United States · United States Congress · 25 January 1989
National Global Change Research Act of 1989 - Amends the National Science and Technology Policy, Organization, and Priorities Act of 1976 to provide for assignment to the Federal Coordinating Council for Science, Engineering, and Technology of responsibilities to make long-range plans for cooperative scientific and technical research among Federal agencies. Directs the President, through the Council, to develop a National Global Change Research Plan for a ten-year national research effort concerning both human-induced and natural processes of global change. Requires submission of the Plan to the Congress within one year and revision at least triennially thereafter. Directs each participating Federal agency to include global change research funding requirements in its annual budget request. Directs the Chairman of the Council to submit to the President and to the Congress an annual report on global change research efforts.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 1989
Chemical and Biological Weapons Control Act of 1989 - Requires the imposition of certain sanctions against any foreign country which uses chemical or biological weapons in violation of international law or against its own citizens. Specifies such sanctions as: (1) a prohibition against the sale or export to any such country of any item on the U.S. Munitions List; (2) a prohibition against the exportation to any such country of any goods or technology listed on the control list established pursuant to the Export Administration Act of 1979; (3) U.S. opposition to any loan or financial or technical assistance to any such country by international financial institutions; (4) a prohibition against U.S. military or economic assistance to the sanctioned country; (5) a prohibition against the importation of any goods or services from any such country; (6) a prohibition against credit or credit guarantees through the Export-Import Bank of the United States; (7) a prohibition against U.S. banks making any loan or providing any credit to any such country; and (8) a denial of landing rights in the United States to any airline owned by the government of any such country. Authorizes the President to waive some or all of such sanctions for a period not to exceed nine months upon a determination that such a waiver would be in the national interest. Requires the President to notify the Congress of the imposition of such sanctions not later than five days after such sanctions become effective. Provides for the removal of such sanctions after specified conditions are met. Provides for the sanctity of contracts entered into prior to the date on which Congress is notified of the imposition of sanctions. Requires the President to report to the Congress every 180 days on: (1) efforts by Iran, Iraq, Libya, Syria, and other developing nations to acquire materials and technology to produce and deliver chemical and biological weapons; and (2) an assessment of such countries' present and future capability to produce and deliver such weapons. Urges the President to cooperate in multilateral efforts to control chemical and biological weapons and to give full support to United Nations involvement in such efforts.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 1989
Biennial Budget Act - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to revise the Federal and congressional budget processes by establishing a two-year budgeting and appropriations cycle and timetable, beginning in the 102d Congress. Defines the budget biennium as the two consecutive fiscal years beginning on October 1 of any odd-numbered year. Devotes the first session of any Congress to the budget resolution and to appropriations decisions, retaining current deadlines in most cases. Changes relevant deadlines as follows to conform to the biennial scheme: (1) from April 1 to March 31 for the Senate Budget Committee's report on the concurrent resolution on the budget; (2) from June 15 to September 30 for completion of congressional action on reconciliation legislation; and (3) from June 30 to September 30 for completion of congressional action on appropriations bills. Devotes each second session to authorization activity, subject to deadlines of: (1) May 15 for the submission of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report to the Budget Committees; and (2) the last day of the session for completion of congressional action on bills and resolutions authorizing new budget authority for the next biennium. Changes from January 15 to February 15 of each year the date by which the CBO Director must submit to the Congress a report on authorizations. Requires the Director of the CBO to issue four-year projections of congressional budget action. (Current projections are on a five-year basis.) Amends provisions relating to the reconciliation process to: (1) increase from 20 hours to 100 hours the time of debate permitted in the Senate with respect to reconciliation measures; and (2) make it out of order in both the House and the Senate to consider any reconciliation legislation changing any provision of law other than one relating to new budget or spending authority, revenues, or the public debt limit. Revises the extent of projections to be included in CBO analyses of reported bills. Amends Federal law to require the President's budget for a biennium to be set forth in the same accounts as those set forth in the table titled "The Federal Program by Agency and Account" in the budget submitted for FY 1991. Requires the President to consult with committees having jurisdiction over programs affected by proposed changes before any changes may be made in the budget tables. (Current law requiring consultation with the Budget and Appropriations Committees remains unchanged.) Conforms provisions governing the President's budget, including maximum deficit amount requirements, to the biennial framework. Changes the due date for the President's report on estimated budget outlays and proposed budget authority, making the report due at the same time as the President's budget. Requires the Joint Economic Committee to submit its evaluation of these estimates by February 25 of each odd-numbered year. (The current annual deadline is March 1). Directs the heads of Federal executive agencies, the Comptroller General, and the Directors of the Congressional Budget Office, the Office of Technology Assessment, and the Congressional Research Service to provide studies, analyses, reports, and other documentation concerning program administration to assist the standing committees of the House and the Senate having jurisdiction over the programs in question. Amends the Rules of the House of Representatives to conform to the biennial framework.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 1989
Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to reformulate the Cedar Bluff Unit of the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program, Kansas, including reallocation of the conservation capacity of the Cedar Bluff Reservoir, to create: (1) a designated operating pool for fish, wildlife, and recreation purposes, and for groundwater recharge for environmental, domestic, municipal, industrial, and irrigation uses; and (2) a joint-use pool for flood control, water sales, fish, wildlife, and recreation purposes. Authorizes the Secretary to contract with Kansas for the sale, use, and control of the designated operating pool (with the exception of water reserved for Russell, Kansas), and to allow Kansas to acquire use and control of water in the joint-use pool. Authorizes the Secretary to contract with Kansas for the acceptance of a specified payment and the State's commitment to pay a proportionate share of the annual operation, maintenance, and replacement charges for the Cedar Bluff Dam and Reservoir, as full satisfaction of the reimbursable cost associated with irrigation of the Cedar Bluff Unit. Requires, after the reformulation authorized by this Act, that any revenues in excess of operating expenses received from the sale of water from the Cedar Bluff Unit be allocated to pay the United States for the cost of the project. Authorizes the Secretary to transfer ownership of the fish hatchery facility at Cedar Bluff Dam and related water rights to Kansas for its use and operation. Authorizes the Secretary to transfer title to the Cedar Bluff Irrigation District headquarters located near Hays, Kansas, contingent upon the District's agreement to close down the irrigation system to the satisfaction of the Secretary at no additional cost to the United States, after which all easement rights shall revert to the owners of the land to which the easements are attached.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 1989
Federal Employees Long-Term Care Insurance Act of 1989 - Directs the Office of Personnel Management to arrange for the optional conversion of a portion of a Government employee's life insurance policy to long-term care insurance.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 1989
Congressional Campaign Reform Act of 1989 - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to: (1) increase from $1,000 to $2,000 the amount a person may contribute to a candidate and his authorized political committees for an election for Federal office; and (2) decrease from $5,000 to $1,000 the amount a multicandidate political committee may contribute to a candidate and the candidate's political committees. Requires multicandidate political committees and separate regulated funds to: (1) provide a method so that each person contributing to such committee or fund may specify to which Federal candidate or national political party organization such contribution is being made; and (2) provide each contributor with a list of the names and addresses for the authorized committee of every candidate and for each national political party organization. Requires corporations and labor organizations to report to the Federal Election Commission (Commission) payments or services they furnish which are directly attributable to a registration or get-out-the-vote campaign if the aggregate of such payments and the fair market value of such services exceed $2,000 for any election. Deletes the exception to the reporting requirement for communication costs incurred by a membership organization (including a labor organization) or by a corporation primarily devoted to subjects other than the express advocacy of the election or defeat of a candidate. Sets forth disclosure requirements for independent expenditures through broadcast communications on any radio or television station. Provides that an expenditure is not an independent expenditure where the person making an expenditure is in coordination, consultation, or concert with a candidate. Requires the Commission to provide a hearing within three days after receiving a complaint alleging that an independent expenditure was made in cooperation, consultation, or concert with a candidate. Requires a candidate, within 15 days of qualifying for a primary election ballot, to file with the Commission and each other qualifying candidate a declaration stating whether or not such candidate intends to expend funds and incur personal loans for the primary and general election in the aggregate of $250,000 or more from the following sources: (1) personal funds; (2) family funds; and (3) personal loans incurred in connection with the campaign for office. Allows the opponents of such candidate to accept larger contribution amounts from individuals. Requires a candidate who files a declaration of intent not to expend more than $250,000 and who subsequently does exceed such amount, to file an amended declaration within 24 hours after exceeding such amount. Allows a candidate to repay a personal loan in connection with the candidate's campaign from contributions made to such candidate or any authorized committee of such candidate. Prohibits the repayment of any interest on the principal amount of such loan. Prohibits