United States · United States Congress · 2 February 1987
Amends the Tax Reform Act of 1986 to delay until December 31, 1988 (currently, December 31, 1986) the exception for certain technical personnel from certain rules for determining whether an individual is an employee or independent contractor for employment tax purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 2 February 1987
Gives special recognition to the achievements of wilderness ecologist Aldo Leopold. Urges Federal land management agencies to model their activities after the conservation ethic he inspired.
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 1987
Amends the Federal criminal code to impose the death penalty for murders committed by prisoners serving life sentences in Federal correctional institutions. Requires the Government, for any offense punishable by death, to serve notice upon the defendant a reasonable time before trial or acceptance of a plea that it intends to seek the death penalty and the aggravating factors upon which it will rely. Requires a separate sentencing hearing before a jury, or the court upon motion by the defendant, when the defendant is found guilty or pleads guilty to an offense punishable by death. Eliminates the requirement for a presentence report. Allows the defendant and the Government to present any information relevant to sentencing, without regard to the rules of evidence, but permits information to be excluded where its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading the jury. Specifies mitigating factors which the defendant must establish by a preponderance of the information and aggravating factors which the Government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt. Directs the jury or the court to consider all the information and return a special finding identifying any mitigating or aggravating factors. Directs the court upon a finding that a sentence of death is justified to impose the death penalty. Requires the court, in any hearing before a jury under this Act, to instruct the jury in considering the death sentence to not consider the race, color, national origin, creed, or sex of the defendant. Establishes procedures for appeal from a death sentence. Requires the Court of Appeals, upon considering the record and the information and procedures of the sentencing hearing, to affirm the decision if: (1) the sentence was not imposed under influence of passion, prejudice, or arbitrariness; and (2) the information supports the finding of aggravating factors or the absence of mitigating factors. Requires the court to provide a written explanation of its determination.
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 1987
SALT II Sublimit Mutual Restraint Act of 1987 - Prohibits, within 60 days after enactment of this Act, the obligation or expenditure of funds through December 31, 1987, which would cause the United States to exceed the numerical sublimits on strategic launchers and platforms contained in the SALT II Treaty. Requires the President, within 30 days after enactment of this Act, to notify the Congress of his plans for carrying out this provision. Directs the President, by October 15, 1987, to report to the Congress concerning dismantling actions taken by the United States and the Soviet Union to comply with the SALT II numerical sublimits. Reaffirms the sense of the Congress that it is in U.S. national security interests to comply with the numerical sublimits of the SALT II Treaty as long as the Soviet Union does likewise. Encourages the President to pursue restraints on offensive nuclear forces with the Soviet Union until a new comprehensive nuclear arms agreement is concluded. Waives all such numerical compliance if the President notifies the Congress, with an accompanying report, that the Soviet Union has exceeded the numerical sublimits.
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 1987
Directs the Federal Bureau of Prisons, upon application of a State, to accept custody of convicts who are sentenced to life imprisonment under State habitual criminal statutes, to the extent that space is available in the Federal prison system.
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 1987
Declares that State prison authorities have an obligation to provide prisoners with a marketable job skill and basic literacy. Prohibits parole authorities from releasing State prisoners sentenced to two years' or more imprisonment unless the State has made reasonable efforts to meet such obligation. Directs the U.S. Attorney General to set forth regulations to carry out this Act, including a determination of what constitutes "marketable job skill" and "basic literacy." Establishes a State Prison Vocational Skills Advisory Council to advise the Attorney General. Conditions Federal assistance for State prison programs on compliance with this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 1987
National Violent Crime Program Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 1988 - Establishes the National Violent Crime Program for the detection, investigation, apprehension, prosecution, and incarceration of individuals involved in violent crime activity and drug trafficking. Authorizes appropriations for construction and remodeling of correctional facilities, the Office of Justice Assistance, and other prevention and law enforcement activities.
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 1987
Declares that the Senate: (1) expresses its support for the commitment by the President to achieve mutual, equitable, balanced, verifiable, and stabilizing nuclear arms reduction agreements with the Soviet Union; and (2) encourages both nations to use diplomacy at the Geneva negotiations to resolve their differences; (3) cautions the Soviet Union against pursuing strategies designed to exploit American domestic politics or to divide the United States from its allies to secure an advantage on arms reduction matters; (4) urges the Soviet Union not to condition progress on all arms control matters with issues relating to strategic defense technologies; (5) declares that an obstacle to an acceptable arms control agreement with the Soviet Union has been its violations of existing agreements, and calls upon it to rectify such violations, in particular, to dismantle the newly-constructed radar site at Krasnoyarsk, in the Soviet Union; and (6) urges the President to consult with America's allies and the Senate in the construction of sound arms reduction agreements.
United States · United States Congress · 29 January 1987
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the President is requested to: (1) support funding for Amtrak at a level that will enable it to continue to operate a national railway system and to continue to improve its financial performances and service levels; and (2) direct the Secretary of Transportation and the Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration to work with Amtrak management to lower Amtrak's dependence on public funding and to assign the highest priority possible to safety.
United States · United States Congress · 21 January 1987
Unfair Foreign Competition Act of 1987 - Amends the Clayton Act to include a specified antidumping provision among U.S. antitrust laws. Amends such antidumping provision of the Unfair Competition Act of 1916 to allow any person who is injured in her or his property or business by the sale or importation of an article made in a foreign country to bring a civil action against the manufacturer, exporter, or related importer of such article if: (1) the article is imported or sold in the United States at less than its foreign market or constructed value; and (2) such sale or importation causes or threatens material injury to U.S. industry or labor or prevents the establishment or modernization of U.S. industry. (Currently, the cause of such an action is predicated on the intent of the importer to injure or prevent the establishment of U.S. industry or to monopolize trade.) Restricts the court jurisdiction of such an action to the District Court of the District of Columbia or the Court of International Trade. Entitles a prevailing plaintiff in such an action to appropriate equitable relief or, if such relief is inadequate, to compensatory damages and legal expenses (currently, treble damages and legal expenses). Declares that the standard of proof in such an action is a preponderance of the evidence. Places the burden of proof for rebutting a prima facie case on the defendant. Includes within the meaning of prima facie case a finding by the International Trade Commission (ITC) or Department of Commerce that dumping exists. Authorizes the court to: (1) issue subpoenas to be enforced in any judicial district; (2) enjoin importation of articles allegedly dumped pending the defendant's compliance with any court order; (3) review, in camera, confidential or privileged material; (4) accept material under seal; and (5) disclose such material. Requires expedited treatment of such actions. Sets a four-year statute of limitations for actions under this Act. Requires the foreign market value or constructed value of an article to include the amount of any subsidy provided to the manufacturer, producer, or exporter of the article. Expresses the sense of the Congress that this Act is consistent with the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. Allows any person who is injured in his or her business or property by the fraudulent, grossly negligent, or negligent entry or introduction of merchandise into U.S. commerce to bring a civil action in the District Court of the District of Columbia or the Court of International Trade, without respect to the amount in controversy. Entitles a person prevailing in such an action to appropriate equitable relief or, if such relief is inadequate, compensatory damages and legal expenses. Permits the United States to intervene in an action under this Act as a matter of right. Subjects any court order under this Act to nullification by the President pursuant to authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
United States · United States Congress · 21 January 1987
Authorizes the President to call a White House Conference on Library and Information Services, to be held not later than 1989, to develop recommendations for improvement of such services and their public use. Requires that the Conference be planned and conducted by the National Commission on Libraries and Information Sciences. Authorizes the Librarian of Congress, the Director of the National Library of Medicine, and the Director of the National Agricultural Library, upon request, to detail personnel to the Commission. Requires the Conference to submit a final report to the President within 120 days following its close. Directs that the final report be made public, and within 90 days after receipt by the President transmitted to the Congress with recommendations. Establishes an advisory committee to assist in planning and conducting the Conference. Includes among its appointed members the Secretary of Education and the Librarian of Congress. Authorizes appropriations as necessary.
