United States · United States Congress · 17 April 1986
Expresses the sense of the Congress that, in view of specified international human rights agreements, the Soviet Union should approve the exit visa applications of Doctor Naum Meiman and his wife, Inna Kitrosskaya-Meiman, and arrange for them to go to the country of their choice. Urges the President to: (1) protest the Soviet Government's refusal to consider the exit visa applications of Dr. Meiman and his wife; (2) call upon all other signatory nations of the Helsinki Accords to join in such protests; and (3) instruct the U.S. delegation to the meeting of experts on human contacts organized under the auspices of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe in Bern, Switzerland, to pursue this matter.
United States · United States Congress · 16 April 1986
Designates May 21, 1986, as Andrei Sakharov Honor and Freedom Day. Requests the President to mark such day with an appeal to the Soviet leader for Doctor Sakharov's release. Provides for the relocation of the "Andrei Sakharov Plaza" street sign to an area adjacent to the Soviet Embassy in the District of Columbia.
United States · United States Congress · 15 April 1986
Expresses the Senate's respect and gratitude to Warren Magnuson for his tireless and successful efforts to promote the conservation and management of our marine fisheries and provide our commercial and recreational fishing industry with the benefits of those resources.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 1986
Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to make required red meat purchases in proportion to the number of dairy cattle slaughtered in each disposal period under the milk production termination program (program). Provides that if such purchases are inadequate to offset the amount of meat being marketed under the program, the Secretary shall decrease meat imports, or increase purchases and exports. Directs the Secretary to ensure the orderly marketing of such dairy cattle consistent with historical beef and dairy marketing patterns.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 1986
Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to suspend the current milk production termination program while the Secretary of Agriculture develops a new program that will minimize the adverse effects on beef, pork, and lamb producers. Requires the Secretary to report to the appropriate congressional committees.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 1986
Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to make required red meat purchases in proportion to the number of dairy cattle slaughtered in each disposal period under the milk production termination program (program). Provides that if such purchases are inadequate to offset the amount of meat being marketed under the program, the Secretary shall decrease meat imports, or increase purchases and exports. Directs the Secretary to ensure the orderly marketing of such dairy cattle consistent with historical beef and dairy marketing patterns.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 1986
Prohibits the issuance of a letter of offer with respect to specified proposed sales of Sidewinder, Stinger, and Harpoon missiles and services to Saudi Arabia, as described in the April 8, 1986, certifications from the President to the Congress under the Arms Export Control Act.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 1986
Recognizes the Ireland Fund for its laudable charitable achievements, and its founder, Dr. Anthony J.F. O'Reilly, for the humane work he has inspired on behalf of the people of Ireland.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 1986
National Forest Ski Area Permit Act of 1986 - Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to issue permits for the use and occupancy of National Forest System lands for commercial skiing operations. Requires existing permits to conform to the new system.
United States · United States Congress · 27 March 1986
Service Contract Reform Act of 1986 - Amends the Service Contract Act of 1965 to raise from $2,500 to $200,000 the minimum size of a private service contract with the Federal Government subject to such Act. Declares that such Act applies only to contracts whose principal purpose is to furnish services. Revises provisions regarding predecessor contracts. Provides that a successor contractor shall not be required to pay the wages and fringe benefits of a predecessor contractor unless the Secretary of Labor establishes that wages and fringe benefits under the successor contract are less than prevailing wages and fringe benefits in the locality in which the work is to be performed. Directs the Secretary to make wage and fringe benefit determinations for service contracts under which 25 or more service employees are to be employed. (Current law requires such determinations for five or more service employees.)
