United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1991
Commends the bravery and professionalism of the armed forces. Extends sympathy to the families and loved ones of those killed, missing in action, or taken prisoner by the Government of Iraq. Demands that the Iraqi Government abide by the principles and obligations of the Third Geneva Convention concerning the treatment of prisoners of war and condemns Iraq's failure to do so.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1991
Condemns Soviet violence against the people and democratic governments of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. Urges the President to immediately review all economic benefits provided by the U.S. Government to the Soviet Union and report to the Congress on whether such benefits should be suspended in light of Soviet actions in the Baltic States, suspend all ongoing technical exchanges, consider withdrawing U.S. support for Soviet membership in the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, or General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, and withhold Most Favored Nation trade treatment until: (1) Soviet troops refrain from obstructing the functioning of the democratic governments of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia; (2) Soviet "Black Beret" internal security forces are withdrawn from the Baltic States; (3) Soviet authorities cease their interference with the media in such States; (4) good-faith negotiations between the governments of such States and the Soviet Union on the restoration of sovereignty to such States have begun; and (5) concrete assurances are received from President Gorbachev that grain purchased with U.S. credits will not be used to coerce such States or any Soviet republic to sign the Union Treaty. States that the United States should consult with and encourage its allies to follow a similar policy. Urges the President to explore means of increasing direct diplomatic ties with the Baltic States. Declares that the U.S. Senate will take the status of events in the Baltic States into account when considering all future agreements with the Soviet Union.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1991
Condemns the unprovoked attacks by Iraq on Israel. Declares that the use of SCUD missiles to attack civilian targets is a form of terrorism. Expresses sympathy for the casualties and destruction caused by the Iraqi attacks. Recognizes Israel's right to defend itself. Commends the Israeli Government for its restraint and the Israeli people for their perseverance in the face of such attacks. Commends the administration for its decision to provide Patriot missiles to Israel. Reaffirms America's continued commitment to providing Israel with the means to maintain its security and freedom.
United States · United States Congress · 22 January 1991
Airline Bankruptcy Passenger Protection Act of 1991 - Amends the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to direct the Secretary of Transportation to issue an order authorizing a covered air carrier to develop an air transportation plan which protects airline ticket holders in the event it becomes a debtor in bankruptcy proceedings after the ticket purchase date. Provides that if satisfactory plans have not been submitted by a specified deadline, the Secretary must promulgate regulations requiring all covered air carriers to provide air transportation for such ticket holders.
United States · United States Congress · 16 January 1991
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the President should immediately review all economic benefits provided by the U.S. Government to the Soviet Union, report to the Congress on whether such benefits should be suspended in light of Soviet actions in the Baltic States, suspend all ongoing technical exchanges, consider withdrawing U.S. support for Soviet membership in the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, or General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, and withhold Most Favored Nation trade treatment until: (1) Soviet troops refrain from obstructing the functioning of the democratic governments of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia; (2) the troops that were deployed following the January 7 announcement by the Soviet Defense Ministry, (of the deployment of additional troops to specified republics) are withdrawn; (3) Soviet authorities cease their interference with the media in such States; (4) good-faith negotiations between the governments of such States and the Soviet Union on the restoration of sovereignty to such States have begun; and (5) concrete assurances are received from President Gorbachev that grain purchased with U.S. credits will not be used to coerce such States or any Soviet republic to sign the Union Treaty. States that the United States should consult with and encourage its allies to follow a similar policy.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permanently extend the period during which qualified mortgage bonds and mortgage credit certificates may be issued.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1991
Veterans Compensation Rates Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 1991 - Increases the rates of compensation, dependency and indemnity compensation, and the clothing allowance payable to veterans with service-connected disabilities and their survivors. Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to adjust administratively the rates of disability compensation payable to persons who are not in receipt of compensation for service-connected disability or death.
United States · United States Congress · 12 January 1991
Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution - Authorizes the President to use U.S. armed forces against Iraq pursuant to United Nations Security Council Resolution 678 to implement Resolutions 660, 661, 662, 664, 665, 666, 667, 669, 670, 674, and 677 (summarized below) after making available to the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate his determination that: (1) the United States has used all appropriate diplomatic and other peaceful means to obtain compliance by Iraq with such resolutions; and (2) those means have not been and would not be successful. Declares that this Act constitutes specific statutory authorization for the use of U.S. armed forces required under the War Powers Resolution. Requires the President to report to the Congress every 60 days on the status of efforts to obtain compliance by Iraq with the U.N. resolutions. RESOLUTION 660-AUGUST 2, 1990: Condemns Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and demands immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Iraqi forces. RESOLUTION 661-AUGUST 6, 1990: Imposes trade embargo and financial sanctions against Iraq and Iraqi-occupied Kuwait. (Medical supplies and humanitarian foodstuffs are exempt from the trade embargo.) RESOLUTION 662-AUGUST 9, 1990: Declares Iraq's annexation of Kuwait null and void and demands that Iraq rescind the annexation. RESOLUTION 664-AUGUST 18, 1990: Demands that Iraq permit immediate safe departure of foreign nationals from Iraq and Kuwait. Demands rescindment of Iraq's orders to withdraw diplomatic immunity and close diplomatic missions in Kuwait. RESOLUTION 665-AUGUST 25, 1990: Calls upon states to enforce the trade embargo against Iraq and Iraqi-occupied Kuwait. RESOLUTION 666-SEPTEMBER 14, 1990: Provides for humanitarian provision of any necessary food and medical supplies to Iraq and Kuwait. RESOLUTION 667-SEPTEMBER 16, 1990: Demands that Iraq protect diplomatic personnel and premises and take no action that hinders the performance of their duties. RESOLUTION 669-SEPTEMBER 24, 1990: Authorizes Sanctions Committee to examine requests for assistance from states confronted with special economic problems related to the sanctions. RESOLUTION 670-SEPTEMBER 25, 1990: Requires states to cooperate with air embargo and to detain any ships that are being used to violate the sanctions. (Food and medical supplies being shipped for humanitarian reasons are exempt, but subject to authorization.) RESOLUTION 674-OCTOBER 29, 1990: Reminds Iraq that it is liable under international law for any loss, damage, or injury arising in regard to Kuwait and third states and their nationals as a result of Iraq's invasion and occupation of Kuwait. RESOLUTION 677-NOVEMBER 28, 1990: Condemns Iraqi attempts to alter Kuwait's demographic composition and destroy Kuwaiti civil records. Mandates steps to be taken by the U.N. to safeguard the demographic composition of Kuwait. RESOLUTION 678-NOVEMBER 29, 1990: Authorizes member states to use all means necessary to uphold the above resolutions and restore international peace and security in the region, unless Iraq fully complies with the above resolutions on or before January 15, 1991.
