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United States · Official source
3,244 records where Sen. Pressler, Larry [R-SD] is listed as a sponsor, author, or other actor. Search with topics and years
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 · 17 March 1989
Carl D. Perkins Vocational-Technical Education Act Amendments of 1989 - Amends the Carl D. Perkins Vocational Education Act (the Act) to reauthorize and revise its programs. Adds to the purposes of the Act assurance that disadvantaged parents dependent on Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program assistance receive access to quality vocational education programs. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1990 and succeeding fiscal years for specified programs. Title I: Amendments to Title I - Changes the heading of title I to Vocational and Adult Education. Adds a new part A, Office of Vocational and Adult Education. Establishes the Office of Vocational and Adult Education (the Office) within the Department of Education, to be headed by an Assistant Secretary for Vocational and Adult Education. Transfers various functions of the Secretary to the Assistant Secretary. Revises provisions relating to allotments to States and within-State allocations, State administration, State councils of vocational education, State plans, approval, and local applications. Requires that, from the remainder of its State allotment, each State make available: (1) at least 25 percent for activities in postsecondary education, including education for adults in out-of-school settings; and (2) at least 25 percent for activities in secondary education. Includes student members of vocational student organizations on State councils of vocational education. Title II: Basic Grants for Vocational Education - Part A: Vocational Education Opportunities - Revises provisions relating to uses of funds, distribution of assistance, and criteria for services and activities for the handicapped and disadvantaged. Allows a State, after documenting the need to do so and receiving the Assistant Secretary's written approval, to transfer up to 20 percent of the funds allotted to any category of special population allotments to another such category. Part B: Vocational Education Program Improvement, Innovation, and Expansion - Provides for the use of funds for inservice and preservice training for teachers, counselors, and administrators, training for State and local leaders, and vocational-technical education leadership training and professional development. Title III: Special Programs - Part A: State Assistance for Vocational Education Support Programs by Community-Based Organizations - Provides for the use of funds for: (1) foster care youth making the transition to independent living; (2) non-English speaking youth; and (3) model programs using vocational education approaches to prevent school dropouts or promote their reentry to school. Part B: Consumer and Homemaker Education - Provides for consumer and homemaker education grants for instruction in individual and family health. Provides for the use of funds for instruction relating to: (1) balancing work and family; (2) family violence and child abuse; (3) teenage parents; (4) teen pregnancy prevention; and (5) at-risk populations, including the homeless. Allows funds for information dissemination and leadership to be used to help provide State leadership and full-time State administrators qualified by experience and educational preparation. Part C: Adult Training, Retraining, and Employment Development - Subpart 1: Basic Program - Requires Adult Training, Retraining and Employment Development programs to serve the unemployed. Allows the use of State grant funds for: (1) cooperation education; (2) career guidance and vocational counseling; (3) occupational education programs begun in junior year of high school and completed in a community, technical, or junior college; and (4) training and retraining for high technology occupations or in businesses with technological needs, with special consideration to individuals 55 and older. Subpart 2: Special Programs - Makes technical amendments regarding grants for special programs and their uses. Part D: Comprehensive Career Guidance and Vocational Counseling Programs - Requires that at least 20 percent of funds to a State under this part be used for research and demonstration projects to establish and implement or demonstrate student/client outcome standards delivered through comprehensive career guidance and vocational counseling programs. Requires fund recipients to review, set, or make known the standards under which such programs will be measured in the future. Part E: Business-Industry-Education Partnership for Training in High Technology Occupations - Includes small businesses and persons with limited English proficiency among those to be served by the Business-Industry-Education Partnership for Training in High Technology Occupations program. Includes cooperative education among uses of grants. Allows the use of funds for: (1) career guidance; (2) occupational programs begun in junior year of high school and completed in a community technical, or junior college; and (3) activities which encourage collaboration between small businesses and vocational education to develop appropriate high-technology skills and placement opportunities. Part F: Tech-Prep Education Programs - Adds the following new part F, Tech-Prep Education Programs, to title III of the Act. Tech-Prep Education Act - Establishes a program of grants to consortia of local educational agencies and community colleges to provide tech-prep education programs. Defines "tech-prep education program" as a combined secondary and postsecondary program which: (1) leads to an associate degree or two-year certificate; (2) provides advanced technical preparation in such fields as