Housing

Spending Priority Reform Act of 1991

United States · United States Congress · 13 June 1991

Spending Priority Reform Act of 1991 - Expresses the sense of the Congress that any money returned to the Treasury as a result of this Act should be deposited in the General Fund of the Treasury to be applied against servicing the national debt. Title I: Interior Appropriations - Rescinds unauthorized FY 1991 appropriations to the Department of the Interior for: (1) certain National Park Service studies; (2) projects for historic landmarks; and (3) grants for miscellaneous local projects. Title II: Commerce, Justice, State Appropriations - Rescinds unauthorized FY 1991 appropriations to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for: (1) a specified fresh-water fish hatchery; (2) a certain seafood consumer center in Oregon; (3) a project for fish oil research; (4) special area management planning in Charleston, South Carolina; and (5) the purchase of a research vessel for the University of Massachusetts. Amends the Small Business Act to repeal the authorization for a tree planting program. Rescinds unauthorized FY 1991 appropriations to the Small Business Administration for such program and for direct grants for miscellaneous projects. Title III: Treasury, Postal Service, and General Government Appropriations - Rescinds unauthorized FY 1991 appropriations to the General Services Administration for certain projects funded through the Federal Buildings Fund. Title IV: Agriculture Appropriations - Rescinds unauthorized FY 1991 appropriations to the Department of Agriculture for certain special research grants and the rural development grant for the restoration of the birthplace of Lawrence Welk or the construction, alteration, or repair of a Lawrence Welk museum. Title V: Transportation Appropriations - Rescinds unauthorized FY 1991 appropriations to the Department of Transportation for specified Federal Highway Administration demonstration projects. Title VI: Housing and Urban Development Appropriations - Rescinds unauthorized FY 1991 appropriations to the Department of Housing and Urban Development for certain housing projects. Title VII: Defense Appropriations - Rescinds unauthorized FY 1991 appropriations made under the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 1991, for certain universities and certain miscellaneous projects. Title VIII: Foreign Operations Appropriations - Rescinds unauthorized FY 1991 appropriations for a specified grant relating to foreign development and development assistance made to a university. Title IX: Legislative Branch Appropriations - Rescinds unauthorized appropriations to study the location for a new staff gymnasium for the House of Representatives. Title X: Supplemental Appropriations (Public Law 102-27) - Rescinds unauthorized appropriations made under the Dire Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Consequences of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Food Stamps, Unemployment Compensation Administration, Veterans Compensation and Pensions, and Other Urgent Needs Act of 1991 for: (1) the service life extension program for the U.S.S. Kennedy at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard; and (2) the costs of establishing a Center for Commerce and Industrial Expansion at Loyola University of Chicago.

Government-Sponsored Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1991

United States · United States Congress · 12 June 1991

Government-Sponsored Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1991 - Title I: Improvement of Supervision and Regulation of the Federal National Mortgage Association and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Association - Defines specified terms for purposes of this title. Subtitle A: Establishment of Financial Safety and Soundness Regulatory - Establishes in the Department of Housing and Urban Development the Office of Government-Sponsored Enterprise Financial Oversight (Office). Subtitle B: Capital Levels and Special Enforcement Powers - Requires the Office to establish risk-based capital levels for each enterprise. Establishes minimum capital levels, critical capital levels, and enforcement levels. Sets forth mandatory supervisory actions at various capital levels. Subtitle C: General Enforcement Powers - Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) cease-and-desist proceedings; (2) temporary cease-and-desist orders; (3) removal and prohibition authority; (4) director or officer suspension and removal; (5) hearings and judicial review; (6) jurisdiction; (7) civil money penalties; (8) notice; (9) subpoena power; and (10) public disclosure of final orders and agreements. Subtitle D: Conservatorship - Authorizes: (1) the appointment of a conservator for a troubled enterprise; and (2) an enterprise to judicially challenge such appointment. Title II: Primacy of Financial Safety and Soundness for the Federal Housing Finance Board - Amends the Federal Home Loan Bank Act to state that the primary duty of the Board shall be to ensure that the Federal Home Loan Banks operate in a financially safe and sound manner. Title III: Improvement of Supervision and Regulation of the Student Loan marketing Association - Subtitle A: Establishment of Financial Safety and Soundness Regulatory - Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to report annually to the Congress on the financial safety and soundness of the Student Loan Marketing Association. Establishes a separate fund in the Treasury for the deposit of assessments, fees, and other charges collected to carry out the Secretary's responsibilities for the Association. Subtitle B: Capital Levels and Special Enforcement Powers - Directs the Secretary to establish relevant capital measures and minimum risk-based capital levels for each such measure. Subtitle C: General Enforcement Powers - Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) cease-and-desist proceedings; (2) temporary cease-and-desist orders; (3) removal and prohibition authority; (4) director or officer suspension and removal; (5) hearings and judicial review; (6) jurisdiction and enforcement; (7) civil money penalties; (8) notice; (9) subpoena power; and (10) public disclosure of final orders and agreements. Subtitle D: Conservatorship - Authorizes the Secretary to appoint a conservator for the Association when necessary. Title IV: Jurisdiction of Courts in Prompt Corrective Action - Amends Federal law to grant the United States Claims Court exclusive jurisdiction over claims for damages against the United States by any person who has petition for judicial review of certain actions made under this Act. Title V: Farm Credit System - Subtitle A: Improvements to Farm Credit System Safety and Soundness - Amends the Farm Credit Act of 1971 to authorize the Federal Farm Credit Banks Funding Corporation to gather information from, and monitor the financial condition and performance of, Farm Credit System banks and their related associations and to establish and impose certain economic incentives. Authorizes the Corporation, whenever assistance has been provided to any System bank, the authority to determine the amount of additional stock in the bank to be subscribed for to provide capital to meet certain capital requirements. Subtitle B: Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation - Revises the composition of the Board of Directors of the Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation. Directs the Corporation to develop and publish a new risk-based premium structure and to succeed to the rights of the Farm Credit System Assistance Board in the certification of institutions as eligible to issue preferred stock. Subtitle C: Farm Credit System Consolidation - Revises provisions governing the consolidation of farm credit districts. Subtitle D: Repayment of Financial Assistance Corporation Debt Obligations - Replaces the authority of the Financial Assistance Corporation to issue debt obligations with provisions for the prepayment of principal and interest into the Farm Credit Assistance Fund. Subtitle E: Farm Credit System Bank and Institution Management - Requires one-third of the members (currently, one of the members) of the board of directors of the following entities to be elected by the other directors: (1) each Federal land bank association; (2) each production credit association; and (3) each Farm Credit Bank.

