United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1987
Declares that the President should designate and send to Vietnam a special presidential representative to negotiate with the Government of Vietnam for: (1) an agreement for the resolution of all outstanding humanitarian issues between the two countries; and (2) an agreement for establishment of technical resolution offices in the capitals of both countries to implement the agreement on humanitarian issues.
United States · United States Congress · 27 April 1987
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the period of May 23 through May 30, 1987, is recognized as Hokule'a Week, celebrating the return to Hawaii after a two and one-half year voyage of the Polynesian Voyaging Society's sailing canoe.
United States · United States Congress · 21 April 1987
National Center for the United States Constitution Establishment Act of 1987 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish a National Center for the United States Constitution within or close to the Independence National Historical Park, Pennsylvania. Requires the Center to service as an information, education, exhibition, and intellectual center on the Constitution. Authorizes the acquisition of land and a structure. Authorizes the Secretary to contract with a nonprofit organization to operate the Center. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 1987
Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit a candidate for public office from receiving the lowest unit charge for the broadcasting of a political announcement or advertisement unless such candidate is identified or identifiable during 100 percent of the time of such announcement or advertisement.
United States · United States Congress · 9 April 1987
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Taiwanese authorities should continue progress toward a democratic system, in particular by: (1) ending the state of martial law and lifting the ban on new political parties, ending censorship and guaranteeing freedom of speech, expression, and assembly; and (2) moving toward a full representative government, including the free and fair election of all members of all central representative bodies.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 1987
Encourages State and local governments and local educational agencies to provide quality daily physical education programs for all children from kindergarten through grade 12.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 1987
Declares that the Congress: (1) condemns the violations of human rights engaged in by the Castro Government in Cuba; (2) urges all appropriate international bodies to pressure that government to live up to internationally accepted human rights standards; (3) welcomes the fact that 18 members of the United Nations Human Rights Commission voted to put the question of Cuban human rights performance on the Commission's agenda; (4) regrets that the Commission, by a one vote margin, decided not to put the issue on its agenda; and (5) regrets that the democracies of the Western Hemisphere failed to vote unanimously to put the question on the agenda.
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 1987
Economic Assistance Reform Act of 1987 - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the International Security and Development Cooperation Act of 1985 to repeal provisions relating to the earmarking of foreign assistance program funds. Authorizes the President to furnish assistance for infrastructure development. Specifies that such assistance shall include: (1) development of energy resources; (2) programs of reconstruction following natural or manmade disasters and programs of disaster preparedness; and (3) programs designed to help solve special development programs in the poorest countries and to make possible proper utilization of infrastructure and related projects funded with earlier U.S. assistance. Authorizes the President to furnish assistance to: (1) schools and libraries outside the United States serving as study and demonstration centers for ideas and practices of the United States; and (2) hospital centers for medical education and research outside the United States, founded or sponsored by U.S. citizens. Authorizes appropriations for foreign economic assistance by regions of the world. Specifies such regions as: (1) Africa; (2) Asia; (3) Central America; (4) Europe; (5) Latin America and the Caribbean; and (6) the Near East. Requires the Administrator of the Agency for International Development (AID) to administer the programs, projects, and activities for which such funds are appropriated. Requires that on or after October 1, 1987, authorizations of appropriations shall be made with reference to such regions. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should continue to make efforts to improve the management of the foreign assistance program including efforts to: (1) streamline the project development process; (2) increase decentralization of field missions; (3) reduce the number of projects and increase the duration and sustainability of projects which are funded; (4) decrease recurring costs; (5) prepare a more detailed analysis of the impact of AID projects for inclusion in the annual congressional presentation materials; (6) expand overseas tours for personnel and streamline mid-level management; (7) streamline the contract process; and (8) coordinate the U.S. economic assistance effort. Requires the Administrator of AID to report to the Congress concerning proposals to improve the management of the foreign assistance program. Requires the President to conduct a study on the feasibility and impact of reducing the number of countries receiving economic assistance and the feasibility of incorporating the AID into the Department of State. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the foreign assistance program should be funded on a two-year cycle; (2) the President should begin preparing a foreign assistance budget for FY 1990 and 1991; (3) funds appropriated for foreign assistance should remain available for expenditure without fiscal year limitations; and (4) the appropriations and authorization committees of each House of the Congress should hold joint hearings on the foreign assistance program and should coordinate their duties with the Committee on the Budget of each House of the Congress. Authorizes the reobligation of deobligated foreign assistance funds to be made available for the same period as the original appropriation and for the same general purpose, and for countries within the same region as originally obligated. Requires notification to the Congress of any such proposed deobligation and reobligation of funds. Amends the Foreign Assistance and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1987 to repeal the percentage limitation on the amount of funds which may be spent during the last month of availability. Revises the restrictions on economic aid to debtor countries to allow such aid for a period of three years after a default of one calendar year if the President certifies that the likelihood of repayment by such country would be increased by such waiver.