a candidate from making expenditures from personal funds or family funds or from incurring personal loans in connection with the election campaign at any time within 60 days before such election. Prohibits a candidate who makes expenditures from his personal funds or those of his immediate family to his campaign committee, or makes a loan from such funds to such committee, from using post-election contributions made by any other person to repay any such expenditure or loan. Increases the limit on expenditures made by the national committee of a political party on behalf of the general election campaign of a candidate for the Senate or an at-large House seat to five cents from two cents multiplied by the voting age population of the State, and to $25,000 from $10,000 for candidates running in multi-district States. Expands the definition of the term "national committee" to include the Democratic and Republican National Committees as well as their respective House and Senate campaign committees. Requires a national committee to report: (1) all contributions, loans, transfers, and other receipts from any source to the committee; (2) the identification of each person who provides such contribution in excess of $200 within the calendar year; and (3) all disbursements made by the committee. Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to: (1) limit the cost to qualified candidates of broadcasting time for pre-election political advertising to the lowest rate charged for any time in the same period; and (2) prohibit any broadcast licensee from preempting the use of any such time purchased by a qualified candidate. Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to provide that contributions to candidates made payable to an intermediary or made to an intermediary other than the candidate's authorized committee shall be treated as contributions of the intermediary. Requires contributions that are solicited and contributed to a candidate or his authorized committee or agent to be made payable to a specific payee by the original payer.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 1989
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish a fee on crude oil and refined petroleum products imported into the United States, other than oil or products purchased for export. Imposes the fee during any week following a four-week period when the average international price of crude oil has been less than $18 per barrel. Bases the fee on the difference between $18 per barrel and the average international price of a barrel of crude oil.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 1989
Amends the Tax Reform Act of 1986 to delay until 1990 the effective date of the new nondiscrimination requirements (Internal Revenue Code section 89) for coverage and benefits under certain statutory employee benefit plans.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 1989
Long-Term Care Insurance Consumer Protection Act of 1989 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a procedure for the voluntary certification of long-term care insurance policies. Requires certified policies to: (1) meet or exceed National Association of Insurance Commissioners Model Act Standards; (2) be renewable on the basis of the same premium rate; (3) allow purchasers 30 days to rescind their purchase of the policy; (4) inform consumers of the availability and limitations of long-term care benefits under the Medicare program; and (5) meet or exceed other requirements set by the Secretary. Deems a long-term care insurance policy to have satisfied the requirements of the Federal certification procedure if the State in which it is issued is determined by the Long-Term Care Insurance Panel established pursuant to this Act to have a regulatory program which is at least as stringent as the Federal procedure. Makes it a felony, punishable by fine and/or imprisonment, to knowingly: (1) misrepresent a policy's compliance with this Act's certification requirements; or (2) use the mails to promote the sale or delivery of a policy into a State where such policy has not been approved by the State commissioner or superintendent of insurance. Deems a policy to have been approved by the State commission or superintendent of insurance, if: (1) it has been certified by the Secretary or issued in a State that has an approved regulatory program; (2) it has been approved by the commissioners or superintendents of insurance in States in which more than 30 percent of such policies are sold; or (3) such commissioner or superintendent has the authority to bar the sale of the policy in the State, but neither he or she nor the State has done so. Requires the Secretary to provide Medicare beneficiaries with information that will enable them to evaluate long-term care insurance policies and the relationship of such policies to Medicare benefits. Directs the Long-Term Care Insurance Panel to report to the Congress within one year of this Act's enactment on whether certified policies should meet minimum loss ratios or other value measures and whether they should disclose minimum loss ratios or other key financial information. States that Medicare skilled nursing facility and home health agency benefits are included among the benefits which health insurance policies may not duplicate in providing coverage to Medicare beneficiaries. Requires the Secretary to notify Medicare beneficiaries regarding the availability of long-term care benefits under the Medicare program.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 1989
Spending Control Enhancement Act of 1989 - Adds a title to the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to authorize the President to rescind all or part of any budget authority provided in an appropriations bill by notifying the Congress of the rescission by a special message within ten calendar days after enactment of the Act in question. Effects any such rescission unless the Congress, within ten days after receiving the special message, completes action on a bill disapproving the proposal. 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 · 25 January 1989
