United States · United States Congress · 29 June 1988
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to apply to livestock used for draft, breeding, dairy, or sporting purposes a special rule that permits a farmer or rancher who sells livestock solely because of drought conditions to elect to defer until the following year the taxation of the resulting income.
United States · United States Congress · 29 June 1988
Expresses the Senate's appreciation and gratitude to J. Lewey Caraway on his retirement as the Superintendent, Senate Office Buildings, for his service to his country and to the U.S. Senate.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 1988
Expresses the sense of the Congress: (1) encouraging and supporting the Amateur Radio Service and its emergency communications efforts; and (2) urging Government agencies to avoid actions that would reduce amateur radio frequency allocations used for emergency communications.
United States · United States Congress · 15 June 1988
Designates June 16, 1988, the 12th anniversary of the Soweto demonstrations and Massacre in South Africa, as Soweto Remembrance Day. Encourages Americans to participate in local activities designed to commemorate the victims of Soweto and to show solidarity with those who are fighting to end apartheid.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 1988
Biennial Budget Act of 1988 - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, including provisions of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control 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 101st 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, specifying the year as the odd-numbered year. Changes relevant deadlines as follows to conform the congressional budget process 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. Applies current law with respect to each year in the biennium in connection with: (1) CBO duties; (2) committee allocations, including restrictions on points of order; (3) the requirement prohibiting consideration of legislation providing new budget authority, spending authority, or changes in revenues or of the public debt limit prior to agreement on the concurrent budget resolution; (4) revisions of budget resolutions; and (5) procedures for consideration of budget resolutions. Requires in connection with all regular appropriations bills providing new budget authority for the biennium beginning on October 1 of any odd numbered year, that: (1) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives report to the House by June 10 of that odd-numbered year; (2) the House of Representatives pass all such bills by June 15; (3) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate report to the Senate by June 30; (4) the Senate pass all such bills by July 31; and (5) the Congress complete action on all such bills by September 30. 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 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 amount of the public debt limit. Conforms to the biennial budget framework provisions concerning: (1) agreement of new budget authority, new spending authority, and revenue legislation with appropriate levels specified in the concurrent budget resolution; and (2) parallel agreement in connection with legislation providing entitlement authority. Revises the extent of projections to be included in CBO analyses of reported bills. Mandates that various committee reports required in connection with the concurrent budget resolution or certain bills affecting budget or spending authority or budget outlays, as well as CBO summaries and projections of congressional budget actions, contain tables corresponding to those set forth in the table of appropriation and fund accounts contained in the President's budget. Requires certain of the reports to include, in addition, estimates of budget and spending authority that will become available without congressional action, and resulting outlay estimates. Amends Federal law to require the President's budget for the biennium beginning October 1, 1989, 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 1989. 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). Amends Federal law to conform to the biennial framework provisions relating to: (1) year-ahead requests for authorizing legislation; (2) budget information on consulting services; and (3) the title and style of appropriations Acts. Directs the heads of Federal executive agencies, as well as congressional agencies, 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. Makes appropriations to continue projects and activities provided for under any regular appropriations Act not enacted by the beginning of a budget period at a rate of operations not exceeding the rate provided for the project or activity in the preceding budget period. Makes these continuing appropriations available until the earlier of the day after all regular appropriations bills for the budget period are enacted or the last day of the budget period.
United States · United States Congress · 27 May 1988
Postal Service Budgetary Treatment Act of 1988 - Declares that the receipts and disbursements of the Postal Service Fund: (1) shall not be included in the totals of the Federal budget or the congressional budget; (2) shall be exempt from Federal budget limitations on expenditures and net lending; and (3) shall not be counted for purposes of calculating the Federal deficit. Makes the U.S. Postal Service an off-budget Federal entity.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 1988
Urges the Government of Iran to uphold the human rights of all its nationals, including members of the Baha'i faith, and to restore fully the rights guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Calls upon the President to: (1) monitor and report on developments affecting the Baha'i minority in Iran and in other countries; (2) cooperate with other governments in continuing to make appeals to Iran concerning the situation of the Baha'is; (3) initiate and support efforts in the United Nations and its agencies on behalf of the Baha'is; and (4) provide, and urge others to provide, for refugee and humanitarian assistance for those Baha'is fleeing their homelands to escape religious repression.
