1989
Resolves that, in the event further talks are held with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO): (1) the top priority of the United States should be the prevention of terrorist and other violent activity by the PLO or its factions; and (2) the United States should obtain from the PLO a full accounting of specified violent activity which occurred after Yasser Arafat's commitment of December 14, 1988. Urges the Secretary of State to report to the Senate on such accounting.
United States · United States Congress · 5 April 1989
Educational Excellence Act of 1989 - Title I: Improving Elementary and Secondary Education - Part A: Presidential Merit Schools - Presidential Merit Schools Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to establish the Presidential Merit Schools Program to recognize and reward public and private elementary and secondary schools that have made substantial progress in: (1) raising student educational achievement, especially in reading, writing, and mathematics; (2) creating a safe and alcohol- and drug-free school environment; and (3) reducing the dropout rate. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1990 through 1993. Authorizes State educational agencies (SEAs) to designate as a Merit School any public or private elementary or secondary school nominated through procedures established by the SEA. Sets forth requirements for selection criteria established by the Secretary of Education (the Secretary) and by SEAs. Provides that each Merit School will be awarded a Presidential Certificate of Merit, as well as funds to further its educational program. Prohibits Federal, State, or local reduction of other assistance to a school because it receives such an award. Part B: Magnet Schools of Excellence - Magnet Schools of Excellence Act of 1989 - Amends ESEA to establish the Magnet Schools of Excellence Program of grants to support public elementary or secondary schools that: (1) offer the highest quality instruction in an academic or vocational discipline or create a unique and effective learning environment; (2) are open to students from beyond the immediate school attendance area; and (3) are capable of attracting students from a variety of backgrounds. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1990 through 1993. Sets forth criteria for selection of applications. Limits such grants to any one school to no more than two years and requires satisfactory progress in order to receive the grant for the second year. Prohibits Federal, State, or local reduction of assistance to a school because it receives such an award. Part C: Alternative Certification for Teachers and Principals - Alternative Certification of Teachers and Principals Assistance Act of 1989 - Amends ESEA to establish a program of assistance for Alternative Certification of Teachers and Principals. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1990. Repeals this part as of October 1, 1990. Part D: Presidential Awards for Excellence in Education - Amends ESEA to establish the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Education Program to recognize and reward outstanding elementary and secondary school teachers. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1990 through 1993. Makes any full-time public or private elementary or secondary school teacher of academic or vocational subjects eligible for such an award. Makes teachers of religion (other than religion as an academic discipline) ineligible. Allows various individuals, groups, or institutions to nominate teachers for such awards. Requires State panels to select award recipients using criteria approved by the Secretary. Sets the amount of such an award at $5,000, and allows the recipient to use it for any purpose. Part E: Effective Date - Sets the effective date of the amendments made by this title. Title II: National Science Scholars - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to establish the National Science Scholars Program to recognize student excellence and achievement in the physical, life, and computer sciences, mathematics, and engineering. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1990 through 1993. Authorizes the Secretary to award scholarships to outstanding students selected as National Science Scholars by the President. Allows students who satisfy certain requirements to receive such scholarships for the first year of undergraduate study and, if they satisfy additional requirements, additional scholarships to cover the remaining undergraduate years. Directs the Secretary to appoint a panel of experts to recommend academic achievement criteria for use in the nomination of scholars. Sets forth requirements for initial and continuation awards. Sets the scholarship amount at $10,000 for an academic year, but reduces such amount based on cost of attendance and other grant or scholarship assistance, and adjusts for insufficient appropriations. Requires that scholarship recipients, to the extent they are otherwise qualified, be given priority consideration for federally financed summer employment in research and development centers. Title III: Other Programs - Amends the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1986 to establish a Drug-Free Schools Urban Emergency Grants program. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1990 through 1993. Directs the Secretary to use program funds to award a small number of one-time grants to local educational agencies in urban areas with the most severe drug problems to assist them in developing and implementing comprehensive approaches to eliminating such problems. Amends HEA to authorize appropriations for FY 1990 through 1993 for special awards to historically Black colleges and universities. Makes institutions that receive such awards ineligible for other specified awards, and makes institutions that do not receive them eligible for those other awards.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1989
Natural Gas Regulatory Reform Act of 1989 - Title I: Decontrol of Natural Gas - Amends the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 to repeal wellhead price controls on natural gas sales. Exempts the first sales of natural gas from the provisions of the Natural Gas Act. Makes such deregulation effective January 1, 1993. Title II: Transitional Provisions - Eliminates price controls for certain natural gas sales contracts that: (1) are executed after this Act's enactment; (2) are renegotiated after this Act's enactment; or (3) will end or have ended after this Act's enactment.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1989
Authorizes the President to transfer a specified amount of unobligated funds of the Department of Defense for nonlethal assistance to the Nicaraguan democratic resistance that includes: (1) economic assistance for specified administrative costs; (2) gasoline, fuel, and spare parts for aircraft; (3) communication radios with batteries; (4) clothing; (5) political and civic action education programs; and (6) military training courses. Requires the Secretary of State to publish a report detailing the obligation of such nonlethal aid in the Federal Register every 90 days. Declares that the Congress will consider authorizing the President to transfer funds for providing military assistance to the resistance after February 27, 1990, unless the President has certified that the Nicaraguan Government has held free elections toward establishment of a democratic government.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1989
Designates the week of July 24 to July 30, 1989, as National Week of Recognition and Remembrance for Those Who Served in the Korean War. Authorizes and requests the President to urge that the American flag be flown at half staff on July 27, 1989, in honor of those Americans who died as a result of their service in Korea.
![Official portrait of Sen. Gramm, Phil [R-TX]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/g000365_200.jpg)