agriculture, business, health, applied science, or mechanical or industrial trades; (3) provides competence in mathematics, science, and communications; and (4) leads to placement in employment or further education. Directs the Assistant Secretary, from each State's allotment in accordance with State plans, to make grants to pay the Federal share of the cost of activities carried out under this part to consortia of: (1) local educational agencies or area vocational schools serving secondary school students; and (2) community colleges and postsecondary vocational technical schools. Sets forth the Federal share. Requires each grant recipient to use the grant funds to develop and operate a four-year technical preparation education program with specified curricula. Sets forth reporting requirements. Title IV: National Programs - Part A: Research and Professional Development - Subpart 1: Research - Includes adults who are in need of training among those to be served. Includes long-range research, field-initiated research, and cooperative education among research activities to be funded. Directs the Secretary to include in the annual report research criteria and summaries of research activities and their contribution to vocational education. Revises provisions for national assessment of vocational educational programs assisted under the Act. Requires such assessment to compare, where practicable, the impact of vocational education programs with the impact of nonvocational secondary education and liberal arts postsecondary education programs on achievement of academic skills and employment opportunities. Revises the formula for limitation of expenditures for such assessment. Revises provisions for the National Center for Research in Vocational Education to require a minimum set-aside of research funds for the Center. Subpart 2: Professional Development - Establishes a program of vocational education personnel development assistance, including opportunities for: (1) advanced study of vocational education; (2) vocational educators updating their technological knowledge; (3) training of new vocational education teachers; and (4) gifted and talented vocational education secondary and postsecondary students to intern with specified organizations. Provides for vocational education leadership development awards. Authorizes the Assistant Secretary to establish and support, through grants or contracts to public colleges and universities, up to ten vocational education leadership development research institutes to: (1) improve response to the needs of the labor market and special populations; (2) develop professional leadership; and (3) enhance teacher education. Part B: Demonstration Programs - Subpart 1: Cooperative Demonstration Programs - Provides for programs to overcome national skill shortages in new and emerging occupations and to add programs for: (1) professional leadership development, especially for minorities; (2) model child growth and development centers; and (3) secondary vocational education partnerships with business, industry, and labor. Subpart 2: State Equipment Pools - Makes conforming amendments. Subpart 3: Demonstration Centers for the Retraining of Dislocated Workers - Makes conforming amendments. Subpart 4: Model Centers for Vocational Education for Older Individuals - Makes conforming amendments. Part C: Vocational Education and Occupational Information Data - Revises provisions relating to a national vocational education data reporting and accounting system. Directs the Assistant Secretary, by September 30, 1991, to establish a National Vocational Education Data System using comparative information elements and uniform definitions and including specified types of information. Directs the Assistant Secretary to establish and chair a task force to establish, operate, and update the system. Requires the system to be compatible with other specified vocational data systems and for reviewing the system biennially. Requires the National Occupational Information Coordinating Committee to: (1) develop and implement a labor market data base representative of actual jobs, new jobs, replacements, and trends; and (2) reserve a specified portion of funds to support State occupational information coordinating committees in carrying out State occupational information systems and career information delivery systems. Requires the Assistant Secretary to establish a National Network for Curriculum Coordination in Vocational and Technical Education, consisting of six regional curriculum coordination centers. Part D: National Council on Vocational Education - Requires that at least one member of the National Council on Vocational Education be a secondary or postsecondary vocational education student active in a vocational student organization. Requires the Council to advise about worksite programs such as cooperative education. Part E: Bilingual and Limited English Proficiency Vocational Training - Sets forth findings and purposes relating to limited English proficiency individuals and their needs. Subpart 1: Bilingual Vocational Training - Requires that certain funds be used for: (1) training of instructors and staff of bilingual vocational education and training programs; and (2) development of instructional and curriculum materials methods, or techniques for bilingual vocational training. Subpart 2: Targeted Assistance for Persons of Limited English Proficiency - Establishes a new program of vocational education targeted assistance for persons of limited English proficiency. Part F: General Provisions - Repeals part F (General Provisions) of title IV of the Act. Title V: General Provisions - Part A: Federal Administrative Provision - Makes conforming amendments. Part B: Definitions - Revises title II part B (Definitions). Title VI: Conforming Amendments - Makes conforming amendments to the table of contents of the Act.