Higher Education Act Amendments of 1991

United States · United States Congress · 12 June 1991

Higher Education Act Amendments of 1991 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to revise and reauthorize its programs. Title I: Access and Retention - Establishes a new HEA title I, Access and Retention, to provide special programs and projects: (1) to identify and encourage students from low-income or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds who have potential for postsecondary and graduate education; and (2) to prepare students from such backgrounds for such education. (Replaces the current title I, Postsecondary Programs for Nontraditional Students.) Establishes a new Precollege Outreach Program of grants to States (replacing the current part A program) to support outreach services for individuals from low-income and educationally disadvantaged backgrounds in order to help them successfully complete secondary education and begin and succeed in postsecondary education. Authorizes States to make subgrants to eligible entities to carry out one or more of such services. Provides for a gradually declining Federal share of project costs, from 90 percent in the first year, with five percent reductions in succeeding years leveling off at 70 percent for the fifth year and thereafter. Includes among criteria to be used by the State agency in selecting projects the degree to which an applicant's service area include large numbers of low-income or first-generation college students. Prohibits an institution of higher education from using such grant funds for recruitment of students to enroll at that institution. Authorizes appropriations. Establishes a new Student Support Service Program of grants to institutions of higher education (replacing the current part B Natinal Programs) to support individuals pursuing postsecondary education programs who are first-generation college students or from low-income or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds. Directs the Secretary, in making such grant awards, to give highest priority to projects at institutions with the lowest educational and general expenditures per full-time equivalent student. Sets forth types of authorized services to assist in motivating and preparing students for postsecondary education. Authorizes appropriations. Establishes a new Ronald E. McNair Graduate Outreach Program of grants to institutions of higher education (combining and replacing certain current part C programs) for services to eligible individuals from low-income and educationally disadvantaged backgrounds to prepare them for graduate, professional, and doctoral study. Directs the Secretary not to make such a grant award without assurances that: (1) at least two-thirds of project participants will be first-generation college students from low-income families; (2) remaining participants will be from a group underrepresented in graduate education; (3) participants will be enrolled in a degree program, at an institution of higher education; and (4) participants in summer research internships will have completed their sophomore year in postsecondary education. Sets forth authorized uses of grant funds, including opportunities for research or other scholarly activities, summer internships, and fellowships. Authorizes appropriations. Title II: National Graduate Fellowships Program - Repeals HEA titles II (Academic Library and Information Technology Enhancement) and IX (Graduate Programs). Establishes a new HEA title II, National Graduate Fellowships Program, for competitive grants to institutions of higher education to provide financial support to highly qualified individuals in graduate studies in areas of national need (including individuals from groups traditionally underrepresented in such studies in such areas). Designates each fellowship recipient a National Graduate Fellow. Limits the fellowship stipend to five years. Authorizes the Secretary to award continuation grants to institutions demonstrating satisfactory progress. Requires institutions receiving them to give preference in awarding fellowship stipends to students who have received National Graduate Fellowships and who demonstrate satisfactory progress in their studies. Sets forth reporting requirements. Directs the Secretary to make new grants under title II only to the extent that funds remain from continued prior funding under HEA to recipients of graduate fellowship assistance for: (1) the Foreign Language and Areas Studies Fellowship Program; (2) the Patricia Roberts Harris Fellowship Program; (3) the Jacob K. Javits Fellows Program; or (4) the Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need Program. Requires institutions receiving title II grants to give preference in awarding fellowships to students who previously received such assistance under a listed program. Allows a student who received such assistance to subsequently receive a National Graduate Fellowship, but limits the combined period of assistance to not more than five years. Authorizes appropriations. Title III: Institutional Aid - Revises HEA title III, Institutional Aid. Eliminates provisions for special consideration for certain activities. Deems these simply as allowable program activities.) Revises eligibility criteria for institutions to require that their average educational and general expenditures be lower, by a percentage determined annually, than the same expenditures per full-time equivalent undergraduate student of institutions that offer similar instruction. Eliminates as a requirement for such assistance that such institutions are to have been authorized for the preceding five years to offer a specified degree program and accredited or making reasonable progress toward accreditation. Eliminates provisions for waivers of such requirement for institutions with specified percentages of minority students. Limits grant awards to only one such grant, with a maximum five-year duration, to any eligible institution, except that a one-year planning grant may be awarded for preparing plans and applications. Requires: (1) grant applications to describe measurable goals for the institution's management and academic programs, and a plan for achieving them; and (2) continuation applications to demonstrate progress toward achieving them. Revises the program of grants to strengthen Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Allows the use of grant funds to establish or improve a development office to strengthen or improve contributions from alumni and the private sector. Prohibits awarding to any one undergraduate institution: (1) more than two such grants for a period not to exceed ten years from September 30, 1987; or (2) any grant exceeding five years. Requires grant applications to describe measurable goals for the institution's financial management as well as academic goals, and plans to achieve them. Revises and renames a certain program Endowment Challenge Grants for Institutions Eligible for Assistance. Increases the amount (from $10,000,000 to $20,000,000) which appropriations for such grants must exceed before the Secretary may make a two-to-one matching endowment grant exceeding $1,000,000 to an institution. Gives priority for endowment grants to applicants that have received another title III grant within the preceding five years. Revises title III general provisions. Authorizes appropriations. Title IV: Student Assistance - Part A: Grants to Students - Amends HEA title IV (Student Assistance) with respect to the program of Grants to Students in Attendance at Institutions of Higher Education. Subpart 1: Pell Grants - Extends Pell Grant program authority through FY 1997. Eliminates a requirement that the Secretary make an advance payment to eligible institutions of at least 85 percent of the amount each institution requests as needed to pay Pell Grants to eligible students. Revises requirements for the amount of Pell Grants. Sets the amount of an award to a student at the lesser of: (1) the specified maximum award less the expected family contribution; or (2) the percentage (based on family-income level) of the amount of the student's need for financial assistance (i.e. cost of attendance minus expected family contribution). Increases the maximum award amount to $3,700 for 1992-3 and the four succeeding award years. Sets forth a table of percentages of student need for award computation. Increases the minimum allowable award from $200 to $400. Eliminates certain restrictions on the award of Pell Grants to students attending on a less than half-time basis. Revises the period of eligibility for Pell Grants. Limits such period to the full-time equivalent of three academic years in the aggregate in the case of all undergraduate degree or certificate programs normally requiring two years or less. Specifies that longer eligibility periods for longer programs are cumulative and include periods for which the student received a Pell Grant under shorter programs Revises requirements for adjustments for insufficient appropriations for the Pell Grant program. Provides for reduction of all awards by a percentage determined in accordance with a schedule of reductions by the Secretary. (Currently certain awards are held harmless.) Increases the minimumm allowable Pell Grant, under such reduction formula, from $100 to $200. Eliminates certain limitations on the availability of Pell Grant funds when excess amounts are available at the end of a fiscal year. Subpart 2: Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants - Extends the authorization of appropriations for the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG) program, but reduces the amount of funding. Reduces the Federal share of SEOG awards to not more to not more than 50 percent in FY 1992 and thereafter. (Current law provides for a maximum Federal share of 85 percent in FY 1991, and allows an even greater Federal share if the Secretary determines it warranted.) Subpart 3: Repeals - Repeals authority for the following programs: (1) Grants to States for State Student Incentives (SSI); (2) Special Programs for Students from Disadvantaged Backgrounds (TRIO programs); (3) Assistance to Institutions of Higher Education (including the Veterans Education Outreach Program); and (4) Special Child Care Services for Disadvantaged College Students. Subpart 4: Presidential Achievement Scholarship Program - Creates a Presidential Achievement Scholarship Program to award scholarships to Pell Grant recipients who demonstrate high levels of academic achievement. Authorizes appropriations. Allows Presidential Achievement Scholars to receive up to four scholarships, each for one academic year, for full-time undergraduate study (or five scholarships for full-time undergraduate study programs that require attendance for five academic years). Bases eligibility in the first year of postsecondary education on the student's receiving a Pell Grant and either: (1) ranking, or having ranked, in the top ten percent, by grade point average, of his or her high school graduating class; or (2) achieving at least the announced minimum score on one of the nationally administered, standardized tests identified by the Secretary. Bases eligibility after the first year on the student's receiving a Pell Grant and: (1) being enrolled in a program of study of at least two years that lead to a degree or certificate; and (2) ranking in the top 20 percent, by cumulative grade point average or equivalent, of his or her postsecondary education class as of the last academic year of study completed. Provides that a student's eligibility for such a scholarship does not depend on receipt of scholarship or Pell Grant in the previous academic year. Requires full-time attendance at the institution as a condition for receiving such a scholarship. Directs the Secretary to establish scholarship award procedures, including deadlines for consideration of students. Requires disbursement of scholarship proceeds to the institutions, but not until the student recipients are enrolled. Sets such scholarship award at $500 for any academic year. Reduces such amount by the amount it exceeds the student's cost of attendance by itself or when combined with other Federal or non-Federal grant or scholarship assistance in the the academic year. Provides for proportionate reductions in each award to adjust for insufficient appropriations. Subpart 5: National Science Scholars Program - Creates a National Science Scholars Program to award scholarships to outstanding students, selected by the President, for the study of physical, life, or computer sciences, mathematics, or engineering. Authorizes appropriations. Provides for an initial award for the first year of undergraduate study and a continuation award for the remaining three (or four) years, as appropriate. Allows National Science Scholars to use such award to attend any defined institution of higher education. Requires the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF Director) and the Secretary to jointly establish criteria for selection of scholars for initial year awards. Requires such criteria to include potential to successfully complete a postsecondary program, and motivation to pursue a career, in such fields. Allows consideration to be given to individual financial need and to the nondiscriminatory promotion of participation by minorities and individus with disabilities. Requires States to establish a nominating committee, if they desire to qualify student residents for selection. Requires each State nominating committee to submit to the President nominations of from four to ten individuals from each congressional district. Requires priority ranking of such nominations. Requires the President to select and announce two such scholars for each academic year from each congressional district. Directs the Secretary to make continuation awards of additional scholarships to recipient of initial awards who meet specified requirements. Requires disbursement of scholarship proceeds to the institutions, but not until the student recipients are enrolled. Requires the NSF Director and the Secretary to encourage the support and assistance of civic groups, the business community, professional associations, institutions of higher education, and others in providing scholarship assistance to National Science Scholarship finalists. Sets forth eligibility requirements for initial and continuation awards. Allows the Secretary to waive full-time attendance requirements in unusual circumstances. Directs the Secretary to determine circumstances for eligibility reinstatement after an interruption of schooling for personal reasons. Requires the Secretary annually to notify all public and private secondary schools and all institutions of higher education in each State of the availability of such scholarships. Sets such a scholarship award at $6,000 for any academic year. Reduces such amount by the amount it exceeds the student's cost of attendance by itself or when combined with other Federal and non-Federal grant or scholarship assistance in the academic year. Provides for proportionate reductions in each award to adjust for insufficient appropriations. Requires priority consideration to be given students receiving such scholarships, to the extent they are otherwise qualified, for federally financed summer employment in federally funded research and development centers that complements and reinforces their educational program. Requires Federal agencies to participate actively in providing appropriate summer employment opportunities for such students. Repeals provisions of the Excellence in Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Education Act of 1990 which currently authorize the National Science Scholars Program. Subpart 6: Special Programs for Students Whose Families Are Engaged in Migrant and Seasonal Farmwork - Revises the Special Programs for Students Whose Families Are Engaged