United States · United States Congress · 20 January 1987
Prompt Payment Act Amendments of 1987 - Revises Federal law to deem the head of a Federal agency to have received an invoice on the later of: (1) the date on which the designated office or employee of an agency actually receives it; or (2) the fifth day after the date on which a property is actually delivered, or final performance of a service is actually completed, unless the contract specifies otherwise. Makes Federal prompt payment provisions applicable to the United States Postal Service. Makes the Postmaster General responsible for issuing procurement regulations, solicitation provisions, and contract clauses. Reduces the 15-day grace period for payment of interest penalties to eight days for solicitations (other than meat products and agricultural commodities) issued before October 1, 1990. Eliminates such grace period for procurement solicitations issued on or after October 1, 1990. Requires an agency to pay a double interest penalty if: (1) the agency owes the interest penalty; (2) the interest penalty is not paid to the business concern on or after the date the penalty is due; (3) the agency does not pay the penalty within ten days after such payment is made; and (4) a written demand is made within 40 days after such payment is made. Requires regulations on interest penalties, in the case of construction contracts, to provide for the payment of interest on: (1) progress payments due for more than seven days, or a longer period if the prevailing practice in private construction contracts is to provide such longer period; and (2) amounts retained during the performance of a contract, if such amounts are not paid by the required payment date. Requires regulations on interest penalties to provide for periodic payments in the case of supply or service contracts upon: (1) the submission of an invoice for supplies delivered or services performed; and (2) acceptance of supplies or services by an authorized employee or certification of performance by such an employee. Requires Government construction contractors to include a payment provision in their agreements with their subcontractors which provides for payment in accordance with prevailing industry standards. Requires the contractor to pay a late payment interest penalty to the subcontractor at the rate applicable between the prime contractor and the Government. Declares that a prime contractor's obligation to pay an interest penalty to a subcontractor may not be construed to be an obligation of the United States. Specifies the calculation of time for interest penalties on discount payments. Revises agency reporting requirements on interest penalty payments to include a description of agency payment practices. Requires the modification of the Federal acquisition regulation to implement Federal prompt payment provisions.
United States · United States Congress · 20 January 1987
Title I: General Accounting Office Investigation and Report - Requires the Comptroller General to begin an investigation, within 60 days after enactment of this Act, concerning displaced nationals of El Salvador. Requires a report to the Congress within one year after initiation of such study. Title II: Congressional Review - Provides for the referral of such report to the appropriate congressional committees for committee hearings and committee reports. Title III: Temporary Stay of Deportation - Provides for a temporary stay of detention and deportation for certain nationals of El Salvador.
United States · United States Congress · 20 January 1987
Toll Facilities Development and Improvement Act of 1987 - Amends Federal law regarding toll facilities to provide that all highways, bridges, and tunnels which are constructed or rehabilitated shall, with specified exceptions, be free from tolls of all kinds. Authorizes the States to impose tolls on any highway, bridge, or tunnel (other than on the Interstate system) without liability for repaying any Federal-aid highway funds expended on such facilities if they meet specified requirements. Allows the Secretary of Transportation to make such requirements applicable to Federal participation in: (1) the initial construction of any toll highway, bridge, or tunnel which is not part of the Interstate System on a new location at any time before such facility is open to traffic; (2) major reconstruction which expands the capacity that is subject to tolls and is not part of the Interstate System; and (3) the acquisition of any toll bridge or tunnel that is not part of the Interstate System. Limits the Federal share payable for any such project to 50 percent. Delineates circumstances under which Federal participation is authorized for the construction of both toll and free ferry boats, including construction projects constituting approaches to such ferry boats on either the Federal-aid primary or secondary system (but not on the Interstate system). Authorizes such Federal participation upon the condition that: (1) the operating authority and the amount of fares charged shall be under the control of a State agency or official; and (2) all revenues derived from publicly owned or operated ferries shall be applied to construction, acquisition, operation, and maintenance costs. Makes Federal-aid systems funds available for obligation on projects approaching any toll highway, bridge, or tunnel. Authorizes Federal participation in any engineering and fiscal assessments, traffic analyses, and preliminary design analyses necessary to determine whether a privately owned toll facility shall be acquired by a State (or political subdivision). Directs the Secretary to cancel certain agreements entered into with a State before the date of enactment of this Act if a State requests such cancellation, and if it enters into an agreement satisfactory to the Secretary regarding toll facilities as detailed in this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 20 January 1987
Amends the Federal criminal code to make it unlawful for any member of a foreign diplomatic mission or any member of a foreign consular post in the United States entitled to immunity from criminal jurisdiction to use a firearm to commit any act constituting a felony under the criminal laws of the United States or any State.
United States · United States Congress · 20 January 1987
Expresses the sense of the Senate that the President should seek a renegotiation of the Vienna Convention to eliminate immunity for diplomats engaged in murder and assaults with firearms or explosives. Requires the President to report to the Congress on the progress made by countries supporting the proposals of the London Economic Summit Declaration on International Terrorism, particularly those related to the abuse of diplomatic immunity, and to formalize a commitment among U.S. allies on steps to control such abuses.
United States · United States Congress · 16 January 1987
Authorizes the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity to establish a memorial to Martin Luther King, Jr., on Federal land in the District of Columbia. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to: (1) select a site for the memorial; (2) determine that funds needed for completion are available before allowing construction to begin; and (3) maintain the memorial after construction is completed. Prohibits the United States from paying any expense of establishing the memorial. Limits the authority to build the memorial to five years unless construction begins during that period.