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to ensure that rural hospitals which have no more than 100 beds and provide at least 70 percent of their inpatient hospital services to Medicare patients receive, for a three-year period, Medicare coverage of at least the reasonable costs of providing such services.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 1989
Disapproves the recommendations of the President relating to pay rates of Members of Congress, Federal judges, and Federal officials. Provides that if the date of enactment of this resolution is on or after February 8, 1989, then the rate of pay for positions increased by the recommendations shall be the rate of pay in effect before such recommendations took effect. Amends the Federal Salary Act of 1967 and the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 to require a recorded vote on any increase in the rates of pay of Members of Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 1989
Constitutional Amendment - Declares that equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State on account of sex.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 1989
Disapproves the recommendations of the President relating to pay rates of Members of Congress, Federal judges, and Federal officials. Provides that if the date of enactment of this resolution is on or after February 8, 1989, then the rate of pay for positions increased by the recommendations shall be the rate of pay in effect before such recommendations took effect. Amends the Federal Salary Act of 1967 and the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 to require a recorded vote on any increase in the rates of pay of Members of Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 1989
Declares that the Senate recognizes the need to respond to the European Community's ban on U.S. beef (ban implemented on all meat treated with growth hormones). Urges any and all measures necessary, including requiring the Secretary of Defense to order all U.S. commissaries in the Community to buy and sell only U.S. meat if the Community implements any counter-retaliatory trade sanctions against the United States. Calls upon the Community to cease its actions and to commence negotiations with the United States to resolve this dispute.
United States · United States Congress · 14 October 1988
Declares that the Senate commends Richard Brandon for his service to the Senate and the Nation. (Richard Brandon served as Staff Director and Minority Staff Director of the Committee on the Budget.)
United States · United States Congress · 13 October 1988
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Federal Aviation Administration shall transmit to the Congress by a specified date a timetable for immediate and long-term actions to meet its own standards regarding air traffic controller staffing and air traffic control operations at O'Hare International Airport (Chicago, Illinois).
United States · United States Congress · 6 October 1988
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should direct the Secretary of State and the Administrator of the Agency for International Development to take specified steps to improve coordination between Japanese and American foreign economic assistance programs.
United States · United States Congress · 3 October 1988
Commends the Honorable Robert C. Byrd, Majority Leader of the Senate, for his dedication to the ideals of representative democracy and for his outstanding service to the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 1 October 1988
Expresses U.S. support for the restoration of full and genuine democracy in Chile. Condemns Chilean violence. Urges the Chilean Government to create a climate of freedom and fair competition before the upcoming plebiscite by guaranteeing access to the media, freedom of assembly, access by international visitors to polling places, and the public tabulation of ballots.
United States · United States Congress · 1 October 1988
Links resumption of U.S. assistance to the Government of Haiti to actions by the Haitian Government to: (1) embark upon a credible transition to democracy; (2) strictly observe human and civil rights and institute a judicial process to investigate and prosecute violations of human rights; (3) reform a corrupt bureaucracy; (4) promote economic development that will benefit the Haitian people; (5) improve cooperation with the United States in dealing with narcotics trafficking through Haiti and take steps to halt the involvement of the Haitian military in the transshipment of illicit drugs; and (6) demonstrate the willingness of the Haitian armed forces to submit to legally constituted civil authority and to respect and abide by the Haitian Constitution. States that: (1) there will be no resumption of regularized and sustained government-to-government assistance until the election of a civilian government pursuant to free, fair, and open elections; and (2) the appropriate executive branch officials should consult with the Congress before any kind of assistance is made available by the United States to the Government of Haiti. Declares support for the people of Haiti and their desire for democratic government and economic development. Directs the appropriate committees of the Congress to conduct hearings to determine appropriate and necessary legislative actions to promote free, fair, and open elections leading to civilian government in Haiti. States that the appropriate executive branch officials should examine ways that the United States can work with its allies and appropriate international organizations to develop a consistent and sustainable multilateral policy toward Haiti.
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 1988
Expresses the sense of the Congress that Medicare (title XVIII of the Social Security Act) payments to hospitals for FY 1990 not be reduced below current law levels for FY 1990.