United States · United States Congress · 26 March 1986
Expresses the sense of the Senate, and instructs its committees and conferees, that the Senate: (1) will not approve any provisions relating to tax-exempt bonds in H.R. 3838 or similar legislation that will adversely affect the ability of States and their political subdivisions to finance infrastructure needs; (2) will retain incentives in the capital formation provisions of any tax reform legislation to encourage private investment in public infrastructure; and (3) will not approve any tax reform provisions that would adversely affect the tax-exempt status of bonds or other obligations of the States or their political subdivisions which comply with current law and which are issued prior to either January 1, 1987, or any later date provided in enacted law.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1986
Declares that the benefits of the following programs, including cost-of-living adjustments, shall not be subject to modification, suspension, or reduction in calendar year 1987 pursuant to the President's sequestration order under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act): (1) black lung benefits; (2) Central Intelligence Agency retirement and disability system; (3) civil service retirement and disability system; (4) Comptroller General retirement system; (5) foreign service retirement and disability system; (6) judicial survivors' annuities system; (7) longshoremen's and harbor workers' compensation system; (8) military retirement system; (9) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration retirement system; (10) pensions for former Presidents; (11) railroad retirement; (12) Coast Guard retirement system; (13) Public Health Service commissioned officers retirement system; (14) disabled coal miners' benefits; and (15) Tax Court judges survivors' retirement system.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1986
Tax-Exempt Bond Reform Act of 1986 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to replace the term "industrial development bonds" with the new term "quasi-governmental bonds." Defines "quasi-governmental bond" as any obligation: (1) which is issued as part of an issue more than 25 percent of the net proceeds of which are to be used directly or indirectly in any trade or business carried on by any person other than a governmental unit; and (2) the payment of the principal or interest on which is, to the extent of more than 25 percent, secured by an interest in property used or to be used in a trade or business or in payments with respect of property, or to be derived from payments in respect of property, or borrowed money, used or to be used in trade or business. Sets forth rules concerning the use of proceeds in ways which will not be considered to be used in a trade or business carried on by other than a governmental unit. Provides that an issue of obligations will not be treated as quasi-governmental bonds if 95 percent or more of the proceeds are to be used to provide projects for residential rental or limited-equity cooperative property if certain conditions are satisfied. Provides that certain issues will not be treated as quasi-governmental bonds if 95 percent or more of the net proceeds of the issue are used for certain specified activities. Provides that when 95 percent or more of the net proceeds of an industrial park or small issue are used for such purposes, then the bonds are tax-exempt. Repeals the termination date for the small issue industrial development bond exemption. Sets forth the definition of "principal user" for purposes of certain facilities. Provides that obligations where 95 percent of the proceeds are to be used by nonprofit organizations in activities which do not constitute unrelated trade or businesses shall not be treated as quasi-governmental bonds. Provides that qualified mortgage bonds, qualified veterans' mortgage bonds, qualified student loan bonds, and qualified tax-increment bonds will not be treated as quasi-governmental bonds. Modifies the requirements with respect to tax-exempt bonds used for low-income housing involving residential or limited-equity cooperative property. Makes other modifications with respect to quasi-governmental bonds. Modifies the definition of "arbitrage bond" for purposes of determining the tax-exemption for such bonds. Repeals the exception for obligations used for educational institutions. Makes modifications in certain special rules relating to arbitrage bonds. Provides that certain irrigation dams shall be treated as air or water pollution control facilities if certain conditions are met for purposes of quasi-governmental bonds. Makes modifications with respect to qualified scholarship funding bonds, federally guaranteed obligations, and qualified steam generating or alcohol producing facilities. Provides that an obligation is federally guaranteed if more than five percent of the net proceeds of such issue is used to make loans guaranteed by the Federal Government or invested in federally insured deposits. Requires public approval for quasi-governmental bonds. Requires certain informational reporting to the Secretary of the Treasury with respect to quasi-governmental bonds. Substitutes the term "quasi-governmental" for the term "private activity". Increases the dollar amount of the State ceiling on quasi-governmental bonds to $225 multiplied by the State's population or $260,000,000. Provides special rules for allocating the volume cap with respect to States with constitutional home rule cities. Modifies the refunding rules with respect to student loan bonds, qualified mortgage bonds, and qualified veterans' mortgage bonds. Substitutes the term "private loan bonds" for the term "consumer loan bonds." Requires that more than five percent of the net proceeds of the issue must be used for certain purposes in order to be classified as private loan bonds. Makes various modifications in the definition and requirements for qualified student loan bonds and tax-increment bonds. Provides that the tax-exempt status of an obligation issued for the purpose of the advance refunding of a tax-exempt obligation or quasi-governmental bonds will not be allowed unless certain conditions are satisfied. Provides rules for the change in use or ownership of facilities financed by certain tax-exempt obligations. Defines "net proceeds" to mean the proceeds of an issue reduced by insurance costs and a reasonably required reserve and replacement fund. Makes certain changes in the provisions concerning the mortgage credit certificate program. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to amend the regulations relating to the arbitrage requirements to eliminate the provision which permits a higher yield on purpose obligations if the issuer elects to waive the benefits of the temporary period provisions. Provides a penalty for failure to file certain reports on compliance with the qualified residential project rules. Makes certain technical and conforming amendments to the Internal Revenue Code and to the securities laws. Provides that, generally, the effective date for these provisions will apply to obligations issued after the date of enactment of this Act. Sets forth other effective dates for specific provisions. Provides that tax-exempt financing of low income housing, or of water, sewer, and solid waste facilities will not effect the depreciation of such property. Prohibits the deduction of interest expenses of financial institutions allocable to tax-exempt securities. Sets forth the formula for making such allocation. Provides that a certain percentage of tax-exempt interest received by an insurance company shall be subtracted from the amount of losses incurred by the company in calculating taxable income. Provides that an individual is not required to report on tax returns either the tax-exempt interest received or the receipt of State and local tax payments.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1986
Withdraws and reserves for the Department of the Navy certain public lands within the Bravo-20 Bombing Range, Churchill County, Nevada, for use as a training and weapons testing area. Requires the Secretary of the Interior to manage the nonmilitary uses of such lands. Requires the Secretary and the Secretary of the Navy to develop a land use plan and management program for such lands within five years. Terminates the withdrawal of such lands after 25 years. Requires the Secretary of the Navy to give the Secretary of the Interior at least three years' notice of any continuing need for such lands. Requires the Secretary of the Navy to decontaminate such land of hazardous materials, if necessary. Permits the Secretary of the Interior to refuse such lands if decontamination is not possible, requiring a review of such determination every five years. Permits the Secretary of the Interior to revoke the withdrawal in the public interest, despite such lands' contamination.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 1986
Provides that Federal tax reform legislation based on the President's tax reform proposal submitted to the Congress on May 29, 1985, shall not take effect before January 1, 1987.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 1986
Antitrust Damages Clarification Act of 1986 - Provides that no damages, costs, or attorney's fees shall be awarded under an antitrust suit with respect to the establishment or use of any rate, charge, or premium that is: (1) filed with a State insurance department; or (2) authorized, approved, or permitted to become effective pursuant to State insurance laws. Applies this Act to pending cases.
United States · United States Congress · 20 February 1986
Authorizes and requests the President to present, on behalf of the Congress, gold medals to the families of Francis R. Scobee, Michael Smith, Judith Resnik, Ronald McNair, Ellison Onizuka, Christa McAuliffe, and Gregory Jarvis in recognition of their courage, dedication, and sacrifice as crew members of the space shuttle Challenger. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to determine the design of the medals. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 1986
Litigation Abuse Reform Act of 1986 - Amends the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to provide certain limitations and procedures regarding civil damages in actions alleging negligence, strict or product liability, intentionally tortious conduct, or malpractice by a physician, accountant, lawyer, architect, engineer, or other professional. Requires that future damage awards exceeding $100,000 be made by periodic payments. Requires that damage awards be offset by an amount received as compensation for the same injury from other sources. Limits the amount of damages for noneconomic losses to $100,000. Establishes a contingency fee schedule for plaintiffs' attorneys. Permits the awarding of punitive damages only where the conduct of the defendant manifests a conscious disregard for safety. Provides that punitive damages awarded in any civil action to which this Act applies shall be paid to the clerk of the court and transmitted to the Treasurer of the United States, for the use of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts and the Federal Judicial Center. Makes any attorney whose conduct is calculated for delay, or is found to be in bad faith, subject to pecuniary sanctions by the court.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 1986
Expresses the sense of the Congress that certain amounts appropriated for the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention of the Department of Justice which have been proposed for rescission by the President shall be made available for obligation and expended as originally intended.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 1986
Expresses the sense of the Congress, and instructs its committees and conferees, that the Congress will not approve any provisions in H.R. 3838 or in similar legislation that would adversely affect the tax-exempt status of the bonds or other obligations of the States or their political subdivisions and instrumentalities which comply with current law and which are issued prior to: (1) January 1, 1987; or (2) any later date provided in enacted law.
United States · United States Congress · 3 February 1986
Alternative Dispute Resolution Promotion Act of 1986 - Amends the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to require each attorney representing a party in an action to advise that party of the existence and availability of alternative dispute resolution options, including mediation, arbitration, and summary jury trial proceedings. Requires such attorneys to file notice with the court certifying that their clients were so advised and indicating whether the parties will agree to any such option. States that neither the acceptance nor rejection of any such offer shall be admissible as evidence in any further proceedings in such action. Establishes procedures by which any party may serve upon any other party offers to: (1) settle claims; or (2) engage in alternative dispute resolution techniques. Allows the court to impose sanctions upon an offeree who unreasonably rejects such an offer. Provides that such requirements shall not apply to class or derivative actions.