United States · United States Congress · 17 March 1989
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a nonrefundable 20 percent income tax credit for up to $3,000 of expenses incurred for radon-reduction equipment installed in a taxpayer's principal residence determined to have a radon level that needs to be reduced.
United States · United States Congress · 17 March 1989
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an income tax deduction for interest on any indebtedness incurred to pay the educational expenses, including reasonable living expenses, of the taxpayer, spouse, or dependent.
United States · United States Congress · 17 March 1989
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the number of refugees admitted into the United States and the related resettlement program appropriations should be increased; and (2) the Department of Justice should reestablish the presumption that Jews and other religious minorities emigrating from the Soviet Union qualify for refugee admission status.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1989
General Aviation Accident Liability Standards Act of 1989 - Declares that this Act supersedes any State law regarding liability for general aviation accidents. Establishes guidelines for uniform standards of liability of general aviation manufacturers for general aviation accidents. States that all actions for harm arising out of a general aviation accident shall be governed by the principles of comparative responsibility. Establishes, with specified exceptions, a limitation of actions period of 20 years from delivery of aircraft or harm-causing part to the purchaser for general aviation civil liability brought against a general aviation manufacturer. Declares admissible as evidence certain income tax and payroll tax liability for purposes of establishing financial harm arising out of a general aviation accident. Permits the award of punitive damages if a claimant establishes by clear and convincing evidence that the harm suffered was the direct result of conduct manifesting conscious, flagrant indifference to safety. Establishes a two-year limitation of actions period for actions arising out of a general aviation accident. Declares the intent of the Congress that sanctions be strictly enforced for violations of Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, including orders to pay to the other party the reasonable costs of legal fees. Confers original jurisdiction upon the Federal district courts, concurrently with State courts, for all civil actions for harm arising out of a general aviation accident. Provides procedures for removal from State to Federal district courts of such actions.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1989
Amends the Federal criminal code to establish penalties for desecrating the United States flag by displaying it on the floor or ground.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1989
Authorizes the Indian American Forum for Political Education to establish a memorial on Federal land in the District of Columbia or its environs to honor Mahatma Gandhi. Prohibits the United States from paying any expense of establishing the memorial.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1989
Designates the week of October 1 through October 7, 1989, as National Health Care Food Service Week.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1989
Designates November 17, 1989, as National Philanthropy Day.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1989
National Affordable Housing Act - Title I: General Provisions and Policies - Sets forth a national housing goal and the objectives of a national housing policy. Requires State and local entities receiving direct assistance to submit to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development a comprehensive housing affordability strategy. Title II: Homeownership - Amends the National Housing Act to base Federal Housing Administration (FHA) first-time homebuyer loan ceilings on regional median home prices. Authorizes the insurance of industry accepted mortgages under specified conditions. Requires the Secretary to report annually to the Congress regarding mortgage insurance categories. Title III: Investment in Affordable Housing - HOME Corporation Act - Establishes the Government National HOME Corporation in the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Authorizes FY 1990 and 1991 appropriations for activities under this title. Subtitle A: Housing Opportunity Partnerships (HOP) - Authorizes the Secretary, acting through the HOME Corporation, to make funds available for investment in order to expand the affordable housing supply. Directs the HOME Corporation to develop model programs designed to carry out the purposes of this title. Requires participating jurisdictions to target housing for very low- and low-income families. Sets forth affordable housing qualification provisions. Allocates resources by a housing need-based formula and by incentives. Directs the HOME Corporation to establish a housing investment trust fund for each participating jurisdiction. Requires participant matching funds. Sets aside funds for nonprofit community organization housing. Provides penalties for misuse of funds. Subtitle B: Mortgage Credit Enhancement - Authorizes the HOME Corporation to guarantee affordable housing mortgage loan pools. Subtitle C: Other Support for State and Local Housing Strategies - Directs the HOME Corporation to develop the capacity of State and local agencies and profit and nonprofit entities to identify and meet the needs for increased affordable housing, including related housing research. Subtitle D: General Authority of the HOME Corporation - Sets forth operating and authority provisions for the HOME Corporation. Subtitle E: Sets forth administrative provisions for the HOME