United States · United States Congress · 28 September 1988
Links resumption of U.S. assistance to the Government of Haiti to actions by the Haitian Government to: (1) embark upon a credible transition to democracy; (2) strictly observe human and civil rights and institute a judicial process to investigate and prosecute violations of human rights; (3) reform a corrupt bureaucracy; (4) promote economic development that will benefit the Haitian people; (5) improve cooperation with the United States in dealing with narcotics trafficking through Haiti and take steps to halt the involvement of the Haitian military in the transshipment of illicit drugs; and (6) demonstrate the willingness of the Haitian armed forces to submit to legally constituted civil authority and to respect and abide by the Haitian Constitution. States that: (1) there will be no resumption of regularized and sustained government-to-government assistance until the election of a civilian government pursuant to free, fair, and open elections; and (2) the appropriate executive branch officials should consult with the Congress before any kind of assistance is made available by the United States to the Government of Haiti. Declares support for the people of Haiti and their desire for democratic government and economic development. Directs the appropriate committees of the Congress to conduct hearings to determine appropriate and necessary legislative actions to promote free, fair, and open elections leading to civilian government in Haiti. States that the appropriate executive branch officials should examine ways that the United States can work with its allies and appropriate international organizations to develop a consistent and sustainable multilateral policy toward Haiti.
United States · United States Congress · 23 September 1988
Amends the United States Institute of Peace Act to provide a permanent authorization of appropriations for the United States Institute of Peace. Repeals a provision prohibiting the use of Federal funds to pay for private fringe benefit programs.
United States · United States Congress · 22 September 1988
Declares that: (1) national air transportation priorities and planning must be established which meet prescribed criteria (including deregulation); and (2) a bipartisan White House Conference should be convened in 1989 to develop a national aviation policy.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 1988
Dwight David Eisenhower Commemorative Coin Act of 1988 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue not more than a specified number of one dollar silver coins in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Dwight David Eisenhower. Sets forth certain features of such coins and provides for their design, issuance, and sale. Terminates the minting of the coins after December 31, 1990. Requires the Secretary to deposit in the Treasury all surcharges received from the sale of the coins, to be used to reduce the national debt.
United States · United States Congress · 11 August 1988
Aviation Safety Research Act of 1988 - Amends the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to direct the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to initiate aviation maintenance and safety research concerning: (1) fire and smoke resistance technologies; (2) specified aspects of aircraft maintenance and structural technologies; (3) the relationship between human factors and aviation accidents; and (4) air traffic control. Requires the Administrator to submit a national aviation research plan to the Congress. Cites plan contents. Requires the Administrator to report annually to certain congressional committees concerning the previous year's research accomplishments. Establishes within the FAA the Civil Aeromedical Institute to: (1) conduct specified aspects of civil aeromedical research; (2) advise on human factor aspects of proposed air safety rules, aviation personnel training programs, and joint aviation projects; and (3) provide medical consultation services regarding medical certification of airmen. Establishes a research advisory committee within the FAA to advise the Administrator regarding the aviation research program. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1989 through 1990 for aviation projects.
United States · United States Congress · 11 August 1988
Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit any person from lobbying a Federal agency, commission, or court on behalf of anyone other than the United States if compensation for such lobbying is contingent on: (1) passage or defeat of legislation; or (2) securing a Federal grant or contract or other Federal financial assistance. Excepts lobbying to collect a debt or claim owed by the Government.
United States · United States Congress · 11 August 1988
Expresses U.S. support for the restoration of full and genuine democracy in Chile. Condemns Chilean violence. Urges the Chilean Government to create a climate of freedom and fair competition before the upcoming plebiscite by guaranteeing termination of states of exception, registration of voters, access to the media, freedom of assembly, access (according to established procedures) by international visitors to polling places, and the public tabulation of ballots.
United States · United States Congress · 11 August 1988
Declares that, on the return of Joseph Biden to the Senate after a six-month absence to recuperate from surgery, the Members of the Senate extend their warmest welcome and personal happiness as well as their best wishes for his continued good health.