United States · United States Congress · 13 May 1988
Commercial Space Launch Act Amendments of 1988 - Amends the Commercial Space Launch Act to include among the responsibilities of the Secretary of Transportation, in administering such Act, the encouragement, facilitation, and promotion of commercial space launches by the private sector, consistent with U.S. space policy. Directs the Secretary, in facilitating and encouraging private sector acquisition of U.S. surplus launch property, to take into account the availability of comparable property under reasonable terms from domestic non-Government sources. Revises insurance requirements for persons licensed to provide launch services. Allows such persons, as an alternative to obtaining liability insurance, to demonstrate financial responsibility sufficient to compensate third-party claims arising from death, bodily injury, or loss of or damage to property resulting from licensed activities. Limits this requirement to the lesser of $500,000,000 or the maximum liability insurance available on the world market at a reasonable cost. Sets out corresponding requirements, but at a maximum of $100,000,000, with respect to claims by the United States for loss of or damage to U.S. property. Requires licensees to enter into reciprocal waivers with contractors, subcontractors, and customers involved in launch services, under which each party agrees to be responsible for its own damage and employee injuries. Requires the Secretary to enter into comparable waiver agreements with the same parties, as well as with licensees. Applies these waivers only to the extent claims exceed required insurance coverage. Directs the Secretary to review insurance liability coverage requirements within three years of this Act's enactment and to submit to the Congress a proposed adjustment to conform with altered liability expectations and the worldwide availability of insurance. Mandates the same procedure on an annual basis thereafter. Requires the Secretary to provide for the payment of successful third-party claims against parties subject to this Act to the extent such claims are not compensated by insurance, including self-insurance. Provides that the Secretary may not relieve the United States of liability for damage or injury resulting from the reckless disregard or willful misconduct of the United States or its agents. Exempts licensees associated with certain satellites under construction on August 15, 1986, from requirements related to liability insurance coverage for claims by the United States. Directs the Secretary to ensure that launches of satellites having a launch date commitment are not preempted from access to launch sites except in cases of imperative national need, to be determined by the Secretary of the Air Force or the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Prohibits delegation of this determination and directs the determining party to submit to the Congress, within seven days of the determination, a full explanation, as well as a schedule for ensuring prompt launching of the preempted satellite. Directs the Secretary to study the process for scheduling launches and to report results to the Congress. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the United States should explore ways and means of developing a dialogue with appropriate foreign governments to develop guidelines for access to launch services by satellite builders and users to assure reasonable and fair international competition in commercial space activities. Directs the Administrator of NASA to report to the Congress on a program to support research into launch systems component technologies to develop higher performance and lower costs for commercial and Government launches.
United States · United States Congress · 12 May 1988
Designates the period of July 25 through July 31, 1988, 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, 1988, in honor of those Americans who died as a result of their service in Korea.
United States · United States Congress · 29 April 1988
Contracting Out Appeals Reform Act of 1988 - Amends Federal law on the procurement protest system to permit the Comptroller General of the United States to review and decide protests of Federal Government employees relating to conversion to contractor performance of certain functions they perform.
United States · United States Congress · 27 April 1988
Amends the Toxic Substances Control Act to extend the deadlines by which local educational agencies must inspect school buildings for friable asbestos-containing materials, develop and implement operation and maintenance and management plans for such materials, and obtain State approval of such management plans. Directs the Environmental Protection Agency to ensure that there are a sufficient number of accredited contractors and laboratories to conduct school asbestos inspection, management, and evaluation activities.
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 1988
Long-Term Care Assistance Act of 1988 - Title I: Establishment of Long-Term Care Benefits Under Medicare Program - Amends part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to cover chronic home care services, including homemaker and chore aide services, furnished to an individual who has dementia and cannot perform at least two activities from a specified list of daily living activities. Imposes an annual $500 deductible and 20 percent copayment requirement on recipients of such benefits. Caps Medicare payments for such services at 65 percent of the average cost of Medicare skilled nursing facility services. Covers home or community-based respite care furnished to an individual who has dementia and is dependent on the uncompensated assistance of a primary caregiver with whom he or she resides in the performance of at least two daily living activities. Limits annual Medicare payments for such services to the lesser of $1,000 or 50 percent of the costs of such care. Covers 70 percent of the costs of chronic nursing home services incurred two years after an individual becomes eligible for such services. Requires that such an individual be suffering from dementia and unable to perform at least two daily living activities. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to enter into agreements with organizations to determine and periodically review the eligibility of individuals for chronic home care services, home or community-based respite care, and chronic nursing home services. Sets forth the appeals process for individuals dissatisfied with the organization's determinations. Amends part B (Peer Review) of title XI of the Act to require peer review organizations to periodically review the process by which eligibility review organizations arrive at their determinations and to report their findings to the Secretary. Finances this Act's expansion of Medicare benefits by: (1) increasing the monthly part B premium by two dollars; (2) imposing a supplemental premium on each $150 of Federal income tax due from a part B beneficiary; (3) eliminating the limit on wages or self-employment income subject to the Medicare hospital insurance tax; and (4) imposing a five percent surtax on transfers by gift or inheritance of assets in excess of $200,000. Establishes the Federal Long-Term Care Insurance Trust Fund into which amounts raised by reason of this Act's amendments, including reductions in Federal Medicaid outlays attributable to Medicare long-term care coverage, shall be transferred and from which payments for such coverage shall be made. Title II: Medicaid Provisions Relating to Long-Term Care - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Act to require States to cover the cost-sharing amounts of Medicare long-term care beneficiaries whose income does not exceed the Federal poverty level. Sets forth rules regarding the attribution of income and resources to institutionalized and community spouses. Provides that for the initial determination of an institutionalized spouse's Medicaid eligibility all the resources held by either the institutionalized or community spouse shall be considered available to the institutionalized spouse except for an amount which equals the community spouse resource allowance determined without subtracting from such allowance resources otherwise available to the community spouse. Sets forth the formula for determining the community spouse resource allowance which provides the community spouse with at least $12,000 annually, with annual adjustments to such formula reflecting changes in the cost-of-living. Excludes, from the determination of the institutionalized spouse's eligibility, support which the community spouse owes to the institutionalized spouse if the latter assigns his or her support rights to the State. Provides that after the initial eligibility determination: (1) no resources of the community spouse will be considered available to the institutionalized spouse; and (2) the income of the institutionalized spouse will not be considered to include a specified personal needs allowance, community spouse monthly income allowance, family allowance, and incurred expenses for medical or remedial care for the institutionalized spouse that are not covered by a legally liable third party. Sets forth the formulas for determining such allowances. Gives the institutionalized and the community spouse the right to a hearing to establish that the community spouse monthly income allowance or resource allowance is not adequate to support the community spouse without financial duress so that an adequate amount of support will be substituted for the allowance. Prohibits such income allowance from being less than court-ordered support payments. Delays the Medicaid eligibility of institutionalized individuals who disposed of their resources at less than fair market value within 26 months prior to applying for Medicaid benefits. Sets forth situations in which a delay shall not be applied. Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress by December 31, 1988, regarding means for recovering amounts from deceased Medicaid beneficiaries' estates to pay for Medicaid skilled nursing facility or intermediate care facility services furnished to such beneficiaries. Requires the Secretary to reduce Federal Medicaid payments to States to take into account State Medicaid savings attributable to Medicare long-term care coverage. Excludes the resources owned by an individual at the commencement of the two-year period preceding Medicare coverage of chronic nursing home services from consideration in determining Medicaid coverage of Medicare cost-sharing amounts. Title III: Miscellaneous Tax Provisions - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to treat long-term care insurance as accident or health insurance and benefits received through such insurance as having been received for personal injuries, sickness, or medical care for tax purposes. Permits a taxpayer to include as tax-deductible medical expenses any amounts paid for long-term health care or as a premium for long-term care insurance. Allows insurance companies to deduct amounts reserved to satisfy obligations to long-term care insurance policyholders. Excludes long-term care insurance from a cafeteria plan participant's gross income. Treats co-payments for Medicare chronic nursing home services and employer premiums for long-term care insurance as deductible medical care expenditures.
United States · United States Congress · 19 April 1988
States that the Congress is committed to the continued distribution of surplus commodities through the Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program for as long as the Secretary of Agriculture deems the supply of Government-owned surplus commodities to be sufficient for an effective national distribution program.
United States · United States Congress · 12 April 1988
Condemns the use of chemical weapons by Iraq and calls upon Iraq to halt the use of such weapons. Commends the President for his prompt condemnation of Iraq's recent chemical weapons attack on civilians. Urges the President to: (1) seek allied cooperation to tighten controls on the export of chemical compounds to countries seeking to develop a chemical weapons capability; (2) make appropriate diplomatic efforts to prevent Iran from developing or using chemical weapons; and (3) intensify American efforts at the Geneva Conference on Disarmament and in bilateral discussions with the Soviet Union to achieve an arms control agreement banning the production, use, and transfer of chemical weapons.