United States · United States Congress · 16 January 1987
Federal Mass Transit Reauthorization Act of 1987 - Amends the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964 to authorize the Secretary of Transportation (the Secretary) (in connection with the initial funding of a mass transportation project receiving Federal assistance) to establish a basis for multi-year financing through the issuance of a multi-year project obligation to the recipient. Sets forth guidelines for the issuance of such obligations. Prohibits the making of grants or loans for the construction of a new fixed guideway system (or extension of such system) unless the Secretary has first ensured that the applicant has prepared a proposed project evaluation containing specified information. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1987 through 1990 for transportation projects substituted for withdrawn Interstate segments. Sets limits upon the fund amounts which the Secretary is authorized to use for FY 1987 through 1990 for grants for innovative methods in public transportation services. States that certain sums apportioned for the urban mass transit program which remained unobligated at the end of FY 1986 shall be added to the amount available for block grant apportionments for FY 1987. Authorizes the making of block grants to implement a whole or partial program of projects. Makes construction project grants available to finance the leasing of mass transportation service facilities. Revises the definition of associated capital maintenance items to: (1) include tires and tubes; and (2) reduce the minimum cost of such items to one-half of one percent of the current fair market value of comparable rolling stock. States that block grant recipients shall retain the revenues received from airspace or certain fungible mass transportation items for block grant projects. Precludes the Secretary from conditioning any Federal assistance upon the use of such revenues to finance any project for which funding is sought under such Act. Increases the amount of apportioned block grant funds which may be used for operating assistance for small urbanized areas from 95 percent to 100 percent of the funds apportioned in FY 1982. Authorizes newly urbanized areas to use the same amount of funds for operating assistance in FY 1986 through 1990 as was available during FY 1985. Makes eligible for construction assistance: (1) any bus remanufacturing project which extends the economic life of a bus eight years or more; and (2) any project for the overhaul of rolling stock, whether or not such overhaul increases the useful life of the rolling stock. Lowers the expense threshold for associated capital maintenance items which are eligible for certain mass transportation block grants. Makes the Federal grant for any mass transportation construction project 80 percent of the net project cost. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1987 through 1990 for the block grant program, the formula grant program for non-urbanized areas, and other specified programs. Sets forth allocation guidelines. Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress concerning the results of a trolley service feasibility study conducted in cooperation with the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Changes Buy American provisions to increase from 50 percent to 85 percent the domestic content requirements for certain manufacturers of buses and other rolling stock. Makes such requirements inapplicable to contracts entered into before June 1, 1986. Increases the bid price differential for foreign manufacturers from ten percent to 25 percent.
United States · United States Congress · 16 January 1987
Allows the display of the National League of Families POW/MIA flag in the Capitol Rotunda until a satisfactory accounting of all Vietnam POW/MIAs has taken place.
United States · United States Congress · 14 January 1987
Expresses the sense of the Congress in opposition to reductions in Veterans Administration funding levels used to pay for health care for certain categories of eligible veterans.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1987
Integrity in Post Employment Act of 1987 - Amends the Federal criminal code to establish penalties for willful violation of provisions of law relating to former Federal employees attempting to influence the Government or advising a foreign entity. Establishes a fine of up to $250,000, or imprisonment for up to five years, or both. Subjects proceeds received in violation of such law to forfeiture to the United States. Repeals the authority of the Office of Government Ethics to designate agencies within departments as separate statutory agencies. Includes former Members of Congress and all former Federal employees employed at or above GS-16 in the prohibitions against attempting to influence the Government within one year of leaving Government service. Amends the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 to set forth additional registration requirements regarding the disclosure of activities with foreign principals. Establishes civil and criminal penalties for any Federal official or employee who knowingly makes available non-public information concerning international trade negotiations conducted by the United States with the intent to benefit any foreign governments. Sets forth a fine of $10,000, or imprisonment for up to ten years, or both. Establishes a three-year ban on former high-level officials' knowingly representing foreign entities and a two-year ban on former Federal officers and employees at or above GS-16. Requires such former officials and employees to file disclosure of domestic lobbying statements with their former agencies after agreeing to lobby on behalf of a person other than the United States. Authorizes the Attorney General to grant exemptions from this Act to serve the public interest or the interests of the Government. Exempts from certain post employment prohibitions attorneys appearing in U.S. judicial proceedings.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1987
Parental and Medical Leave Act of 1987 - Title I: General Requirements for Parental and Medical Leave - Entitles employees to parental leave for specified periods in cases involving the birth, adoption, or serious health condition of a child. Entitles employees to temporary medical leave for specified periods in cases involving inability to work because of a serious health condition. Sets forth conditions for certification for such types of leave. Provides that such leave may be without pay. Allows employees to substitute other types of paid leave to cover part of such leave period. Sets forth employment and benefits protections relating to such leave. Provides for administrative enforcement of this title by the Secretary of Labor, as well as enforcement by civil action. Sets forth provisions for injunctive relief, monetary relief, and attorneys' fees. Requires employers to post notice of the pertinent provisions of this title. Title II: Parental Leave and Temporary Medical Leave for Civil Service Employees - Amends specified Federal law to entitle civil service employees to parental leave and temporary medical leave for specified periods. Provides that such leave will be without pay. Allows employees to substitute other types of paid leave for part of such leave. Sets forth protection for job position and health insurance benefits of employees using such leave. Directs the Office of Personnel Management to prescribe regulations for administration of this title which are consistent with the regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Labor under title I of this Act. Title III: Advisory Panel on Paid Parental and Medical Leave - Establishes the Advisory Panel on Paid Parental and Medical Leave. Requires the Panel to report on its study of paid parental and medical leave to the Congress within two years after the Panel first meets. Terminates the Panel within 30 days after its final report. Title IV: Miscellaneous Provisions - Sets forth the effect of this Act on existing laws and existing employment benefits. Directs the Secretary of Labor to prescribe regulations to carry out title I of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1987
Amends the Federal criminal code to establish criteria for the imposition of the death penalty for Federal crimes. Requires the Government, for any offense punishable by death, to serve notice upon the defendant a reasonable time before trial or acceptance of a plea, that it intends to seek the death penalty and the aggravating factors upon which it will rely. Requires a separate sentencing hearing before a jury, or the court upon motion by the defendant, when the defendant is found guilty or pleads guilty to an offense punishable by death. Allows the defendant and the Government to present any information relevant to sentencing, without regard to the rules of evidence, but permits information to be excluded where its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading of the jury. Specifies mitigating factors which the defendant must establish by a preponderance of the information and aggravating factors which the Government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt. Includes as threshold aggravating factors for homicide that the defendant: (1) intentionally killed the victim; (2) intentionally inflicted serious bodily injury which resulted in death of the victim; (3) intentionally participated in an act, contemplating that the life of a person would be taken and the victim died as a direct result of the act; or (4) attempted to kill the President of the United States. Sets forth special aggravating factors with respect to the crimes of treason, espionage, homicide, and attempted murder of