United States · United States Congress · 10 August 1988
Condemns the Romanian Government's systematic violation of human rights of its citizens. Protests the planned program of destruction of traditional settlements in violation of human rights, minority cultural rights, and property rights. Urges reforms by the Romanian Government to comply with international agreements. Urges continued presidential and Secretary of State action to bring about reforms. Urges the President to make clear to the Romanian Government that restoration of Most Favored Nation status or other favorable trading privileges to Romania should not be considered until a thorough human rights reform is implemented, including substantial improvement in the right of emigration, the rights of national minorities, and freedom of religion.
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1988
Condemns the Romanian Government's systematic violation of human rights of its citizens. Protests the planned program of destruction of traditional settlements in violation of human rights, minority cultural rights, and property rights. Urges reforms by the Romanian Government to comply with international agreements. Urges continued presidential and Secretary of State action to bring about reforms. Urges the President to make clear to the Romanian Government that restoration of Most Favored Nation status or other favorable trading privileges to Romania will not be considered until a thorough human rights reform is implemented, including substantial improvement in the right of emigration, the rights of national minorities, and freedom of religion.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 1988
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit cooperatives (farmers' cooperatives, cooperative banks, mutual insurance companies, and rural electric and telephone cooperatives) to: (1) elect to treat as ordinary income or loss any gain or loss from the sale or other disposition of any asset used by the organization to facilitate the conduct of business done with or for patrons; and (2) include such gain or loss in net earnings of the organization from business done with or for patrons.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 1988
Long-Term Care Insurance Consumer Protection Act of 1988 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a procedure for the voluntary certification of long-term care insurance policies. Requires certified policies to: (1) meet or exceed National Association of Insurance Commissioners Model Act Standards; (2) be renewable on the basis of the same premium rate; (3) allow purchasers 30 days to rescind their purchase of the policy; (4) inform consumers of the availability and limitations of long-term care benefits under the Medicare program; and (5) meet or exceed other requirements set by the Secretary. Deems a long-term care insurance policy to have satisfied the requirements of the Federal certification procedure if the State in which it is issued is determined by the Long-Term Care Insurance Panel established pursuant to this Act to have a regulatory program which is at least as stringent as the Federal procedure. Makes it a felony, punishable by fine and/or imprisonment, to knowingly: (1) misrepresent a policy's compliance with this Act's certification requirements; or (2) use the mails to promote the sale or delivery of a policy into a State where such policy has not been approved by the State commissioner or superintendent of insurance. Deems a policy to have been approved by the State commission or superintendent of insurance, if: (1) it has been certified by the Secretary or issued in a State that has an approved regulatory program; (2) it has been approved by the commissioners or superintendents of insurance in States in which more than 30 percent of such policies are sold; or (3) such commissioner or superintendent has the authority to bar the sale of the policy in the State, but neither he or she nor the State has done so. Requires the Secretary to provide Medicare beneficiaries with information that will enable them to evaluate long-term care insurance policies and the relationship of such policies to Medicare benefits. Directs the Long-Term Care Insurance Panel to report to the Congress within one year of this Act's enactment on whether certified policies should meet minimum loss ratios or other value measures and whether they should disclose minimum loss ratios or other key financial information. States that Medicare skilled nursing facility and home health agency benefits are included among the benefits which health insurance policies may not duplicate in providing coverage to Medicare beneficiaries. Requires the Secretary to notify Medicare beneficiaries regarding the availability of long-term care benefits under the Medicare program.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 1988
Designates the Labor Day Weekend beginning on September 3, 1988, as National Drive for Life Weekend. Calls on people to observe that weekend with a pledge to not drink and drive.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 1988