United States · United States Congress · 1 April 1987
Authorizes the President to establish a health care service training pilot program for FY 1988 and 1989 in two host countries which have existing Peace Corps programs. Requires such pilot programs to: (1) train foreign nationals of the host country to deliver health care services; and (2) provide basic health care to people of the host country. Provides for a health service team composed of physicians, dentists, and nurses for each host country. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 26 March 1987
Truck and Bus Safety Act of 1987 - Directs the Secretary of Transportation to: (1) include within the ambit of Federal motor carrier safety regulations motor carriers and drivers operating wholly within a municipality or commercial zone (with specified exceptions); and (2) initiate rulemaking proceedings on the need to adopt specified methods for safety improvement and for braking performance standards for trucks and truck trailers.
United States · United States Congress · 26 March 1987
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Authorization Act of 1987 - Title I: Authorizations of Appropriations - Amends the following Acts to authorize appropriations for FY 1988 and 1989: (1) the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966; and (2) the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act with respect to bumper standards, automobile consumer information, and odometer requirements. Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation (the Secretary) to derive a specified additional amount from unobligated highway safety program funds to implement a national program encouraging the use of safety belts and passive restraints (airbags) in passenger automobiles. Title II: Side Impact Protection and Crashworthiness Data - Directs the Secretary to reopen certain rulemaking proceedings to implement Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 214. Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish performance criteria for improved occupant protection in side impacts; and (2) issue an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to extend the applicability of such Standard to light trucks, vans, and multipurpose passenger vehicles. Amends the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act to direct the Secretary to enter into arrangements with the National Academy of Sciences to study means of establishing a method for calculating a uniform numerical rating enabling consumers to compare meaningful passenger automobile crashworthiness data. Prescribes the contents of such study. Requires that a report of such study be submitted to the Secretary and the Congress within 19 months after the date of enactment of this Act. Prescribes schedules for: (1) obtaining public comment on implementation of National Academy recommendations; (2) determining whether an objectively based system of comparative crashworthiness data can be established; (3) promulgating a rule to establish such a system, if the determination is positive; (4) submitting the proposed rule for review to specified congressional committees; (5) waiting 60 calendar days after such submission, unless both committees notify the Secretary that they have no objection to the rule; and (6) establishing (by rule) procedures requiring auto dealers to make comparative crashworthiness data available to prospective customers. Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions - Amends the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966 to direct the Secretary to: (1) establish a schedule for use in ensuring compliance with each Federal motor vehicle safety standard established under this Act which the Secretary determines is capable of being tested; (2) establish written guidelines and procedures for conducting investigations regarding noncompliance with the regulations issued under this Act; and (3) establish criteria for the determination and imposition of civil penalties for such noncompliance. Amends Federal law regarding State highway safety programs to mandate that each State shall include among its uniform highway safety standards a uniform system for handicapped parking. Defines the elements of such a system. Directs the Secretary to annually evaluate and report to the Congress on State compliance with such mandate. Directs the Secretary to initiate a rulemaking to: (1) revise specified motor vehicle safety standards regarding multipurpose passenger vehicles; (2) review the classification system for vehicles with a gross weight under 10,000 pounds to determine whether certain Federal motor vehicle safety standards would apply; and (3) amend Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 208 to provide that lap and shoulder seatbelt protection for outboard rear seat passengers should be installed in passenger automobiles after specified dates. Mandates that a specified percentage of certain authorized appropriations shall be used to disseminate consumer information regarding retrofitting passenger automobiles with lap and shoulder rear