Corporation. Title IV: Affordable Rental Housing - Subtitle A: Preservation of Affordable Rental Housing - Amends the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act to establish in HUD an Office of Affordable Housing Preservation. Subtitle B: Low-Income Rental Assistance - Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to revise the section 8 rental assistance program. Increases FY 1990 and 1991 budget authority for such assistance. Title V: Housing For Persons With Special Needs - Subtitle A: Assistant Secretary for Supportive Housing - Amends the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act to establish in HUD a position of Assistant Secretary for Supportive Housing to administer programs serving elderly, handicapped, or homeless persons, or others with special housing needs. Subtitle B: Supportive Housing for the Elderly - Amends the Housing Act of 1959 to authorize assistance to expand the supply of supportive housing for the elderly. Authorizes FY 1990 and 1991 appropriations. Authorizes assistance to adopt federally assisted housing for the elderly to better meet the needs of frail elderly, handicapped, or temporarily disabled residents. Authorizes FY 1990 and 1991 appropriations. Subtitle C: Supportive Housing for the Handicapped - Authorizes assistance to expand the supply of supportive housing for the handicapped. Authorizes FY 1990 and 1991 appropriations. Subtitle D: Supportive Housing for the Homeless - Amends the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act to authorize grants to States and local government units for homeless housing assistance. Sets forth grant allocation provisions. Permits States and local units to use such assistance for approved activities. Requires grantees to provide matching funds. Authorizes FY 1991 and 1992 appropriations. Requires an annual report to the Congress. Sets forth the following approved activities: (1) emergency shelter; (2) transitional housing for the homeless; (3) permanent housing for the handicapped homeless; and (4) supplemental assistance for facilities to assist the homeless. Increases FY 1990 and 1991 budget authority for the section 8 single room occupancy program. Title VI: Public and Indian Housing - Subtitle A: Public Housing Development - Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to authorize the development of new and replacement public housing. Subtitle B: Authorization - Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to authorize FY 1990 and 1991 public housing appropriations. Increases FY 1990 and 1991 budget authority for rental rehabilitation and development grants. Obligates FY 1990 and 1991 funds for: (1) Indian housing; and (2) the comprehensive improvement assistance program. Subtitle C: Project Independence - Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to provide public housing residents with greater access to employment, day care, educational, and other services. Obligates FY 1990 and 1991 funds for such purposes. Subtitle D: National Commission on Severely Distressed Public Housing - Establishes the National Commission on Severely Distressed Public Housing to identify severely distressed public housing projects, evaluate strategies to eliminate unfit housing conditions, and develop a national plan to achieve such objectives. Authorizes FY 1990 and 1991 appropriations. Title VII: Rural Housing - Amends the Housing Act of 1949 to reauthorize through FY 1991: (1) rural housing insured or guaranteed loans; (2) rental assistance payment contract authority; (3) rental housing loan authority; and (4) mutual and self-help housing grant and loan authority. Authorizes deferred mortgage repayments under specified conditions. Sets aside FY 1990 and 1991 funds for targeted underserved areas. Title VIII: Repeals and Conforming Amendments - Sets forth specified conforming and other related amendments.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1989
Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to set oat target prices. Sets forth feed grain acreage base requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1989
National Affordable Housing Act - Title I: General Provisions and Policies - Sets forth a national housing goal and the objectives of a national housing policy. Requires State and local entities receiving direct assistance to submit to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development a comprehensive housing affordability strategy. Title II: Homeownership - Subtitle A: FHA Amendments - Amends the National Housing Act to base Federal Housing Administration (FHA) first-time homebuyer loan ceilings on regional median home prices. Authorizes the insurance of industry accepted mortgages under specified conditions. Requires the Secretary to report annually to the Congress regarding mortgage insurance categories. Subtitle B: Savings for a Downpayment - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) authorize certain retirement plans (401(k) plans) to make equity investments in a participant's principal residence; and (2) authorize individual retirement account funds to be used as loans to purchase a home by a first-time homebuyer. Title III: Investment in Affordable Housing - HOME Corporation Act - Establishes the Government National HOME Corporation in the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Authorizes FY 1990 and 1991 appropriations for activities under this title. Subtitle A: Housing Opportunity Partnerships (HOP) - Authorizes the Secretary, acting through the HOME Corporation, to make funds available for investment in order to expand the affordable housing supply. Directs the HOME Corporation to develop model programs designed to carry out the purposes of this title. Requires participating jurisdictions to target housing for very low- and low-income families. Sets forth affordable housing