United States · United States Congress · 11 May 1989
Low-Income Housing Credit Act of 1989 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent the low-income housing income tax credit (under current law the credit will expire after tax year 1989). Permits States a one-year carryover of unused credit authority. Assigns carryovers to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to allocate to eligible States applying for excess credit. Allows the credit only if an extended low-income housing commitment (beyond the current 15-year period) is in effect with respect to any building for the relevant taxable year. Describes procedures to effect transition to a non-low-income use in connection with such extensions. Permits the credit in connection with the acquisition of an existing building only if the taxpayer incurs rehabilitation expenditures of at least $3,000 per unit. Revises rent restrictions to: (1) declare unnecessary a required rent reduction below the initial rent if the median gross income of the area decreases; (2) permit higher rent if units are occupied by higher income individuals and the project has an operating deficit; (3) base income limitations on the number of bedrooms in a unit; and (4) use State median gross income in certain low-income housing status determinations. Broadens categories of existing buildings eligible for a waiver of the ten-year requirement for the low-income housing credit. Revises credit provisions relating to single-room occupancy units and special needs housing. Revises restrictions that limit credit benefits in connection with buildings financed with tax-exempt bonds and below market loans. Permits the credit to be allocated: (1) on a project basis; and (2) in connection with owner-occupied buildings of four units or less if a development plan is submitted. Directs housing credit agencies to adopt plans for allocating credit amounts among projects, prohibiting the credit with respect to any building not included in such a plan. Modifies at-risk rules in connection with buildings subject to the historic rehabilitation credit and those associated with financing provided by certain nonprofit organizations. Sets the tax credit rate on a semiannual basis rather than monthly. Increases the credit in connection with buildings in high cost areas (low-income census tracts or difficult development areas). Establishes special rules for determining the eligible basis and applying at-risk rules in connection with qualified buildings acquired in foreclosures.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 1989
Urges the President to initiate: (1) the abrogation of the Panama Canal Treaty and the Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality and the Operation of the Panama Canal; and (2) negotiations with the Panamanian Government with regard to the Panama Canal's future status whenever that Government is freely elected.
United States · United States Congress · 4 May 1989
Expresses support for the right of the Panamanian people to full democracy in Panama. Condemns the Noriega regime's attempts to curtail the rights of participation in the election process. Calls upon the Noriega regime to: (1) guarantee free and open access to polling places, public access to voting lists, and public tabulation of ballots; and (2) accord full access for electoral activities to the official U.S. observer team, the Carter-Ford election observer group, and other international observer teams. Urges President Bush to: (1) encourage other democracies to send international observer teams to Panama; (2) report to the Congress on the extent to which the May 7, 1989, elections in Panama were conducted in a free and fair manner; and (3) consult with the Congress on the future course of action for U.S. policy in Panama.
United States · United States Congress · 3 May 1989
Authorizes and requests the President to designate the weeks of November 19 through November 25, 1989, and November 18 through November 24, 1990, as National Family Week.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 1989
Provides for the establishment of categories of aliens who are subject to persecution in the Soviet Union or in Vietnam and therefore admissible as refugees into the United States. (Deems Jews and Evangelical Christians in the Soviet Union and Vietnamese registered with the Orderly Departure Program to be such categories.) Provides for the adjustment of status to refugee status for certain Soviet and Vietnamese parolees residing in the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 1989
Commends the Bush administration's call for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon. Condemns those parties unwilling to heed this call. Calls for: (1) the President to renew his efforts to obtain an immediate halt to the fighting in Lebanon; (2) the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Lebanon and the abolition of all militias within that country; and (3) Lebanese parties to commit themselves to internal reconciliation and free elections.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 1989
PLO Commitments Compliance Act of 1989 - Reiterates the U.S. policy that any dialogue with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) shall be contingent upon the PLO's recognition of Israel's right to exist, its acceptance of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338, and its abstention from, and renunciation of, all acts of terrorism. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the United States should seek the implementation of concrete steps by the PLO consistent with its commitments to move towards peace and recognition of Israel and away from terrorism and other violence, to include: (1) disbanding units which have been involved in terrorism; (2) publicly condemning all acts of terrorism for which they are not responsible and abstaining from committing such acts; (3) ceasing the intimidation of Palestinians seeking peace with Israel; (4) calling on the Arab states to recognize and end the economic boycott of Israel; and (5) amending the PLO's Covenant to remove provisions which undermine Israel's legitimacy and call for Israel's destruction. Requires the President, as long as the dialogue between the United States and the PLO continues, to report every 120 days to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the PLO's progress in achieving such goals.