the President. States that no person under the age of 18 may be sentenced to death. Directs the court, or the jury by unanimous vote, to impose the death penalty upon a finding that such sentence is justified based on consideration of both the aggravating and mitigating factors. Requires the court to instruct the jury not to consider the race, color, national origin, creed, or sex of the defendant in its consideration of the sentence. Establishes procedures for appeal from a death sentence. Requires the Court of Appeals, upon considering the record and the information and procedures of the sentencing hearing, to affirm the decision if: (1) the sentence was not imposed under influence of passion, prejudice, or arbitrariness; and (2) the information supports the finding of aggravating factors. Requires the court to provide a written explanation of its determination. Limits the circumstances under which the offense of delivering defense information to aid foreign governments is punishable by death. Provides for the imposition of the death penalty for: (1) murders committed by prisoners in Federal correctional institutions; (2) kidnappings which result in the death of any person; (3) attempting to kill the President of the United States (if such attempt results in bodily injury or comes dangerously close to causing the President's death); (4) "murder for hire"; (5) murder in the aid of a racketeering activity; and (6) engaging in a criminal enterprise activity which results in death. Eliminates the death penalty for the crime of rape.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1987
Amends the Federal law concerning military uniforms to authorize the wearing of an item of religious apparel as part of the military uniform if: (1) the item is part of the religious faith of the member; and (2) it is neat and conservative. Authorizes the Secretary of the military department concerned to prohibit the wearing of an item of religious apparel if it is found to significantly interfere with the performance of duty.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1987
Opportunities for Employment Preparation Act of 1987 - Amends the Job Training Partnership Act (the Act) to establish a program of targeted assistance for severely economically disadvantaged individuals. Defines "severely economically disadvantaged" as individuals who have received benefits under Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) provisions of the Social Security Act for two years or more, who have been unemployed or without steady employment for two years or more, and who are not eligible under title III (Employment and Training Assistance for Dislocated Workers) of the Act. Requires the job training program in each service delivery area to establish a feeder system using community-based organizations to conduct outreach and provide preemployment services to severely economically disadvantaged individuals. Requires such outreach and feeder system to include: (1) skills assessment; (2) registration with the Bureau of Employment Security; (3) preemployment training, including an eight-week internship; (4) employment training, including vocational, adult, and community college and other postsecondary programs; and (5) on-the-job and other employment preparation activities available under the Act. Requires preemployment services to include: (1) educational preparation and basic skills development to increase literacy and computational skills; (2) programs to strengthen attitude and motivation for work; (3) guidance and counseling to assist with occupational choice and selection of employment preparation programs; (4) counseling, referral and follow-up for those experiencing personal or family problems; and (5) parenting and home and family living skills, including nutrition and health education, targeted to teenage parents. Requires supportive services, including child care and transportation assistance, to be given to program participants. Provides that program participants will not lose any other Federal benefits because of program participation. Requires State plans to include descriptions of coordination of other programs with such targeted assistance program.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1987
Aid to Families and Employment Transition Act of 1987 - Amends part A (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) of title IV of the Social Security Act to provide that AFDC beneficiaries making the transition to unsubsidized employment by participating in employment preparation programs established pursuant to the Opportunities for Employment Preparation Act of 1987 shall have their salaries excluded from the AFDC eligibility determination for one year following the initial placement. Continues Medicaid (title XIX of the Act) coverage of individuals making such a transition to unsubsidized employment until either the individual becomes eligible for an employer health plan, or 15 months elapse since his or her placement in unsubsidized employment. Provides AFDC benefits to two-parent families if at least one parent participates in an employment preparation program.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1987
Haym Salomon Memorial Act of 1987 - Authorizes the American Jewish Patriots and Friends of Haym Salomon to place in the Capitol Building or on the Capitol Grounds a statue of Haym Salomon, a revolutionary war patriot of Polish and Jewish background. Authorizes such organization to also erect a monument to Haym Salmon on Federal land in the District of Columbia. Subjects the selected site, design, and plans for the memorial to the approval of the National Commission of Fine Arts and the National Capital Planning Commission.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1987
Employee Educational Assistance Act of 1987 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent the income tax exclusion for employee educational assistance programs. (Present law terminates such exclusion as of December 31, 1987.)
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1987
New GI Bill Continuation Act - Extends indefinitely (currently ends on June 30, 1988) the required date of entry into the armed forces for eligibility for basic educational assistance entitlement for veterans (both of active and Selected Reserve duty) of the All-Volunteer Force.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1987
Research and Development Incentive Act of 1987 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent the income tax credit for increasing research activities. (Present law terminates such credit as of December 31, 1988.) Increases the amount of such credit from 20 to 25 percent of the increase in expenses of such research activities.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1987
National Appliance Energy Conservation Act of 1987 - Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to add to the list of products covered under the Act: (1) freezers which can be operated by alternating current electricity (with specified exceptions); (2) central air conditioning heat pumps; (3) direct heating equipment; and (4) pool heaters. Deletes from specific coverage: (1) humidifiers; and (2) dehumidifiers. Excludes from such coverage consumer products designed solely for use in recreational vehicles and other mobile equipment. Authorizes the Secretary of Energy to amend Federal energy efficiency test procedures for appliances under specified guidelines. Prohibits manufacturers from making any representations regarding the energy efficiency of appliances covered by this Act unless such appliances have been tested in accordance with the Federal test procedures, and the manufacturer's representations fairly disclose the results of such testing. Sets forth specific Federal energy conservation standards for products covered by this Act and manufactured after certain dates. Establishes deadlines by which the Secretary must issue rules regarding such standards. Details the criteria to be applied if such standards are revised. Revises the information requirements with which manufacturers must comply to provide that the Secretary shall exercise authority in a manner designed to minimize unnecessary burdens on manufacturers of covered products. Revises the rules under which State regulations are superseded by the Federal regulations for testing and labeling requirements and energy conservation standards. Permits the waiver of Federal preemption if the Secretary finds that such waiver is needed to meet compelling and unusual local energy conditions. Prescribes procedural guidelines for such a waiver. Details conditions under which State and local building code requirements regarding energy conservation standards are not superseded by the standards promulgated under this Act. Permits the commencement of a citizen's suit against the Secretary for failure to comply with a nondiscretionary duty to issue rules according to prescribed schedules. Directs the courts to expedite the disposition of such suits. Vests jurisdiction in the Federal district courts over actions brought by any adversely affected person to determine whether a State or local government is complying with the requirements of this Act. Declares that the required submission by the Secretary of an annual report regarding Federal energy efficiency standards does not constitute a defense or justification for a failure by the Secretary to comply with the nondiscretionary duty provided for in this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1987