seatbelts. Amends the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act to direct the Secretary to: (1) promulgate regulations establishing passenger motor vehicle bumper system labeling requirements; and (2) arrange with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a study of specified aspects of the effectiveness of State motor vehicle safety inspection programs for transmittal to certain congressional committees. Amends the the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966 to authorize the Secretary of Transportation to direct the manufacturer of a defective motor vehicle or motor vehicle part to send a second notification if the Secretary determines that the first notification sent by such manufacturer has not resulted in an adequate number of vehicles (or items of equipment) being returned for remedy. Requires any lessor who receives notification of a defective motor vehicle part pertaining to any leased motor vehicle to send a copy of such notice to the lessee. Provides that a dealer may only sell or lease a motor vehicle (or motor vehicle item) for which a safety defect notice has been received only if: (1) the defect or failure to comply has been remedied before delivery under sale or lease; or (2) an enforcement order has been set aside or restrained. Directs the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to conduct a study of the use of darkened windshields and window glass in passenger automobiles, and to submit the results of such study to certain congressional committees. Amends the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act to prohibit any State from issuing a motor vehicle registration card unless the application for such card contains specified odometer information. Requires the Secretary to promulgate rules regarding falsification and unauthorized alteration of title and mileage information. Prohibits the Secretary from approving State alternate motor vehicle mileage disclosure requirements unless the Secretary determines that such alternate method is consistent with the purposes of such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 26 March 1987
Amends the Food Security Act of 1985, as amended by the Agriculture, Rural Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1987 (Public Law 99-591) to provide that persons treated (current law refers to persons "organized") as separate units prior to December 31, 1985, should not be denied separate person status.
United States · United States Congress · 25 March 1987
Declares that the Senate: (1) calls for the immediate release of all the children detained under state of emergency regulations in South Africa; and (2) pending the release of the children, calls on South Africa to permit parental access to the children, make public their names and their location, provide them with adequate food, clothing, and protection, and permit an international organization to verify the above and make sure that such children are not abused or tortured.
United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1987
Infrastructure Fairness Act of 1987 - Prohibits the receipts and disbursements of the Highway Trust Fund and the Airport and Airway Trust Fund which are allocable to the transportation-related operations of such Fund from being included in either the Federal budget as submitted by the President, or in the congressional budget. Exempts such Trust Funds from any general statutory budget limitation.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1987
Medicaid Community Spouse Safety Net Act of 1986 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to set special resource and income eligibility standards for institutionalized individuals so as to provide support and maintenance of their noninstitutionalized spouses.
United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1987
Amends the Airport and Airway Improvement Act of 1982 to deny the use of funds provided under such Act for projects using products or services of foreign countries which are listed by the United States Trade Representative (USTR) as not offering reciprocal opportunities for American firms. Requires the USTR to: (1) determine whether each foreign country denies fair and equitable market opportunities for U.S. products and suppliers in procurement, or fair and equitable market opportunities for United States bidders, for construction projects that cost more than $500,000 and are funded by the government of such foreign country; and (2) maintain and publish annually a list of countries for which an affirmative determination is made. Allows an exception to such a denial of funds if the Secretary of Transportation determines: (1) the denial of funds would not be in the public interest; (2) products of the same class or kind are not produced or offered in the United States or in any foreign country not listed by the USTR in sufficient and reasonably available quantities and of a satisfactory quality; or (3) exclusion of such product or service from the project would increase the cost of the overall project contract by more than 20 percent.