United States · United States Congress · 11 April 1989
Declares that the purpose of this Act is to implement the Bipartisan Accord on Central America of March 24, 1989. Authorizes the President to transfer to the Agency for International Development (AID) unobligated funds from specified defense appropriations accounts for: (1) humanitarian assistance (including transportation expenses) to the Nicaraguan Resistance to be available through February 28, 1990; and (2) operating expenses of AID. Limits the total amount of funds that may be transferred for such purposes. Requires the transportation of such assistance to be arranged solely by AID in a manner consistent with the Bipartisan Accord. Prohibits the transportation of any assistance not specified by this Act. Authorizes the President to transfer to AID an additional amount from the specified accounts for medical assistance for the civilian victims of Nicaraguan civil strife. Requires such assistance to be transported and administered by the Nicaraguan Catholic Church. Encourages the President to submit proposals for actions to: (1) provide additional economic assistance to the democratic countries of Central America; (2) facilitate the ability of Central American economies to grow through the development of infrastructure, expansion of exports, and increased investment opportunities; (3) provide a plan to assist Central American countries in managing debt; and (4) develop such initiatives in concert with Western Europe, Japan, and other democratic allies. Prohibits the obligation or expenditure of funds available under this Act to assist the Nicaraguan Resistance in military or paramilitary operations. Prohibits providing assistance under this Act to any group including an individual who has been found to engage in: (1) gross violations of internationally recognized human rights; or (2) drug smuggling or significant misuse of funds. Grants congressional oversight for assistance under this Act to specified congressional committees. Applies provisions of a specified Act concerning management and delivery of assistance to the Nicaraguan Resistance to assistance under this Act. Prohibits additional assistance to the Nicaraguan Resistance unless authorized specifically by a subsequent Act. Repeals title IX (Assistance for the Nicaraguan Resistance) of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 1989. Requires the Secretary of State to report to the Congress on progress in the peace and democratization process, including the use of assistance under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 1989
Authorizes the President to present a gold medal, on behalf of the Congress, to Robert Wise in recognition of his contribution to this Nation's cultural heritage. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary to strike and sell bronze duplicates of such medal at a price sufficient to cover the costs of such duplicates and the gold medal. Requires the appropriations to be reimbursed out of the sales proceeds. Designates all such medals as National Medals.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 1989
Authorizes the President to present gold medals, on behalf of the Congress, to each of the following individuals in recognition of their contributions to this Nation's cultural heritage: (1) Frank Capra; (2) James Stewart; and (3) Fred Zinnemann. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to design a different gold medal for each such individual. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary to strike and sell bronze duplicates of such medals at a price sufficient to cover the costs of such duplicates and the gold medals. Requires the appropriations to be reimbursed out of the sales proceeds. Designates all such medals as National Medals.
United States · United States Congress · 7 April 1989
Resolves that, in the event further talks are held with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO): (1) the top priority of the United States should be the prevention of terrorist and other violent activity by the PLO or its factions; and (2) the United States should obtain from the PLO a full accounting of specified violent activity which occurred after Yasser Arafat's commitment of December 14, 1988. Urges the Secretary of State to report to the Senate on such accounting.
United States · United States Congress · 6 April 1989
Everglades National Park Protection and Expansion Act of 1989 - Title I: Everglades National Park Expansion - Modifies the boundaries of the Everglades National Park, Florida. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire lands for addition to the Park. Expresses the intent of the Congress that acquisition within the boundaries of the addition shall be completed within five years. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary to expedite the construction of a visitor center facility at Everglades City, Florida. Designates the facility the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Center. Title II: Fort Jefferson National Monument Redesignation Study - Requires the Secretary, within two years after enactment of this Act, to transmit to specified congressional committees a study of the feasibility of expanding and redesignating Fort Jefferson National Monument as Fort Jefferson National Park.
