United States · United States Congress · 15 June 1989
Condemns the brutal treatment of, and blatant discrimination against, the Turkish minority by the Government of Bulgaria. Calls upon the Bulgarian authorities to cease all such discriminatory practices, release all those imprisoned because of their participation in nonviolent political acts, and honor its obligations concerning the right of all Bulgarians to emigrate. Urges the President and Secretary of State to make strong diplomatic representations to Bulgaria protesting its treatment of its Turkish minority and to raise this issue in all appropriate international fora.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 1989
Designates August 1, 1989, as Helsinki Human Rights Day. Authorizes and requests the President to: (1) reassert American commitment to the Helsinki Accords; (2) raise the issue of noncompliance with such Accords with any signatory nation which may be in violation, in particular, the Soviet Union, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, the German Democratic Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Romania; (3) convey to all signatories of such Accords that respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms is vital to progress in the ongoing Helsinki process; and (4) convey to U.S. allies the necessity of unity regarding such Accords.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 1989
Authorizes the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate to present a bronze medal to individuals: (1) who were members of the armed forces and were present in Hawaii on December 7, 1941; and (2) who participated in combat operations that day against Japanese military forces attacking Hawaii. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to strike such medals. Authorizes the Secretary to provide for the sale of bronze duplicates of the medal. Authorizes appropriations which are to be reimbursed out of the proceeds from sales of the medals.
United States · United States Congress · 6 June 1989
Authorizes the Secretary of Education to provide financial assistance to the Washington Research Library Consortium for a facility in Prince Georges County, Maryland, that would link by computer eight university libraries in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area of the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. Authorizes appropriations. Makes specified funds under the Higher Education Act of 1965 available for expenditure under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 6 June 1989
Designates June 21, 1989, as Chaney, Goodman, and Schwerner Day. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Voting Rights Act of 1965 has helped to fulfill the promise of democracy in this Nation. Reaffirms the goal of removing remaining barriers to full voter participation in this Nation.
United States · United States Congress · 18 May 1989
Chemical and Biological Weapons Nonproliferation Act - Sets forth U.S. policy concerning chemical and biological weapons. Requires the Secretary of Commerce to issue such regulations, licenses, and orders as may be required to control the export of materials, equipment, and technology having significance for the manufacture or use of chemical and biological weapons. Makes subject to the penalties imposed by the Export Administration Act of 1979 any person who violates any regulation, license, or order issued by the Secretary. Requires the Secretary of State to assess the risk of the proliferation of chemical and biological weapons. Specifies particular matters to be considered by such assessment and requires such assessment to give particular attention to the materials, equipment, and technology that have direct significance for the production and use of chemical and biological weapons. Requires the Secretary of State to submit to the Congress a biannual report describing the status of: (1) control of the proliferation of chemical and biological weapons; (2) efforts to prevent the spread of such weapons; and (3) programs to control the export of materials, equipment, and technology having direct significance for the production of chemical and biological weapons. Requires the Secretary of State to establish a Chemical Industry Advisory Group to provide advice to the Secretary concerning such assessment and such biannual report. Requires the Secretary of State to inform the appropriate committees of the Congress of developments of significance to the proliferation and control of chemical and biological weapons.
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 1989
Clean Air Restoration Act of 1989 - Title I: General Provisions for Nonattainment Areas - Amends the Clean Air Act to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to publish guidelines for enhanced State monitoring of ozone, oxides of nitrogen, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide, and particulate matter 10 (PM 10) and for improved inventories of emissions of such substances. Directs the Administrator to establish emissions factors for estimating emissions of such substances from stationary sources which emit less than 25 tons per year of such pollutants. Requires State plan revisions submitted after this Act's enactment for ozone, carbon monoxide, or PM 10 nonattainment areas to provide for the maintenance of the attainment standard for 20 years after such submission. Directs the Administrator to periodically review and revise such plans, as necessary, to insure the maintenance of such standard. Revises the boundaries of ozone and carbon monoxide nonattainment areas which are classified as Extreme or Severe and are located within Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA) or Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Areas (CMSA) to include the entire MSA or CMSA. Authorizes the Administrator to modify nonattainment areas classified as Moderate or serious for ozone, carbon monoxide, or PM 10 to encompass the entire MSA or CMSA if such modification is necessary to attain the air quality standard. Requires permits issued in nonattainment areas for stationary sources to provide for: (1) quarterly reports to the permitting authority on monitoring measures; and (2) annual certifications to such authority demonstrating compliance with such permit. Prohibits the issuance of any permit unless such authority has conducted an on-site inspection of the source or emissions unit. Allows new or modified stationary sources to comply with any offset requirement for increased emissions of any air pollutant by obtaining enforceable emissions reductions