United States · United States Congress · 17 March 1987
Expresses the sense of the Congress that volunteer work should be listed on employment application forms and taken into account by employers when hiring.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 1987
Establishes the Motor Carrier Administration in the Department of Transportation, to be headed by an Administrator appointed by the President who shall report directly to the Secretary of Transportation. Creates the position of Deputy Administrator, to be appointed by the Secretary. Confers upon the Administrator duties and powers related to motor carriers and motor carrier safety under specified law. States that a decision of the Administrator implementing duties involving notice and hearing requirements is administratively final. Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress regarding a review of those Interstate Commerce Commission activities affecting motor carrier transportation which could be more efficiently performed by the Motor Carrier Administration.
United States · United States Congress · 13 March 1987
Pesticide Price Competition Act - Amends the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act to permit applicants to file abbreviated applications for registration of pesticides and new uses of pesticides if the pesticide is identical or substantially similar chemically to a previously registered pesticide, and if labeling requirements and other conditions are met.
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1987
Rural Health Services Transition Act of 1987 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a grant program, administered through the Administrator of the Health Care Financing Administration, to assist eligible small rural hospitals in modifying their services to adjust to certain demographic changes and to changing health care needs and practices in their communities. Sets forth criteria to govern grant applications and the use of grant funds. Lists the factors the Secretary must consider in determining which hospitals will receive grants. Limits grants to a maximum of $50,000 per year and to a term of no more than two years. Restricts certain capital-related expenditures of grant moneys. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress at least every six months concerning the grant program and to submit a final report at a specified time. Authorizes appropriations from the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund for FY 1988 through 1989.
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 1987
Amends the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 to exempt the export of any agricultural commodities or products thereof from the cargo preference provisions of such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1987
Pornography Victims Protection Act of 1987 - Amends the Federal criminal code with respect to the prohibition against the sexual exploitation of children to add as a condition triggering Federal penalties that the person concerned know that a minor was transported in interstate or foreign commerce for the purpose of producing pornography. Makes it a criminal offense for any person to coerce, intimidate, or fraudulently induce an individual 18 years or older to engage in any sexually explicit conduct for the purposes of producing any visual depiction of such conduct. Grants the U.S. district courts jurisdiction to prevent and restrain violations of this section. Authorizes the Attorney General or any person threatened with loss or damage by such conduct to institute a civil suit. Provides for treble damages for a victim who suffers physical injury, emotional distress, or property damage. Imposes civil penalties for violation of the prohibition against sexual exploitation of children.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1987
Africa Famine Recovery and Development Act - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to add a chapter dealing with Africa Famine Recovery and Development. Authorizes the President to provide project and program assistance for long-term development in sub-Saharan Africa. Requires the purpose of such assistance to be to help the poor majority in sub-Saharan Africa to participate in a process of long-term development through economic growth that is equitable, participatory, environmentally sustainable, and self-reliant. Declares that the general authorities and policies of the development assistance provisions of such Act apply to this Act. Requires the agency primarily responsible for administering development assistance programs to: (1) take into account the local-level perspectives of the rural and urban poor in sub-Saharan Africa during the planning and review of annual country planning documents for project assistance under this Act; (2) make available funds for a substantial expansion of development efforts by private and voluntary organizations which have demonstrated effectiveness in or commitment to the promotion of local grass-roots activities on behalf of long-term development in sub-Saharan Africa; and (3) establish simplified procedures for the development and evaluation of projects to be carried out by private and voluntary organizations. Requires that local people shall be closely involved in projects that have a local focus. Requires that the agency primarily responsible for administering development assistance programs shall ensure the participation of African women in development projects assisted by this Act. Requires the agency primarily responsible for administering development assistance programs to use the program assistance provided by this Act to: (1) help overcome shorter-term constraints to long-term development; and (2) promote reform of national economic policies to support these priorities. Requires such assistance programs to take account of the need for adjustments should recurrence of drought make it impossible to achieve the goals of the reform. Designates as the critical sectoral priorities for long-term development: (1) agricultural production and natural resources; (2) health; (3) voluntary family planning services; (4) education; and (5) income generating opportunities. Imposes minimum levels of assistance for certain critical sectors. Requires the agency primarily responsible for administering development assistance to formulate coherent country development assistance strategies. Sets forth information such strategies must analyze and address. Requires the assistance provided under this Act to be concentrated in countries that will make the most effective use of such assistance. Exempts the assistance authorized by this Act from specified limitations on the procurement of goods and services. Earmarks the uses to which local currencies generated by assistance provided under this Act and other Acts may be put. Provides that funds made available under this Act may be used to assist the countries in sub-Saharan Africa to increase their capacity to participate in donor coordination mechanisms at the country, regional, and sector levels. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1988 and 1989 for long-term development assistance for sub-Saharan Africa and for funding activities of certain international organizations. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the funding authorization should be extended whenever appropriate. Limits transfers between accounts funded by this Act. Requires the Administrator of AID to develop a plan for organizational changes within AID in order to carry out the long-term development assistance program for sub-Saharan Africa with maximum effectiveness. Sets forth changes the Administrator shall consider. Requires the Administrator to consult with specified congressional committees about such changes. Authorizes the Administrator to transfer certain funds in order to increase the AID resources for development assistance activities for sub-Saharan Africa. Requires the Administrator to develop a plan for evaluating the agency's progress in achieving the purposes of this Act. Requires the plan to provide for: (1) the establishment of specific criteria for measuring the performance of U.S. development assistance for the poor majority in sub-Saharan Africa; (2) the collection and monitoring of base-line data for future measurement of the effectiveness of such assistance; and (3) the measures by which the evaluations will be used to institutionalize learning within the agency. Requires the plan to be developed in consultation with specified congressional committees. Requires that assistance from other assistance and development programs shall be used to provide assistance fo the poor majority in sub-Saharan Africa. Authorizes the President to make available such amounts from the funds authorized by this Act as the President deems appropriate to support long-term development assistance for activities of international organizations which are consistent with the purpose of providing assistance for the poor majority in sub-Saharan Africa and are undertaken in coordination with AID. Encourages the President to use the authorities provided in this Act in coordination with activities of the multilateral development banks in sub-Saharan Africa. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. Executive Directors to the International Monetary Fund and to the relevant multilateral development banks to pursue means by which those institutions could reschedule the payments due them by the low-income countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Requires the President to ensure that the funds made available by this Act are not used by a country to repay loans. Requires the annual report by the President to the Congress on foreign assistance programs to included a report on the progress made in carrying out this Act. Provides that reprogramming notification requirements do not apply to funds used to carry out this Act. Makes conforming amendments to various Acts. Declares that, where appropriate, African famine relief activities should serve as the foundation for long-term development activities undertaken pursuant to this Act. Provides for the transfer of certain funds so that they may be used for management support activities associated with long-term development assistance. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the purposes of the African Development Foundation are consistent with the purposes of this Act. Amends the African Development Foundation Act to authorize appropriations for the African Development Foundation for FY 1988. Expresses the sense of the Congress that special efforts should be undertaken to reduce trade barriers and promote economic interchange between the United States and developing countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Requires the Comptroller General to study, and report to the Congress on, the restrictions which affect the importation of products of developing countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1987
Energy Security Act of 1987 - Directs the President to establish a national oil import ceiling level beyond which foreign crude and oil product imports as a share of U.S. oil consumption shall not rise. Prohibits such ceiling level from exceeding 50 percent of U.S. crude and oil product consumption for any annual period. Requires the President to: (1) annually submit projections to the Congress regarding anticipated U.S. oil production, demand, and imports for the subsequent three years; (2) certify whether imports of crude oil and oil products will exceed domestic production; and (3) submit an Energy Production and Oil Security Policy to the Congress to prevent foreign oil dependence from exceeding the national oil import ceiling for any year in which foreign oil imports are projected to exceed such amount. Grants the Congress ten continuous session days to review such oil projections and to determine whether the ceiling level will be violated within three years. Authorizes the President's energy plan to include: (1) an oil import fee; (2) energy conservation actions; (3) expansion of the Strategic Petroleum Reserves; and (4) production incentives for domestic oil and gas.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1987
Amends the Federal judicial code to provide that bankruptcy judges shall receive a salary equivalent to 92 percent of the salary of U.S. district court judges. Provides that full-time U.S. magistrates shall receive a salary of up to 92 percent of the salary of U.S. district court judges.