United States · United States Congress · 5 April 1989
Educational Excellence Act of 1989 - Title I: Improving Elementary and Secondary Education - Part A: Presidential Merit Schools - Presidential Merit Schools Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to establish the Presidential Merit Schools Program to recognize and reward public and private elementary and secondary schools that have made substantial progress in: (1) raising student educational achievement, especially in reading, writing, and mathematics; (2) creating a safe and alcohol- and drug-free school environment; and (3) reducing the dropout rate. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1990 through 1993. Authorizes State educational agencies (SEAs) to designate as a Merit School any public or private elementary or secondary school nominated through procedures established by the SEA. Sets forth requirements for selection criteria established by the Secretary of Education (the Secretary) and by SEAs. Provides that each Merit School will be awarded a Presidential Certificate of Merit, as well as funds to further its educational program. Prohibits Federal, State, or local reduction of other assistance to a school because it receives such an award. Part B: Magnet Schools of Excellence - Magnet Schools of Excellence Act of 1989 - Amends ESEA to establish the Magnet Schools of Excellence Program of grants to support public elementary or secondary schools that: (1) offer the highest quality instruction in an academic or vocational discipline or create a unique and effective learning environment; (2) are open to students from beyond the immediate school attendance area; and (3) are capable of attracting students from a variety of backgrounds. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1990 through 1993. Sets forth criteria for selection of applications. Limits such grants to any one school to no more than two years and requires satisfactory progress in order to receive the grant for the second year. Prohibits Federal, State, or local reduction of assistance to a school because it receives such an award. Part C: Alternative Certification for Teachers and Principals - Alternative Certification of Teachers and Principals Assistance Act of 1989 - Amends ESEA to establish a program of assistance for Alternative Certification of Teachers and Principals. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1990. Repeals this part as of October 1, 1990. Part D: Presidential Awards for Excellence in Education - Amends ESEA to establish the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Education Program to recognize and reward outstanding elementary and secondary school teachers. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1990 through 1993. Makes any full-time public or private elementary or secondary school teacher of academic or vocational subjects eligible for such an award. Makes teachers of religion (other than religion as an academic discipline) ineligible. Allows various individuals, groups, or institutions to nominate teachers for such awards. Requires State panels to select award recipients using criteria approved by the Secretary. Sets the amount of such an award at $5,000, and allows the recipient to use it for any purpose. Part E: Effective Date - Sets the effective date of the amendments made by this title. Title II: National Science Scholars - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to establish the National Science Scholars Program to recognize student excellence and achievement in the physical, life, and computer sciences, mathematics, and engineering. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1990 through 1993. Authorizes the Secretary to award scholarships to outstanding students selected as National Science Scholars by the President. Allows students who satisfy certain requirements to receive such scholarships for the first year of undergraduate study and, if they satisfy additional requirements, additional scholarships to cover the remaining undergraduate years. Directs the Secretary to appoint a panel of experts to recommend academic achievement criteria for use in the nomination of scholars. Sets forth requirements for initial and continuation awards. Sets the scholarship amount at $10,000 for an academic year, but reduces such amount based on cost of attendance and other grant or scholarship assistance, and adjusts for insufficient appropriations. Requires that scholarship recipients, to the extent they are otherwise qualified, be given priority consideration for federally financed summer employment in research and development centers. Title III: Other Programs - Amends the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1986 to establish a Drug-Free Schools Urban Emergency Grants program. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1990 through 1993. Directs the Secretary to use program funds to award a small number of one-time grants to local educational agencies in urban areas with the most severe drug problems to assist them in developing and implementing comprehensive approaches to eliminating such problems. Amends HEA to authorize appropriations for FY 1990 through 1993 for special awards to historically Black colleges and universities. Makes institutions that receive such awards ineligible for other specified awards, and makes institutions that do not receive them eligible for those other awards.