of such pollutant from other sources in the same nonattainment area. Requires such reductions to be in effect by the time such sources commence operation and to insure that the total tonnage of increased emissions is offset by a greater reduction in the actual emissions from other area sources. Title II: Provisions Applicable to Ozone Nonattainment Areas - Classifies ozone nonattainment areas as Moderate, Serious, Severe, or Extreme, based upon the percentage by which the air quality standard is exceeded in the area. Authorizes the Administrator to adjust the classification of areas which would be classified in another category if the ozone level in such areas were ten percent greater or less. Requires the Administrator to promulgate special rules for rural nonattainment areas where area sources do not make significant contributions to the ozone concentration in such areas. Directs States with classified ozone nonattainment areas to submit compliance strategies to the Administrator. Requires such strategies to provide for: (1) meeting an initial milestone for emissions reductions; (2) improved monitoring of ozone, oxides of nitrogen, and VOCs; (3) annual statements from owners or operators of stationary sources showing emissions of oxides of nitrogen and VOCs; and (4) annual emissions inventories to be submitted to the Administrator. Waives the requirement for owners or operators of stationary sources which emit less than 25 tons annually of VOCs if the State provides an inventory of emissions of such sources. Applies requirements for State permits with respect to air quality standards to statements for stationary sources which emit 25 tons or more annually of oxides of nitrogen or VOCs. Deems such sources to be major stationary sources. Establishes fees to be collected by States for each ton of emissions of such substances and approval procedures for compliance strategies. Directs the Administrator to publish oxides of nitrogen and VOC emissions reduction targets for Serious, Severe, and Extreme ozone nonattainment areas. Provides for reductions or increases in such targets based upon percentage reductions or increases over a 1988 emissions inventory. Directs the Administrator to publish a VOC emissions reduction milestone for such areas to require a 20 percent reduction in emissions within four years of this Act's enactment based upon the 1988 emissions inventory. Requires additional milestones to be achieved within eight and 12 years of this Act's enactment. Sets forth attainment dates of four, eight, 12, and 16 years, respectively, for Moderate, Serious, Severe, and Extreme areas. Requires State implementation plans for Serious, Severe, and Extreme areas to be revised to include measures for meeting targets and milestones, conforming with compliance strategies, and attaining and maintaining revised ozone standards. Sets forth approval procedures for such plans. Requires the Administrator to audit biennially and, if necessary, revise such plans to assure compliance. Includes specified ratios for offsets of increased emissions by new or modified sources in permit requirements for Moderate areas. Requires compliance strategies or revised implementation plans for Serious and Severe areas to contain a permit program covering the construction and operation of certain new or modified emissions units. Requires certain emissions offsets by the time such units enter operation. Provides that such plans or strategies shall: (1) contain a motor vehicle inspection and maintenance program to reduce in-use emissions of VOCs and oxides of nitrogen in Serious areas; and (2) require the use of fill nozzles in such areas which prevent vapor discharge and vehicle fuel tank overflows on nozzle disconnect. Applies the nozzle requirement only to facilities which sell more than 10,000 gallons of gasoline per month (50,000 gallons per month in the case of certain independent small business gasoline marketers). Waives such requirement when the Administrator determines that onboard emissions control systems are in widespread use throughout the motor vehicle fleet. Requires such plans or strategies to require all buses which are purchased or leased by State or local governments after January 1, 1992, (for which such governments enter into contracts or for which engines are replaced after such date) and which are used for public transportation in Serious areas to be low-emission vehicles using low-emission fuels. Requires permits for the operation of certain existing stationary sources in Serious, Severe, and Extreme areas. Requires such strategies or plans to establish a schedule requiring at least 30 percent of the new motor vehicles registered in Severe areas by 1998 to be low-emission vehicles using low-emission fuels. Prohibits the use of an emissions reduction trading program to comply with the reasonably available control technology requirement applicable to such sources under the Clean Air Act. Requires tanks used for motor vehicle liquid fuel storage in such areas to be capable of storing methanol. Prohibits the use of Federal funds for transportation planning in such areas unless the Administrator determines that such planning uses all available techniques for reducing aggregate vehicle emissions. Requires all new motor vehicles owned or operated by persons owning or operating 15 or more vehicles in a Severe area after 1992 to be low-emission vehicles using low-emission fuels. Provides that compliance strategies and State implementation plans for Extreme areas shall contain the same requirements as those for Severe areas. Provides that, eight years after this Act's enactment, each electric utility and industrial and commercial boiler emitting more than 25 tons annually of oxides of nitrogen in such areas shall: (1) burn natural gas, methanol, or ethanol (or a comparably low polluting fuel) as a primary fuel; or (2) use advance control technology for reduction of such emissions. Establishes a schedule for increasing in annual increments the percentage of new motor vehicles registered in such areas which are low-emission vehicles. Requires all model year 2000 vehicles to be low-emission vehicles. Authorizes the establishment of traffic control measures during heavy traffic hours to reduce the use of high polluting vehicles in such areas. Allows an Extreme area to apply for a four-year extension of the attainment date. Directs the Administrator to grant such extension if the area is reasonably expected to meet minimum emissions reduction targets and the implementation plan is adequate to meet the attainment standard by the