in Migrant and Seasonal Farmwork. Renames certain grants as grants to build the program capacity of educational agencies, institutions, and organizations to operate high school equivalency programs (HEP) and college assistance migrant programs (CAMP) for migrant students. Makes State and local educational agencies (as well as as institutions of higher education and private nonprofit organizations) eligible for such HEP grants. Allows provision of HEP services to individuals 16 years of age or older, or beyond the State age of compulsory school attendance, and not currently enrolled in school. (Current laws requires 17 years of age or over.) Limits authorized CAMP services, with specified exceptions, to those services necessary to assist migrant students in completing their first year of college. Requires CAMP grantees to provide follow-up services for migrant students after their first year of college. Authorizes use of up to ten percent of the CAMP grant for such follow-up services. Requires such follow-up services to include: (1) monitoring and reporting on student academic progress; and (2) referring students to providers of counseling services, academic assistance, or financial aid. Requires each project application to include a long-range management plan describing how the applicant will, over the grant period, gradually assume financial responsibility to provide services substantially similar to those proposed in the application. Requires the Secretary in making grants, to consider the geographic distribution of the persons to be served by grantees. Requires grant awards to be one-time, nonrenewable grants for: (1) a five-year period for first-time grantees; and (2) a three-year period for previous grantees. Provides for a Federal share of 90 percent in the first year, declining to 50 percent in the last year of such grants. Retains the $150,000 minimum allocation for each project. Extends the authorization of appropriations for the the HEP and CAMP programs. Subpart 7: Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program - Revises the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program, particularly the formula for allocation of such scholarship program funds among States. Bases such allocation on relative population ages five through 17. Provides that each State shall receive at least ten scholarships. Allocates to the State $1,500 per scholarship. Eliminates a requirement that ten such scholars be selected for each congressional district. Requires the State education agency to adopt selection procedures to ensure an equitable geographic distribution of awards within the State. Eliminates requirements for an award ceremony. Extends the authorization of appropriations for the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program. Part B: Guaranteed Student Loans - Revises the Robert T. Stafford Student Loan program. Extends the authorization for, and the amount of, new loan principal that may be made to students covered by Federal loan insurance. Increases the annual and aggregate loan limits under the Stafford loan and the Supplemental Loans for Students (SLS) programs. Requires lenders to: (1) offer Stafford and SLS loan borrowers the option of repaying such loans on a graduated repayment schedule under specified conditions; (2) obtain the borrower's authorization for entry of judgment against the borrower in the event of default; and (3) obtain the borrower's driver's license number, if any, at the time of loan application (for the parent loan PLUS program, as well). Eliminates a provision which allowed an institution to refuse to certify a student's eligibility for a loan, or allowed it to certify a lesser amount, under specified conditions. Revises loan deferment provisions. Retains deferment while the borrower is in specified courses of study. Replaces the various current categorical deferments with a hardship deferment of up to three years in the aggregate. Requires the lender to grant specified forbearance if the borrower is a Peace Corps or VISTA volunteer does not qualify for such hardship deferment. Revises provisions for Federal reinsurance coverage. Revises the period in which guaranty agencies must file reinsurance claims. Revises requirements for calculation and payment of such reinsurance. Requires in the case of Stafford, SLS, and PLUS loan applicants over age 21, that the lender: (1) obtain a credit report; and (2) require a cosigner for such applicants who have adverse credit histories. Allows the lender to charge such applicants for the actual cost of such credit reports, up to $25. Requires a 60-day delayed disbursement of Stafford or SLS loans to first-year undergraduates at institutions with default rates of 30 percent or greater. (Retains the current 30-day delayed disbursement for first-year undergraduates at institutions with default rates less than 30 percent.) Revises provisions for eligibility limitations, suspensions, terminations, other hearing procedures, and fines for lenders or institutions that violate program requirements. Sets forth conflict-of-interest restrictions on guaranty agency officers and employers. Prohibits any guaranty agency from permitting any of its officers or employees, or any member of their immediate families, to have a direct financial interest in, or serve as an officer or employee of, any lender, secondary market, contractor, or service with which the guaranty agency does business. Includes financial information among the information the Secretary may reasonably require from a guaranty agency to carry out the student loan programs and protect the U.S. financial interest. Revises the administrative cost and collection retention allowances for guaranty agencies. Revises provisions for oversight of guaranty agencies. Authorizes the Secretary to require a guaranty agency to submit and implement a management plan if the ratio of its reserve funds to outstanding guarantees is less than a set level, or if its administrative or financial condition jeopardizes its continued ability to perform its responsibilities under its guaranty agreement. Authorizes the Secretary to terminate the guaranty agreement with any agency that fails to submit an acceptable management plan or fails to improve substantially its condition in accordance with such a plan. Authorizes the Secretary to assume guaranty agency functions of agencies whose agreements are terminated by the Secretary or themselves. Limits the Secretary's liability for any outstanding liabilities of a guaranty agency, the functions of which the Secretary has assumed, to the fair market value of assets assigned by the agency to the Secretary, minus any necessary liquidation or administrative costs. Requires State backing of designated guaranty agencies. Requires each State to guarantee, with its full faith and credit or the equivalent, all student loans guaranteed by the guaranty agency designated for that State for borrowers attending eligible institutions in that State. Provides that a State may elect to guarantee, in addition, student loans guaranteed by any other guarantee agency for borrowers who are attending eligible institutions in that State. Requires the State, if such a guaranty agency backed by the State is unable to discharge its insurance obligation, to be responsible for discharging them, as well as administrative costs associated with transferring the guaranty agency's operations to another entity. Directs the Secretary, if a State discharges such insurance obligations, to pay the State the amount the guaranty agency would otherwise have received as reimbursement. Directs the Secretary, unless a State demonstrates by January 1, 1994, that it is backing the designated guaranty agency, to assess institutions of higher education participating in the student loan program that are located in that State a fee based on the risk of financial loss to the Federal Government that the State would otherwise assume. Requires such fees to be deposited in the student loan insurance fund. Requires a State to pay a share of default costs in specified circumstances. Allows a State to charge a fee to an institution of higher education in the State participating in the loan program according to an approved fee structure based on the institution's cohort default rates and the State's risk of loss under such requirement Eliminates the student loan program eligibility of foreign institutions (but not of study abroad that is part of the curriculum of U.S. institutions). Revises the definition of cohort default rate. Reduces the special allowance rates for holders of loans for which the cohort default rate exceeds 20 percent. Requires the Student Loan Marketing Association (Sallie Mae) to notify the Secretary, within 15 days, when: (1) it makes a loan or extends any other form of credit to a guaranty agency; (2) its cumulative loans or other forms of credit outstanding to any one lender exceed $50,000,000; or (3) it makes any additional loans or other forms of credit to a lender whose cumulative outstanding loans from it exceed $50,000,000. Requires Sallie Mae's annual report on its operations and activities: (1) to be submitted to the Secretary and the Congress (currently the President and the Congress); and (2) to include specific information regarding its investments and debts, the characteristics of its student loan portfolio, and other data which the Secretary may reasonably require. Part C: Work-Study Programs - Extends the authorization of appropriations for Work-Study Programs (but reduces the amount of such funding). Lowers the maximum Federal share of the the compensation of students employed in the work-study program to 50 percent for FY 1992 and succeeding fiscal years. (Current law sets it at 70 percent for academic year 1990-1991 and succeeding academic years.) Eliminates special incentives (such as increased Federal administrative allowance and increased Federal share of student compensation for community service-learning jobs under the work-study program. Lowers the maximum Federal share of the cost of any job location and development program, under the work-study program from 80 percent to 50 percent. Prohibits students attending proprietary institutions of higher education from being employed by such institutions under the work-study program (but allows them to participate in work-study program employment by a government agency or a private nonprofit organization). Reduces from $200 to $100 the amount of work-study program compensation in excess of need that a student may receive. Eliminates provisions for private sector employment agreements under the work-study program. Part D: Income Contingent Loan Program - Extends through FY 1996 the authorization of appropriations for the Income Contingent Direct Loan Program (ICL program) (and increases the amount of such funding). Eliminates the limitation that the Secretary may not enter into ICL agreements with more than ten institutions of higher education. Makes consortia of institutions of higher education (as well as single institutions) eligible to participate in the ICL program. Provides for an aggregate ICL loan limit of $50,000 for individual graduate and professional students, including any such loans made to such persons before they become graduate or professional students. Provides for an annual limit of $10,000 on ICL loans to graduate and professional students. (Retains current limits for undergraduates.) Requires ICL applicants to provide their driver license number, if any. Requires institutions to: (1) obtain a credit report on any ICL applicant over age 21; and (2) require any such applicant with an adverse credit history to obtain a cosigner. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress on the cost-effectiveness of the ICL program, its impact on participating institutions and students, and the feasibility of extending it to a loan program of general applicability. Part E: Perkins Loan Program - Authorizes appropriations for the Perkins Loan Program, but only for reimbursement of institutions for Perkins loans that are cancelled for certain public service. Terminates the authorization of appropriations for: (1) Federal contributions to student loan funds established under such program; and (2) continuation loans to certain students who have received earlier Perkins Loans. Revises provisions for terms of such loans and cancellation for public service. Extends provisions for distribution of assets from such student loan funds. Repeals provisions for allocation of funds. Part F: Need Analysis - Revises provisions for need analysis to apply them to all need-based student assistance programs, including Pell Grants (which currently have a separate need analysis system). Revises the definitions of cost of attendance and family contribution, as well as provisions for data elements used in determining the expected family contribution. Revises the formula for calculation of the expected family contribution for a dependent student to eliminate references to the student's spouse. Allows application of any parents' negative available income: (1) to reduce the parents' income supplement amount from assets; and (2) if there is any negative amount remaining after that is reduced to zero, to increase the allowances against the dependent student's income. Revises the minimum dependent student contribution to be the greater of: (1) specified amounts that vary according to family total income; or (2) 70 percent of the student's total income, minus the adjustment to student income. Eliminates certain exceptions to the general need analysis calculation for dislocated workers and displaced homemakers. Excludes from the calculation of net worth the net value of the principal place of residence for the families of dependent students and for independent students, if their adjusted gross income is less than $20,000. Revises the tables for determination of standard maintenance allowance, employment expense allowance, adjusted net worth of business and of farm, asset protection allowance, and parents' assessment from available income. Revises the asset protection allowance to provide for consideration of the average age of both parents. Revises provisions for family contribution for married or single independent students without dependents (including various revisions similar to those described for dependent students). Includes married, as well as unmarried, students under this category of independent students without dependents. Revises provisions for minimum student contribution under this category. Revises tables for determining various allowances and other factors. Revises provisions relating to the family contribution for married or single independent students with dependents (including provisions similiar to those in other categories). Revises tables for determining various allowances and other factors. Eliminates certain restrictions on the Secretary's authority to prescribe regulations to carry out need analysis requirements. Revises provisions relating to development of revised tables of assessment rates for purposes of such need analysis. Authorizes the Secretary to prescribe regulations specifying situations in which the data elements considered in determining a student's expected family contribution may be modified to accommodate the special circumstances of the student. Part G: General Provisions - Revises general provisions relating to student assistance programs. Includes as an institution of higher education for the student assistance programs any institution that provides programs of at least six months (or 600 clock hours) that prepare students for gainful employment in recognized occupations, and that has been in existence for at least two years. Makes ineligible for student assistance program participation for specified periods any institution whose cohort default rate equals or exceeds a specified threshold percentage. Revises