United States · United States Congress · 1 March 1990
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the enactment of the 25th anniversary of the Older Americans Act of 1965 and its successful implementation should be recognized; (2) the contributions at all levels of the aging network fostered by this Act should be recognized; and (3) the Congress and citizens should reaffirm their support for the Act and its primary goals.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 1990
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that small life insurance companies need not amortize acquisition expenses for purposes of computing alternative minimum taxable income.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 1990
Calls upon the President to urge Soviet President Gorbachev to publicly condemn the emergence of popular anti-Semitism in the Soviet Union and to protect Soviet Jews from harassment and violence.
United States · United States Congress · 28 February 1990
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the United States should not complete trade negotiations with the Soviet Union and the Senate will not approve a waiver of the Jackson-Vanik Amendment to implement any trade agreement until the Soviet Union complies with the commercial airline agreement to allow El Al the right to have direct flights between the Soviet Union and Israel.
United States · United States Congress · 22 February 1990
Welcomes the positive political changes in South Africa. Commends: (1) President de Klerk for the release of Nelson Mandela and the unbanning of the African National Congress; and (2) Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, and others for their perseverance in the struggle for a nonracial democracy. Urges de Klerk to initiate the dismantling of apartheid, move rapidly to meet the conditions necessary for the opening of negotiations, and meet the terms of the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986 for the relaxation of sanctions. Supports: (1) the maintenance of sanctions against the South African Government until conditions under such Act for the suspension, modification, or termination of sanctions have been met; and (2) assistance to the victims of apartheid as an important and necessary complement to U.S. sanctions.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1990
Civil Rights Act of 1990 - Amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to provide that: (1) once a complainant has demonstrated that an employment practice results in a disparate impact on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, the respondent has the burden of proving that the practice is justified by business necessity; (2) a complainant need not demonstrate which of a group of practices results in the demonstrated disparate impact; and (3) a respondent need not show business necessity for a specific practice within a group of practices if the respondent shows that that practice does not contribute to the disparate impact. Declares that an unlawful employment practice is established on a demonstration that race, color, religion, sex, or national origin was a motivating factor for any employment practice, even though such practice was also motivated by other factors, but bars certain types of relief if the respondent establishes that it would have taken the same action in the absence of any discrimination. Prohibits, notwithstanding any other provision of law, a challenge to an employment practice that implements a litigated or consent judgment or order resolving a claim of employment discrimination: (1) by a person who had certain types of notice and opportunity; (2) by a person whose interests were adequately represented by another person who challenged the judgment or order; or (3) if reasonable efforts were made to provide notice to interested persons. Increases to two years the time limit within which a charge of an unlawful employment practice must be filed. Removes provisions setting a separate time limit for charges initially filed with a State or local agency. Declares that a seniority system or practice which is part of a collective bargaining agreement is an unlawful employment practice if it was included in the agreement with the intent to discriminate. Allows, except for disparate impact cases, for compensatory damages (but not back pay) and, where there is malice or reckless or callous indifference, for punitive damages. Allows any party, where compensatory or punitive damages are sought, to demand a jury trial. Includes expert fees and other litigation expenses in any attorney's fees awarded. Prohibits a consent order or judgment settling a claim unless the parties and their counsel attest that a waiver of attorneys' fees was not compelled as a condition of the settlement. Allows to the prevailing party in the original action an award of attorneys' fees and costs in defending a challenged judgment or order. Increases to 90 days after final action by a Federal agency the time limit for a Federal employee to bring a civil action. Allows to Federal employees the same interest to compensate for delay in payment as in cases involving non-public parties. Requires all Federal civil rights laws to be broadly construed to effect their purpose to eliminate discrimination and provide effective remedies. Prohibits, except as expressly provided, any Federal civil rights law from being construed to restrict or limit the rights, procedures, or remedies available under any other Federal civil rights law. Declares that, for purposes of provisions relating to equal rights under the law, the right to make and enforce contracts includes the making, performance, modification, and termination of contracts, and the enjoyment of all benefits, privileges, terms, and conditions of the contractual relationship.