United States · United States Congress · 15 October 1990
Expresses the sense of the Senate that any proposal to increase the Federal-aid highway program's minimum allocation percentage from 85 to 95 percent should be addressed as part of the legislative process to reauthorize surface transportation programs in 1991.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1990
Lamprey River Study Act of 1990 - Amends the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate a specified segment of the Lamprey River, New Hampshire, for study as a potential addition to the national wild and scenic rivers system. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to complete such study not later than three years after enactment of this Act. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 20 July 1990
State Thrift Deposit Insurance Premium Act of 1990 - Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to direct the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to determine and apportion among the States the cumulative cost of Federal assistance provided to State-chartered savings associations for case resolutions. Declares as "high risk" any State whose share of State resolution costs exceeds twice its share of 1980 State deposits. Mandates that each high risk State pay to the Savings Association Insurance Fund prescribed premiums reflecting such risk. Sets forth insurance termination procedures if a State fails to pay the required premium. Requires depositor notification of such insurance termination.
United States · United States Congress · 22 June 1990
Designates the week beginning November 11, 1990, as National Disabled Veterans Week, in recognition of the contributions that disabled veterans have made to the welfare of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 1990
Korean War Veterans Memorial Thirty-Eighth Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act - Expresses the sense of the Congress that the United States should recognize the 38th anniversary of the Korean War by minting and issuing a silver dollar coin. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to issue one-dollar silver coins to commemorate the 38th anniversary of the ending of the Korean War. Terminates such authority after December 31, 1991. Mandates that surcharges from the sale of such coins be used for the Korean War Veterans Memorial.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 1990
Amtrak Reauthorization and Improvement Act of 1990 - Amends the Rail Passenger Service Act to authorize appropriations through FY 1992 for the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak). Limits the liability for certain rail accidents occurring in the District of Columbia to no more than the limits of coverage maintained by a publicly funded commuter transportation authority established under Virginia law to indemnify Amtrak or any railroad over which the authority conducts its operations. Authorizes the use of proceeds from the sale of railroad lines that were acquired and rehabilitated with funds under the Rail Safety and Service Improvement Act of 1982 for similar purposes with respect to railroad lines connected with such a line for the purpose of continued rail service on them. Requires Amtrak to cooperate with the efforts of the Washington State Department of Transportation in designing a study of the feasibility of reestablishing rail service between Seattle, Washington, and Vancouver, British Columbia. Directs Amtrak to study and report to the Congress on the revenue and cost implications of separating the California Zephyr-Desert Wind-Pioneer train into two service routes serving a southern and a control route through Iowa. Prohibits the compensation of any rail or motor carrier employee who works in more than one State from being subject to State income taxes in any State but the State in which the employee resides. Amends the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act to treat Amtrak as a publicly funded rail carrier with respect to its contribution toward employees' unemployment compensation benefits. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to study and report to the Congress on the potential need among Class II and Class III railroads for Federal guarantees of obligations for funding rehabilitation and improvement of facilities and equipment, acquisition of new railroad facilities, or refinancing of existing debt.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1990
Declares that the United States should suspend its dialogue with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) if the PLO does not: (1) condemn the May 30, 1990, Palestine Liberation Front terrorist attack against Israel; and (2) expel leader Abul Abbas for his role in such attack.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 1990
Expresses the sense of the Senate that: (1) the accession of Taiwan to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) is in the best interest of the United States and of the world trading system and should be achieved prior to the end of the Uruguay Round; and (2) the United States should take the necessary steps to assure such country's membership in the GATT.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 1990
Comprehensive Campaign Finance Reform Act of 1990 - Title I: Reduction of Special Interest Influence - Subtitle A: Elimination of Political Action Committees from Federal Election Activities - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to: (1) revise the definition of a "political committee" to delete references to any separate segregated fund and any committee, club, association, or group which receives contributions or makes expenditures annually totaling over $1,000 and to include any national, State, or district committee of a political party, including any subordinate committee thereof, and any committee jointly established by such committees or by any local committee as defined under current law for joint fundraising activities; (2) repeal provisions excluding nonpartisan registration and get-out-the-vote campaigns and the establishment of, and solicitation of contributions for, a separate segregated fund from the definition of a "contribution or expenditure" by a national bank, corporation, or labor organization; and (3) prohibit making, soliciting, or receiving contributions or making expenditures to influence a Federal election by any person other than an individual or a political committee. Specifies that if such prohibition is not in effect: (1) it and the other amendments made by this Act to the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 regarding such definitions shall not be in effect and prior law will be reinstated; and (2) political action committees not connected to corporations, labor organizations, or trade associations will be subject to a $1,000 contribution limit. Deems any political committee which is established, financed, maintained, or controlled by any candidate or Federal officeholder to be an authorized committee of such candidate or officeholder for purposes of limitations on contributions to a candidate's committees. Subtitle B: Ban on Soft Money in Federal Elections - Bans the use of soft money (any amount raised or contributed outside of source restrictions, contribution limits, and disclosure requirements of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971) to influence any Federal election. Requires the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to issue regulations providing a method for allocating the contributions and expenditures for any mixed activity between Federal and non-Federal accounts. Sets forth guidelines for such allocation which include the establishment of minimum percentages of Federal funds for activities designed to contact voters in connection with elections for Federal and non-Federal office. Requires each treasurer of a political committee to keep an account of, and file reports disclosing, each account maintained by such committee. Includes political committees among those entities eligible to receive contributions or expenditures by national banks, corporations, or labor organizations. Permits a labor organization, upon reinstatement of prior law regarding certain political activities not considered to be contributions or expenditures, to make political communications and establish and solicit contributions for a separate segregated political fund if it: (1) provides the employees it represents with written notification of specified information at least once annually; (2) provides such employees with an annual examination by an independent certified public accountant of its financial statements which verify its costs for representation services; and (3) maintains certain procedures regarding the cost of such representation. Requires a labor organization which does not follow such requirements to finance those communications expressly advocating the election or defeat of any clearly identified candidate for elective public office as well as the other political activities not considered to be contributions or expenditures with funds legally collected under this Act for its separate segregated fund. Imposes Federal limits on contributions to political organizations maintained by a candidate for Federal office which are not political committees of a national, State, or local party. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to deny tax-exempt status for an organization: (1) which devotes any of its operating budget to voter registration, get-out-the-vote campaigns, or participation in political campaign activities; (2) on whose behalf a candidate or an authorized committee thereof solicits contributions; or (3) which intervenes or participates in any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for Federal office. Subtitle C: Other Activities - Reduces from $1,000 to $500 the maximum contribution allowed to any candidate for Federal office (other than a candidate for President or Vice President) by a person residing outside the State with respect to which such candidate seeks Federal office. Maintains the current $1,000 limitation for contributions to any candidate for President or Vice President or to any candidate for Federal office by a person residing within the State with respect to which such candidate seeks Federal office. Provides for periodic indexing of such limitations according to the consumer price index. Excludes costs of campaign materials and general research activities paid by national committees of a political party from the definition of "expenditure and contribution" under the same conditions currently provided for such payments by State or local committees of a political party. Exempts contributions to political party committees from the $25,000 annual limit. Prohibits: (1) any intermediary or conduit from delivering or arranging to have delivered contributions from more than two persons who are employees of the same employer or members of the same labor organization; and (2) lobbyists from acting as an intermediary or conduit with respect to a contribution to a candidate for Federal office. Sets forth disclosure requirements for independent expenditures through broadcast communications on any radio or television station. Provides that an expenditure is not an independent expenditure where the person making an expenditure is in coordination, consultation, or concert with a candidate. Requires the FEC to provide a hearing within three days after receiving a complaint alleging that an independent expenditure was made in cooperation, consultation, or concert with a candidate. Provides for expedited judicial review for any matter relating to the making of an independent expenditure. Title II: Increase of Competition in Politics - Allows the congressional campaign committee or the senatorial campaign committee of a national political party to make contributions to a candidate for Federal office (other than President or Vice President) who does not hold Federal office which in the aggregate do not exceed the lesser of: (1) $100,000; or (2) the aggregate contributions made during the election cycle preceding the primary election by an individual who, at the time such contributions are made, is a resident of the State in which the election with respect to which such contributions are made is to be held. Prohibits such a contribution from being treated as an expenditure by a national committee, State committee, or subordinate committee of a State committee in connection with the general election campaign of a candidate for Federal office. Prohibits a holder of Federal office from transferring any amounts received as contributions or other campaign funds to any account maintained for purposes of defraying ordinary and necessary expenses in connection with the duties of such office. Requires a candidate, within 15 days of qualifying for a primary election ballot, to file with the FEC and each other qualifying candidate a declaration stating whether or not such candidate intends to expend for the primary and general election an amount exceeding $250,000 from: (1) personal funds; (2) family funds; and (3) personal loans incurred in connection with the campaign for election. Allows the opponents of such candidate to accept larger contribution amounts from individuals. Requires a candidate who files a declaration of intent not to expend more than $250,000 and who subsequently does exceed such amount, to file an amended declaration within 24 hours after exceeding such amount. Allows a candidate to repay any expenditure or personal loan incurred in connection with the candidate's election to Federal office from contributions made to such candidate or any authorized committee of such candidate. Prohibits: (1) repayment of any interest on the principal of such loan or the amount of such expenditure; and (2) repayment from any such contributions received after the general election to which the expenditure or loan relates. Prohibits franked mass mailings by: (1) Members of Congress during the year in which they are candidates for reelection; (2) Members of, or Members-elect to, the House during the year in which they are candidates for any other public office; or (3) Members of the Senate during the year in which they are candidates for any other public office. Requires Members of Congress using franked mass mailings to register such mailings annually with the Secretary of the Senate or the Clerk of the House of Representatives who shall make such mailing available for public inspection along with a description of the persons to whom the mass mailing was mailed. Amends rule XL of the Standing Rules of the Senate to prohibit the use of franked mass mail by a Senator or an individual who is a candidate for nomination to the Senate during the year in which the Senator is a candidate for public office or the individual is a candidate for the Senate. Revises provisions with respect to congressional reapportionment and redistricting so that the number of persons in congressional districts within each State shall be as nearly equal as practicable, as determined under the most recent decennial census. Prohibits congressional districts from being established with the intent and effect of diluting the voting strength of any persons or members of any political party. Requires district boundaries to avoid the division of counties and minimize the division of cities and other political subdivisions. Establishes expedited Federal judicial review procedures of the redistricting process, giving Federal district courts exclusive jurisdiction. Amends the Federal criminal code to prescribe criminal penalties to be imposed against anyone who uses any facility of, or affects, interstate or foreign commerce to deprive or defraud the inhabitants of a State or political subdivision of: (1) the honest services of a government official or employee; or (2) a fair and impartially conducted election process through the use of fraudulent ballots or voter registration forms or the filing of fraudulent campaign reports to secure the election of an official who, if elected, would have authority over the administration of funds derived from an Act of the Congress totalling $10,000 or more for a year before or after the election or offense. Prescribes criminal penalties to be imposed against anyone who deprives or defrauds the inhabitants of the United States of the honest services of a public official. Prescribes criminal penalties to be imposed upon any official who: (1) uses interstate commerce to deprive or defraud the inhabitants of any State or political subdivision of the right to have government affairs conducted on the basis of complete, true, and accurate information; or (2) in order to carry out or conceal any scheme or artifice to defraud, discriminates, harasses, or takes adverse action against any employee or official of the United States or any State or political subdivision. Authorizes such an adversely affected employee or official to obtain relief through a civil action, providing such person did not participate in the scheme or artifice. Amends mail fraud provisions to prohibit the use of any facility of interstate or foreign commerce in the execution of a scheme or artifice to defraud. Title III: Reduction of Campaign Costs - Sets forth congressional findings regarding discounts for political broadcasts. Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to: (1) limit the cost to qualified candidates of broadcasting time for pre-election political advertising to the lowest rate charged for any time in the same period; and (2) prohibit any broadcast licensee from preempting the use of any such time purchased by a qualified candidate. Title IV: Miscellaneous Provisions - Subtitle A: Federal Election Commission Enforcement Authority - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to revise the enforcement provisions. Changes the determination the FEC must make upon receiving a complaint, before notifying the person of an alleged violation. Authorizes the FEC to seek an injunction if: (1) it believes that there is a substantial likelihood that a violation of Federal election laws is occurring or about to occur; (2) the failure to act expeditiously will result in irreparable harm; (3) such expeditious action will not cause undue harm or prejudice to the interests of others; and (4) the public interest would be best served by such an injunction. Reduces the period provided for the FEC to attempt informally to prevent or correct a violation of such Act from 90 to 60 days. Requires the FEC to make such an attempt for a period of no more than 15 days, if the violation occurs within 45 days of an election. Provides greater penalties for knowing and willful violations committed within 15 days of any election. Changes from discretionary to mandatory the requirement that the FEC, upon an affirmative vote of four of its members, institute a civil action if it is unable to correct or prevent a violation of such Act. Requires a court in such civil action to grant a specified remedy upon a showing that the person involved has committed or is about to commit a violation of such Act. Provides a private right of action if, by a tie vote, the FEC does not vote to institute a civil action. Requires a court to impose a specified civil penalty for a knowing and willful violation of such Act. Expedites from 120 days to 60 days the time which an aggrieved party must wait before seeking judicial redress because the FEC dismissed, or failed to reasonably pursue, a complaint filed by such party. Allows the aggrieved party to file an action in any U.S. district court having jurisdiction. Requires that any monetary award under such action be paid to the United States. Provides for a mandatory award of attorney fees and costs to the prevailing party. Increases the penalties for violation of the confidentiality requirement with respect to any notification or investigation made under such Act. Removes the ceiling on the fine for any person who willfully and knowingly commits a violation of such Act which involves any contribution or expenditure aggregating $2,000 or more during a calendar year. Directs the FEC to establish time limitations for its investigation and to publish an index of all of its investigations. Establishes procedures for initial determinations and probable cause determinations by the FEC. Eliminates the en banc hearing requirement for constitutional questions regarding such Act. Subtitle B: Other Provisions - Requires each treasurer of a political committee to file reports disclosing for the reporting period the terms of any settlement agreement or any security or collateral agreement entered into with respect to a loan or other debt as evidenced by a copy of such agreement filed as part of the report. Includes any gift subscription, loan, advance, or deposit of money made for the purpose of drafting a clearly identified individual as a candidate for Federal office or encouraging a clearly identified individual to become a candidate for Federal office within the definition of "contribution." Requires such a contribution to be treated, with respect to the individual involved, as a contribution to a candidate, whether or not the individual becomes a candidate for purposes of limitations on contributions and expenditures.
United States · United States Congress · 19 April 1990
Designates the week of July 22 to 28, 1990, as National Week of Recognition and Remembrance for Those Who Served in the Korean War. Authorizes and requests the President to urge that the American flag be flown at half staff on July 27, 1990, in honor of those Americans who died as a result of their service in Korea.
United States · United States Congress · 5 April 1990
Authorizes the Secretary of the Air Force to purchase from members of the Air Force and their spouses mobile homes located on the base mobile home park at Pease Air Force Base, New Hampshire, on January 1, 1989, and not moved from there since that time. Outlines provisions concerning: (1) the amount of payment; (2) the disposal of mobile homes purchased; (3) funding for payments from the Department of Defense Base Closure Account; and (4) reports to the Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 1990
Textile, Apparel, and Footwear Trade Act of 1990 - Limits the 1990 imports of textiles and textile products classified under a category to an amount equal to 101 percent of the total 1989 imports classified under such category. Limits the 1990 imports of nonrubber footwear classified under a nonrubber footwear category to an amount equal to: (1) the total 1989 imports of nonrubber footwear classified under such category; and (2) in the case of high priced nonrubber footwear, the total 1989 imports of high priced nonrubber footwear classified under such category. Provides for a one-percent annual growth in the amount of permitted imports of textiles and textile products after 1990. Exempts from the limitations imposed under this Act imports of textiles and textile products from U.S. possessions if such articles are exempt from duty under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States and are manufactured by U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents of such a possession. Limits the imports of certain sweaters made in Guam to a specified amount during FY 1990 and to such amount increased by one percent per year in subsequent years. Declares that such limitations shall not apply to Canada or Israel. Sets forth limitations on the amount of textile and textile products classified under certain import categories which may be imported from beneficiary countries under the Caribbean Basin Initiative. Authorizes the President to: (1) enter into trade agreements to grant new concessions as compensation to the extent required under U.S. trade agreements for the import limits imposed by this Act; and (2) proclaim such modification or continuance of any existing duty on textiles and textile products and on nonrubber footwear as necessary to carry out such agreements. Prohibits the President from reducing any rate of duty by more than ten percent. Requires the President, before entering into such trade agreements, to consider whether a country has violated trade concessions of benefit to the United States and the violation has not been adequately offset. Sets forth requirements governing staged rate reductions in the tariffs of articles affected by this Act. Prohibits the President, except as authorized by this Act, from entering into trade negotiations with any country with respect to duties on textiles, textile products, and nonrubber footwear. Prohibits the President, except as provided in this Act, from decreasing or proposing a decrease in any such duty by any means, including an implementing bill or a proclamation. Requires the President to report annually to the Congress on the administration of this Act. Requires the Secretary of Commerce, ten years after enactment of this Act, to study and report to the Congress on its operation. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to establish a pilot program for the issuance and sale to U.S. companies at public auction of import licenses applicable to categories of textiles. Terminates such licensing program on December 31, 1991, and requires a report to the Congress on its administration.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1990
Acknowledges that Jerusalem is and should remain the capital of the State of Israel. Declares that Jerusalem must remain an undivided city in which the rights of every ethnic religious group are protected. Calls upon all parties involved in the search for peace to maintain their efforts to bring about negotiations between Israel and Palestinian representatives.