provisions for proprietary institutions of higher education. Authorizes the Secretary, if a particular category of proprietary institution does not meet specified student assistance program requirements because there is no nationally recognized accrediting agency or association qualified to accredit such institutions, to: (1) appoint an advisory committee to recommend qualifying standards; and (2) determine whether the particular schools meet them. Provides for reduction of student assistance loan award maximums for short-term programs. Revises provisions relating to a master calendar. Revises provisions for a common financial reporting form for determination of expected family contribution. Requires students, in order to remain eligible for assistance, to satisfy specified minimum academic achievement standards, including an academic standing above the bottom ten percent of their postsecondary class. Directs the Secretary to implement a system of verification of immigration status. Revises requirements for borrower information to be submitted to the institution during the exit interview. Eliminates certain provisions for training in financial aid and student support services. Requires any institution participating in any student assistance program to have in effect a fair and equitable refund policy and to provide a written statement of it, with examples, to prospective students. Revises provisions for student assistance program participation agreements. Requires the institution to acknowledge the authority of the Secretary, guaranty agencies, accrediting agencies, and State licensing bodies to share with each other any information pertaining to the institution's eligibility to participate in such programs. Prohibits institutions from providing any incentive payments for securing enrollments to any persons or entities engaged in any student recruiting or admission activities or in making decisions regarding the award of student financial assistance. Eliminates the requirement that hearings be on the record, with respect to program participation limitation, suspension, or termination procedures. Authorizes the Secretary to conditionally certify an institution's eligibility to participate in student assistance programs, under specified circumstances. Provides for loan collection wage garnishment. Authorizes a guaranty agency, or the Secretary where appropriate, to garnish the disposable pay of an individual to collect the amount owed or the required repayment, subject to certain conditions. Provides for data matching. Authorizes the Secretary to obtain from Federal or State agencies specified information relating to an individual for student loan collection purposes. Directs the Secretary of Labor to enter into an agreement to provide prompt access for the Secretary to wage and unemployment compensation claims information and data maintained by or for the Department of Labor or State employment security agencies. Subjects to specified criminal penalties attempts to commit specified offenses. Amends the Higher Education Technical Amendments of 1991 to make permanent the elimination of limitations on actions to collect defaulted student loans or grant overpayments. Title V: Education Recruitment, Retention, and Development - Establishes a new Partnerships for Innovative Teacher Education program, replacing the current Midcareer Teacher Training for Nontraditional Students program. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to and contracts with State and local educational agencies, institutions of higher education, and consortia of such institutions and agencies to plan, establish, and operate teaching schools to develop and put into practice the best knowledge about teaching. Provides that such awards shall be for a term of three years, with renewals for two additional years under specified conditions. Provides for applications, priorities, uses of funds by award recipients, and authorized activities of such teaching schools. Authorizes appropriations. Sets the Federal share at 75 percent for the first three years and 50 percent for the final two years. Repeals provisions for School, College, and University Partnerships. Retains Professional Development and Leadership Programs. Authorizes appropriations to complete the final year of funding for the territories under provisions for Leadership in Educational Administration Development. Repeals provisions for Professional Development Resource Centers and Leadership in Educational Administration Development. Retains Teacher Scholarships and Fellowships. Renames the Congressional Teacher Scholarship Programs the Paul Douglas Teacher Scholarship Program. Makes such scholarships available to outstanding high school graduates who demonstrate an interest in teaching. Authorizes appropriations. Revises requirements for the teaching service obligation of certain scholarship recipients, repayment conditions, assurances of pursuing a teaching career, and maintenance of academic achievement. Revises the Christa McAuliffe Fellowship Program to authorize appropriations. Bases allotment of funds on the number of public school teachers in each State and other specified jurisdictions. Authorizes the Secretary, in extraordinary circumstances, to waive or defer all or a portion of the service requirement, or to allow fellows to fulfill their service requirement by teaching in another school or school district. Requires States, in making fellowship awards, to give priority to applicants proposing fellowship projects involving pursuit of eligible activities on a full-time basis as part of a sabbatical. Eliminates the requirement that announcement of such awards be made in a public ceremony. Repeals provisions for State Task Forces on Teacher Training. Title VI: International Education Programs - Revises the International and Foreign Language Studies program for graduate and undergraduate language and area centers to eliminate stipends and allowances for: (1) individuals undergoing advanced training; and (2) students beginning their third year of graduate training. Repeals provisions for grants to institutions of higher education or public or private nonprofit library institutions or consortia to acquire, maintain bibliographic data on, preserve, and make available to researchers and scholars certain periodicals published outside the United States which are not commonly held by U.S. academic libraries. Authorizes appropriations to carry out International Education Programs. Title VII: College Facilities Loans and Insurance - Revises and redesignates the Construction, Reconstruction, and Renovation of Academic Facilities Loans and Insurance program to: (1) provide higher education institutions with access to private capital construction debt through the College Construction Loan Insurance Association; and (2) provide for servicing of the remaining loan portfolio of the Higher Education Facilities Loans, College Housing Loans, and College Housing and Academic Facilities Loans authorized before the effective date of this Act. Repeals the authorization of appropriations and other provisions for: (1) Grants for the Construction, Reconstruction, and Renovation of Undergraduate Academic Facilities; (2) Grants for Construction, Reconstruction, and Renovation of Graduate Academic Facilities; (3) Loans for Construction, Reconstruction, and Renovation of Academic Facilities; (4) Grants to Pay Interest on Debt; (5) Housing and Other Educational Facilities Loans; and (6) Special Programs. Authorizes appropriations for remaining programs. Title VIII: Cooperative Education - Extends the authorization of appropriations for Cooperative Education (but reduces the amount of such funding). Eliminates certain reservations of funds for specified categories of projects. (Retains the current division of 75 percent of funds for grants for cooperative education programs and 25 percent for demonstration and innovation projects, training and resource centers, and research.) Defines cooperative education as the provision of alternating or parallel periods of academic study and public and private employment in order to give students work experience related to their academic or occupational objectives and an opportunity to earn the funds necessary for continuing and completing their education. Revises matching requirements for cooperative education grants. Requires grant applicants to describe fiscal support plans to ensure that such programs shall continue beyond the five-year period of Federal assistance at not less than the level of expenditures for the initial year of Federal assistance. Authorizes the Secretary to elect not to make a continuation award to a fund recipient that has failed to maintain such fiscal effort in years after the grant period. Requires each recipient to document to the Secretary its maintenance of fiscal effort beyond the five-year period of Federal assistance. Revises grant application requirements to require descriptions of: (1) the extent to which programs in the academic discipline for which the application is made have had a favorable reception by public and private sector employers; and (2) the plans the applicant will carry out to evaluate their cooperative education program at the end of the grant period. Eliminates certain factors for special consideration of applications. Directs the Secretary to give special consideration to applications which demonstrate a commitment to serving disadvantaged students and students with disabilities. Revises provisions relating to the duration of grants. Provides that: (1) only institutions that have received such a grant before enactment of this Act shall be eligible to receive one additional continuation grant of not more than five years; and (2) all other institutions may receive only a single five-year grant. Revises provisions for training and resource centers to provide that their improvement of materials used in cooperative education programs shall take place in conjunction with other specified activities. Title IX: Postsecondary Improvement Programs - Revises provisions for the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE). Repeals consultation provisions which prohibit any FIPSE grant or contract unless it has been submitted to the appropriate State entity and that entity has had an opportunity to submit comments and recommendations to the Secretary. Specifies that the Secretary appoints the Director of the National Board of FIPSE. Revises Board functions and repeals a requirement for a minimum number of Board meetings annually. Eliminates provisions requiring the Director to establish grant and contract review and evaluation procedures, and prohibiting such procedures from being subject to any review outside of officials responsible for FIPSE administration. Extends the authorization of appropriations for the FIPSE program. Revises and renames the Minority Science and Engineering Programs the Minority Science Improvement Program. Repeals a requirement that the Secretary submit to the Congress an annual list of grantees. Directs the Secretary in cooperation with the heads of other Federal departments and agencies that operate programs similar to the Minority Science Improvement Program, to report to the President before 1995, summarizing and evaluating those programs. Repeals provisions for Science and Engineering Access Programs. Requires grant recipients, in order to remain eligible to receive funds, to demonstrate to the Secretary that they are making reasonable progress toward achieving the project goals. Repeals specified provisions: (1) relating to procedures for grant and contract review; and (2) for the Advisory Board for the Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Programs. Extends the authorization of appropriations for the Minority Science Improvement Program. (Eliminates provisions allocating funds and providing an additional appropriation for new activities specifically aimed at increasing the participation of minority students in scientific and engineering research careers.) Revises and renames the Innovative Projects for Community Services and Student Financial Independence programs the Innovative Projects for Community Services, whose purpose shall be to support innovative projects to encourage student participation in community service projects, including literacy projects. Provides that the Secretary (rather than the FIPSE Board Director) shall establish the procedures under which the FIPSE Board approves Innovative Projects grant and contract applications. Extends the authorization of appropriations for Innovative Projects for Community Services (and increases the amount of such funding to reflect the incorporation of certain functions of the Student Literacy Corps eliminated by this Act). Title X: Partnerships for Economic Development and Urban Community Service - Repeals the Partnerships for Economic Development and Community Service program. Title XI: General Provisions - Revises the definition of institution of higher education. Requires such institutions, in order to be eligible to participate in HEA programs, to comply with such minimum State licensing standards as the Secretary may prescribe by regulation and which the relevant State licensing body is to impose upon institutions it licenses. Revises the alternative accreditation process. Authorizes the Secretary, if a particular category of institutions is not accredited because no nationally recognized accrediting agency or association is qualified to do so, to appoint an advisory committee to: (1) recommend standards to qualify institutions in such category to participate in HEA programs; and (2) review whether particular institutions meet such standards. Requires an institution, if it is accredited by more than one accrediting body, to designate, for HEA eligibility purposes, one such body as it primary accreditor, on either an institutionwide or program basis. Deems such an institution no longer accredited for purposes of HEA eligibility for a 24-month period if its accreditation is terminated for cause by the primary accreditor, or if it withdraws from such accreditation voluntarily under a show cause or suspension order, unless such accreditation is restored by the same accreditor during such 24-month period. Revises provisions relating to treatment of territories and territorial student assistance. Changes from mandatory to discretionary the Secretary's authority to waive the eligibility criteria of any postsecondary education program administered by the Department of Education where such criteria does not take into account the unique circumstances of specified U.S. territories. Eliminates provisions for: (1) promulgation of certain regulations; and (2) an authorization of appropriations for supporting the cost of providing postsecondary education programs on Guam for nonresident students from specified U.S. territories. Extends the authorization for the continued existence of the National Advisory Committee on Accreditation and Institutional Eligibility. Revises provisions for peer review of applications to authorize the Secretary to use up to one-half of one percent of appropriations, for discretionay grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to provide for the panels of readers required to review the applications for such grants, contracts, and agreements. Provides for sharing of institutional eligibility information by the Secretary, guaranty agencies, accrediting agencies, and State licensing bodies. Makes ineligible for any HEA assistance any individual who is in default on any loan made, insured, or guaranteed by the Federal Government, unless satisfactory repayment arrangements are made. Repeals provisions for: (1) a Joint Study Commission on Postsecondary Institutional Recognition; and (2) regional technology transfer centers. Title XII: Effective Dates - Sets forth effective dates for various provisions of this Act.

Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1992

United States · United States Congress · 12 June 1991

Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1992 - Makes appropriations for FY 1992 for the payment at maturity, or the redemption or buying before maturity, of a Government obligation included in the public debt for purposes of reducing a portion of such debt caused by borrowings to finance specified international affairs accounts. Title I: Multilateral Economic Assistance - Makes appropriations for FY 1992 for the U.S. contribution to the: (1) International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank) and the Global Environmental Facility of such bank; (2) the International Development Association; (3) the International Finance Corporation; (4) the Inter-American Development Bank and the Fund for Special Operations of such bank; (5) the Inter-American Investment Corporation; (6) the Enterprise for the Americas Investment Fund; (7) the Asian Development Bank; (8) the Asian Development Fund; (9) the African Development Fund; (10) the African Development Bank; and (11) the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). Limits the callable capital portion of the U.S. share of increases in the stock of the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the African Development Bank, and the EBRD. Requires the President to reduce from the amounts obligated for the International Development Association and the Asian Development Bank the U.S. proportionate share of any loans approved for China for non-basic human needs since October 1, 1991, if China is denied most-favored-nation trading status. Limits the amount of funds for the International Finance Corporation that may be expended for the purchase of stock. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. executive director of the Inter-American Development Bank to oppose assistance to any recipient who refuses to agree to conduct procurement of goods or services utilizing Bank funds in a nondiscriminatory manner. Requires the Secretary to certify to the Appropriations Committees that none of the funds for the Asian Development Fund will be made available for China. Makes appropriations for FY 1992 for reports calculating loans, guarantees, and insurance commitments for credit programs within the international affairs (Budget Function 150) account: (1) the probability of repayment on loans and default on guarantees; (2) subsidy estimates for each country and credit program; and (3) risk assessments for each country within each credit program. Makes appropriations for FY 1992 for international organizations and programs. Prohibits such funds from being made available to the United Nations Fund for Science and Technology. Earmarks specified amounts of such funds for certain international organizations and United Nations programs. Provides that funds may be made available to the International Atomic Energy Agency only if the Secretary of State reports to the Congress that Israel is not being denied its right to participate in the Agency. Permits funds to be made available for the Tropical Forestry Action Plan (TFAP) only if the Secretary reports to the Congress that: (1) TFAP has been reorganized, with an international steering committee and secretariat independent of the Food and Agriculture Organization; (2) TFAP's responsibilities have been broadened to include areas outside the forestry sector; and (3) procedures exist to ensure increased participation in TFAP plans. Title II: Bilateral Economic Assistance - Makes appropriations for FY 1992 for development assistance. Earmarks amounts for: (1) health and child survival activities and activities relating to research on, and the treatment and control of, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS); (2) development projects of private entities and cooperatives for dairy development; (3) the Vitamin A Deficiency Program and activities relating to iodine deficiency and other micro-nutrients; (4) U.S. participation in the Associate Professional Officers Program of the international food agencies; (5) activities relating to the control and prevention of River Blindness; (6) operations for blind children; (7) cooperative projects among the United States, Israel, and developing countries (with amounts made available for the Cooperative Development Program and cooperative development research projects); (8) the Central and Latin American Rural Electrification Support project; (9) technical assistance and training programs for Soviet and Czechoslovakian statisticians and economists; and (10) Soviet and East European research and training. Limits the amount to be made available for child survival activities for Laos. Earmarks amounts from funds made available for the Agency for International Development (AID) under this title for: (1) child survival activities; and (2) programs in support of basic education activities. Makes appropriations for FY 1992 for population planning assistance. Prohibits funding for coercive abortion or involuntary sterilization. Earmarks amounts for: (1) the AID Office of Population; and (2) the United Nations Population Fund (only for contraceptive commodities and related logistics). Prohibits such funds from being made available for programs in China. Applies prohibitions on the use of funds for abortion and involuntary sterilization to funds for the Fund. Requires the Fund to maintain such funds in a separate account, without commingling. Provides for the refund of such funds to the United States if the Fund provides more than a specified amount for family planning programs for China. Prohibits the obligation of any amount for the Fund if China is denied most-favored-nation trading status. Makes appropriations for FY 1992 for the Development Fund for Africa. Earmarks an amount for activities supported by the Southern African Development Coordination Conference. Provides for the transfer of a specified amount of such funds for the International Fund for Agricultural Development's Special Program for Subsaharan African Countries Affected by Drought and Desertification. Prohibits the transfer of funds appropriated by this Act to the Government of Zaire. Earmarks development assistance funds for: (1) displaced children; (2) children in Cambodia; (3) civilians injured as a result of civil strife and warfare; (4) women in development; and (5) Burmese students. Prohibits any development assistance funds from being made available to U.S. private and voluntary organizations (except cooperative development organizations) which obtain less than 20 percent of annual funding for international activities from sources other than the U.S. Government. Provides that such prohibition shall supersede certain provisions with respect to such organizations of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the Foreign Assistance and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1985. Earmarks an amount of development assistance for humanitarian assistance to Romania (with amounts for AIDS activities, child health, foster care and adoption activities, and family planning, subject to certain conditions). Limits the amount of commitments for certain loan guarantees and direct loans under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. Makes appropriations for FY 1992 for: (1) American schools and hospitals abroad; (2) international disaster assistance; (3) the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability Fund; and (4) AID operating expenses. Requires AID, in order to effectively monitor the West Bank and Gaza program, to station one professional at either the Consulate General in Jerusalem or the embassy in Tel Aviv. Directs AID to increase the number of direct-hire professional environmental and energy staff by 20 over the number of such staff within AID at the end of FY 1991. Makes appropriations for FY 1992 for the AID Office of the Inspector General. Prohibits the use of funds from any Act to relocate the overseas offices of the Inspector General to a U.S. location without the Inspector General's approval. Requires the number of positions authorized for such office in Washington and overseas to be at least 251 by the end of FY 1992. Authorizes the Inspector General to establish a regional office in Europe to carry out responsibilities with regard to assistance for Eastern Europe. Makes appropriations for FY 1992 for: (1) modifying direct loans authorized under development and economic support assistance provisions of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and under provisions of the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945; and (2) economic support fund (ESF) assistance. Earmarks amounts of ESF assistance for: (1) Israel; (2) Egypt, including an amount for the Commodity Import Program; (3) the West Bank and Gaza Program; and (4) scholarships or bicommunal projects for Cyprus. Authorizes funds for Egypt to be provided through cash transfer assistance if Egypt will undertake economic reforms. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the recommended levels of ESF assistance for Egypt and Israel are based on their continued participation in the Camp David Accords and upon the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty. Prohibits ESF funds from being made available for El Salvador's Special Investigative Unit until the Secretary of State submits a plan of the El Salvadoran Government to transfer the Unit from military to civilian control. Prohibits ESF assistance to Zaire. Limits the amount of ESF assistance for tied aid credits and for humanitarian assistance for Armenia. Earmarks ESF assistance for technical assistance in support of democratic or market-oriented reforms for Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania and eligible recipients in the Soviet Union that request such assistance. Permits such assistance to be provided only through the government of such state or republic or through nongovernmental organizations. Defines "an eligible recipient in the Soviet Union" as the government of any republic or local government that was elected through free and fair elections, any indigenous nongovernmental organization that promotes democratic reforms, human rights, the rule of law, or market-oriented reforms, or any Soviet governmental agency that promotes such reforms, provided that funds are not provided directly to such agency. Makes appropriations for FY 1992 for: (1) the U.S. contribution to the International Fund for Ireland; (2) the Multilateral Assistance Initiative for the Philippines; and (3) nonproject sector assistance for the Philippines. Requires the President, if the United States and the Government of the Philippines are unable to agree to a military base agreement, to report to the Appropriations Committees justifying requested or modified assistance levels for the Philippines in light of the failure to achieve such agreement. Makes appropriations for FY 1992 for economic assistance for Eastern Europe. Earmarks amounts of such assistance for: (1) technical assistance and training and for assistance to support housing sectors; (2) environment and energy activities; (3) activities to foster democratic pluralism; and (4) the Polish-American, Hungarian-American, and other Enterprise Funds and for other private enterprise activities. Makes appropriations for FY 1992 for: (1) independent agencies and the African Development Foundation; (2) the Inter-American Foundation; (3) the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) for direct and guaranteed loan programs; (4) the Peace Corps (prohibits abortion funding); (5) international narcotics control; (6) the U.S. contribution to the International Red Cross and assistance to refugees; (7) the U.S. Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund; and (8) antiterrorism assistance. Earmarks amounts of migration and refugee assistance for: (1) refugees resettling in Israel; (2) Tibetan refugees; (3) voluntary repatriation of Hmong refugees from Thailand to Laos; and (4) overseas refugee programs. Limits the amount of such assistance to be made available to the Department of State Office of Refugee Programs. Title III: Military Assistance - Makes appropriations for FY 1992 for: (1) international military education and training (prohibits the use of such funds for countries whose annual per capita GNP exceeds $2,349 unless such countries agree to fund transportation and living allowances of their students and the provision of such funds to Zaire, Liberia, Sudan, and Somalia); (2) the foreign military financing program; and (3) peacekeeping operations. Earmarks amounts of foreign military financing for Israel and Egypt. Requires the interest rate on foreign military financing loans to be at least five percent annually. Makes available a specified amount of foreign military financing on a grant basis for Greece if Turkey receives financing on a grant basis. Prohibits foreign military financing for Zaire, Sudan, Liberia, or Somalia. Permits financing for Malawi to be provided only to support the Malawian military's efforts to secure the Nacala Railroad and for military activities to assist in the Mozambican peace process. Limits: (1) the amount of foreign military financing for the procurement of defense articles and services not sold by the U.S. Government for countries other than Israel and Egypt; (2) the amount of funds for administering military assistance and sales; (3) foreign military financing for Greece, Turkey, Portugal, and the Philippines; and (4) obligations with respect to the Special Defense Acquisition Fund. Permits the procurement of defense articles and services or design and construction services not sold by the U.S. Government only by countries for which assistance was justified for the foreign military financing program in the FY 1989 congressional presentation for security assistance programs. Directs the Department of Defense, as requested by the Defense Security Assistance Agency, to conduct audits of private firms whose contracts are made directly with foreign governments and are financed under this title. Requires the total of grants and direct loans provided for Greece and Turkey under the foreign military financing program to be made available according to a seven to ten ratio. Repeals a provision of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1988 that concerns lowering the interest rate on certain foreign military sales. Title IV: Export Assistance - Authorizes the Export-Import Bank to make expenditures within the limit of funds and borrowing authority and to make any necessary contracts and commitments. Prohibits the use of Bank funds for nuclear exports to a non-nuclear weapon state. Makes appropriations for FY 1992 to subsidize gross obligations for the principal amount of direct loans, tied-aid grants, interest subsidies, and total loan principal under Export-Import Bank programs. Prohibits the use of such funds or the use of credits or grants to support the financing of any item covered by the U.S. Munitions List. Limits the amount available for administrative expenses of the Export-Import Bank. Makes appropriations for FY 1992 for: (1) administrative expenses incurred in connection with contracting for the issuance of and servicing of insurance and reinsurance or in lieu of contracting for the performance of services by the Export-Import Bank; and (2) the Trade and Development Program. Title V: General Provisions - Prohibits the use of funds appropriated in this Act (other than funds appropriated for international organizations and programs) for any water or related land resource project which has not met specified standards and criteria for such projects proposed for construction in the United States. Limits the percentage of appropriations, with specified exceptions, that may be obligated during the last month of availability. Prohibits using certain funds appropriated or made available pursuant to this Act for: (1) retirement pay for any person serving in the armed forces of any recipient country; (2) making payments on procurement contracts which do not authorize the termination of such contract for the convenience of the United States; or (3) paying any assessments, arrearages, or dues of any member of the United Nations. Prohibits using any of the funds contained in title II of this Act to carry out the transfer of funds to international or multilateral lending organizations. Limits the amounts of funds made available under this Act to be used for: (1) official residence expenses, entertainment expenses, and representation allowances of AID; (2) entertainment expenses and representation allowances for foreign military financing programs, the Inter-American Foundation, and the Trade and Development Program; and (3) entertainment expenses for international military education and training programs and the Peace Corps. Prohibits the use of funds made available under this Act (other than funds for international organizations and programs) to finance the export of nuclear equipment, fuel, or technology. Prohibits the use of funds made available under this Act to: (1) assist any foreign government in repressing the legitimate rights of its population; (2) finance assistance or reparations to Angola, Cambodia, Cuba, Iraq, Libya, Vietnam, Iran, or Syria (including assistance provided by the Export-Import Bank or its agents); or (3) finance assistance to any country whose elected head of government is deposed by military coup. Prohibits obligating funds made available under this Act under an appropriation account to which they were not appropriated, unless the President provides a written policy justification to the Appropriations Committees. Continues the availability of certain AID funds and funds for credit sales under the Arms Export Control Act, provided the Appropriations Committees are notified. Prohibits appropriations contained in this Act from remaining available after expiration of the current fiscal year, except as provided in this Act. Prohibits the use of funds made available under this Act to: (1) be used for publicity or propaganda purposes within the United States; (2) assist a country in default for more than a year on a U.S. loan under a program for which funds are appropriated under this Act (exempts from such prohibition funds for Nicaragua and for narcotics-related assistance for Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru); or (3) be made available for any international financial institution whose U.S. representative cannot obtain any document developed by or in the possession of the management, unless such representative certifies to the Appropriations Committees that such document's confidentiality is essential to the institution's operation. Prohibits the use of funds made available under this Act for direct assistance, the Export-Import Bank, and OPIC to finance any loan or other assistance to establish or expand production of any commodity for export by a foreign country if such commodity is likely to be in surplus on world markets and will cause substantial injury to U.S. producers of a similar or competing commodity. Exempts the Export-Import Bank from such prohibition if the Bank determines that the benefits to industry and employment in the United States are likely to outweigh the injury to such producers. Prohibits making any of the funds appropriated under any Act available for any testing, study, variety improvement, or certain other activities related to the growth or production in a foreign country of an agricultural commodity for export which would compete with a similar commodity grown or produced in the United States. Prohibits the use of funds appropriated to AID, other than funds to carry out the Caribbean Basin Initiative, to procure studies or assist in establishing facilities for the manufacture of import-sensitive articles that compete with U.S. exports. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. executive directors of specified international financial institutions to oppose assistance for the production or extraction of any commodity or mineral for export if it is in surplus on world markets and if the assistance will cause substantial injury to U.S. producers of a similar or competing commodity. Sets forth congressional notification procedures for the obligation of specified funds made available under this Act. Waives notification requirements if there is a risk to human health or welfare. Limits expenditures for consulting services through procurement contracts. Prohibits using funds appropriated under this Act to lobby for abortion. Prohibits any of the international organizations and programs funds from being available for the U.S. proportionate share of any programs for the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), Libya, Iran, or, at the discretion of the President, Communist countries to which foreign assistance is prohibited. Prohibits the United States from making a contribution to the United Nations or any of its affiliated agencies if such an agency grants full membership to any organization that does not have the internationally recognized attributes of statehood. Authorizes Israel to use any loan made available under the Arms Export Control Act for which repayment is forgiven before using any other loan made available under such Act. Prohibits U.S. employees from recognizing or negotiating with the PLO so long as the PLO does not recognize Israel's right to exist, does not accept Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338, and does not renounce the use of terrorism. Declares that it is U.S. policy that ESF assistance for Israel shall not be less than the annual debt repayment from Israel to the United States. Limits the amount to be used for a Democracy Contingency Fund. Requires congressional notification prior to making funds available for military aircraft in Central America. Directs the Secretary to notify specified congressional committees whenever helicopters or military aircraft are provided to Central American countries by any foreign country. Expresses the policy of the United States that sustainable economic growth must be predicated on sustainable use of natural resources. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to: (1) instruct U.S. executive directors of the multilateral development banks to promote programs which address the problems of global climate change; and (2) promote reforms within the International Monetary Fund which address such problems. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress on: (1) how natural resource management initiatives mandated by this Act have been incorporated in the Bush Administration's efforts to address third world debt (the Brady Plan); (2) progress made by the multilateral development banks in meeting standards set forth for programs to address global climate change; (3) the progress made by the Inter-American Development Bank in implementing environmental reforms; (4) each multilateral development bank's forestry sector and energy sector loans and their impact on carbon dioxide emissions; and (5) the progress made by the World Bank in implementing the recommendations set forth in a certain report on debt-for-nature swaps. Directs the AID Administrator to: (1) update and issue guidance to all AID bureaus detailing the elements of a Global Warming Initiative to emphasize the need to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and to accelerate sustainable development strategies; (2) increase the number and expertise of personnel devoted to the Initiative; (3) accelerate the activities of the Multi-Agency Working Group on Power Sector Innovation; (4) focus tropical forestry assistance programs on the key middle- and low-income developing countries projected to contribute large amounts of greenhouse gases to the environment; (5) assist countries in developing an analysis of the appropriate use of their total tropical forest resources, with the goal of developing national programs for sustainable forestry; and (6) focus energy assistance activities on the key countries. Prohibits making any funds appropriated by this Act available for activities that would: (1) result in any significant loss of tropical forests; or (2) involve commercial timber extraction in primary tropical forest areas unless an environmental assessment meeting certain conditions is made. Permits the use of certain funds for programs to support tropical forestry and energy programs aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in key countries, subject to certain conditions. Earmarks funds for: (1) environment and energy activities (with amounts for biological diversity activities, renewable energy projects, elephant conservation and preservation, and the AID Office of Energy); and (2) the creation of a fund to support global participation in the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, provided that such funds are not contributed to developing countries that are not parties to the Protocol. Prohibits the use of development assistance funds to pay for: (1) abortions or involuntary sterilizations as a method of family planning or to motivate or coerce any persons to practice abortions or undergo sterilization; or (2) any biomedical research concerning abortions or involuntary sterilization as a method of family planning. Reaffirms the congressional commitment to population, development assistance and the need for informed voluntary family planning. Earmarks specified amounts of development and economic assistance appropriated by this Act for the Afghan people. Requires the AID Administrator to ensure that an equitable portion of such funds is made available to benefit Afghan women and girls. Prohibits making any of the funds appropriated by this Act available to a private voluntary organization which fails to provide the records necessary for an AID audit or which is not registered with AID. Withholds a specified amount of military aid and financing from El Salvador until the President reports to the Appropriations Committees that El Salvador has: (1) substantially concluded all investigations with respect to those responsible for the January 1981 murders of specified U.S. and Salvadoran land reformers; and (2) pursued all legal avenues to bring to trial and obtain a verdict of those responsible for such murders and for the deaths of certain peasants, priests, and trade unionists. Expresses the sense of the Congress that all countries receiving U.S. foreign aid should cooperate in facilitating lasting solutions to refugee situations. Prohibits making any of the funds appropriated by this Act available for: (1) costs of Ethiopia's forced resettlement or villagization programs; or (2) Sudan, Uganda, Liberia, Lebanon, Zaire, Yemen, Guatemala, Chile, or Somalia, except through regular congressional notification procedures. Earmarks certain appropriated funds for child survival activities and activities relating to research on, and the treatment and control of, AIDS in developing countries. Permits ESF funds to be provided to Chile to support the efforts of private individuals and groups to develop a national consensus on the importance of an independent judiciary and the administration of justice. Prohibits making any of the funds appropriated under this Act available to finance indirectly any assistance or reparations to Angola, Cambodia, Cuba, Iraq, Libya, Vietnam, Iran, or Syria unless the President certifies that the withholding of these funds is contrary to the national interest of the United States. Amends the Arms Export Control Act to extend waiver authority with respect to reciprocal leasing agreements through FY 1992. Requires delivery of defense equipment (permitted under special authority during unforeseen emergencies) within 120 days of congressional notification. Sets forth additional notification requirements with respect to the transfer of excess defense equipment to NATO. Requires the Secretary of State to transmit copies of all debt relief agreements to the appropriate congressional committees. Continues the funding of Middle East regional cooperative programs. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the U.S. Government should use its influence in the Asian Development Bank to secure reconsideration of the decision to designate Taiwan as "Taipei, China"; and (2) the Asian Development Bank should resolve this dispute in a fashion that is acceptable to Taiwan. Prohibits the use of funds provided under any Act for the sale of M-833 or comparable antitank shells containing a depleted uranium penetrating component to any country except a NATO member country, major non-NATO ally, or Taiwan. Allows earmarked funds to be reprogrammed for other programs within the same account if: (1) compliance with the earmark is made impossible by any Act; or (2) with respect to countries with which the United States has base access agreements, the President determines that the recipient of funds has reduced its military or economic cooperation with the United States. Requires the President, before funds for such countries are reprogrammed, to provide a written policy justification to the Appropriations Committees. Subjects such reprogramming to the regular notification procedures of such committees. Provides for U.S. opposition to assistance to terrorist countries by international financial institutions. Prohibits bilateral assistance to such countries. Earmarks amounts of ESF assistance for: (1) scholarships to disadvantaged South Africans; and (2) Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, and Ecuador, provided such countries are making progress in certain narcotics control efforts. Permits development and ESF assistance to be made available to Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, and Jamaica for reducing dependence on the production of crops from which narcotic and psychotropic drugs are derived. Limits the amount of foreign military financing to be made available for Bolivia, Peru, and Colombia. Prohibits such financing for any government that engages in a consistent pattern of human rights violations. Permits funds to be made available for training and equipment for narcotics law enforcement agencies in Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru (except for Peru's Sinchi Police). Prohibits assistance to countries which fail to take measures to prevent illicit drugs from being sold to U.S. Government personnel or from entering the United States illegally. Earmarks amounts of assistance made available to AID for narcotics education and awareness programs and narcotics related economic assistance activities. Requires that any agreement for the sale or provision of any article on the U.S. Munitions List shall expressly state that the article is being provided by the United States only with the understanding that it will not be transferred to Cyprus or otherwise used to further the severance or division of Cyprus. Directs the President to report to the Congress when such equipment is used for such purposes. Permits the commercial leasing of defense articles (other than major defense equipment) by Israel, Egypt, NATO countries, and major non-NATO allies if the President determines that there are compelling foreign policy or national security reasons for those defense articles being provided by commercial lease rather than by government-to-government sale. Limits the amount of ESF and development assistance to be made available for humanitarian and development assistance for Cambodians. Terminates assistance to any Cambodian organization that is cooperating with the Khmer Rouge in their military operations. Requires the President to report to the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate on the extent of military cooperation between the Khmer Rouge and the non-Communist resistance. Provides that funds made available for humanitarian assistance for Cambodian children shall also be available for civilian victims of war. Provides that all AID contracts and solicitations shall require U.S. marine insurance companies to have a fair opportunity to bid for marine insurance. Expresses the sense of the Congress that funds made available for the International Fund for Ireland should be allocated to programs which emphasize jobs creation in areas having the highest rates of unemployment. Prohibits the use of certain assistance provided under this Act for assistance to Afghanistan if such assistance would be provided through the Soviet-controlled government of Afghanistan. Requires at least 25 percent of ESF assistance for El Salvador to be used for certain development projects and activities in accordance with the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. Requires at least ten percent of FY 1990 development assistance and assistance for the Development Fund for Africa (unless the AID Administrator determines otherwise) to be made available only for U.S. organizations and individuals that are: (1) business concerns or private organizations owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals; (2) historically black colleges or universities; and (3) colleges and universities in which more than 40 percent of the students are Hispanic American. Directs the Administrator to: (1) utilize the authority of the Small Business Act; (2) enter into contracts with such entities using less than full and open competitive procedures; and (3) issue regulations requiring contracts in excess of $500,000 to provide that at least ten percent of the contract shall be subcontracted to such entities. Requires AID personnel with contracting authority to notify the AID Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization before advertising contracts in excess of $100,000. Directs the Administrator to: (1) include as part of the performance evaluation of any mission director such director's efforts to carry out such activities; and (2) report annually to the Congress on the implementation of such program. Prohibits the United States from selling or making available Stinger missiles to any Persian Gulf country. Prohibits the provision of funds appropriated under this Act to any person undertaking an action prohibited by U.S. law. Authorizes nongovernmental organizations which receive AID economic assistance to invest any local currencies which accrue to such organizations as a result of such assistance. Earmarks a specified amount of development and ESF assistance for Lebanon. Sets forth the value of additions to be made to stockpiles in Israel during FY 1992. Extends the period during which the President may waive prohibitions on assistance to Pakistan to April 1, 1993. Prohibits the obligation or expenditure of funds for Pakistan except through the notification procedures of the Committees on Appropriations. Sets forth requirements for the maintenance of separate accounts for, and the use of, local currencies, cash transfers, and non-project sector assistance. Prohibits the use of funds appropriated by this Act for: (1) any member of the Nicaraguan resistance who has not disarmed and is not abiding by the terms of the cease-fire agreement and the addenda to the Toncontin Agreement; and (2) payments to international financial institutions that compensate U.S. directors in excess of specified rates. Sets forth human rights reporting requirements for the Secretary of State. Prohibits the use of funds appropriated by this Act to provide assistance to any country that is not in compliance with the United Nations Security Council sanctions against Iraq unless the President certifies to the Congress that such assistance: (1) is in the U.S. national interest; (2) will directly benefit the needy people in such country; or (3) will be humanitarian assistance for foreign nationals who have fled Iraq and Kuwait. Authorizes the President to prohibit the importation into the United States of products of any foreign country that has not prohibited the importation of Iraqi products and the export of its products to Iraq. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury, in all negotiations concerning the EBRD, to seek: (1) establishment of procedures for environmental assessment of all proposed operations with significant environmental impacts; (2) establishment of an environmental unit to review operations and monitor compliance with environmental provisions; (3) establishment of procedures for consultation with and involvement of the public in the development of EBRD policies; and (4) agreement that a significant portion of EBRD funds shall be devoted to environmental restoration and protection projects. Repeals a provision of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1991 which made excess defense articles avilable to countries supporting Operation Desert Shield. Prohibits the use of funds appropriated by this Act to finance the procurement of chemicals or chemical agents that may be used for chemical weapons production. Prohibits ESF and foreign military financing assistance for Kenya unless the President certifies to the Congress that the Kenyan Government is taking steps to: (1) charge and try or release all prisoners and cease mistreatment of prisoners; and (2) restore the independence of the judiciary and freedoms of expression. Requires the delivery of excess defense articles to NATO allies and major non-NATO allies on the southern and southeastern NATO flanks to be given priority over the delivery of such articles to other countries. Amends the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1991 to revise the amount of defense articles and services authorized to be drawn down for Israel. Prohibits the use of funds appropriated by this Act to implement the Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990. Directs the President to submit to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee: (1) a U.S. plan for establishing a multilateral regime to restrict transfers of arms to the Middle East; and (2) an analysis of the feasibility and potential elements of such regime. Prohibits the United States from agreeing to any transfers of major military equipment to the Middle East and Persian Gulf region unless the President submits such plan and analysis and reports that there has been agreement by another major arms supplier on or after May 21, 1991, to transfer such equipment to any nation in the region. Exempts from such prohibition emergency or replacement transfers or transfers pursuant to agreements entered into before May 21, 1991. Requires the President to report to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee on: (1) all transfers of conventional and unconventional arms to the Middle East; (2) the current military balance in the region; (3) the operation of any agreements comprising the arms transfer and control regime; and (4) supplier nations that have refused to participate in such a regime or that have engaged in conduct that violates or undermines the regime. Directs the President to seek negotiations among, and undertake efforts to convene a conference of, the five members of the United Nations Security Council and other nations, as appropriate, to establish a multilateral arms transfer and control regime with respect to the Middle East and Persian Gulf region. Declares that the purpose of such regime should be to: (1) limit the proliferation of conventional weapons and ballistic missile technologies and systems and halt the proliferation of unconventional weapons; (2) maintain the military balance in the region through the reduction of conventional weapons and the elimination of unconventional weapons; and (3) promote regional arms control in such region.