United States · United States Congress · 7 February 1990
Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 1990 - Title I: Compensation - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the rates of, and limitations on, Department of Veterans Affairs disability compensation and dependency and indemnity compensation to coincide with benefit increases under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act. Requires such rate increases to be published in the Federal Register. Extends the presumption of service-connection, for purposes of eligibility for veterans' disability compensation, to cover members of the reserves who participated in a radiation-risk activity while serving on active duty for training or inactive duty for training. Title II: Health Care - Extends through FY 1991 a pilot program under the Veterans' Benefits and Services Act of 1988 for the provision of mobile health-care clinics for the treatment of veterans residing at least 100 miles from a Department of Veterans Affairs treatment facility. Increases the maximum limitations for the provision of certain home health services to disabled veterans. Title III: Insurance - Makes totally disabled veterans qualifying for a waiver of the premium for service disabled veterans' insurance eligible for supplemental service disabled veterans' insurance for totally disabled veterans. Increases from $40,000 to $90,000 the initial amount of Veterans' Mortgage Life Insurance available to certain veterans granted assistance in securing suitable housing. Title IV: Miscellaneous - Extends through 1993 the period in which a veteran of the Vietnam era will be considered as such for purposes of eligibility for job training, counseling, and placement services. Expands the current authority of the Secretary to acquire and provide housing for homeless veterans in order to allow acquisitions to provide transitional housing for veterans recovering from substance abuse or mental illness disabilities. Extends such program through 1993. Establishes in the Treasury the Transitional Housing Fund for the provision of housing and loans to assist veterans in recovering from alcohol or drug dependence or abuse disabilities. Outlines loan conditions and conditions for veterans residing in housing provided. Requires the Secretary to issue guidelines for the operation of such residences. Makes permanent (current law terminates on March 1, 1991) the requirement that the Department provide information and counseling about the effects and alternatives to foreclosure to veterans who default on Department-guaranteed home loans.
United States · United States Congress · 6 February 1990
Savings and Economic Growth Act of 1990 - Title I: Capital Gains Provisions - Subtitle A: Reduction in Capital Gains Tax - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce the capital gains rate for noncorporate taxpayers through a deduction of: (1) 30 percent for assets held at least three years; (2) 20 percent for assets held at least two years; and (3) ten percent for assets held at least one year. Provides for the treatment of collectibles as short-term gains or losses (making them ineligible for such deduction). Disallows the capital gains deduction in computing the alternative minimum tax. Subtitle B: Depreciation Recapture - Provides for the treatment of gain from the disposition of certain depreciable realty as ordinary income. Title II: Home Ownership and Savings Incentives - Allows an exemption from the ten-percent additional tax on early distributions from qualified retirement plans up to $10,000, if the distribution is used to make a first-home purchase at a cost of no more than 110 percent of the median home price in the geographic area where the residence is located. Allows an individual (other than a dependent) to establish a family savings account for the exclusive benefit of an individual and the individual's beneficiaries. Limits contributions to such accounts to $2,500 for the taxable year, if the individual's adjusted income does not exceed $60,000 ($120,000 in the case of joint returns). Subjects the family savings account to the tax imposed on unrelated business income of tax-exempt organizations. Provides that distributions paid out of such accounts shall not be included in gross income, except for earnings on contributions held less than seven years. Establishes a ten-percent additional tax on earnings on contributions held less than three years.
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
Title I: National Writing Program - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to enter into a contract with the National Writing Project (a nonprofit educational organization) to support costs of programs of teacher training and classroom research to improve the teaching of writing and the quality of student writing and learning. Directs the Project to establish a National Advisory Board. Title II: Research and Development - Directs the Secretary, through the Office of Educational Research and Improvement, to make grants to individuals and higher education institutions for research on the teaching of writing. Title III: Authorization of Appropriations - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1991 through 1996.
United States · United States Congress · 25 January 1990
Civil Justice Reform Act of 1990 - Amends the Federal judicial code to require U.S. district courts to implement a civil justice expense and delay reduction plan to facilitate adjudication, streamline discovery, improve judicial case management, and provide for just, speedy, and inexpensive resolution of civil disputes. Requires district plans to be developed jointly by the bench, public, and bar and to address specified elements, including differentiated case management with explicit processing tracks, mandatory discovery-case management procedures, limitations on discovery, alternative dispute resolution, nonbinding conferences at early stages of litigation, judicial accountability procedures, and use of magistrates. Directs the Judicial Conference of the United States and the Federal Judicial Center to develop a model plan, with mandatory implementation within a year in districts not developing their own plans. Requires progress and impact reports to the Congress. Requires district courts to implement transition programs for any case backlogs and to inventory and index pending cases. Directs the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts to automate the court docket in nonautomated districts. Requires: (1) the preparation of a Manual for Litigation Management which includes the rationale and impact of the plans; and (2) expansion of judicial training programs to include case management. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 23 January 1990
Designates October 14, 1990, as Dwight D. Eisenhower Day commemorating the 100th anniversary of Eisenhower's birth. Requests Members of Congress who are members of the Dwight David Eisenhower Centennial Commission to make arrangements for a joint meeting of the Congress in commemoration of the centennial of the birth of Dwight David Eisenhower.