extended date. Sets forth procedures to be applied in the case of noncompliance with plan and compliance strategy requirements, including emissions offsets for new or modified stationary sources or emissions units at a ratio of three to one and a prohibition on the approval of, or awarding of Federal funds for, highway projects in non-complying areas. Sets forth deadlines for States to demonstrate that all measures in compliance strategies have been implemented and that milestones have been met. Provides for reclassification of areas or the implementation of additional measures, including economic incentive programs in Severe and Extreme areas, if a State fails to meet emissions reduction milestones or to submit a demonstration. Directs the Administrator to establish guidelines for such programs. Sets forth administrative procedures for making determinations, including provisional determinations, of attainment of air quality standards during a three-year period. Directs the Administrator to reclassify Moderate, Serious, or Severe areas which fail to meet attainment deadlines into the next, more stringent, category. Requires States with Extreme areas failing to meet such deadlines to submit plan revisions providing for: (1) emissions offsets at a ratio of three to one for new or modified sources or emissions units in such areas; and (2) an economic incentives program to aid in reducing the total tonnage of VOC and oxides of nitrogen emissions by at least five percent annually prior to attainment of the standard. Establishes an ozone transport region comprised of coastal States on the east coast between Maine and Maryland and the CMSA including the District of Columbia. Authorizes the creation of additional regions, as necessary. Directs the Administrator to establish an ozone transport commission for each region. Requires each State within a region to submit to the Administrator a revised implementation plan which requires compliance with emission levels as if the region were classified as a Serious area for ozone. Exempts regions within a State that do not contribute significantly to ozone concentrations in Serious, Severe, or Extreme areas. Permits States or subdivisions to petition the Administrator for the inclusion of another State or portion of a State within an ozone transport region. Requires the Administrator to develop criteria for determining transboundary pollution for ozone. Authorizes the Administrator to pay up to 100 percent of the program costs of such commissions for two years. Directs the Administrator to: (1) list all categories of commercial and consumer solvents, architectural and other surface coatings, pesticide applications, traffic coatings, and military specification coatings which release significant evaporative emissions of VOCs; and (2) promulgate standards biennially, for eight years, to reduce emissions from the highest priority group of such substances to the lowest feasible emissions rate. Requires the Administrator to publish a list of the 12 categories of stationary sources for which control technologies have not been published and which make the most significant contribution to the formation of ozone air pollution. Directs the Administrator to publish guidance for such sources, including guidelines for monitoring emissions of VOCs and oxides of nitrogen, and review and, if necessary, update such guidelines. Requires owners or operators of sources emitting ten tons or more of VOCs annually to reduce such emissions by a specified percentage if guidance for such source has not been published. Directs the Administrator to publish a control technology document regarding control of VOC emissions from the loading of petroleum products on or off of vessels. Provides that such emissions shall be considered to be direct emissions of the onshore terminal. Title III: Provisions Applicable to Carbon Monoxide Nonattainment Areas - Classifies carbon monoxide nonattainment areas as Moderate, Serious, or Severe. Authorizes the Administrator to adjust such classifications under conditions parallel to those for ozone nonattainment areas. Requires the Administrator to publish carbon monoxide concentration milestones for Serious and Severe areas to be achieved within four and eight years of this Act's enactment, respectively. Sets forth attainment dates of four, eight, and twelve years, respectively, for Moderate, Serious, and Severe areas. Sets forth requirements parallel to those for ozone nonattainment areas for State plan revisions, content, approval, and auditing. Requires plans for Serious and Severe areas to include: (1) motor vehicle inspection and maintenance programs to reduce in-use carbon monoxide emissions; and (2) provisions requiring the use of oxygenated fuels for all gasoline-powered motor vehicles during periods identified as having carbon monoxide concentrations potentially in excess of air quality standards. Directs the Administrator to promulgate guidelines allowing the use of marketable oxygen credits from fuels with higher oxygen contents than required to offset the sale or use of fuels with lower contents than required. Waives the oxygenated fuel requirement upon a demonstration that the use of such fuels would prevent or interfere with an area's attainment of a standard for any other air pollutant. Requires persons selling oxygenated fuel to label the fuel dispensing system accordingly. Sets forth requirements parallel to those for ozone nonattainment areas for: (1) permit programs and emissions offsets in Severe areas; (2) persons owning or operating more than 15 vehicles in such areas; and (3) funding for transportation planning. Provides for a $5 per vehicle annual registration fee in such areas. Makes registration revenues available to the State air pollution control agency for developing carbon monoxide emissions reduction strategies. Sets forth requirements parallel to those for ozone nonattainment areas for noncompliance procedures and State demonstrations. Provides for the implementation of an incentives program to reduce vehicle miles traveled in Severe areas if milestones or demonstration requirements have not been met. Provides for reclassification and plan revision procedures parallel to those required for Severe and Extreme ozone nonattainment areas. Title IV: Provisions Applicable to PM 10 Nonattainment Areas - Classifies PM 10 nonattainment areas as Serious or Severe. Sets forth attainment dates of four and eight years after this Act's enactment, respectively, for Serious and Severe areas. Directs the Administrator to publish PM 10 concentration milestones