United States · United States Congress · 31 March 1988
Amends the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 to declare that its requirements do not apply to motor vehicles used solely for firefighting, emergency rescue, medical purposes, or farming purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 31 March 1988
Medicare Rural Long-Term Care Demonstration Act of 1988 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct 25 five-year demonstration projects testing alternative approaches for delivering long-term care to elderly Medicare (title XVIII of the Social Security Act) beneficiaries residing in rural areas. Requires that, in determining which rural health care providers will participate in such projects, the Secretary: (1) take into account the extent to which the proposed project will test the use of volunteers and paraprofessionals in the delivery of such care; and (2) ensure that approximately 75 percent of the projects are community-based while approximately 25 percent are hospital-based. Requires the Secretary to conduct an on-going evaluation of each project which includes an analysis of the quality of care provided, community and recipient acceptance of the project, and the financial impact of the project on the programs under titles XVIII (Medicare), XIX (Medicaid), and XX (Grants to States for Social Services) of the Social Security Act. Provides that such projects may include case management services and home health, day, and respite care, but prohibits the inclusion of services for which payment is otherwise made under the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress on the results of such projects by January 1, 1994. Authorizes appropriations for such projects from the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund through FY 1993.
United States · United States Congress · 29 March 1988
Constitutional Amendment - Declares that the Congress has the power to set limits on campaign expenditures by, in support of, or in opposition to any candidate in any primary or other election for Federal office. Declares that the States have such power with respect to State or local elections.
United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1988
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should negotiate an agreement with the Government of Vietnam to establish interest sections in the capitals of both countries to resolve specific issues between the countries.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1988
Emergency Assistance for the Nicaraguan Democratic Resistance Act - Transfers to the President a specified sum of unobligated funds to provide humanitarian assistance to the Nicaraguan democratic resistance and transportation for such assistance. Earmarks a specified amount of such assistance for the purchase, repair, and transportation of communications equipment. Provides that such transferred funds shall remain available until March 31, 1989. Directs the Secretary of Defense to make available through March 31, 1989, passive air defense equipment to assure the safety of transportation provided under this Act. Provides that, after a ceasefire is negotiated between the Government of Nicaragua and the resistance, delivery of the remaining assistance shall be made in accordance with the terms of the ceasefire agreement. Welcomes proposals by the President to the Congress for bilateral and multilateral action to: (1) provide additional economic assistance to the democratic countries of Central America; (2) facilitate the growth of their economies; (3) provide a more realistic plan to assist such countries in managing their foreign debt; (4) develop these initiatives in concert with democratic allies; and (5) lift the embargo on trade and other transactions against Nicaragua, and include Nicaragua as eligible for assistance, if it is in compliance with the Guatemala Accords. Authorizes the President, after consulting with congressional leaders, to submit to the Congress requests for additional assistance to the resistance anytime within 12 months after enactment of this Act. Sets forth congressional priority procedures for taking up such requests.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1988
Firearms Detection Act of 1988 - Amends the Federal criminal code to make it unlawful for any person to manufacture, assemble, import, sell, possess, receive, ship, or deliver any firearm which is not: (1) as detectable as the Minimum Standard Security Exemplar, after removal of grips, stocks, and magazines, by walk-through metal detectors commonly used at U.S. airports; or (2) impregnated with barium sulfate, or a similar compound, to facilitate detectability by cabinet x-ray systems. Defines the term "Minimum Security Standard Exemplar" to mean a firearm substitute used for testing that resembles a revolver, is made of stainless steel, and weighs four ounces. States that nothing in this Act shall require the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to utilize the Minimum Security Standard Exemplar as an FAA detection standard. Prohibits the Secretary of the Treasury from authorizing the importation of undetectable firearms. Directs the Administrator of the FAA to conduct research to improve the effectiveness of airport security metal detectors and airport security x-ray systems. Allows the Secretary, when appropriate because of changed technology, to submit proposed legislation to amend the definition of Minimum Security Standard Exemplar. Directs the Administrator of the FAA, the Director of the Secret Service, and the Director of the Marshals Service to conduct a study to identify available equipment capable of detecting the Minimum Security Standard Exemplar while distinguishing innocuous metal objects. Provides increased criminal penalties for using or carrying an undetectable firearm during the commission of a crime of violence or a drug trafficking crime.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1988
Amends the National School Lunch Act to require that eligibility for free lunches under the school lunch program be based on the nonfarm income poverty guidelines prescribed by the Office of Management and Budget.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1988
Amends the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 to provide that intrastate contracts in effect before December 1, 1986, which stipulated the purchase price for the first sale at the wellhead of natural gas for use in fueling agricultural irrigation pumps shall govern the maximum lawful price of gas under such contracts.
United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1988
Amends Federal law relating to Interstate highway construction funds to provide that any State which voluntarily reduces the period of availability of apportioned funds for any fiscal year shall be ineligible to receive funds for the succeeding fiscal year.
United States · United States Congress · 2 March 1988
Amends the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 to declare that its requirements do not apply to: (1) motor vehicles registered for farm use which are driven less than 15,000 miles per year; or (2) motor vehicles used solely for fire fighting purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 29 February 1988
Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Cooperative State Research Service, to construct a plant science research and education facility at Kansas State University.
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