qualification provisions. Allocates resources by a housing need-based formula and by incentives. Directs the HOME Corporation to establish a housing investment trust fund for each participating jurisdiction. Requires participant matching funds. Sets aside funds for nonprofit community organization housing. Provides penalties for misuse of funds. Subtitle B: Mortgage Credit Enhancement - Authorizes the HOME Corporation to guarantee affordable housing mortgage loan pools. Subtitle C: Other Support for State and Local Housing Strategies - Directs the HOME Corporation to develop the capacity of State and local agencies and profit and nonprofit entities to identify and meet the needs for increased affordable housing, including related housing research. Subtitle D: General Authority of the HOME Corporation - Sets forth operating and authority provisions for the HOME Corporation. Subtitle E: General Provisions - Sets forth administrative provisions for the HOME Corporation. Title IV: Affordable Rental Housing - Subtitle A: Preservation of Affordable Rental Housing - Amends the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act to establish in HUD an Office of Affordable Housing Preservation. Subtitle B: Low-Income Rental Assistance - Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to revise the section 8 rental assistance program. Increases FY 1990 and 1991 budget authority for such assistance. Title V: Housing For Persons With Special Needs - Subtitle A: Assistant Secretary for Supportive Housing - Amends the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act to establish in HUD a position of Assistant Secretary for Supportive Housing to administer programs serving elderly, handicapped, or homeless persons, or others with special housing needs. Subtitle B: Supportive Housing for the Elderly - Amends the Housing Act of 1959 to authorize assistance to expand the supply of supportive housing for the elderly. Authorizes FY 1990 and 1991 appropriations. Authorizes assistance to adapt federally assisted housing for the elderly to better meet the needs of frail elderly, handicapped, or temporarily disabled residents. Authorizes FY 1990 and 1991 appropriations. Subtitle C: Supportive Housing for the Handicapped - Authorizes assistance to expand the supply of supportive housing for the handicapped. Authorizes FY 1990 and 1991 appropriations. Subtitle D: Supportive Housing for the Homeless - Amends the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act to authorize grants to States and local government units for homeless housing assistance. Sets forth grant allocation provisions. Permits States and local units to use such assistance for approved activities. Requires grantees to provide matching funds. Authorizes FY 1991 and 1992 appropriations. Requires an annual report to the Congress. Sets forth the following approved activities: (1) emergency shelter; (2) transitional housing for the homeless; (3) permanent housing for the handicapped homeless; and (4) supplemental assistance for facilities to assist the homeless. Increases FY 1990 and 1991 budget authority for the section 8 single room occupancy program. Title VI: Public and Indian Housing - Subtitle A: Public Housing Development - Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to authorize the development of new and replacement public housing. Subtitle B: Authorization - Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to authorize FY 1990 and 1991 public housing appropriations. Increases FY 1990 and 1991 budget authority for rental rehabilitation and development grants. Obligates FY 1990 and 1991 funds for: (1) Indian housing; and (2) the comprehensive improvement assistance program. Subtitle C: Project Independence - Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to provide public housing residents with greater access to employment, day care, educational, and other services. Obligates FY 1990 and 1991 funds for such purposes. Subtitle D: National Commission on Severely Distressed Public Housing - Establishes the National Commission on Severely Distressed Public Housing to identify severely distressed public housing projects, evaluate strategies to eliminate unfit housing conditions, and develop a national plan to achieve such objectives. Authorizes FY 1990 and 1991 appropriations. Title VII: Rural Housing - Amends the Housing Act of 1949 to reauthorize through FY 1991: (1) rural housing insured or guaranteed loans; (2) rental assistance payment contract authority; (3) rental housing loan authority; and (4) mutual and self-help housing grant and loan authority. Authorizes deferred mortgage repayments under specified conditions. Sets aside FY 1990 and 1991 funds for targeted underserved areas. Title VIII: Amendment to the Internal Revenue Code - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent the low-income housing credit ceiling. Title IX: Repeals and Conforming Amendments - Sets forth specified conforming and other related amendments.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1989
Research and Experimental Credit Extension and Reform Act of 1989 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent the income tax credit for qualified research expenditures by repealing the provisions that would terminate the credit for expenses incurred or paid after 1989. Revises the method for computing: (1) base period research expenses, adding a factor reflecting the gross national product growth rate; and (2) the tax credit, adding an alternative computation component. Applies the credit to in-house research expenses that the taxpayer pays or incurs for the principal purpose of using the research results in the active conduct of a future trade or business.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1989
Designates the month of November in 1989 and 1990 as National Hospice Month.