for Severe areas to require a 50 percent reduction in concentrations within four years of this Act's enactment. Sets forth requirements parallel to those for ozone and carbon monoxide nonattainment areas for: (1) State plan revisions, content, approval, and auditing; and (2) permit programs for Serious and Severe areas. Requires permits for the operation of: (1) certain existing sources in Severe areas; and (2) new, modified, and existing sources of PM 10 precursors where such emissions contribute significantly to PM 10 concentrations in nonattainment areas. Sets forth requirements parallel to those for ozone and carbon monoxide nonattainment areas for noncompliance, State demonstrations, reclassifications, and plan revisions. Allows States which have submitted plan revisions for Severe areas to apply for a two-year extension of the attainment date. Provides that three to one offset requirements shall not apply to areas granted such extensions. Waives any PM 10 requirements if determined that anthropogenic sources of PM 10 do not contribute significantly to the violation of the PM 10 standard in the area. Directs the Administrator to: (1) list all important categories of PM 10 emissions and precursors; and (2) publish biennial guidelines concerning the best available control technology for PM 10 emissions from stationary sources in the highest priority group. Requires the Administrator to promulgate regulations for PM 10 emissions reduction from existing diesel buses in Severe areas to require the use of lower polluting fuels. Requires State plans to include annual PM 10 emissions inventories to be submitted to the Administrator. Provides for revisions of such plans if air quality standards are modified. Requires plans to contain measures to improve the ambient monitoring of PM 10. Title V: Mobile Sources - Sets standards for emissions of hydrocarbons, oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide, and particulates from: (1) passenger cars and light duty trucks manufactured after 1991; and (2) heavy duty trucks and buses manufactured after 1990. Directs the Administrator to promulgate standards for vehicles using low-emissions fuel. Requires the Administrator to evaluate and, if necessary, revise such standards at least every four years. Directs the Administrator to establish a minimum percentage of new motor vehicles to be certified as low-emissions vehicles. Requires the Administrator to promulgate emissions standards for internal combustion engines used in any vehicle or machine manufactured after January 1, 1993. Requires such standards to be proportional to those for motor vehicle engines of comparable horsepower using the same fuel. Directs the Administrator to add an idle test to the Federal Test Procedure for emissions from light duty vehicles manufactured after 1991. Permits only ten percent of vehicles manufactured after 1990 in a selective enforcement audit to fail motor vehicle testing. Requires the Administrator to review and revise, as necessary, testing regulations to insure that vehicles are tested under circumstances reflecting actual current driving conditions. Requires each vehicle and engine to comply with the applicable emissions standard (Current law permits averaging). Provides that the useful life of vehicles and engines manufactured after 1994 shall be ten years or 100,000 miles. Makes technical amendments to prohibitions on tampering with vehicle emission control devices. Directs the Administrator to require the use of best available technology to control evaporative emissions from motor vehicles for a vehicle's useful life. Sets standards for emission of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and evaporative hydrocarbons from motorcycles manufactured after 1991. Requires the installation of onboard emission diagnostic equipment on motor vehicles. Directs the Administrator to: (1) promulgate regulations to reduce evaporative emissions from motor vehicle fuels; and (2) establish a standard for gasoline volatility. Requires new light duty motor vehicles manufactured in the second year after standards are promulgated to be equipped with onboard evaporative emissions control systems. Provides for carbon monoxide emissions testing at 20 degrees Fahrenheit of passenger cars and light duty trucks manufactured after model year 1992. Sets emissions standards at such temperature. Title VI: Miscellaneous Provisions - Requires the Administrator to establish requirements to control air pollution from Outer Continental Shelf sources. Authorizes States adjacent to such sources to submit to the Administrator procedures for enforcing such requirements. Directs the Administrator to delegate enforcement authority to States with adequate procedures. Authorizes the Administrator to substitute maximum allowable increases in particulate matter smaller than or equal to ten micrometers (PM 10) for maximum allowable increases in such matter specified under the Clean Air Act. Authorizes the Administrator to: (1) treat Indian tribes as States under the Clean Air Act; (2) delegate to such tribes primary responsibility for assuring air pollution control; and (3) provide such tribes grant and contract assistance to carry out such functions. Outlines requirements for such authorization. Authorizes the Administrator to promulgate other means for administering such authorities where such treatment is inappropriate. Directs the Administrator to list nonattainment areas for air pollutants other than those covered by this Act when a new or revised air quality standard is promulgated. Applies the PM 10 standards, excepting attainment deadlines and provisions relating to diesel buses, to such areas. Requires the Administrator to make information regarding emissions control technology available to States and the public through a central database. Repeals provisions concerning enforcement orders and violations by owners or operators of major stationary sources. Requires States to submit plan revisions for nonattainment areas failing to meet attainment deadlines for air pollutants other than those covered by this Act. Requires new or modified sources of such pollutants to comply with provisions of this Act and applies an emissions offset ratio of three to one to such pollutants. Directs the Administrator to conduct biennial audits of motor vehicle inspection and maintenance programs in Severe or Extreme ozone or carbon monoxide nonattainment areas. Increases and expands the scope of penalties and violations of the Clean Air Act. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1990 through 1994.