United States · United States Congress · 9 March 1990
Paperwork Reduction Reauthorization Act of 1990 - Amends the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 to increase authorized appropriations to carry it out and to extend its provisions through FY 1993.
United States · United States Congress · 8 March 1990
Fair Treatment Act of 1990 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to revise, with regard to alcohol and drug abuse and mental health services block grants, the formulas for determination of allotments and minimum allotments to States.
United States · United States Congress · 1 March 1990
Designates the week of June 24 through June 30, 1990, as National Sheriffs' Week in honor of the 50th anniversary of the National Sheriffs' Association.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 1990
Competitive Northeastern Rail Freight Service Act of 1990 - Requires the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) to provide for access by a second, competitive rail freight carrier over routes from Montreal, Quebec, through New York State, via Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Hagerstown, Maryland, and Potomac Yard, Alexandria, Virginia. Requires the ICC, if necessary, to grant trackage rights for the establishment of such competitive routes.
United States · United States Congress · 21 February 1990
Resolution Trust Corporation Reorganization Act - Amends the Federal Home Loan Bank Act to establish the Board of Governors of the Resolution Trust Corporation to oversee and manage the Resolution Trust Corporation in place of the Oversight Board. Declares that nominees for Oversight Board membership shall be deemed to be nominees for the Board of Governors of the Resolution Trust Corporation.
United States · United States Congress · 8 February 1990
Amends Federal law to authorize and request the President to designate May as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month annually, beginning in 1990. (Current law designates a seven-day period beginning on May 4, 1979.)
United States · United States Congress · 31 January 1990
Calls upon the United Nations to repeal General Assembly Resolution 3379 (equating Zionism with racism). Commends the President for his commitment to this goal and requires progress reports to the Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 1990
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish a tax credit for qualified health insurance expenses. Makes individuals who are not covered by a health plan maintained by an employer eligible for such credit. Requires employers to make advance payments of the credit to employees who furnish a health insurance expenses eligibility certificate.
United States · United States Congress · 30 January 1990
Repeals provisions of the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1990 and the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1990 and 1991 which limit the obligation or expenditure of funds appropriated for: (1) the Department of State and the United States Information Agency; and (2) the Board for International Broadcasting.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1990
Department of the Environment Act of 1990 - Title I: General Findings - Sets forth findings with respect to Federal environmental policy. Title II: Elevation of the Environmental Protection Agency to Cabinet Level - Department of the Environment Act - Redesignates the Environmental Protection Agency as the Department of the Environment, an executive agency to be administered by a Secretary of the Environment. Establishes: (1) a Bureau of Environmental Statistics within the Department; and (2) an Advisory Council on Environmental Statistics to advise the Bureau on statistics and analyses. Authorizes appropriations. Title III: Establishment of the Interagency Committee on Global Environmental Change - Establishes within the Executive Office of the President the Interagency Committee on Global Environmental Change to assist the President in coordinating all Federal programs and annual policy plans related to global environmental change. Title IV: Environmental Role of the United States in International Organizations to Which It Belongs - Urges: (1) the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. executive directors of the multilateral development banks to promote energy conservation and environmental protection efforts of borrowing countries when voting to issue financial or technical assistance; and (2) the Secretary of State to convene international conferences to encourage the exchange of information on energy efficiency and environmentally acceptable renewable energy sources and the adoption of a multilateral global climate protection convention. Requires the President to encourage the establishment of an international office to monitor annual generation and removal of carbon dioxide and trace gases on a country-by-country basis. Title V: Establishment of the Commission on Improving Environmental Protection - Establishes the Commission on Improving Environmental Protection to make recommendations on integrating Federal environmental law and other authorities to improve U.S. environmental protection activities. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 15 November 1989
Ethics Reform Act of 1989 - Title I: Post Employment Restrictions on the Executive and Legislative Branches - Amends the Federal criminal code to revise provisions regarding former officers or employees of the executive branch or the District of Columbia attempting to influence the Government or the District. Prohibits such officers or employees for two years after Federal service ends, from representing or aiding and advising any person, with the intent to influence, regarding any trade or treaty negotiation in which the official participated personally and substantially within a period of two years before termination of employment. Prohibits certain senior officials in the executive branch (including the President), for one year after such service ends, from attempting to influence the Government. Prohibits former Members of Congress and elected officers of the Congress from attempting to influence any elected congressional official, or any congressional official in the House in which the ex-officer served, respectively, for one year after that individual leaves office regarding any matter pending before the Congress or any matter on which such former Member or elected officer seeks action by the Congress or by a congressional official in such official's official capacity. Prohibits former personal staff employees of a Senator or Representative, within one year after that employment terminates, from attempting to influence any of the following persons in connection with any matter pending before the Congress or any matter on which such former employee seeks action by the Congress or by a congressional official in such official's official capacity: (1) the Member for whom that person was an employee; (2) any employee of such Member; or (3) any employee of the committees and subcommittees on which such Member serves as Chairman or Ranking Minority Member. Prohibits former employees of a congressional committee, within one year after termination of such employment, from attempting to influence any current or former employee of such committee with respect to any matter pending before the Congress or any matter on which such former employee seeks action by the Congress or by a Member in the Member's official capacity. Establishes a one-year ban for former Members or employees of the leadership staff of the House and Senate on attempting to influence certain parties in the Congress. Prohibits former employees of any legislative office, within one year after termination of such employment, from attempting to influence current employees or officers of such office on any matter pending before such office or on any matter on which such individual seeks action by such employees or officers