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 · 9 March 1989
Designates the period commencing on June 21, 1989, and ending on June 28, 1989, as Food Science and Technology Week.
United States · United States Congress · 9 March 1989
Expresses concern over recent developments in Yugoslavia and urges that steps be taken to prevent bloodshed in that country. Requests the President to direct the Department of State to convey U.S. support for the continuing internal autonomy of the Province of Kosovo.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1989
Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to permit alfalfa production on program crop acreage for production base purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1989
Requires Federal deficit determinations for purposes of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) to include and give equal importance to a deficit calculation that does not include Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund receipts and outlays.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1989
Designates the week beginning October 29, 1989, as Gaucher's Disease Awareness Week.
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1989
Indian Civil Rights Act Amendments of 1989 - Amends the Civil Rights Act of 1968 to grant Federal district courts jurisdiction of civil rights actions alleging failure to comply with the rights secured by the Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968. States that sovereign immunity is not a defense to such an action. Allows aggrieved individuals, after exhaustion of tribal remedies, or the Attorney General to initiate actions against an Indian tribe, tribal organization, or tribal official. Requires the Federal district court to adopt the findings of fact of the tribal court, absent specified determinations. Requires the Federal court to give deference to the interpretations of the tribal court on questions of tribal law.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 1989
Fairness for Adopting Families Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit an individual income tax deduction for qualified adoption expenses. Includes as deductible all reasonable and necessary expenses that do not violate a Federal or State law and that are directly related to a legal adoption of any child if the adoption has been arranged by a State, local, or other nonprofit agency, or through a private placement. Excludes from an employee's gross income any amounts paid on behalf of the employee by an employer pursuant to a qualified adoption assistance program. Limits both the deduction and the exclusion to $5,000. Reduces the amount when the taxpayer's income exceeds $60,000. Permits an employer to treat an adoption assistance program as a statutory employee benefit plan, thus making the employer's contributions to such a program tax deductible as business expenses.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 1989
Calls on the Government of Vietnam to expedite the release and emigration or resettlement of all political prisoners.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 1989
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to cover services performed by a physician assistant regardless of the setting or geographical location in which such services are rendered.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 1989
Makes the legal defense of discretionary function provided under specified Federal law inapplicable to any legal or administrative proceeding for damages arising out of U.S. violation of occupational safety or health standards or U.S. negligence at any workplace owned or operated by or under contract with the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 23 February 1989
Amends the Internal Revenue Code with respect to the corporate income tax exclusion of contributions to the capital of the taxpayer. Includes as a qualifying contribution any amount of money or property received by a regulated public utility (a utility required to provide electric energy, gas, water, or sewage disposal services) that: (1) is a contribution in aid of construction (as defined by regulations to be promulgated by the Secretary of the Treasury); (2) meets certain expenditure requirements; and (3) is not included in the taxpayer's rate base. Excludes amounts paid as customer connection fees.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1989
Requires U.S. coins to be redesigned, at the discretion of the Secretary of the Treasury, over the next six years. Requires the reverse side of the first coin redesigned to commemorate the bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution for a two-year period. Provides that the design on the obverse side of U.S. coins shall contain the likenesses of those displayed on current coins and shall be considered for redesign. Requires any such obverse redesigns to conform to the inscription requirements of current law. Requires the Secretary, in selecting new designs, to consider specified constitutional concepts. Requires the designs to be selected by the Secretary upon consultation with the United States Commission of Fine Arts. Requires that any profits from the sale of uncirculated and proof sets of U.S. coins be deposited in the Treasury and used solely to reduce the national debt.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1989
COLA Equity Act of 1989 - Provides for all Federal civilian and military retirees to receive the full cost-of-living adjustments in annuities payable under Federal retirement systems for FY 1990 and 1991. (Includes benefits payable under the Civil Service Retirement and Disability System, military retirement and survivor benefit programs, the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability System, the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System, and railroad retirement programs.) Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) to exempt railroad retirement supplemental annuities from sequestration.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1989
Expresses disapproval of the refusal of the U.S.S.R. to recognize the sovereignty of the Baltic Republics. Designates June 14, 1989, as Baltic Freedom Day. Authorizes and requests the President to call upon the Soviet Union, the Federal Republic of Germany, and the Democratic Republic of Germany to renounce the acquisition or absorption of the Baltic Republics by the Soviet Union as a result of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1989
Designates the month of May 1989 as National Stroke Awareness Month.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1989
Designates March 25, 1989, as Greek Independence Day: A National Day of Celebration of Greek and American Democracy.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1989
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the Secretary of State should submit a report to the Congress including a description of: (1) all private and public U.S. assistance delivered to Soviet Armenia following the December 7, 1988, earthquake; (2) the prospects for future assistance to, trade with, and long-term reconstruction of Armenia; and (3) any policy implications of assisting Armenia.