United States · United States Congress · 11 May 1989
Low-Income Housing Credit Act of 1989 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent the low-income housing income tax credit (under current law the credit will expire after tax year 1989). Permits States a one-year carryover of unused credit authority. Assigns carryovers to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to allocate to eligible States applying for excess credit. Allows the credit only if an extended low-income housing commitment (beyond the current 15-year period) is in effect with respect to any building for the relevant taxable year. Describes procedures to effect transition to a non-low-income use in connection with such extensions. Permits the credit in connection with the acquisition of an existing building only if the taxpayer incurs rehabilitation expenditures of at least $3,000 per unit. Revises rent restrictions to: (1) declare unnecessary a required rent reduction below the initial rent if the median gross income of the area decreases; (2) permit higher rent if units are occupied by higher income individuals and the project has an operating deficit; (3) base income limitations on the number of bedrooms in a unit; and (4) use State median gross income in certain low-income housing status determinations. Broadens categories of existing buildings eligible for a waiver of the ten-year requirement for the low-income housing credit. Revises credit provisions relating to single-room occupancy units and special needs housing. Loosens restrictions that limit credit benefits in connection with buildings financed with tax-exempt bonds and below market loans. Permits the credit to be allocated: (1) on a project basis; and (2) in connection with owner-occupied buildings of four units or less if a development plan is submitted. Directs housing credit agencies to adopt plans for allocating credit amounts among projects, prohibiting the credit with respect to any building not included in such a plan. Modifies at-risk rules in connection with buildings subject to the historic rehabilitation credit and those associated with financing provided by certain nonprofit organizations. Sets the tax credit rate on a semiannual rather than monthly basis. Increases the credit in connection with buildings in high cost areas (low-income census tracts or difficult development areas).
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 1989
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1989 - Title I: General Prohibition Against Discrimination - Declares that it shall be discriminatory, on the basis of disability, to deny opportunities or to afford them unequally, to provide opportunities less effectively (or differently or separately, unless necessary for effectiveness), to assist an organization or individual that discriminates, or to otherwise limit opportunities enjoyed by others. Prohibits the use of standards, criteria, or administrative methods that have the purpose or effect of discrimination or perpetuate discrimination. Declares it discriminatory to deny equal opportunities because of the relationship or association of an individual with another individual with a disability. Allows as a defense to a charge of discrimination that an application of standards or criteria has been demonstrated to be both necessary and substantially related to the ability of an individual to take advantage of the essential components of the opportunity, and that the taking advantage cannot be accomplished by reasonable accommodations, modifications, or the provision of auxiliary aids or services. Title II: Employment - Prohibits discrimination by any employer, employment agency, labor organization, or joint labor-management committee against any qualified individual with a disability in job application procedures, hiring or discharge, compensation, advancement, training, and other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment. Lists types of actions construed to be discrimination. Makes the remedies set forth in specified provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other specified Federal law available to any individual who believes that he or she is being or is about to be subjected to discrimination in violation of this Act. Title III: Public Services - Declares that no qualified individual with a disability shall be excluded from the participation in, denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination by a State, or by an agency, political subdivision, or other instrumentality of a State. Lists types of actions deemed, for purposes of this Act and specified provisions of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, to be discrimination with regard to public transportation. Makes the remedies and rights set forth in specified provisions of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 available to any individual who believes that he or she is being or is about to be subjected to discrimination in violation of this Act. Title IV: Public Accommodations and Services Operated by Private Entities - Prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in the enjoyment of any place of public accommodation. Lists types of actions construed to be discrimination. Prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in public transportation services provided by a private entity that is primarily engaged in transporting people, but that is not in the principal business of air transportation. Lists types of actions construed to be discrimination. Makes specified provisions of the Fair Housing Act relating to enforcement available, subject to exception, to any aggrieved individual. Title V: Telecommunications Relay Services - Defines "telecommunications relay services" to mean services that enable simultaneous communication between individuals who use telecommunications devices for the deaf (TDDs) or other nonvoice terminal devices and individuals who do not use such devices. Declares it discriminatory for any common carrier that offers telephone services to the public to fail to provide interstate or intrastate telecommunication relay services that are equal to those provided to their customers who are able to use voice services, except in any State in which services are provided through an entity designated by the State. Declares it discrimination by a State that makes such a designation if the State fails to provide interstate or intrastate relay services that are equal to those provided to their voice customers. Makes specified provisions of the Fair Housing Act relating to enforcement available, subject to exception, to any aggrieved individual. Requires the Federal Communications Commission to enforce this title. Makes specified provisions of the Communications Act of 1934 apply with respect to the enforcement of this title. Provides for cease and desist orders by the Commission and for monetary penalties. Title VI: Miscellaneous Provisions - Prohibits retaliatory discrimination against any individual because of actions related to this Act. Declares that a State shall not be immune under the 11th Amendment to the Constitution from an action in Federal court for a violation of this Act. Requires the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board to issue minimum guidelines to supplement the existing Minimum Guidelines and Requirements for Accessible Design. Allows the awarding of reasonable attorney's fees, in certain circumstances, in any action or proceeding under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 1989
Facsimile Advertising Regulation Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 with respect to telephone facsimile machines (equipment which has the capacity to reproduce text or images into an electronic signal, transmit such signal over a regular telephone line, receive such signals, and produce a copy of the transmitted text and images). Makes it unlawful for any person in the District of Columbia or in interstate or foreign communications, by means of a telephone, to use any telephone facsimile machine (fax machine) or other electronic device to send any unsolicited advertisement to the fax machine of any person whose number is on record with a common carrier as the number of one objecting to receipt of such advertisements. Directs each common carrier to maintain a list of persons who notify them of their objection to receiving such unsolicited advertisements by fax machines. Directs the Federal Communications Commission to revise the regulations governing fax machines to require that any such machine which is manufactured six months after the enactment of this Act and used for the distribution of unsolicited advertising be equipped to identify the date and time sent, an identification of the business sending the advertising, and the telephone number of the sending machine.