in an official capacity. Declares that the prohibitions set forth in this Act apply only to acts done for compensation at a rate equal to or greater than the rate of pay for a GS-17. Prohibits individuals subject to the prohibitions of this Act from representing the interests of a foreign entity before, or advising such entity to attempt to influence a decision of, any officer or employee of the Federal Government. Revises the authority of the Director of the Office of Government Ethics in designating separate agencies and bureaus. Makes specified prohibitions of this Act inapplicable to appearances or communications on behalf of, or advice to, an international organization of which the United States is a member. Subjects violators of this title to penalties under the Federal criminal code. Title II: Financial Disclosure of Federal Personnel - Amends the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 to add Members of Congress, congressional officers and employees, and specified presidential appointees to the list of Federal personnel required to file financial disclosure reports. Requires the reporting of income and honoraria exceeding $200 (currently, $100). Revises financial reporting requirements for certain income by establishing new reporting categories above the current threshold of $100,000. Revises provisions excluding personal liabilities owed to a reporting individual by a relative by specifying that such exclusion applies only to liabilities owed by the spouse, parent, sibling, or child of the reporting individual. Revises financial reporting requirements for assets, liabilities, and transactions in real property and securities by establishing new reporting categories above the current threshold of $250,000. Requires the reporting of gifts or reimbursements received by a dependent child of such individual which are not received independently of the relationship of the child to such individual. Increases the civil penalties for violations of qualified blind trusts disclosure requirements. Prohibits a reporting individual from being required to report the financial interests held by a widely held investment fund if such fund: (1) is publicly traded or the fund assets are widely diversified; and (2) the reporting individual does not exercise control over the financial interests held by the fund. Revises provisions regarding the failure to file or the filing of false reports to: (1) increase the civil penalties for such offenses; (2) require each congressional ethics committee or the Chairman of the Judicial Ethics Committee to refer the names of individuals believed to have committed such offenses to the Attorney General; (3) authorize such officials to take any appropriate action against such individuals; and (4) require individuals filing later reports to pay a filing fee. Applies public access requirements with respect to reports to supervising ethics offices. Exempts from public access reports filed by an independent counsel whose identity has not been disclosed. Increases the penalty for obtaining or using reports filed by individuals exempt from public disclosure reporting requirements. Revises provisions with respect to the review of reports to: (1) set forth procedures for the review of such reports; and (2) authorize each supervising ethics office to render advisory opinions interpreting this title within its respective jurisdiction. Authorizes each supervising ethics office (currently, the President) to require officers and employees under its jurisdiction (currently, executive branch officers and employees and special government employees) to file confidential financial disclosure reports in such form as the supervising ethics office may prescribe. Requires the Comptroller General to conduct an annual study on whether financial disclosure requirements are being carried out effectively. Prohibits Members of Congress or officers or employees covered by this title (other than special Government employees) from serving on the board of directors of: (1) any for-profit corporation or commercial enterprise; or (2) any nonprofit corporation or unincorporated nonprofit entity, if such officer or employee is receiving compensation for services. Allows such individuals to serve on the board of directors of a nonprofit corporation or unincorporated nonprofit entity if they are not receiving compensation for services. Authorizes the supervising ethics office for each branch to grant exemptions to such prohibitions for individuals or categories of individuals if such office or such a committee determines that there is an insignificant potential for conflicts-of-interests. Makes technical amendments to provisions concerning notifications of actions to comply with ethics agreements. Requires the Judicial Conference of the United States to establish and maintain a Judicial Ethics Committee which shall be responsible for developing the forms for reporting the information required by this title and for receiving and making available the reports described under this title. Amends rule XXXIV of the Standing Rules of the Senate to direct the Select Committee on Ethics to transmit a copy of each financial disclosure report filed with it to the head of the employing office of the individual filing the report. Establishes the President's Commission on the Federal Appointment Process to study the simplification of the presidential appointment process by reducing the number and complexity of forms to be completed by nominees. Directs the Commission to submit a report of such study to the President. Title III: Gifts and Travel - Revises provisions with respect to gifts to superiors to: (1) authorize the Office of Government Ethics to issue regulations exempting voluntary gifts given or received for special occasions such as marriage or retirement from prohibitions on gifts to superiors; and (2) repeal the requirement that employees violating such provisions be removed from the service to instead subject such an employee to appropriate disciplinary action by the employing agency or entity. Authorizes heads of executive branch agencies to accept payment and reimbursement from non-Federal entities for travel expenses incurred by their employees for attending Government functions. Prohibits the acceptance of payments which attach conditions inconsistent with applicable laws or which are conditioned upon the expenditure of appropriated funds unless such expenditure has been authorized. Directs executive branch agencies accepting such payments or reimbursements to report to the Office of Government Ethics on October 1 and April 1 of each year the amount of each payment or reimbursement received in excess of $250, the names of the payor and the employees involved, the date and places of the travel, and the nature of the expenses paid or reimbursed. Requires the Office to make each such report available to the public. Prohibits Federal employees and officials and Members of Congress from soliciting or accepting anything of value from a person: (1) seeking official action from, doing business with, or conducting activities regulated by the individual's employing agency; or (2) whose interests may be substantially affected by the performance or nonperformance of the individual's official duties. Authorizes each supervising ethics office to issue rules or regulations implementing such prohibition and providing for reasonable exceptions. Prohibits the acceptance of any gift by a Member, officer, or employee in return for being influenced in the performance of any official act. Provides that employees who violate such prohibition shall be subject to appropriate disciplinary and other remedial action. Amends rule XXXV of the Standing Rules of the Senate to: (1) prohibit Members, officers, and employees of the Senate or their spouses or dependents from knowingly accepting any gifts totaling over $300 a year unless a waiver is granted by the Select Committee on Ethics; (2) increase from $35 to $75 the