United States · United States Congress · 9 February 1989
Designates the month of April 1989 as National Recycling Month.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 1989
Amends the National Trails Systems Act to designate the Pony Express National Historic Trail, extending from Saint Joseph, Missouri, through Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, and Nevada to Sacramento, California, as a component of the National Trails System.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 1989
Television Broadcasting to Cuba Act - Directs the United States Information Agency (USIA) to provide television broadcasting to Cuba. Requires that any such television broadcasting be in accordance with all Voice of America standards. Requires the Director of the USIA to establish a Television Marti Service to be responsible for all television broadcasts to Cuba. Requires that all broadcasting by such Service avoid interference with any domestic television broadcasting. Amends the Radio Broadcasting to Cuba Act to rename the Advisory Board for Radio Broadcasting to Cuba as the Advisory Board for Broadcasting to Cuba. Specifies that such Board shall be responsible for both Radio Marti and Television Marti. Authorizes assistance to the USIA from other Government agencies to carry out the requirements of this Act. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1990 and 1991.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 1989
Medicaid Home and Community Quality Services Act of 1989 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to require States to provide Medicaid coverage of community and family support services for severely disabled individuals who became disabled before age 22 and are living in a family home, foster family home, or community living facility. Requires that such services be provided in accordance with a written habilitation plan developed by an interdisciplinary team on the basis of a comprehensive assessment of the individual's strengths and the services and support necessary to: (1) enable such individual to attain or retain capabilities for independence or self-care; (2) promote interaction between disabled and nondisabled individuals within the community; and (3) enable disabled individuals who are over age 18 to engage in paid employment. Increases the age at which newly disabled individuals will be eligible for this Act's coverage so that eventually individuals who become disabled between age 22 and 50 will be covered. Lists the services which may comprise community and family support services, requiring that such services include at a minimum: (1) case management services; (2) individual and family support services; (3) specialized vocational services; and (4) protective intervention services. Excludes from such services: (1) room and board, other than room and board provided for less than six consecutive weeks and less than 12 weeks per year; (2) cash payments as a service; (3) aversive behavior intervention, management, or therapies; (4) services provided to a disabled individual living in a hospital, or skilled nursing or intermediate care facility; (5) educational services which the State makes generally available to its residents without cost and without regard to their income; and (6) services for which payment is made under title XVIII (Medicare), or part A (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) or B (Child Welfare Services) of title IV of the Act. Requires each State to make certain assurances regarding their provision of community and family support services and submit an implementation strategy to the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Requires that such implementation strategies: (1) describe the extent and scope of community and family support services provided to the severely disabled and the extent and scope of services provided to the severely disabled who are institutionalized; (2) set forth the objectives and a five-year strategy for expanding community and family support services for the severely disabled; (3) include certain procedures for transferring severely disabled, institutionalized individuals to family homes, foster family homes, or community living facilities; (4) set forth standards for the provision of community and family support services and a program for licensing and certifying all facilities and programs providing such services; (5) provide for assessments of the provision and affect of community and family support services and the correction of service deficiencies; (6) provide the public with an adequate opportunity to comment on the strategies; (7) set forth methods ensuring that the personnel providing community and family support services receive adequate training and are competent to provide such services; (8) provide that the State has in effect a management information system capable of collecting, storing, and retrieving data on the severely disabled who receive community and family support services; (9) provide an opportunity for an appeal and hearing before a hearing officer to individuals who believe themselves to be inappropriately served or denied an appropriate service, or who are being scheduled for an involuntary transfer from one living arrangement to another; (10) describe the methods to be used in administering community and family support services; and (11) set forth procedures to protect the interests of public employees who will be affected by the transfer of the severely disabled from public institutions. Allows States to provide any new community and family support service for up to three years without meeting the Medicaid requirements that it provide a service on a statewide basis and that the service be comparable in all parts of the State. Requires that intermediate care facility services for the mentally retarded include the ascertainment of the individual needs of each newly