Resolution for Assistance to the Nicaraguan Democratic Resistance - Title I - States that it is U.S. policy to advance democracy, security, and peace in Central America consistent with the Guatemala Peace Accord, the Declaration of the Presidents of the Central American Nations, the Sapoa Agreement, and U.S. security interests. Declares the U.S. objective of enhancing the security of the United States and the democratic countries of Central America by assisting in achieving: (1) democracy in Nicaragua; (2) an end to Soviet, Cuban, and Communist bloc military assistance to Nicaragua; (3) an end to Nicaraguan aggression against its neighbors; and (4) reduction of Nicaraguan military forces to a level consistent with the security of other countries in the region. Requires the President to report bimonthly to the Congress on Nicaraguan obligation noncompliance and receipt of foreign military or security assistance. Transfers specified funds from certain defense appropriations accounts to the Agency for International Development for humanitarian assistance, civic action, non-military training, and transportation of assistance for the Nicaraguan democratic resistance. Authorizes the President to transfer funds from such accounts for the indemnification of aircraft leased to transport assistance. Directs the Department of Defense to make available passive air defense equipment to ensure safety of transportation. Authorizes presidential transfers of funds for other assistance, including lethal assistance. Prohibits delivery of such escrowed assistance without subsequent congressional approval. Sets forth procedures for congressional consideration of an approval resolution. Provides for suspension of lethal assistance to the Nicaraguan democratic resistance upon a ceasefire agreement.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 1988
Drought Assistance Act of 1988 - Title I: Emergency Livestock Assistance - Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to add a new title VI which may be cited as the "Emergency Livestock Feed Assistance Act of 1988." Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to provide emergency feed assistance in any State, county, or area of a State where disease, weather, or other natural disaster has created a livestock emergency. States that the Governor of a State or a county committee may request the Secretary to make a livestock emergency determination and to provide assistance. Authorizes the Secretary to make such determination on his own initiative. Requires the Secretary to make such determination within 30 days of the request and to notify the requesting party of any proposed action. States that producers in counties eligible for the emergency feed or emergency feed assistance programs in 1988 shall maintain such eligibility and be eligible for assistance under this title. Directs the Secretary to determine such counties' eligibility for assistance under this title. States that an eligible producer may receive assistance as follows: (1) assistance to offset inadequate feed stocks resulting from on-farm feed production losses; and (2) assistance to maintain foundation herds if the producer does not have, and is unable to obtain through normal channels without undue cost, necessary feed stocks. Sets forth the following assistance programs available under this title: (1) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) feed donations and reduced price sales; (2) partial reimbursement of feed purchase expenses; and (3) partial reimbursement of transportation and handling costs for such CCC feed, for hay, and for transporting livestock to and from available grazing areas (not to exceed $24 a head). Permits the Secretary to: (1) make in-kind payments; and (2) provide assistance through feed dealers or manufacturers. Authorizes the Secretary to provide the following additional assistance if necessary: (1) CCC feed donations for stranded and unidentified livestock, including transportation costs; (2) water assistance; and (3) CCC catalog commodities in lots appropriate to family farmers. Limits total assistance under this title for each livestock disaster to any one person to $50,000. Subjects each person (including individual members of a cooperative producer association) to the overall payment limitation ($100,000) under this Act. Prohibits a person from receiving assistance under this title for lost feed production due to the 1988 drought to the extent that such person receives production disaster payments under this Act. Subjects persons who misuse such assistance to a civil penalty equal to the market value of the involved feed, and a fine of up to $1,000 or imprisonment for up to one year, or both. Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to repeal the Secretary's authority to reduce 1989 milk price supports (50-cents per hundredweight). Title II: Disaster Payment - Provides that, for producers of the 1988 crops of wheat, feed grains, upland cotton, extra long staple cotton, or rice who participated in the production adjustment program under the Agricultural Act of 1949, the Secretary shall make disaster payments to those producers who have suffered at least 35 percent production losses due to the 1988 drought or related condition. States that such payments shall be made at a rate equal to 65 percent of the established price for deficiencies below 65 percent. Exempts such producers from advance deficiency repayments for up to 35 percent of crop losses. Permits eligible producers who had elected not to receive such payments prior to enactment of this Act to change their decision. Provides similar disaster payments to producers who did not participate in such production adjustment program. Bases payments on the basic county loan rate (or comparable price). Provides similar disaster payments to producers of the 1988 crops of peanuts, tobacco, sugar beets, and sugarcane. Bases payments for peanuts and tobacco on the basic county loan rate (or comparable price), and for sugar beets and sugarcane on 1988 price support levels. Provides for prevented planting credit. Sets forth special payment provisions for peanuts, including deficiency payments based on quota and additional peanuts. Provides similar disaster payments to producers of the 1988 soybean and nonprogram crops. Bases payments on a specified percentage of the average market price received in three of the last five years (excluding high and low years). Provides for prevented planting credit. Reduces payments to producers with Federal crop insurance under a specified crop-type determination. Authorizes the Secretary to transfer CCC funds during FY 1988 to the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service to carry out the provisions of this title. Directs the Secretary, within 