United States · United States Congress · 2 May 1989
Steel Revitalization Act of 1989 - Sets forth quotas on the aggregate quantity of articles that may be imported within all steel categories and within each steel category for quota years 1989 through 1997 (corresponding to FY 1990 through 1998). Limits the aggregate quantity of such articles for any year to a specified percentage of the domestic consumption. Sets forth a foreign country limitation with respect to the importation of such steel articles. Requires the Secretary of Commerce to determine the domestic consumption and compute the quantitative restriction for such articles in a steel category for each year. Requires the Secretary to: (1) monitor the domestic production in, the exportation from, and the importation into, the United States of articles in a steel category; and (2) notify the Secretary of the Treasury of such determinations and computations. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to auction rights to enter quantities of articles within the steel categories during each quota year. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to deposit auction monies into the Steel Revitalization Fund. Requires the President, before quota year 1989, to negotiate with foreign countries for an orderly transition from voluntary steel restraint agreements to the quantitative restrictions imposed under this Act. Permits any domestic steel product manufacturer to submit, for the Secretary's approval, a restructuring plan that will enable such manufacturer to compete on an international basis. Authorizes the Secretary to provide financial assistance to steel manufacturers with approved restructuring plans. Authorizes the Secretary to establish a plan review advisory council to review and provide advice regarding restructuring plans. Establishes the Steel Revitalization Fund within the Treasury. Terminates the quantitative restrictions imposed under this Act on September 30, 1998.
United States · United States Congress · 25 April 1989
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend the targeted jobs income tax credit through 1992 (under current law the credit will expire after December 31, 1989). Amends the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 to authorize appropriations through FY 1992 in connection with the targeted jobs credit. Raises from 23 to 25 years the age limitation with respect to economically disadvantaged youth targeted for credit purposes. Adds as a targeted group under the credit economically disadvantaged individuals who have completed a qualified drug rehabilitation program.
United States · United States Congress · 18 April 1989
Employee Educational Assistance Act of 1989 - Repeals provisions of the Internal Revenue Code that: (1) terminated the income tax exclusion of amounts paid under employee educational assistance programs as of tax year 1989; and (2) deny benefits in connection with graduate work.
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 1989
World War I Veterans' Service Pension Act - Directs the Administrator (effective March 1989, Secretary) of Veterans Affairs to pay a monthly pension of $150 to each veteran of World War I who meets specified service requirements. Requires such veteran, if receiving another pension administered by the Veterans Administration (effective March 1989, Department of Veterans Affairs) (VA), to elect which pension he will receive. Provides for the payment of a monthly pension of $100 to surviving spouses of World War I veterans who meet certain marriage requirements. Requires such surviving spouses to choose between pensions if they are currently receiving another pension through the VA.
United States · United States Congress · 13 April 1989
Authorizes the Raoul Wallenberg Tribute Committee to establish a work to honor Raoul Wallenberg on Federal land in the District of Columbia or its environs. Prohibits the United States from paying any expense of the establishment of the work.
United States · United States Congress · 12 April 1989
Provides an exemption from the reduction in retirement pay because of reemployment for Federal annuitants and former members of a uniformed service who become reemployed with a temporary position within the Bureau of the Census to assist in carrying out the 1990 decennial census.
United States · United States Congress · 5 April 1989
Authorizes the President to present a gold medal, on behalf of the Congress, to each of the following individuals in recognition of their contributions to this Nation's cultural heritage: (1) Frank Capra; (2) James Stewart; and (3) Fred Zinnemann. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to design a different gold medal for each such individual. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary to strike and sell bronze duplicates of such medals at a price sufficient to cover the costs of such duplicates and the gold medals. Requires the appropriations to be reimbursed out of the sales proceeds. Designates all such medals as National Medals.
United States · United States Congress · 5 April 1989
Emergency Phone System Equal Access Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require that any telecommunication system that is operated by a provider of public safety services, used to provide public safety emergency answering services, and manufactured, imported, or installed in the United States more than one year after the enactment of this Act be readily accessible to hearing- and speech-impaired individuals.
United States · United States Congress · 5 April 1989
Urges the Government of Iran to uphold the human rights of all its nationals, including members of the Baha'i faith, and to extend the rights guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Calls upon the President to continue to: (1) emphasize human rights improvements as an important factor in the development of relations between the U.S. and Iranian Governments; (2) cooperate with other governments to initiate and support actions by the United Nations and its agencies to promote the protection of the religious rights of the Baha'is; and (3) provide, and urge others to provide, for refugee and humanitarian assistance for those Baha'is fleeing their homelands to escape religious repression.