Veterans' Housing Amendments Act of 1991

United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1991

Veterans' Housing Amendments Act of 1991 - Revises the loan fee to be paid by veterans for housing loans guaranteed, insured, or made by the Department of Veterans Affairs to make such fee: (1) 1.85 percent of the total loan amount; (2) 1.625 percent of such amount in the case of loans for veterans for housing in rural areas, loans made to acquire housing by default, or loans made to refinance a housing loan; (3) 1.375 percent of such amount in the case of a loan for purchase or construction in which the veteran has made a down payment of at least five but less than ten percent of the total purchase price or construction cost; (4) 1.125 percent of such amount in the case of a purchase or construction loan when the veteran makes a down payment of ten percent or more; (5) two percent of such amount in the case of a loan made to purchase manufactured homes and lots; and (6) 2.5 percent of such amount in the case of a veteran who has previously obtained a guaranteed loan, without regard to the type of loan or the down payment made. Makes the 2.5 percent charge inapplicable to: (1) a person on active duty at the time of the loan; (2) refinancing an existing loan; or (3) the purchases of property for which prior loans made are in default. Revises veterans' home loan default procedures to allow the holder of a Government National Mortgage Association loan to convey the property to the United States in return for payment by the Secretary of an amount equal to the net value of the property. Makes such default procedures permanent. Repeals a provision providing for the continuation of, and additional funding for, the direct loan revolving fund established under the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944. Provides, in lieu, for the use of the Department of Veterans Affairs Loan Guaranty Revolving Fund for the making of direct loans to veterans for housing purposes. Revises provisions regarding the maximum loan amount for the purchase or construction of homes by veterans to make the maximum amount of a loan obtained or assumed by a veteran that provides for a lower interest rate than the loan being refinanced the greater of: (1) the sum of the outstanding balance on the loan to be refinanced and closing costs actually paid; or (2) 90 percent of the reasonable value of the dwelling or farm residence securing the loan. Makes the maximum loan amount to be obtained by a veteran who has previously obtained a loan or direct housing loan through the Department 90 percent of the reasonable value of the dwelling or farm residence securing the loan. Extends to October 1, 1993, the time period authorized for lenders to review appraisal reports in connection with homes for which the Department is guaranteeing loans. Repeals provisions which prohibit the Department from guaranteeing loans for newly constructed residences in areas not served by public or community water and sewage systems. Requires any veteran desiring a housing debt waiver to make such request within 180 days after the notification of such indebtedness, or by September 30, 1993, if notice was provided before October 1, 1991. Directs the Secretary, at the request of the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, to issue certificates of veteran status to prospective mortgagors or applicants for assistance under the National Housing Act or other programs administered by such agency. Provides that persons applying for Department guaranteed, made, or insured housing loans will not become subject to provisions requiring persons seeking loans exceeding $150,000, which are guaranteed, made, or insured by a Federal agency to disclose their lobbying activities. Provides that the maximum amount of any loan made to a veteran for the purchase of a manufactured home and lot shall not exceed 90 percent (currently, 95) of the purchase price of the property securing the loan.

Targeted Dislocated Worker Assistance Act of 1991

United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1991

Targeted Dislocated Worker Assistance Act of 1991 - Title I: Expanded Unemployment and Training Benefits - Allows any State to enter into an agreement with the Secretary of Labor (the Secretary) that the State agency which administers the State's unemployment compensation law will make payments to qualified displaced workers for certain program benefits for up to 26 weeks after the last week for which they received regular unemployment compensation. Specifies such program benefits as: (1) additional unemployment compensation in the same weekly amount as their now-exhausted regular unemployment compensation; (2) a monthly housing allowance for 50 percent of the lesser of a specified fair market rent or their own rent or mortgage payment; (3) reimbursement of all direct costs of an approved educational or training program; and (4) a relocation allowance, if necessary. Bases eligibility for such benefits on the individual's: (1) exhaustion of all other unemployment compensation rights; (2) having no prospect for work in the same region and industry where previously employed; (3) having a family income 70 percent or less of the lower living standard, and with no more than certain specified assets; (4) not having a two-year college degree or equivalent; and (5) being enrolled in an approved educational or training program before the 13th week for which he or she received regular compensation during the benefit year for which such rights were exhausted. Provides for payment to each State for 100 percent of the amount of the benefits paid to individuals under the agreement, with special conditions for treatment of benefits reimbursable under other Federal laws. Provides for estimation and certification of such payments. Authorizes appropriations. Sets forth penalties for fraud and provisions relating to overpayments. Title II: Expansion of Job Training Partnership Act - Amends the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) to authorize additional appropriations to provide programs under title III of JTPA to individuals who are eligible displaced workers under title I of this Act. Waives a certain support services and payments limitation with respect to such funds; but limits to not more than 50 percent the portion which may be expended by any substate grantee for needs-related payments and supportive services. Expands the supportive services category to include mortgage, rent, and insurance payment assistance. Title III: Unemployment Benefits to Certain Individuals Not Otherwise Eligible - Allows a State to apply to the Secretary of Labor (the Secretary) for a grant to help meet the costs of providing benefits under an expanded unemployment benefits program to individuals affected by a severe contraction in a specific industry in such State. Authorizes the Secretary to make such a grant if the contraction meets severity and duration requirements prescribed by the Secretary. Limits administrative expenses to not more than 15 percent of such grant. Requires that such an expanded unemployed benefits program provide unemployment compensation to individuals who: (1) would be eligible for it under the State law if services performed as a self-employed individual were covered; and (2) ceased to have such self-employment by reason of a severe contraction in a specific industry. Requires the program to provide such compensation also to individuals who would be eligible for it under State law but for a reduction in hours of employment during the applicable base period by reason of such severe contraction. Authorizes appropriations.

To provide for a no-cost purchase option for and construction of a building to provide housing for the Environmental Protection Agency in the Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1991

Directs the Administrator of General Services to construct on Federal land on the South Campus of the Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, a building to house the Environmental Protection Agency and a parking facility for occupants and visitors to such building. Provides that construction of such building and facility shall be carried out through a no-cost purchase option and lease containing certain terms. Authorizes appropriations for design and site testing for the building.