15 days after enactment of this Act, to announce the terms by which producers may prove their yield on crops harvested for silage or other forage uses. Directs the Secretary to make disaster payments under this title in the form of cash, commodities, or commodity certificates. Limits individuals to $100,000 in disaster payments. Limits a person to $100,000 of combined assistance for crop disaster assistance and livestock disaster assistance. Permits a person to elect which form of assistance to receive. Prohibits a person from receiving disaster payments attributable to 1988 drought-caused crop losses to the extent that such person receives livestock emergency benefits for such lost production under the Agricultural Act of 1949. Title III: General Provisoins - Subtitle A: Commodity Stock Adjustment - Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to authorize the Secretary, if an acreage limitation program is in effect for 1989 and 1990, to permit producers to plant soybeans or sunflowers on between ten percent and 35 percent of permitted crop acreage. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Secretary should provide export assistance for cottonseeds and sunflower seeds if such crop prices are adversely affected by soybean and sunflower plantings under this title. Directs the Secretary to permit producers to designate any portion of their 1989 or 1990 farm acreage base for oats if the feed grain acreage base for such years is less than 12.5 percent. Expresses the sense of the Congress that, with respect to the 1989 and 1990 feed grain crops, if such crops' acreage limitation percentage exceeds 12.5 percent the Secretary should establish the lowest possible oats acreage limitation if market imbalances for barley and oats exist. Provides that, effective for the 1988 marketing year for wheat and feed grains, producers may repay specified commodity loans without additional interest or other specified charges if the producer reserve program trigger level has been met. Provides that, if during the 1988 marketing year the Secretary permits producers to place wheat and feed grains into the producer reserve, no storage payments nor interest forgiveness shall be permitted on such stored commodities during the marketing year. Subtitle B: Disaster Credit and Forbearance - Directs the Secretary to ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that Farmers Home Administration direct operating loans for 1989 crop production are made available to producers suffering major losses resulting from the 1988 drought or related condition. Directs the Secretary to make available in FY 1989 specified operating loan guarantees, in addition to existing purposes for such guarantees, to refinance and reamoritize 1988 operating debt resulting from major farming or ranching losses resulting from the drought or related condition. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Secretary should exercise forbearance in debt collection (and encourage similar actions by commercial lenders) and expedited loan restructuring with respect to producers suffering major drought losses. Subtitle C: Conservation and Water Assistance - Provides that with respect to a producer who harvested hay during the 1988 crop year on conservation reserve program acreage, such producer's rental payments shall not be reduced to the extent that he or she shares the cost of carrying out practices designed to enhance soil, water, and wildlife conservation on such land (or in the vicinity of such land) in accordance with a Soil Conservation Service approved plan. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) undertake water-problem related projects, including research, grants, technical assistance, loans, and extension services; (2) cooperate with other Federal agencies, State or local units, or public or private entities; and (3) accept funds from non-Federal sources to carry out such activities. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle D: Rural Businesses - Directs the Secretary to make rural industrialization loans or loan guarantees during FY 1989 to assist rural businesses (including cooperatives) adversely affected by the 1988 drought or related condition. Requires any such loan to meet applicable Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act eligibility requirements. Directs the Secretary, within 90 days of enactment of this Act, to conduct a survey of agriculture-related rural businesses to determine the adverse effects of the 1988 drought and report to the appropriate congressional committees.
United States · United States Congress · 7 July 1988
National Science and Technology Policy Amendments of 1988 - Amends the National Science and Technology Policy, Organization, and Priorities Act of 1976 to provide for assignment to the Federal Coordinating Council for Science, Engineering, and Technology of responsibilities to make long-range plans for cooperative scientific and technical research among Federal agencies. Directs the President, through the Council, to develop a National Global Change Research Plan for a ten-year national research effort concerning both human-induced and natural processes of global change. Requires the Plan to include objectives, funding requirements, and proposed roles for each appropriate Federal agency. Requires that the Plan be submitted to the Congress within one year of this Act's enactment and revised at least triennially. Lists research topics and activities, including global measurements, documentation of global changes, predictions, and data base development. Suggests primary assignments with respect to specific agencies. Directs each participating Federal agency to include global change research funding requirements in its annual budget request. Directs the Chairman of the Council to submit to the President and to the Congress an annual report on global change research efforts.
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