United States · United States Congress · 19 December 1985
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the effective date of any fundamental tax reform legislation should generally be January 1, 1987, while recognizing that appropriate transition rules may be necessary to avoid unintended adverse effects and recognizing further that retroactive effective dates may be necessary to extend certain provisions which expire before January 1, 1987.
United States · United States Congress · 18 December 1985
Expresses the sense of the Senate that under the Constitution any right, title, or interest of the United States in any territory, outer continental shelf, exclusive economic zone, or fishery conservation zone, including the islands of Wrangell, Herald, Bennett, Henrietta, and Jeannette, may only be transferred to another country by treaty and enactment of the Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 17 December 1985
Amends Federal employee allowances provisions to authorize the Secretary of Defense, or the Secretary of Transportation in the case of the Coast Guard when not operating as a service in the Navy, to allow dependents of a member of the armed forces who dies in the line of duty who are occupying federally-owned family housing on a nonrental basis to continue to occupy such housing without charge for a period of 60 days following the member's death. Amends Federal provisions concerning the military basic allowances for quarters (BAQ) to authorize the Secretary concerned to pay a BAQ to dependents of a member of the armed forces who dies in the line of duty who are either not occupying military family housing or are occupying such housing on a rental basis at the time of the member's death. Terminates such payment 60 days after the date of the member's death.
United States · United States Congress · 11 December 1985
Amends the judicial code to increase the number of bankruptcy judges: (1) from two to three for the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas; (2) from seven to nine for the Northern District of California; (3) from four to six for the Eastern District of California; (4) from 12 to 19 for the Central District of California; (5) from three to four for the Southern District of California; (6) from two to four for the Middle District of Florida; (7) from four to six for the Northern District of Georgia; (8) from one to two for the Southern District of Georgia; (9) from one to two for Idaho; (10) from eight to ten for the Northern District of Illinois; (11) from two to three for the Central District of Illinois; (12) from two to three for the Northern District of Indiana; (13) from one to two for the Northern District of Iowa; (14) from one to two for the Southern District of Iowa; (15) from two to three for the Western District of Kentucky; (16) from two to three for Maryland; (17) from two to three for the Western District of Michigan (18) from one to two for Nebraska; (19) from two to three for Nevada; (20) from five to seven to New Jersey; (21) from one to two for the Northern District of Oklahoma; (22) from two to three for the Western District of Oklahoma; (23) from four to five for Oregon; (24) from one to two for South Carolina; (25) from two to three for the Eastern District of Tennessee; (26) from two to three for the Western District of Tennessee; (27) from four to five for the Northern District of Texas; (28) from three to six for the Southern District of Texas; (29) from two to three for the Western District of Texas; (30) from two to three for Utah; (31) from three to four for the Eastern District of Virginia; (32) from one to two for the Eastern District of Washington; (33) from four to five for the Western District of Washington; and (34) from three to four for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.
United States · United States Congress · 9 December 1985
Amends the Deficit Reduction Act of 1984 to extend from August 1, 1985, until June 30, 1986, the special rules concerning the allocation of research and experimental expenditures to income from sources within the United States. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend from December 31, 1985, until June 30, 1986, the income tax credit for increased research and experimental expenditures. Extends from December 31, 1985, until June 30, 1986, the income tax deduction for expenditures to remove architectural and transportation barriers to the handicapped and elderly. Extends from December 31, 1985, until June 30, 1986, the moratorium on net operating loss carryover rules. Extends from January 1, 1986, until July 1, 1986, the moratorium on the issuance of regulations relating to faculty housing. Extends the targeted jobs income tax credit from December 31, 1985, until June 30, 1986. Extends the authorization for appropriations for administrative and publicity expenses through FY 1986. Extends from December 31, 1985, through June 30, 1986, provisions relating to the awarding of attorney's fees to a prevailing taxpayer in a Federal tax case. Extends from December 31, 1985, until June 30, 1986, the limited income tax exclusion for employer-provided educational assistance. Extends from December 31, 1985, until June 30, 1986, the income tax exclusion for amounts received under qualified group legal services plans. Extends from January 1, 1986, until July 1, 1986, the income tax exclusion for certain employer-provided commuting transportation. Extends from December 31, 1985, until June 30, 1986, the limited exclusion of dividends from a public utility that are reinvested in common stock of the utility. Extends from December 31, 1985, (until June 30, 1986, the investment tax credit for specified types of energy property. Extends from December 31, 1985, until June 30, 1986, the residential energy income tax credit. Extends from December 31, 1985, until June 30, 1986, social security coverage of retired Federal judges on active duty.
![Official portrait of Sen. Hecht, Chic [R-NV]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/h000439_200.jpg)