amount of gifts for which such prohibition does not apply; and (3) include entertainment within the definition of a gift. Provides that necessary expenses do not include expenses for food, lodging, or transportation for: (1) domestic travel in excess of three days and foreign travel in excess of seven days, unless such travel is approved by the Committee on Ethics; or (2) anyone accompanying Members, officers, or employees of the Senate other than their spouses or an employee acting as an aide to a Member. Title IV: Amendments to Title 18 of the United States Code - Amends Federal criminal code provisions regarding the following to provide that the punishment for an offense under such provisions shall be imprisonment for not more than one year, or not more than five years for willful offenses, or a fine in accordance with the criminal code, or both: (1) compensation to Members of Congress, officers, and others in matters affecting the Government; (2) practice in the United States Claims Court or Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit by such Members; (3) activities of officers and employees in claims against and other matters affecting the Government; (4) acts affecting a personal financial interest; and (5) salary of Government officials and employees payable only by the United States. Includes officers and employees of the District of Columbia among individuals subject to provisions with respect to: (1) compensation to Members of Congress, officers, and others in matters affecting the Government; and (2) activities of officers and employees in claims against and other matters affecting the Government. Prohibits provisions concerning acts affecting a personal financial interest from applying: (1) in the case of a special Government employee serving on an advisory committee if the official responsible for the employee's appointment certified in writing that the need for the individual's services outweighs the potential for a conflict of interest created by the financial interest involved; or (2) if the financial interest that would be affected results solely from the interest of such officer or employee or his or her spouse or minor child in birthrights in certain Indian groups, or in an individual or tribal allotments, or claims fund if the covered matter does not involve such a group as a specific party or parties. Requires copies of any determination granting an exemption for such employees to be submitted to the Director of the Office of Government Ethics who shall make all such determinations available to the public. Requires the information from the financial disclosure reports describing the asset that necessitated the waiver to be available to the public. Prohibits public disclosure of information with respect to such employees that is classified information. Authorizes the Attorney General to bring a civil action in the appropriate U.S. district court against any person who engages in conduct constituting an offense under such provisions. Subjects an individual proven to have engaged in such conduct by a preponderance of the evidence to a civil penalty of the greater of $50,000 for each violation or the amount of compensation the person received for the prohibited conduct. States that the imposition of a civil penalty or the filing of such a petition does not preclude any other remedy which is available by law to the United States or any other person. Provides that if the Attorney General believes that a person is engaging in conduct constituting an offense under such provisions he or she may petition an appropriate U.S. district court for an order enjoining such conduct. Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit any person from lobbying a Federal agency, commission, or court on behalf of anyone other than the United States if compensation for such lobbying is contingent on: (1) any action of the Congress or passage or defeat of legislation; or (2) the securing or denial of a Federal grant or contract or other Federal financial assistance. Excepts lobbying to collect a debt owed by the Government or a contract or tort claim against the Federal Government. Title V: Other Ethics Reforms - Provides that if the Senate Ethics Committee determines that there is reason to believe that a Member, officer, or employee of the Senate may have committed an ethics violation, the Committee may request the Office of Special Investigations of the General Accounting Office to investigate the matter. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the nonrecognition of gains for sales of property to comply with conflict-of-interest requirements. Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to: (1) repeal provisions that exempt Members of Congress in office on January 8, 1980, from the prohibition against converting excess campaign funds to personal use; and (2) treat an honorarium as being accepted only in the year in which it was earned. Repeals a provision restricting payment to certain U.S. officers for furnishing war materials to the United States. Title VI: Rulemaking Power of the Congress - States that the provisions of this Act applicable to Members, officers, or employees of the legislative branch are enacted by the Congress as an exercise of its rulemaking power with full recognition of the constitutional right of either House to change such rules.
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 1989
Authorizes the President, on behalf of the Congress, to present a gold medal to Laurance Spelman Rockefeller in recognition of his leadership on behalf of natural resource conservation and historic preservation. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to provide for the sale of bronze duplicates of the medal.
United States · United States Congress · 25 October 1989
Declares the position of the Senate that the conferees on the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1989 shall include in the conference report on such bill provisions which will raise additional revenues or decrease spending as necessary to offset the additional spending for continuing appropriations for FY 1990 and for the aid to the victims of the California earthquake and Hurricane Hugo.
United States · United States Congress · 24 October 1989
Designates the week of December 3 through December 9, 1989, as National Autism Week. Designates 1990 as the National Silver Anniversary Year for the Autism Society of America.
United States · United States Congress · 19 October 1989
Title I: Capital Gains Provisions - Subtitle A: Reduction in Capital Gains Tax - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce the capital gains tax for noncorporate taxpayers. Establishes a scale for determining such deduction up to a maximum of 35 percent after owning assets for seven years. Provides for not taking into account net capital gain under the phaseout of the 15-percent rate and personal exemptions. Provides for recapturing the gain from disposition of certain depreciable property. Subtitle B: Alternative Capital Gains Rate for Corporations - Reduces the alternative capital gains tax for corporations by establishing a scale for determining such tax rate based on ownership of assets for three to 15 years. Subtitle C: Indexing of Certain Assets for Purposes of Determining Gain - Provides for indexing assets held for more than two years as an option for individuals who elect not to take advantage of the lower capital gains rate. Title II: Individual Retirement Plus Accounts - Allows individuals to establish individual retirement plus accounts with tax treatment similar to that for individual retirement plans. Makes contributions to such accounts nondeductible. Provides for qualified distributions from such accounts, other than for general retirement purposes, including special purposes distributions made for the purchase of a first home and for medical or educational purposes. Prohibits special purpose distributions from being made during the first five years of the account.