Water Quality Act of 1987 - Title I: Amendments to Title I - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (the Clean Water Act) to authorize appropriations for FY 1983 through 1990 for: (1) specified research, investigation, and training programs in water pollution control; (2) State and interstate pollution control programs; (3) undergraduate programs in water quality control; (4) grants for developing waste treatment management plans for areas with substantial water quality control problems; (5) water pollution control programs in agricultural areas; (6) agreements among Government agencies providing for maximum use of existing programs for water quality control; (7) grants to States for lake pollution control; and (8) carrying out the Clean Water Act generally. Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to award an annual grant to support a National Clearinghouse on small flows (of sewage) and innovative or alternative technologies information. Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to continue the Chesapeake Bay Program and establish such an Office within EPA to: (1) collect and disseminate research and other information on the environmental quality of the Bay; (2) coordinate Federal research efforts; (3) conduct research on sediment deposition in the Bay; and (4) conduct research on how environmental changes effect the living resources of the Bay, with particular emphasis on the impact of pollutant loading. Directs the Administrator to make a grant to a State affected by the interstate management plan developed under the Bay Program to implement management mechanisms in the plan if the State has approved and is committed to implementing all or substantially all aspects of the plan. Requires a State or combination of the States, in order to qualify for such grants, to submit a plan of proposed abatement actions to reduce Bay pollution and meet applicable water quality standards and of estimated costs for the approval of the Administrator. Limits such grants to 50 percent of the plan implementation costs. Limits administrative costs. Requires States to submit progress reports biennially to the Administrator for transmittal to the Congress. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1987 through 1990. Establishes the already existing Great Lakes National Program Office within EPA. Requires such Office to be located in a Great Lakes State. Requires such Office to carry out the responsibilities of the United States under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement of 1978, monitor the water quality of the Great Lakes, and serve as a liaison with the International Joint Commission Canadian members. Directs the Office to develop a five-year plan for reducing the amount of nutrients introduced into the Lakes and a five-year study and demonstration project program for the control and removal of toxic pollutants. Directs the Administrator to report annually to the Congress on Great Lakes water quality. Establishes, within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Great Lakes Research Office to develop, coordinate, and report on research on issues related to the Great Lakes resources. Require such Office to be located in a Great Lakes State. Requires the Program and Research Offices to prepare annually a joint research plan. Requires interagency cooperation and reporting with respect to such program. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1987 through 1991, earmarking funds for specified purposes. Directs the Administrator to research the harmful effects on the health and welfare of persons caused by pollutants in water, especially the bioaccumulation of these pollutants in aquatic species and any reduction in the value of aquatic industries. Title II: Construction Grants Amendments - Sets a time limit on resolving treatment works construction contract disputes. Limits the 75 percent Federal share of treatment works construction costs to grants made by a State before FY 1991. Makes the Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority project eligible for grants of 75 percent of construction costs. Authorizes the Administrator to make a grant to fund all the costs of modifying or replacing bio disc equipment (rotating biological contractors) in any publicly owned treatment works if deficiencies are not attributable to negligence. Deems the activated bio-filter feature of the project for treatment works of Little Falls, Minnesota, an innovative wastewater process and technique entitled to an 85 percent grant. Permits the use of Farmers Home Administration funds for the nonfederal share of construction costs for publicly owned treatment works under this Act. Directs the Administrator to make preconstruction agreements with grant applicants for treatment work construction assistance to specify which costs are eligible for Federal payments. Sets forth contract terms and conditions concerning design approval and payments including interest payments. Qualifies for purposes of treatment works grants a system of user charges imposing lower charges for low-income residential users. Requires the Administrator to reallot to States treatment works construction grants for FY 1987 through 1990. Extends through FY 1990 the authorization of appropriations for minimum allotments to States and specified U.S. territories and possessions. Increases the allotment for specified U.S. territories and possessions. Extends through FY 1994 the reservation of certain amounts from State allotments for State administrative expenses. Extends through FY 1990 the use of funds to control pollutants from storm sewers. Increases the mandatory set-aside for rural States and other States to up to seven and one-half percent. Extends through FY 1990 specified provisions relating to minimum expenditures for increasing the Federal share of grants for construction of treatment works utilizing innovative processes and techniques. Requires a State to allocate at least 40 percent of its water quality management planning grant to regional and interstate public comprehensive organizations if it would significantly assist in encouraging such organizations' participation in developing wastewater treatment programs. Increases the amount of additional funds which the Administrator shall have available for addressing water quality problems of marine bays and estuaries subject to lower levels of water quality due to the impact of discharges from combined storm water and sanitary sewer overflows. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1986 through 1990 for the construction grant program. Adds a new title VI: Grants for Water Pollution Control Revolving Funds to the Clean Water Act. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1989 through 1994 for capitalization grants to States which establish Water Pollution Control Revolving Funds which would gradually take over the Federal program. Requires a participating State to: (1) enter into agreements with the Administrator; (2) establish the required Fund; (3) deposit in its Fund from State monies an amount equal to 20 percent of the capitalization grant; (4) make loan commitments for publicly owned waste treatment plants within one year which commit all of the Fund; (5) submit required annual and intended use reports; and (6) comply with generally accepted procedures and standards. Sets forth permitted uses of the Fund. Authorizes the Administrator to reallot a noncomplying State's capitalization grant. Sets forth required accounting procedures. Directs the Administrator to review annually each State plan and report for using the Fund. Authorizes a State to use Federal grant funds to set up a Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund upon request. Directs the Administrator to report to the Congress by February 10, 1990, on the operation of the State Funds. Directs the Administrator to make grants for treatment works improvement programs for: (1) Avalon, California; (2) Walker and Smithfield Townships, Pennsylvania; (3) Taylor Mill, Kentucky; and (4) Watsonville, California. Directs the Administrator to make a grant to the State of California for the construction of a collection system for specified areas of Nevada County. Directs the Administrator to make grants to the Wanaque Valley Regional Sewage Authority, New Jersey, for the construction of treatment works of a specified capacity. Limits the Federal share to 75 percent of construction costs. Directs the Administrator to make grants to Lena, Illinois, for the construction of a replacement moving bed filter press for the treatment works. Limits the Federal share to 75 percent of construction costs. Requires Pennsylvania to give Federal funding priority to the Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority secondary treatment project and to a project for wastewater treatment for Altoona, Pennsylvania. Authorizes the Chicago tunnel and reservoir project to receive grants without regard to allocation limitation if the Administrator determines that such project is cost-effective without redesign or reconstruction and the Governor of Illinois demonstrates the water quality benefits accruing from such project. Permits the towns of Hampton and Nashua, New Hampshire, to continue using an ad valorem tax user charge system for collecting the costs of operation and maintenance of sewage treatment works in satisfaction of specified requirements for grants for treatment works. Requires the Administrator to review such system for compliance with other requirements. Title III: Standards and Enforcements - Extends the compliance date for specified priority toxic pollutants, all other toxic pollutants, and the application of best practicable technology for all other pollutants to no later than three years after effluent limitations are established or by March 31, 1989, whichever is earlier. Directs the Administrator of EPA to promulgate final regulations by the end of 1986 establishing effluent limitations for direct dischargers and limitations