United States · United States Congress · 21 November 1989
Amends the Controlled Substances Act to allow the imposition of the death penalty, when the crime does not involve killing, upon individuals found to be principal organizers of a continuing criminal enterprise involving the manufacture or distribution of large quantities of illicit drugs or if the criminal enterprise receives $10,000,000 from illicit drug operations. (Current law provides for mandatory life imprisonment.) Changes minimum sentences for crimes involving the killing of law enforcement officers. Amends procedures, guidelines, and aggravating and mitigating factors relating to the imposition of the death penalty.
United States · United States Congress · 21 November 1989
Citizens Drug Control Contributions Act of 1989 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for contributions by taxpayers with their income tax returns to the Special Forfeiture Fund (established under the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988) for drug control efforts.
United States · United States Congress · 21 November 1989
Offers support to the President as he prepares for the February 1990 drug summit. Encourages the President to: (1) encourage the inclusion of appropriate officials from every government in the Western Hemisphere that is willing to combat the drug trade and whose cooperation the President determines is essential; and (2) utilize the summit to call for negotiations to create an international strike force, an international criminal court, and greater international cooperation with respect to intelligence sharing, multilateral training of law enforcement personnel, drug research, education, and treatment, and any other steps necessary to combat the drug trade.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 1989
Benjamin Franklin Memorial Fire Service Bill of Rights Act - Title I: Minting of Benjamin Franklin National Memorial Commemorative Coin - Benjamin Franklin National Memorial Commemorative Coin Act - Provides for the sale of Benjamin Franklin commemorative coins at a surcharge of which 25 percent shall be paid to the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial and the remainder be distributed in specified percentages to the National Fire Center and Museum Account, the National Hero Scholarship Account, the Firefighter's Tuition Assistance Account, the Hazardous Materials Response Computer Account, the In Search of Excellence Research and Education Account, and the Burn Research Grant Account of the Firefighter Assistance Trust Fund (Fund). Prohibits the issuance of such coins from resulting in any net cost to the Federal government. Title II: Fire Service Bill of Rights - Fire Service Bill of Rights Act - Amends the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 to establish a fire service bill of rights. Establishes the National Fire Center and Museum in the District of Columbia to provide information about the fire service and safety to the public and fire services. Funds such museum exclusively through the Fund. Establishes a National Hero Scholarship to fund the higher education of the children or spouse of a deceased firefighter. Establishes a scholarship providing tuition assistance to firefighters for higher education in fire safety or protection. Authorizes the Administrator of the United States Fire Administration to use amounts in the In Search of Excellence Research and Education Account of the Fund to fund other specified programs under the Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974. Establishes the Firefighters Assistance Trust Fund. Places the National Academy for Fire Prevention and Control within the United States Fire Administration. Directs the Administrator to use funds from the Hazardous Materials Response Computer Account of the fund to procure computer equipment for fire services that want such equipment. Directs the Administrator to make a grant from the Burn Research Grant Account of the Fund to one national firefighter's burn foundation dedicated to reducing burn injuries. Requires the Administrator to prepare and make available to State fire marshals, upon request, a manual describing Federal procedures for disposing of surplus property and highlighting how fire services could obtain such property. Directs the Administrator to distribute to such marshals information on the infectious diseases to which firefighters are particularly vulnerable.
United States · United States Congress · 20 November 1989
Urges the Attorney General to offer a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest or conviction of anyone found to have: (1) conspired in or committed the bombing of the van of Sharon Rogers (wife of Captain Rogers of the U.S.S. Vincennes) of La Jolla, California; or (2) conspired in or made the bomb threats against the La Jolla Country Day School.
United States · United States Congress · 19 November 1989
Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1989 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (the Act) to require, under specified student aid program participation agreements, each institution of higher education to certify that it: (1) has established a campus security policy; and (2) will submit an annual uniform crime report to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as prescribed by the Attorney General. Requires each eligible institution of higher education participating in any program under student assistance (title IV) provisions of the Act, to prepare, publish, and distribute to all current students and employees, and to any applicant for enrollment or employment, upon request, an annual report containing specified types of information with respect to its campus security policies and campus crime statistics. Requires each such institution to make interim reports on specified types of crimes reported to campus security or local law enforcement authorities, and to distribute such reports to students and employees in a timely manner. Directs the Secretary of Education periodically to survey campus security policies, procedures, and practices and disseminate information on those that have been effective in reducing campus crime.