United States · United States Congress · 5 April 1989
Expresses the sense of the Senate: (1) against the new nondiscrimination requirements for coverage and benefits under certain statutory employee benefit plans (Internal Revenue Code section 89); and (2) requesting the House of Representatives immediately to adopt and send to the Senate for consideration a bill to repeal or modify substantially such section.
United States · United States Congress · 17 March 1989
Title I: Statehood Centennial Coin - Statehood Centennial Commemorative Coin Act of 1989 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue not more than a specified number of one-dollar silver coins and five-dollar palladium coins in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the statehood of Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington, and Wyoming. Sets forth certain features of such coins and provides for their design, issuance, and sale. Requires the Secretary to provide a specified amount of all surcharges to the Documents West exhibition program with the remaining amount of surcharges to be deposited in the Treasury to be used to reduce the national debt. Requires the Secretary to obtain silver for the one-dollar coins only from stockpiles established under the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act. Requires the Secretary to obtain palladium for the five-dollar coins by purchase of palladium mined and refined in the United States. Grants the Comptroller General the right to examine records and other data of the Idaho Centennial Commission. Title II: Silver Proof Sets - Silver Coin Proof Set Act - Authorizes the Secretary to mint and issue silver coin proof sets. Sets forth certain specified features of such coins and provides for their sale to the public. Requires the Secretary to obtain silver for such coins by purchase from stockpiles established under the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act and from Treasury stocks on hand.
United States · United States Congress · 17 March 1989
Repeals estate tax provisions of the Internal Revenue Code with respect to inclusion in the gross estate of the value of certain types of transfers with a retained life estate. Applies the repeal retroactively in connection with property transferred after December 17, 1987.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1989
Authorizes the President to transfer a specified amount of unobligated funds of the Department of Defense for nonlethal assistance to the Nicaraguan democratic resistance that includes: (1) economic assistance for specified administrative costs; (2) gasoline, fuel, and spare parts for aircraft; (3) communication radios with batteries; (4) clothing; (5) political and civic action education programs; and (6) military training courses. Requires the Secretary of State to publish a report detailing the obligation of such nonlethal aid in the Federal Register every 90 days. Declares that the Congress will consider authorizing the President to transfer funds for providing military assistance to the resistance after February 27, 1990, unless the President has certified that the Nicaraguan Government has held free elections toward establishment of a democratic government.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1989
Resolution on a Plebiscite in Cuba - Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the Cuban people should be allowed to express their view on the country's political future by a secret ballot of approval or rejection of Fidel Castro's continued rule; (2) the Government of Cuba should allow opposition and human rights groups to organize publicly, grant opposition groups equal access to the national media, release all political prisoners, and invite a neutral, international commission to oversee the voting and ensure the legitimacy of the results; (3) should the rejection vote prevail, the regime should respect the will of the people and hold prompt national elections through which the Cuban people could freely choose their leaders; and (4) normalized relations between the Governments of the United States and Cuba should be restored if a democratic Cuban Government is elected by all the people.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1989
Commends the cable television industry on the tenth anniversary of the Cable Satellite Public Affairs Network (C-SPAN) for its contribution toward informing and educating U.S. citizens.
United States · United States Congress · 9 March 1989
Permits certain veterans with service-connected disabilities who are retired members of the uniformed services to receive reduced retired pay concurrently with veterans' disability compensation. Provides that the amount of the retired pay reduction shall be 100 percent of the veterans' disability compensation paid less the percentage of the veteran's disability rating.
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1989
Volunteer Protection Act of 1989 - Prescribes circumstances under which volunteers working for nonprofit organizations or government entities shall be immune from personal financial liability for acts on behalf of the organization or entity. Sets forth exceptions to and conditions on the granting of such immunity that a State may impose. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to increase by one percent the fiscal year allotment which would otherwise be made to a State to carry out the Social Services Block Grant Program under title XX of the Social Security Act if such State has, within two years, certified to the Secretary that it has enacted a State law which provides such immunity. Provides for the continuation of such increase based on an annual recertification.