requiring pretreatment for all the priority toxic pollutants which are discharged from certain categories of point sources in accordance with a specified schedule. Permits the Administrator to modify the effluent limitations for nonconventional pollutants such as ammonia, chlorine, color, iron, and total phenols. Permits the Administrator to add or delete from the list of pollutants for which such modification is permitted as indicated by current evidence or the lack of it. Requires that such modifications not interfere, alone or in combination, with the prescribed water quality standard. Requires as new conditions for the modification of treatment requirements with respect to the discharges of pollutants from a publicly owned treatment works that an applicant for such modification demonstrate that: (1) in the case of a treatment works serving a population of 50,000 or more, there is in effect a specified pretreatment program for toxic pollutants introduced into such works for which there is no pretreatment requirement in effect; and (2) the effluent which is discharged from such works is receiving primary treatment and meets the criteria for water established by the Administrator. Prohibits the discharge of a pollutant into saline estuarine waters that do not support fish and wildlife or whose quality is below applicable standards. Prohibits dumping in the New York Bight Apex. Extends the filing deadline for treatment works modification. Extends the innovative technology compliance deadlines for direct dischargers. Permits variances from an otherwise applicable effluent limitation or pretreatment standard if an applicant can demonstrate during the rulemaking (or did not have an opportunity to demonstrate) that factors relating the facilities, equipment, and processes of such person are fundamentally different from the factors considered in the rulemaking. Requires the Administrator to assess and collect fees for variance applications. Requires the Administrator to report biannually to the appropriate congressional committees on the status of variance applications. Permits the modifications of ph levels and the amount of iron and manganese in discharges from remined areas of coal remining operations if such operations provide potential for water quality improvement and use the best available technology (BAT). Requires States within two years to identify bodies of water within or adjacent to them which will not meet State water quality standards because of toxic pollutants after the implementation of BAT. Requires each State to develop an individual control for each such body to achieve the applicable standard within three years. Requires that Administrator, within nine months of this Act's enactment, to develop guidelines for such identification and for measuring water quality criteria for toxic pollutants on other than pollutant-by-pollutant criteria, using biomonitoring and assessment techniques. Directs the States to establish numerical criteria, based on EPA's national water quality criteria, for toxic pollutants which could otherwise interfere with designated water uses. Permits such criteria to include the use of biological monitoring or assessment methods. Permits the Administrator, with State concurrence, to modify effluent limitations: (1) if a non-toxic polluter demonstrates that complete compliance does not satisfy a reasonable cost-benefit analysis; or (2) for five years if a toxic polluter demonstrates that a modified maximum limitation within the polluter's economic means will result in reasonable progress to post-BAT water quality standards. Directs the Administrator, within one year of this Act's enactment and then biennially, to publish guidelines for effluent limitations for toxic pollutants for industrial categories currently without such guidelines and to establish a schedule for the review, revision, and promulgation of other effluent guidelines. Directs the Administrator to study and report to the Congress on water quality improvements achieved through the application of BAT economically achievable. Authorizes a two-year extension for a treatment works to comply with a categorical pretreatment standard if it uses an innovative treatment system which has potential for industry-wide application and the treatment works can still comply with the terms of its permit. Establishes criminal penalties for the knowing disclosure of confidential information gained by authorized personnel in the course of inspection of treatment facilities. Permits a State to adopt more stringent standards for marine sanitation devices on a houseboat than those required under Federal law. Increases criminal and civil penalties. Adds administrative civil penalties for specified violations. Establishes criminal penalties for the knowing endangerment of a person through violations of specified provisions. Requires the Secretary of the Army and the Administrator to each report to the Congress by December 1, 1988, on the enforcement mechanisms available and on improving enforcement. Directs each State to report biennially to the Administrator on the water quality of the publicly owned lakes. Requires the Administrator to then report such information to the appropriate congressional committees, including an evaluation of methods and procedures used. Authorizes the Administrator to conduct lake water quality demonstration programs at: (1) Lake Houston, Texas; (2) Beaver Lake, Arkansas; (3) Greenwood Lake and Belcher Creek, New Jersey; (4) Deal Lake, New Jersey, (5) Alcyon Lake, New Jersey; (6) Gorton's Pond, Rhode Island; (7) Lake Washington, Rhode Island; (8) Lake Bomoseen, Vermont; (9) Sauk Lake, Minnesota; and (10) Lake Worth, Texas. Directs the Administrator to publish within one year of enactment and update biennially a lake restoration guidance manual. Directs the Governor of each State to submit to the Administrator for approval a report: (1) identifying navigable waters not meeting applicable water quality standards because of pollution from nonpoint sources (e.g., rainfall runoff as opposed to identifiable pipes); (2) identifying categories of significantly polluting nonpoint sources; (3) identifying State and local programs for controlling such pollution and improving the water quality of the navigable waters; and (4) describing administrative measures to be taken. Requires each Governor to develop Administrator-approved nonpoint source pollution management programs identifying: (1) the best management practices to institute; (2) an implementation schedule; (3) any additional State authorities necessary for the program including an implementation schedule for acquiring such authorities; (4) available financial assistances; and (5) the effect of existing Federal programs on such program. Provides for resubmission of rejected programs which are subsequently modified. Directs the Administrator to develop a program for any State which fails to do so and report on such actions to the Congress. Authorizes the Administrator to provide technical assistance to a local agency to develop a four-year plan if a State fails to submit a satisfactory plan and the local agency is of sufficient geographical size. Treats such local agency as a State agency for implementation assistance purposes after such plan has been approved. Directs the Administrator to convene a management conference of the affected States when any State is unable to meet its applicable water quality standards because of pollution from nonpoint sources in another State. Requires the offending State to modify its management program to reflect an agreement reached in such conference. Directs the Administrator to provide grants to States to assist in the implementation of approved four-year plans. Limits the Federal share to a maximum of 60 percent of costs. Sets forth other terms and conditions for such grants, including reporting and administrative requirements. Limits each grant per State to a maximum of 15 percent of total authorizations. Authorizes the Administrator to give priority in making grants to States with management programs with particularly difficult nonpoint pollution problems, innovative technologies, or which address essential groundwater quality protection problems. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1988 through 1991. Directs the Administrator to transmit to the Office of Management and Budget and the appropriate Federal departments and agencies a list of those assistance programs and development projects identified by States for which individual assistance applications and projects will be reviewed. Requires each Federal department and agency to modify existing regulations to allow States to conduct such review and accommodate the concerns of the State regarding the consistency of such applications or projects with the State program. Directs the Administrator to collect and make available information pertaining to management practices and implementation methods. Directs the Administrator to report annually, and finally by January 1, 1990, to the Congress on the State management programs and the grants. Earmarks funds for such programs. Authorizes the Governor of any State to nominate to the Administrator an estuary within the State's jurisdiction which is of national significance and to request a management conference to develop a comprehensive management plan. Directs the Administrator to convene such conference if the need for it is sufficiently documented. Gives priority to: (1) Long Island Sound, New York and Connecticut; (2) Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island; (3) Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts; (4) Puget Sound; Washington; (5) New York-New Jersey Harbor, New York and New Jersey; (6) Delaware Bay, Delaware and New Jersey; (7) Albemarle Sound, North Carolina; (8) Sarasota Bay, Florida; (9) San Francisco Bay, California; and (10) Galveston Bay, Texas. Prohibits convening such a conference before a final adjudication has been made in any pending State boundary dispute involving such estuary. Requires a management conference to assess the relevant ecological data and develop a comprehensive conservation and management plan which recommends priority corrective actions and compliance schedules and coordinates intergovernmental efforts. Requires each conference to include the Administrator and affected governmental and private interests. Limits the terms of a conference to five years. Requires Administrator approval of any plan. Permits the use of construction grant or State revolving fund monies for implementation approval of any plan. Authorizes the Administrator to provide up to 75 percent of research and study costs through State grants. Requires such State to report to the Administrator biennially. Earmarks funds for the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to coordinate and implement an assessment, research, and water quality sampling program for pollutants and ecosystems to determine when an estuarine management conference should be called. Requires the Administrators to report to the Congress biennially on estuarine health and research. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1987 through 1991. Prohibits the location or placing of a landfill, surface impoundment, waste pile, injection well, or land treatment facility, or the placement of solid waste in any of these if they are located over the Unconsolidated Quarternary Aquifer, or the recharge zone of such aquifer in the Rockaway River Basin, New Jersey. Title IV: Permits and Licenses - Exempts from permit requirements and effluent limitations certain stormwater runoff discharges from mining operations or oil or gas exploration, production, processing, or treatment operations. Requires exempted run-offs to be a product of precipitation flows or systems designed to collect or convey such water. Requires that such run-offs be uncontaminated (as determined by the Administrator). Prohibits the Administrator from requiring additional pretreatment by a discharger of conventional pollutants when its publicly owned treatment works is not meeting NPDES permit requirements because of inadequate design or operation. Authorizes a partial NPDES permit program covering a portion of the discharges into the navigable waters in such State if it covers administration of a major category of such discharges or a major component of the State's NPDES permit program. Provides that a State may return, or the Administrator may withdraw approval of, delegated NPDES permit program responsibilities. Sets forth anti-backsliding requirements relating to renewal or reissuance of NPDES permits. Permits limited exceptions. Requires the Administrator to report to the Congress within two years on the extent to which States have modified water quality standards or NPDES permits should be modifiable to permit less stringent effluent limitations. States that prior to FY 1993 no permit shall be required for discharges composed entirely of stormwater other than: (1) those associated with industrial activity or municipal separate storm sewers; or (2) those which are determined to be in violation of a water quality standard or contribute significantly to water pollution. Requires the Administrator to report to the Congress on the nature of most stormwater discharges and which classes of such discharges should have permits. Revises the sewage sludge disposal timetable. Directs the Administrator to identify in two stages those toxic pollutants which may be present in sewage sludge in concentrations which may adversely affect public health or the environment. Directs the Administrator to publish regulations specifying acceptable management practices and establishing numerical limitations for each such pollutant and requiring compliance within 12 months after publication. Authorizes the Administrator to promulgate a design, equipment, management practice, or operational standard for certain pollutants if a numerical limitation is not feasible and the same protection can be achieved. Requires NPDES permits to include requirements for the use and disposal of sludge, and provides for implementing such regulations. Authorizes the Administrator to issue a permit to implement such regulations to a facility not subject to NPDES. Authorizes the Administrator to initiate studies and projects to promote the safe and beneficial use of sewage sludge. Authorizes appropriations. Stays the decision of Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency concerning revised pretreatment requirements for certain publicly owned treatment works. Prohibits the authorization of removal credits until final regulations are issued. Permits the merger of permit requirements for log transfer facilities subject to both EPA's and the Army's jurisdiction so long as certain requirements are satisfied. Title V: Miscellaneous Provisions - Permits the Administrator to enter into noncompetitive procurement contracts with State audit organizations for audits of recipients of Federal assistance under this Act. Includes the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands within the definition of "State." Excludes agricultural stormwater discharges from the definition of "point source" pollution. Requires that the Attorney General and the Administrator receive notice of any citizen suits or proposed consent judgments. Revises venue provisions to permit an applicant for judicial review of certain Administrator actions to bring suit in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal district in which such applicant has its principal place of business or where such applicant transacts the business which is directly affected by the action in question. Increases the appeal period. Provides a random selection procedure to determine the forum when reviews of a particular EPA action have been filed in more than one court. Empowers the court to award attorney's fees to a prevailing or substantially prevailing party. Directs the Administrator to assess the sewage treatment needs of Indian tribes, reporting to the Congress within one year. Authorizes the Administrator to reserve one-half of one percent of specified funds for Indian needs after FY 1986. Authorizes the Administrator to treat Indian tribes specially or as States as required to meet such tribes' sewage treatment needs. Defines "point source" to include a landfill leachate collection system. Amends the Marine Protection Research and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 to prohibit the issuance of any new permit to non-eligible authorities now presently permitted to use the New York Bight Apex to dump or transport municipal sludge. Prohibits anyone but an eligible authority from dumping or transporting municipal sludge within the 106-mile Ocean Waste Dump Site. Authorizes the Administrator to issue a research permit to the Orange County, California, Sanitation Districts for the discharge of preconditioned municipal sewage sludge into the ocean to analyze the effects of disposing of such sludge by way of pipelines. Limits such permit to five years. Limits the amount of sludge which may be discharged. Requires such districts to report to the Congress on the results of such program. Authorizes the Administrator to make grants to the State of California, for construction of a project consisting of publicly owned treatment works in San Diego to provide primary or advanced treatment of municipal sewage and industrial waste for the city of Tijuana, Mexico, and for San Diego. Requires the Administrator to make additional grants for defensive treatment works in case of breakdown. Authorizes the Administrator to permit ocean discharge of certain specially-treated pollutants. Imposes a cap on raw sewage discharges from the drainage areas of the North River Plant, Manhattan, New York, and the Red Hook Plant, Brooklyn, New York, into navigable waters (the Hudson-Raritan Estuary) if New York City fails to meet the deadlines for achieving advanced preliminary treatment contained in the consent decree of December 30, 1982 (August 1, 1986, for the North River plant; August 1, 1987, for the Red Hook Plant). Permits the Administrator to raise such cap for seasonal variation or natural disasters, or other circumstances beyond the control of the city of New York. States that violations of this Act shall be considered violations of the Clean Water Act, as well as of the consent decree. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Administrator should not agree to any further modification of the advanced preliminary treatment schedule in the consent decree. Directs the Administrator to implement monitoring activities for both plans and commence enforcement actions in the event of unexcused violations. Directs the Administrator to pay, in the same proportion as the Federal share of other project costs, all expenses for the relocation of facilities for the distribution of natural gas with respect to the entire waste water treatment works known as Oakwood Beach and Red Hook projects, New York. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Administrator to make grants of up to 75 percent of costs to the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority for the construction of necessary secondary waste water treatment works to improve the water quality of Boston Harbor and adjacent waters. Authorizes the Administrator to make a grant up to 85 percent of costs to the San Diego Water Reclamation Agency, California, to demonstrate innovations in wastewater reclamation. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Administrator to make a grant of 75 percent of construction costs to the city of Des Moines, Iowa, for construction of the Central Sewage Treatment Plant. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Administrator to study the feasibility and desirability of eliminating the regulation of de minimus discharges of pollutants into navigable waters. Directs the Administrator to report on such study to specified congressional committees within one year after enactment of this Act. Directs the Administrator to study the effectiveness of specified innovative and alternative wastewater treatment processes and techniques which have been used in treatment works constructed under the Clean Water Act. Directs the Administrator to report within one year on such study to specified congressional committees. Directs the Administrator to study the testing procedures for analysis of pollutants established under specified provisions of such Act. Directs the Administrator to report on such study to specified congressional committees within one year after the enactment of this Act. Directs the Administrator to study the pretreatment of toxic pollutants and report to the appropriate congressional committees within four years after enactment of this Act. Directs the Administrator to study methods for controlling point and nonpoint sources of pollution in specified groundwater systems and aquifers, including: (1) the Upper Santa Cruz Basin and the Avra-Altar Basin of Pima, Pinal, and Santa Cruz Counties, Arizona; (2) the Spokane-Rathdrum Valley Aquifer, Washington and Idaho; (3) the Nassau and Suffolk Counties Aquifer, New York; (4) the Whidbey Island Aquifer, Washington; (5) the Unconsolidated Quarternary Aquifer, Rockaway River area, New Jersey; and (6) groundwater in Litchfield, Hartford, Fairfield, Tolland, and New Haven Counties, Connecticut; and (7) the Sparta Aquifer, Arkansas. Directs the Administrator to report to the Congress within two years on the final status of such studies and plans. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary of the Army to undertake a study on consumptive uses of Great Lakes water, focussing on control measures which would reduce the quantity of water consumed without adversely affecting the projected growth of the region. Requires that such study include an analysis of both existing and new technology, including assessments of water quality assessment methodologies, the economic and environmental affects of manufacturing uses, and regulation of such uses. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Administrator to study the problem of the corrosive effects of sulfides in collection and treatment systems, the extent to which the uniform imposition of categorical pretreatment standards will exacerbate this problem, and the range of available options to deal with the effects. Requires that such study be conducted in consultation with the Los Angeles City and County sanitation agencies which have observed examples of corrosion probably caused by sulfides. Directs the Administrator to report on such study to specified congressional committees within one year after enactment of this Act. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Administrator to study and report to the Congress within one year on the problems of rainfall induced infiltration into wastewater treatment sewer systems. Directs the Administrator to report to the Congress on the effects of dams on water quality and the performance of State revolving loan funds. Directs the Administrator to conduct and report to the Congress on a comprehensive study of pollution in Lake Pend Oreille, Montana and Idaho, and the Clark Fork River, Idaho, Montana, and Washington.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1987
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a charitable contribution income tax deduction for amounts paid to or for the benefit of an institution of higher education in cases where the taxpayer receives the right to seating or the right to purchase seating for athletic events at such institution.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1987
Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits Federal outlays from exceeding Federal receipts in any fiscal year, unless the Congress provides for a specific excess by a three-fifths vote of both Houses. Prohibits a bill to increase revenue from becoming law unless approved by a majority of the whole number of both Houses of Congress by roll call vote. Authorizes the Congress to waive this article for any year in which a declaration of war is in effect.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1987
Constitutional Amendment - Declares that equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State on account of sex.
United States · United States Congress · 6 January 1987
Establishes in the Senate the Special Committee on Young Americans and Families to study government policies on children, adolescents, and families, including the problems of childhood poverty.
United States · United States Congress · 16 October 1986
Authorizes the purchase of homes and the payment of relocation assistance for homes of the Logan section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, deemed to be dangerous or uninhabitable. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 8 October 1986
Declares that the Senate: (1) offers its support and best wishes to the President as he prepares for his meetings with General Secretary Gorbachev in Reykjavik; and (2) endorses and specifically encourages the President to pursue the major issues relating to arms control, Soviet recognition of international human rights, and the removal of soviet combat forces from Afghanistan.
United States · United States Congress · 7 October 1986
State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Advocacy Improvement Act of 1986 - Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to require States to establish an Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman (Office) encompassing any area or local ombudsman entity designated by the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman as a subdivision of the Office. Requires States to provide assurances that Office staff are not subject to conflicts of interest and that mechanisms are in place to identify and remedy such conflicts. Immunizes Office representatives from liability under State law for the good faith performance of official duties. Directs States to provide legal counsel to: (1) the Office for advice and consultation; and (2) Office representatives sued in connection with the performance of official duties. Requires States to provide appropriate sanctions against: (1) those willfully interfering with Office representatives in the performance of official duties; and (2) extended care facilities which retaliate against residents or employees who file a complaint with, or provide information to, the Office. Requires State licensure and certification agencies to provide the Office with inspection reports, notices of deficiencies, and sanctions issued with respect to extended care facilities as well as other data relevant to the Office's investigations of such facilities. Directs the Office to submit annual reports to State licensure and certification agencies, State agencies on aging, and the State legislature and Governor analyzing and suggesting resolutions to problems experienced by, and complaints received against, extended care facilities. Requires that office staff who do investigative work be trained in Federal, State, and local laws, regulations, and policies regarding State extended care facilities as well as investigative techniques. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide technical assistance and training to State Long-Term Care Ombudsman programs and Ombudsman representatives. Amends titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to require that extended care facilities provide ombudsmen with access to facility residents and, with the patient's or guardian's consent, to the patient's medical and social records. Requires that ombudsmen be given access to individuals who are admitted to hospitals from skilled nursing or intermediate care facilities. Directs the Secretary to promptly notify the appropriate Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman of any Medicare or Medicaid sanction imposed on a skilled nursing or intermediate care facility. Requires the Commissioner on Aging to issue a report by January 15th of each year analyzing and suggesting resolutions to problems experienced by, and complaints received against, extended care facilities. Specifies the congressional Committees, Federal agencies, and private organizations which are to receive such reports. Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to require the Commissioner on Aging to designate a full-time staff of the Administration on Aging within 90 days of enactment of this Act. Requires the Administration to conduct studies and issue findings regarding the practices and impact of the Ombudsman program. Amends part B (Peer Review) of title XI of the Social Security Act to require peer review organizations to make available to Ombudsman program personnel their data showing the substantial failure of a provider to meet professionally recognized standards of health care.
United States · United States Congress · 30 September 1986
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to revise the benefit levels of individuals becoming eligible for benefits in or after 1979 so that they are equal to the benefit levels of individuals who became eligible for benefits before 1979.
![Official portrait of Sen. Specter, Arlen [R-PA]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/s000709_200.jpg)