United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1987
Authorizes and requests the President to issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe the bicentennial of the Northwest Ordinance of 1787.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1987
Product Liability Reform Act - Title I: States that this Act governs any civil action brought against a manufacturer or product seller for harm caused by a product. Supersedes any inconsistent State law regarding recovery in such actions. States that U.S. district courts shall not have jurisdiction over civil actions pursuant to this Act. Title II: Establishes procedures by which any party may serve upon any other party offers to settle claims. Holds any offeree who rejects a settlement offer and fails to substantially prevail in the action liable for the claimant's attorney's fees and costs. Allows the parties to pursue State established or recognized voluntary alternative dispute resolution procedures. Allows the court to assess reasonable attorney's fees and costs against any offeree who unreasonably refuses to proceed pursuant to such procedures. Title III: Allows any person seeking recovery for harm caused by a product to bring a civil action against the product's manufacturer or seller. Establishes uniform standards of product seller liability. Subjects a product seller to liability if the claimant establishes by a preponderance of the evidence that: (1) the product seller did not exercise reasonable care with respect to the product; or (2) the product failed to conform to an express warranty made by the product seller. Treats a product seller as a manufacturer where: (1) the manufacturer is not subject to service of process under the laws of any State in which the action might be brought; or (2) the court determines that the claimant would be unable to enforce a judgment against the manufacturer. Allows punitive damages to be awarded, if permitted by applicable law, where the claimant establishes by clear and convincing evidence that the harm suffered was the result of conduct manifesting the manufacturer's or seller's conscious, flagrant indifference to the safety of those who might be harmed by the product. Provides that punitive damages may not be awarded where: (1) a drug or medical device was approved or is generally recognized as safe by the Food and Drug Administration; or (2) an aircraft was certified by the Federal Aviation Administration under the Federal Aviation Act of 1958. Establishes uniform statutes of limitation and repose for product liability actions. Imposes penalties for the destruction or concealment of material relevant to product liability actions. Requires any damage award to be reduced by the amount of workers' compensation benefits paid. States that the liability of each defendant for noneconomic damages shall be several and not joint. Bars recovery where the claimant in a product liability action is under the influence of alcohol or any drug and more than 50 percent responsible for the harm. Title IV: Requires the Secretary of Commerce to provide the Congress with an annual report analyzing the impact of this Act on product liability insurance.
United States · United States Congress · 3 March 1987
Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to permit individuals to engage in industrial homework (including sewing, knitting, jewelry, or craftmaking) or perform any service in or about their place of residence as employees of any employer covered by such Act if the employer complies with minimum wage and maximum hours requirements under such Act.
United States · United States Congress · 26 February 1987
Declares that the Congress applauds the recent initiative by the heads of state of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, and congratulates them on the significant contribution made by such initiative toward ending armed conflict, and reinforcing democracy, in Central America. Declares that the Congress supports such initiative and looks forward to the summit meeting in Guatemala as the next phase in this effort of the Central American heads of state to forge a lasting peace in Central America.