admitted individual by an interdisciplinary team within 30 days and the development of a written habilitation plan for each individual. Limits Medicaid payments to States for skilled nursing and intermediate care facility services furnished to individuals under age 65 who became disabled before age 22 to the amount payable for such services in the fiscal year ending after the enactment of this Act, increased if and by the extent to which the percentage increase in the consumer price index exceeds six percent. Makes such limitation inapplicable to facilities which have less than 16 beds or meet the size and location requirements for a community living facility. Requires States to have in effect a system to protect and advocate those rights of the severely disabled who are eligible for medical assistance which relate to the provision of such assistance. Provides Federal Medicaid matching funds for such system. Gives individuals who are adversely affected by a violation of this Act's requirements the right to bring an action to enjoin such violation. Allows States to set payment rates for community and family support services for the severely disabled. Authorizes States to treat severely disabled individuals under age 19 who are not in a medical institution as receiving benefits under title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI) of the Act for Medicaid eligibility purposes if they would be eligible for SSI benefits if institutionalized. Requires States to establish a uniform income standard for the severely disabled regardless of whether or not they are in a medical institution. Authorizes States to provide Medicaid coverage of disabled spouses and children who, except for the resources deemed to them, would be eligible for SSI benefits. Removes certain limitations on the Secretary's approval of reduction and correction plans for deficient intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded. Makes individuals who are severely disabled and receiving or deemed to be receiving SSI benefits eligible for Medicaid as long as such qualifications continue to be satisfied. Directs the Secretary to establish, within the Health Care Financing Administration, a Bureau of Developmental Disabilities Services responsible for administering Medicaid programs for the severely disabled. Requires the Secretary to: (1) develop standards and a program for training Federal and State personnel who perform surveys of skilled nursing and intermediate care facilities to determine whether such facilities meet Medicaid participation requirements; and (2) periodically conduct studies of the reliability of such surveys and make the changes necessary to improve such reliability. Directs the Secretary to support the development of: (1) instruments to assess outcomes in the provision of this Act's services; and (2) competency-based personnel standards for agencies and organizations providing services to the severely disabled pursuant to this Act. Requires the Secretary to: (1) conduct an annual assessment of each State's compliance with this Act's requirements; and (2) issue final regulations regarding this Act's amendments prior to the first fiscal year beginning after this Act's enactment. Sets forth reporting requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 1989
Designates May 17, 1989, as High School Reserve Officer Training Corps Recognition Day.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 1989
Acknowledges the distinguished public service of Michael J. Mansfield.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1989
Prohibits the Secretary of Transportation from issuing regulations under the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act that characterize anhydrous ammonia as a poisonous gas.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1989
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 1992 the period during which qualified mortgage bonds and mortgage credit certificates may be issued. (Under current law, authority for these programs is due to expire as of 1990).
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1989
Repeals provisions of the Tax Reform Act of 1986 and the Technical and Miscellaneous Revenue Act of 1988 that establish new nondiscrimination requirements for coverage and benefits under certain statutory employee benefit plans. (The consequence is the repeal of section 89 of the Internal Revenue Code.)
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1989
Designates the week beginning on October 1, 1989, and ending October 7, 1989, as Mental Illness Awareness Week.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1989
Declares that, in celebration of Law Day, U.S.A., special emphasis and acknowledgment should be given to all law enforcement personnel for their service in preserving domestic tranquility and guaranteeing rights under law.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1989
Designates the week beginning April 2, 1989, as National Child Care Awareness Week.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1989
Designates the month of April 1989 as National Cancer Awareness Month.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1989
Designates the month of April in 1989 and 1990 as National Child Abuse Prevention Month.
United States · United States Congress · 2 February 1989
Requires (current law authorizes) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide hospital care to a qualified veteran for a non-service-connected disability to the extent resources and facilities are available.
United States · United States Congress · 2 February 1989
Air Travel Rights for Blind Individuals Act - Amends the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to preclude an air carrier from establishing aircraft seating restrictions based upon a passenger's visual acuity or use of a white cane or dog guide or other such means of assistance.