United States · United States Congress · 4 April 1989
Employee Pension Protection Act of 1989 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to revise fiduciary standards applicable to pension plan assets to account for duties with respect to assets of terminated plans. Establishes fiduciary standards to apply to employer reversions upon plan termination, requiring an employer to establish and maintain a complete replacement plan or a substantial replacement plan in connection with the termination. Prescribes requirements to govern both types of plans. Links the establishment of either of these new plans to the amount of any employer reversion, requiring the new plans to have assets sufficient to pay all liabilities to participants and their beneficiaries. Considers any plan fiduciary or sponsor to be jointly and severally liable for violation of ERISA if requirements regarding complete replacement or substantial replacement plans upon plan termination are not met at any time during the five-year period beginning on the date of final distribution of assets from the terminated plan. Describes fiduciary duties to govern the distribution of plan assets to participants and beneficiaries upon plan termination in cases when the employer does not set up a replacement or substantial replacement plan. Institutes fiduciary duties with respect to distributions of plan assets upon termination in direct trustee-to-trustee transfers to individual retirement plans. Directs the Secretary of Labor to prescribe reporting requirements in connection with these transfers.
United States · United States Congress · 23 March 1989
Criminal Assault Weapon Penalty Act of 1989 - Provides for enhanced penalties for the possession or use of a semiautomatic firearm with an ammunition clip capacity of ten or more rounds or a short-barrelled shotgun during a crime of violence or a drug trafficking crime.
United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1989
National African-American Heritage Memorial Museum Act - Establishes within the Smithsonian Institution the National African-American Heritage Memorial Museum to be operated as a center and location for education, research, events, and collection and display of items and materials relating to the historical, cultural, economic, political, and other aspects of the scope of experiences of African-Americans. Requires the Board of Trustees of the National African-American Heritage Memorial Museum to report to the Congress and the President annually on its activities and operations. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 21 March 1989
Title I: Statehood Centennial Coin - Statehood Centennial Commemorative Coin Act of 1989 - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue not more than a specified number of one-dollar silver coins and five-dollar palladium coins in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the statehood of Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington, and Wyoming. Sets forth certain features of such coins and provides for their design, issuance, and sale. Requires the Secretary to provide a specified amount of all surcharges to the Documents West exhibition program with the remaining amount of surcharges to be deposited in the Treasury to be used to reduce the national debt. Requires the Secretary to obtain silver for the one-dollar coins only from stockpiles established under the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act. Requires the Secretary to obtain palladium for the five-dollar coins by purchase of palladium mined and refined in the United States. Grants the Comptroller General the right to examine records and other data of the Idaho Centennial Commission. Title II: Silver Proof Sets - Silver Coin Proof Set Act - Authorizes the Secretary to mint and issue silver coin proof sets. Sets forth certain specified features of such coins and provides for their sale to the public. Requires the Secretary to obtain silver for such coins by purchase from stockpiles established under the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act and from Treasury stocks on hand.
United States · United States Congress · 20 March 1989
Africa Famine Recovery and Development Act - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to add a chapter dealing with Africa Famine Recovery and Development. Authorizes the President to provide project and program assistance for long-term development in sub-Saharan Africa. Requires the purpose of such assistance to be to help the poor majority of men and women in sub-Saharan Africa to participate in a process of long-term development through economic growth that is equitable, participatory, environmentally sustainable, and self-reliant. Provides that such assistance should also encourage private sector development and promote individual initiatives and help to reduce the role of central governments in areas more appropriate for the private sector. Declares that the general authorities and policies of the development assistance provisions of such Act apply to this Act. Requires the agency primarily responsible for administering development assistance programs (responsible agency) to: (1) take into account the local-level perspective of the rural and urban poor in sub-Saharan Africa during the planning and review of annual country planning documents for project assistance under this Act; (2) make available funds for a significant long-term expansion of development efforts by private and voluntary organizations which have demonstrated effectiveness in or commitment to the promotion of local grass-roots activities on behalf of long-term development in sub-Saharan Africa; and (3) consult with other organizations in order to identify relevant private and voluntary organizations. Encourages the responsible agency to review procedures for the development and evaluation of projects to be carried out by private and voluntary organizations and to simplify such procedures wherever appropriate. Requires the close consultation and involvement of local people in projects that have a local focus. Requires the responsible agency to ensure the participation and integration of African women in development projects assisted by this Act. Requires that the views of women as well as men be ascertained and factored into decisions relating to development activities which affect them. Requires the responsible agency to use the program assistance provided by this Act to: (1) meet the need for maintenance and rehabilitation within the critical sectoral priorities for long-term development; and (2) promote reform of national economic policies to support these priorities. Sets forth examples of national economic policy reforms which can be supported by assistance provided by this Act. Requires such reforms to include provisions to protect vulnerable groups, especially poor farmers and the urban poor, from possible negative consequences of such reforms. Requires assistance for such reforms to take account of the need for adjustments should recurrence of drought make it impossible to achieve the goals of the reforms. Designates as the critical sectoral priorities for long-term development: (1) increased agricultural production and the maintenance and restoration of renewable natural resources; (2) improved health conditions; (3) voluntary family planning services; (4) improved relevance and efficiency of education; and (5) development of income generating opportunities for the unemployed and underemployed. Imposes minimum levels of assistance for certain critical sectors. Directs the responsible agency to provide support for strengthening and developing selected African higher education institutions in order to address the problems of food production and distribution. Prohibits the responsible agency from using less than specified amounts for in-country natural resources and environmental training in sub-Saharan Africa. Requires the responsible agency to formulate coherent country development assistance strategies. Sets forth information such strategies must analyze and address. Requires the assistance provided under this Act to be concentrated in countries that will make the most effective use of such assistance. Specifies uses for local currencies generated by assistance provided under this Act and other Acts. Provides that funds made available under this Act may be used to assist the countries in sub-Saharan Africa to increase their capacity to participate in donor coordination mechanisms at the country, regional, and sector levels. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1990 through 1994 for long-term development assistance for sub-Saharan Africa and for funding activities of certain international organizations. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the authorization should be extended whenever appropriate. Limits transfers between accounts funded by this Act. Requires the Administrator of the Agency for International Development (AID) to develop a plan for organizational changes within AID in order to carry out the long-term development assistance program for sub-Saharan Africa with maximum effectiveness. Sets forth changes the Administrator shall consider. Requires the Administrator to consult with specified congressional committees about such changes. Authorizes the Administrator to transfer certain funds in order to increase the AID resources for development assistance activities for sub-Saharan Africa. Requires the Administrator to develop a plan for evaluating AID's progress in achieving the purposes of this Act. Requires the plan to provide for: (1) interim evaluations; (2) the establishment of specific criteria for measuring the performance of U.S. development assistance for the poor majority of men and women in sub-Saharan Africa; (3) the collection and monitoring of base-line data for future measurement of the effectiveness of such assistance; and (4) the measures by which the evaluations will be used to institutionalize learning within AID. Requires the plan to be developed in consultation with specified congressional committees. Expresses the sense of the Congress that there should be independent evaluations of AID's performance in providing development assistance to the poor majority of men and women in sub-Saharan Africa. Requires that assistance from other assistance and development programs be used to provide assistance to the poor majority in sub-Saharan Africa. Authorizes the President to make available such amounts from the funds made available by this Act as the President deems appropriate to support long-term development assistance for activities of international organizations which are consistent with the purpose of providing assistance for the poor majority in sub-Saharan Africa and which are undertaken in coordination with AID. Encourages the President to use the authorities provided in this Act in coordination with activities of the multilateral development banks in sub-Saharan Africa. Urges the President to provide debt rescheduling to a country in sub-Saharan Africa if: (1) that country had an average per capita income in 1984 of less that $550; and (2) at any time between October 1, 1989, and September 30, 1994, an International Monetary Fund standby agreement is in effect with respect to that country, a structural adjustment program of the International Development Association of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development is in effect with respect to that country, or the President makes a specified finding regarding economic policy reforms in such country. Provides that the debt rescheduling is the granting of a five-year grace period on all payments to the United States on specified types of loans. Requires the President to notify specified congressional committees of any debt rescheduling granted under this Act. Requires that it be the policy of the United States that the funds made available by this Act are not to be used by a country to repay loans, with exceptions. Requires the annual report by the President to the Congress on foreign assistance programs to include a report on the progress made in carrying out this Act. Provides that reprogramming notification requirements do not apply to funds used to carry out this Act. Makes conforming amendments to various Acts. Declares that, where appropriate, African famine relief activities should serve as the foundation for long-term development activities undertaken pursuant to this Act. Provides for the transfer of certain funds so that they may be used for management support activities associated with long-term development assistance. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the purposes of the African Development Foundation are consistent with the purposes of this Act. Amends the African Development Foundation Act to authorize appropriations for the African Development Foundation for FY 1990 and 1991. Expresses the sense of the Congress that special efforts should be undertaken to reduce trade barriers and promote economic interchange between the United States and developing countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1989
National Capital Transportation Amendments of 1989 - Amends the National Capital Transportation Act of 1969 to authorize appropriations to the Secretary of Transportation for completion of the Adopted Regional System (Washington Metrorail System). Requires local participating governments to provide a matching share of 25 percent of the Federal share of completion costs.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1989
Student Athlete Right-to-Know Act - Requires institutions of higher education receiving Federal assistance to provide certain information with respect to the graduation rates of student-athletes. (Includes information on fields of study, race, and sex under such requirement.) Requires such institutions to report such information annually to the Secretary of Education and to include it in their letters of intent to prospective students who are candidates for athletic scholarships. Directs the Secretary to compile and publish a report containing such information and to make copies available upon request to individuals and secondary schools.
United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1989
Age Discrimination in Employment Waiver Protection Act of 1989 - Amends the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (the Act) to prohibit an individual from waiving any right under the Act without the supervision of a court, except in settlement of a bona fide claim alleging a certain kind of prohibited age discrimination. Allows a settlement of a bona fide claim to occur only if the settlement is knowing and voluntary and only if certain criteria are met, including filing notice with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Defines "bona fide claim," for such purposes, as: (1) a charge of age discrimination filed with the EEOC; (2) an action alleging age discrimination filed in court by the individual or the individual's representative; or (3) a specific allegation of age discrimination communicated in writing by the individual or the individual's representative directly to the employer, employment agency, or labor organization or their representatives, and without the assistance or instigation of any such entity against which the allegation is made. Limits EEOC authority to issue rules or regulations which would permit waivers, without EEOC or court supervision, of rights or claims which are not waived in accordance with this Act. Provides that, effective upon the enactment of this Act, a specified rule on waivers issued by the EEOC shall have no force and effect.
![Official portrait of Rep. Hoyer, Steny H. [D-MD-5]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/116_rp_md_5_hoyer_steny_200.jpg)