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 1989
Eliminates post-1968 service in the National Guard as a prerequisite to civil service retirement credit for former National Guard technicians. Amends the National Guard Technicians Act of 1968 to eliminate post-1968 service as a prerequisite for National Guard technicians for receipt of credit in the determination of length of Federal civil service for purposes of leave, Federal employees' death and disability compensation, group life and health insurance, severance pay, tenure, and status. Sets forth rules for applying provisions of this Act to affected individuals.
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 1989
Civil Rights Commission Reauthorization Act of 1989 - Amends the United States Commission on Civil Rights Act of 1983 to authorize appropriations through FY 1991. Extends the termination of the Commission to September 30, 1991.
United States · United States Congress · 2 November 1989
Grants a Federal charter to the Supreme Court Historical Society, Incorporated, a nonprofit Corporation organized under the laws of the District of Columbia. Requires the Corporation to report annually to the Congress.
United States · United States Congress · 31 October 1989
Nuclear Decommissioning Reserve Fund Act of 1989 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) decrease from 34 percent to 15 percent the rate of the tax imposed on the income of any Nuclear Decommissioning Reserve Fund; and (2) remove restrictions on permitted investments of Fund monies.
United States · United States Congress · 27 October 1989
Amends the Controlled Substances Act to authorize the imposition of the death penalty for persons who engage in a continuing criminal enterprise after a prior conviction for such an offense. Requires imprisonment for life if the death penalty is not imposed. Requires the trier of fact in the sentencing hearing to consider aggravating and mitigating factors to the extent that they are relevant to an offense which did not directly result in death.
United States · United States Congress · 25 October 1989
Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to: (1) change from ten days to 48 hours the period during which the beneficial owner of five percent of certain securities must file a disclosure statement with the SEC; and (2) prohibit additional acquisition of such securities until 24 hours after such statement has been filed. Prohibits the registration of non-uniform voting rights of common stock on a national securities exchange (or its quotation on an automated quotation system operated by such exchange) unless its issuance has been approved by a majority vote of the issuer's aggregate outstanding voting securities. Grandfathers securities admitted to listed trading prior to the enactment of this Act. Prohibits tender offers resulting in more than a 20 percent equity security ownership unless: (1) the offeror is the issuer of such security; or (2) the offer is a cash offer for all outstanding shares of the class. Authorizes the SEC to grant exemptions as it deems necessary. Sets a 90-day period as a prerequisite for the completion of any tender offer which is either: (1) financed by non-investment grade securities; or (2) part of a management leveraged buyout. Requires the target company of a management leveraged buyout to provide full access to its books and records during this period to any other bona fide potential purchaser. Mandates a 90-day proxy solicitation or tender offer period before a management leveraged buyout may be completed. Creates a private right of action for legal fees and actual damages sustained by an issuer or shareholder of securities which were purchased by another in violation of statutory margin requirements. Entitles an issuer of securities to recover the profits realized by the beneficial owner of more than three percent of such securities if the owner held and then disposed of them to the issuer within less than one year (unless such disposition was approved by a majority vote of the aggregate outstanding voting securities or the same offer was made available to all shareholders). Authorizes a shareholder's derivative suit if the issuer fails to bring an action. Establishes a maximum $1,000,000 fine and a maximum ten-year prison term for any person who willfully violates this Act by engaging in securities transactions (or communications) while in possession of material nonpublic information. Establishes a one-year prison sentence for perjury and obstruction of justice relating to insider trading investigations.
United States · United States Congress · 23 October 1989
Low Income Treatment Assistance Program Act of 1989 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to make allotments to States, based on the number of cases of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in each State, for FY 1990 through 1992, to provide assistance in the provision of therapeutics determined to prolong life or prevent the serious deterioration of health arising from AIDS or Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) disease in eligible individuals. Describes eligible individuals as those having AIDS or related conditions and low incomes. Requires an initial report to the Congress and a follow-up efficacy report assessing the program established under this Act. Requires the National Commission on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome to recommend program improvements for long-term solutions to providing care of AIDS patients.
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 · 19 October 1989
Expresses the sense of the Senate that: (1) the United States should continue its leadership role by encouraging all parties to the Angolan civil war to remain committed to the goals of the Gbadolite Declaration which calls for a ceasefire and the establishment of a commission for the negotiation of peace and national reconciliation; (2) the Congress should support the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Angola, an immediate resumption of the ceasefire, face-to-face negotiations between UNITA and the MPLA, the formation of a government of national unity, and the implementation of free and fair elections; (3) the United States should offer support to President Mobutu in his mediation effort; and (4) the United States should continue its policy of appropriate and effective support for UNITA until such objectives are achieved.