United States · United States Congress · 16 October 1989
Small Governments Regulatory Partnership Act of 1989 - Title I: Establishment of the Office for Small Government Advocacy and Small Government Coordinators - Establishes within the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) the Office for Small Government Advocacy (OSGA) to: (1) receive complaints, criticisms, and suggestions concerning the regulatory policies and activities of agencies which affect small governments (governments of localities with populations of less than 50,000); (2) represent the views and interests of small governments before such agencies; (3) develop proposals for changes in such policies and activities to fulfill the purposes of this Act and communicate such proposals to appropriate agencies; (4) monitor the costs and other burdens of Federal regulation on small governments and make proposals for eliminating excessive or unnecessary regulatory burdens; (5) monitor agency compliance with regulatory function analysis provisions applicable to small governments; (6) oversee and consult with the Small Government Coordinators; (7) chair the Interagency Committee of Small Government Coordinators; and (8) consult and cooperate with the Small Government Advisory Council. Requires OSGA to be managed by a Director who is familiar with small government needs and problems with the Federal regulatory process. Requires the Director to submit an annual report to the Congress which includes: (1) a summary of proposals and actions taken pursuant to such proposals; (2) a detailed assessment of the costs and other burdens of Government regulation on small governments; (3) a description of the Director's activities under regulatory function analysis provisions; (4) an account of agency compliance with such provisions; and (5) a summary of the activities of the Interagency Committee and the Small Government Advisory Council. Requires such report to be based upon the information submitted by Small Government Coordinators. Establishes within certain Federal agencies a Small Government Coordinator to be responsible for: (1) representing the small government perspective on agency rules and policies; (2) overseeing agency efforts to comply with regulatory function analysis as applied to small governmental jurisdictions; (3) overseeing establishment of agency small government data banks; (4) reporting annually to the Director on his or her activities and involvement in rulemaking processes; and (5) participating in the Interagency Committee. Establishes within OMB the Interagency Committee to coordinate the programs, plans, activities, and policies of the Small Government Coordinators. Requires the Director to establish a Small Government Advisory Council to advise him or her to ensure that OSGA programs and policies are familiar to, and meet the needs of, small governments. Requires the Council to report annually to the Director on its activities. Title II: Small Government Considerations in the Analysis of Regulatory Functions - Authorizes the Director to appear as amicus curiae in any action brought in a U.S. court to review a rule to present his or her views with respect to its effect on small governmental jurisdictions. Revises provisions concerning regulatory function analysis to increase the scope of analysis of regulatory impact on small entities. Revises the contents of initial regulatory flexibility analyses to include: (1) a description of data resources including outreach efforts used in making certain determinations; and (2) a statement as to whether adequate information was available to determine the number of small businesses, organizations, and governmental jurisdictions affected by the proposed rule and the significance of that impact. Prohibits application of provisions relating to regulatory flexibility analysis descriptions of significant alternatives to certain proposed rules and application of final regulatory flexibility analysis to any proposed or final rule, if the agency head certifies that the rule will not have a significant impact on a substantial number of small entities. Requires agencies to publish such certification in the Federal Register with the general notice of proposed rulemaking, along with a statement explaining the reasons for such certification. Title III: Data Banks on Small Governments - Directs the General Accounting Office (GAO) to issue a report which develops and assesses: (1) at least three measures of the impact of the implementation of Federal regulations on small governments; and (2) a standard designation of government size categories which agencies can use in data collection on such governments. Requires Government Coordinators to establish and oversee data banks on small governments which shall contain all information collected by the agency relating to the impact of Federal regulations on such governments for use as an agency-wide resource to develop regulatory burden estimates. Directs the head of each agency with a Small Government Coordinator to require its offices to assist such Coordinator by contributing all information it has collected that relates to the impact of the implementation of Federal regulations on small governments. Directs Small Government Coordinators to issue guidelines to govern such information to facilitate establishment and maintenance of such data banks. Requires such guidelines to include a designation of the three measures developed by GAO and standard government size categories.
United States · United States Congress · 4 October 1989
Amends the Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act of 1988 to repeal provisions: (1) setting a cap on an individual's out-of-pocket expenses under part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act; (2) establishing the Prescription Drug Payment Review Commission and outpatient drug study and reporting requirements; (3) creating the Federal Catastrophic Drug Insurance Trust Fund and the Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Account; and (4) imposing a supplemental Medicare premium on Medicare beneficiaries whose tax liability equals or exceeds $150. Amends part A (Hospital Insurance) of the Medicare program to cover post-hospital extended care services for up to 100 days in a calendar year and other extended care services to the extent the Secretary of Health and Human Services finds will not result in an increase of Medicare expenditures or after the acute care nature of the benefit. (Currently, coverage of extended care services is provided for up to 150 days in a calendar year.) Modifies the methods of determining the coinsurance amount required of recipients of post-hospital extended care services. Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress by February 1, 1990, on reasons for the unexpected increase in cost estimates of Medicare extended care services, including recommendations for further modification of such coverage while the provision of long-term care benefits receives consideration. Limits Medicare drug benefits to immunosuppressants and home IV drugs. Provides for the annual adjustment of the Medicare part B premium in a manner which takes into account this Act's changes in catastrophic coverage. Requires Medicare supplemental insurance policies from which individuals terminated their coverage as of January 1, 1989, (or the earliest renewal date thereafter) to offer such individual a continuation of coverage under terms respecting treatment of pre-existing conditions and group rating of premiums which are at least as favorable as terms which existed on December 31, 1988. Directs the Secretary to: (1) take this Act's amendments into account in determining the payments to be made to health maintenance organizations; (2) require such organizations to adjust their agreements with Medicare beneficiaries in consideration of such amendments; and (3) notify Medicare beneficiaries of changes made by this Act's amendments.
United States · United States Congress · 2 October 1989
Designates the week of October 22 through October 29, 1989, as National Red Ribbon Week for a Drug-Free America. Recognizes and commends the hard work and dedication of certain individuals and organizations and urges activities that support community and alcohol education during such week. Encourages Americans to wear or display red ribbons during such Week to present and symbolize their commitment to a healthy, drug-free lifestyle, and to develop an attitude of intolerance to the use of drugs.
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