Higher Education Act Amendments of 1991

United States · United States Congress · 6 June 1991

Higher Education Act Amendments of 1991 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to revise and reauthorize its programs. Title I: Access and Retention - Establishes a new HEA title I, Access and Retention, to provide special programs and projects: (1) to identify and encourage students from low-income or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds who have potential for postsecondary and graduate education; and (2) to prepare students from such backgrounds for such education. (Replaces the current title I, Postsecondary Programs for Nontraditional Students.) Establishes a new Precollege Outreach Program of grants to States (replacing the current part A program) to support outreach services for individuals from low-income and educationally disadvantaged backgrounds in order to help them successfully complete secondary education and begin and succeed in postsecondary education. Authorizes States to make subgrants to eligible entities to carry out one or more of such services. Provides for a gradually declining Federal share of project costs, from 90 percent in the first year, with five percent reductions in succeeding years leveling off at 70 percent for the fifth year and thereafter. Includes among criteria to be used by the State agency in selecting projects the degree to which an applicant's service area include large numbers of low-income or first-generation college students. Prohibits an institution of higher education from using such grant funds for recruitment of students to enroll at that institution. Authorizes appropriations. Establishes a new Student Support Service Program of grants to institutions of higher education (replacing the current part B National Programs) to support individuals pursuing postsecondary education programs who are first-generation college students or from low-income or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds. Directs the Secretary, in making such grant awards, to give highest priority to projects at institutions with the lowest educational and general expenditures per full-time equivalent student. Sets forth types of authorized services to assist in motivating and preparing students for postsecondary education. Authorizes appropriations. Establishes a new Ronald E. McNair Graduate Outreach Program of grants to institutions of higher education (combining and replacing certain current part C programs) for services to eligible individuals from low-income and educationally disadvantaged backgrounds to prepare them for graduate, professional, and doctoral study. Directs the Secretary not to make such a grant award without assurances that: (1) at least two-thirds of project participants will be first-generation college students from low-income families; (2) remaining participants will be from a group underrepresented in graduate education; (3) participants will be enrolled in a degree program at an institution of higher education; and (4) participants in summer research internships will have completed their sophomore year in postsecondary education. Sets forth authorized uses of grant funds, including opportunities for research or other scholarly activities, summer internships, and fellowships. Authorizes appropriations. Title II: National Graduate Fellowships Program - Repeals HEA titles II (Academic Library and Information Technology Enhancement) and IX (Graduate Programs). Establishes a new HEA title II, National Graduate Fellowships Program, for competitive grants to institutions of higher education to provide financial support to highly qualified individuals in graduate studies in areas of national need (including individuals from groups traditionally underrepresented in such studies in such areas). Designates each fellowship recipient a National Graduate Fellow. Limits the fellowship stipend to five years. Authorizes the Secretary to award continuation grants to institutions demonstrating satisfactory progress. Revises institutions receiving them to give preference in awarding fellowship stipends to students who have received National Graduate Fellowships and who demonstrate satisfactory progress in their studies. Sets forth reporting requirements. Directs the Secretary to make new grants under title II only to the extent that funds remain from continued prior funding under HEA to recipients of graduate fellowship assistance for: (1) the Foreign Language and Areas Studies Fellowship Program; (2) the Patricia Roberts Harris Fellowship Program; (3) the Jacob K. Javits Fellows Program; or (4) the Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need Program. Requires institutions receiving title II grants to give preference in awarding fellowships to students who previously received such assistance under a listed program. Allows a student who received such assistance to subsequently receive a National Graduate Fellowship, but limits the combined period of assistance to not more than five years. Authorizes appropriations. Title III: Institutional Aid - Revises HEA title III, Institutional Aid. Eliminates provisions for special consideration for certain activities. (Deems these simply as allowable program activities.) Revises eligibility criteria for institutions to require that their average educational and general expenditures be lower, by a percentage determined annually, than the same expenditures per full-time equivalent undergraduate student of institutions that offer similar instruction. Eliminates as a requirement for such assistance that such institutions are to have been authorized for the preceding five years to offer a specified degree program, and accredited or making reasonable progress toward accreditation. Eliminates provisions for waivers of such requirement for institutions with specified percentages of minority students. Limits grant awards to only one such grant, with a maximum five-year duration, to any eligible institution, except that a one-year planning grant may be awarded for preparing plans and applications. Requires: (1) grant applications to describe measurable goals for the institution's management and academic programs, and a plan for achieving them; and (2) continuation applications to demonstrate progress toward achieving them. Revises the program of grants to strengthen Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Allows the use of grant funds to establish or improve a development office to strengthen or improve contributions from alumni and the private sector. Prohibits awarding to any one undergraduate institution: (1) more than two such grants for a period not to exceed ten years from September 30, 1987; or (2) any grant exceeding five years. Requires grant applications to describe measurable goals for the institution's financial management as well as academic goals, and plans to achieve them. Revises and renames a certain program Endowment Challenge Grants for Institutions Eligible for Assistance. Increases the amount (from $10,000,000 to $20,000,000) which appropriations for such grants must exceed before the Secretary may make a two-to-one matching endowment grant exceeding $1,000,000 to an institution. Gives priority for endowment grants to applicants that have received another title III grant within the preceding five years. Revises title III general provisions. Authorizes appropriations. Title IV: Student Assistance - Part A: Grants to Students - Amends HEA title IV (Student Assistance) with respect to the program of Grants to Students in Attendance at Institutions of Higher Education. Subpart 1: Pell Grants - Extends Pell Grant program authority through FY 1997. Eliminates a requirement that the Secretary make an advance payment to eligible institutions of at least 85 percent of the amount each institution requests as needed to pay Pell Grants to eligible students. Revises requirements for the amount of Pell Grants. Sets the amount of an award to a student at the lesser of: (1) the specified maximum award less the expected family contribution; or (2) the percentage (based on family-income level) of the amount of the student's need for financial assistance (i.e. cost of attendance minus expected family contribution). Increases the maximum award amount to $3,700 for 1992-3 and the four succeeding award years. Sets forth a table of percentages of student need for award computation. Increases the minimum allowable award from $200 to $400. Eliminates certain restrictions on the award of Pell Grants to students attending on a less than half-time basis. Revises the period of eligibility for Pell Grants. Limits such period to the full-time equivalent of three academic years in the aggregate in the case of all undergraduate degree or certificate programs normally requiring two years or less. Specifies that longer eligibility periods for longer programs are cumulative and include periods for which the student received a Pell Grant under shorter programs Revises requirements for adjustments for insufficient appropriations for the Pell Grant program. Provides for reduction of all awards by a percentage determined in accordance with a schedule of reductions by the Secretary. (Currently certain awards are held harmless.) Increases the minimumm allowable Pell Grant, under such reduction formula, from $100 to $200. Eliminates certain limitations on the availability of Pell Grant funds when excess amounts are available at the end of a fiscal year. Subpart 2: Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants - Extends the authorization of appropriations for the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG) program, but reduces the amount of funding. Reduces the Federal share of SEOG awards to not more to not more than 50 percent in FY 1992 and thereafter. (Current law provides for a maximum Federal share of 85 percent in FY 1991, and allows an even greater Federal share if the Secretary determines it warranted.) Subpart 3: Repeals - Repeals authority for the following programs: (1) Grants to States for State Student Incentives (SSI); (2) Special Programs for Students from Disadvantaged Backgrounds (TRIO programs); (3) Assistance to Institutions of Higher Education (including the Veterans Education Outreach Program); and (4) Special Child Care Services for Disadvantaged College Students. Subpart 4: Presidential Achievement Scholarship Program - Creates a Presidential Achievement Scholarship Program to award scholarships to Pell Grant recipients who demonstrate high levels of academic achievement. Authorizes appropriations. Allows Presidential Achievement Scholars to receive up to four scholarships, each for one academic year, for full-time undergraduate study (or five scholarships for full-time undergraduate study programs that require attendance for five academic years). Bases eligibility in the first year of postsecondary education on the student's receiving a Pell Grant and either: (1) ranking, or having ranked, in the top ten percent, by grade point average, of his or her high school graduating class; or (2) achieving at least the announced minimum score on one of the nationally administered, standardized tests identified by the Secretary. Bases eligibility after the first year on the student's receiving a Pell Grant and: (1) being enrolled in a program of study of at least two years that lead to a degree or certificate; and (2) ranking in the top 20 percent, by cumulative grade point average or equivalent, of his or her postsecondary education class as of the last academic year of study completed. Provides that a student's eligibility for such a scholarship does not depend on receipt of scholarship or Pell Grant in the previous academic year. Requires full-time attendance at the institution as a condition for receiving such a scholarship. Directs the Secretary to establish scholarship award procedures, including deadlines for consideration of students. Requires disbursement of scholarship proceeds to the institutions, but not until the student recipients are enrolled. Sets such scholarship award at $500 for any academic year. Reduces such amount by the amount it exceeds the student's cost of attendance by itself or when combined with other Federal or non-Federal grant or scholarship assistance in the the academic year. Provides for proportionate reductions in each award to adjust for insufficient appropriations. Subpart 5: National Science Scholars Program - Creates a National Science Scholars Program to award scholarships to outstanding students, selected by the President, for the study of physical, life, or computer sciences, mathematics, or engineering. Authorizes appropriations. Provides for an a initial award for the first year of undergraduate study and continuation award for the remaining three (or four) years, as appropriate. Allows National Science Scholars to use such award to attend any defined institution of higher education. Requires the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF Director) and the Secretary to jointly establish criteria for selection of scholars for initial year awards. Requires such criteria to include potential to successfully complete a postsecondary program, and motivation to pursue a career, in such fields. Allows consideration to be given to individual financial need and to the nondiscriminatory promotion of participation by minorities and individus with disabilities. Requires States to establish a nominating committee, if they desire to qualify student residents for selection. Requires each State nominating committee to submit to the President nominations of from four to ten individuals from each congressional district. Requires priority ranking of such nominations. Requires the President to select and announce two such scholars for each academic year from each congressional district. Directs the Secretary to make continuation awards of additional scholarships to recipient of initial awards who meet specified requirements. Requires disbursement of scholarship proceeds to the institutions, but not until the student recipients are enrolled. Requires the NSF Director and the Secretary to encourage the support and assistance of civic groups, the business community, professional associations, institutions of higher education, and others in providing scholarship assistance to National Science Scholarship finalists. Sets forth eligibility requirements for initial and continuation awards. Allows the Secretary to waive full-time attendance requirements in unusual circumstances. Directs the Secretary to determine circumstances for eligibility reinstatement after an interruption of schooling for personal reasons. Requires the Secretary annually to notify all public and private secondary schools and all institutions of higher education in each State of the availability of such scholarships. Sets such a scholarship award at $6,000 for any academic year. Reduces such amount by the amount it exceeds the student's cost of attendance by itself or when combined with other Federal and non-Federal grant or scholarship assistance in the academic year. Provides for proportionate reductions in each award to adjust for insufficient appropriations. Requires priority consideration to be given students receiving such scholarships, to the extent they are otherwise qualified, for federally financed summer employment in federally funded research and development centers that complements and reinforces their educational program. Requires Federal agencies to participate actively in providing appropriate summer employment opportunities for such students. Repeals provisions of the Excellence in Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Education Act of 1990 which currently authorize the National Science Scholars Program. Subpart 6: Special Programs for Students Whose Families Are Engaged in Migrant and Seasonal Farmwork - Revises the Special Programs for Students Whose Families Are Engaged in Migrant and Seasonal Farmwork. Renames certain grants as grants to build the program capacity of educational agencies, institutions, and organizations to operate high school equivalency programs (HEP) and college assistance migrant programs (CAMP) for migrant students. Makes State and local educational agencies (as well as as institutions of higher education and private nonprofit organizations) eligible for such HEP grants. Allows provision of HEP services to individuals 16 years of age or older, or beyond the State age of compulsory school attendance, and not currently enrolled in school. (Current laws requires 17 years of age or over.) Limits authorized CAMP services, with specified exceptions, to those services necessary to assist migrant students in completing their first year of college. Requires CAMP grantees to provide follow-up services for migrant students after their first year of college. Authorizes use of up to ten percent of the CAMP grant for such follow-up services. Requires such follow-up services to include: (1) monitoring and reporting on student academic progress; and (2) referring students to providers of counseling services, academic assistance, or financial aid. Requires each project application to include a long-range management plan describing how the applicant will, over the grant period, gradually assume financial responsibility to provide services substantially similar to those proposed in the application. Requires the Secretary in making grants, to consider the geographic distribution of the persons to be served by grantees. Requires grant awards to be one-time, nonrenewable grants for: (1) a five-year period for first-time grantees; and (2) a three-year period for previous grantees. Provides for a Federal share of 90 percent in the first year, declining to 50 percent in the last year of such grants. Retains the $150,000 minimum allocation for each project. Extends the authorization of appropriations for the the HEP and CAMP programs. Subpart 7: Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program - Revises the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program, particularly the formula for allocation of such scholarship program funds among States. Bases such allocation on relative population ages five through 17. Provides that each State shall receive at least ten scholarships. Allocates to the State $1,500 per scholarship. Eliminates a requirement that ten such scholars be selected for each congressional district. Requires the State education agency to adopt selection procedures to ensure an equitable geographic distribution of awards within the State. Eliminates requirements for an award ceremony. Extends the authorization of appropriations for the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program. Part B: Guaranteed Student Loans - Revises the Robert T. Stafford Student Loan program. Extends the authorization for, and the amount of, new loan principal that may be made to students covered by Federal loan insurance. Increases the annual and aggregate loan limits under the Stafford loan and the Supplemental Loans for Students (SLS) programs. Requires lenders to: (1) offer Stafford and SLS loan borrowers the option of repaying such loans on a graduated repayment schedule under specified conditions; (2) obtain the borrower's authorization for entry of judgment against the borrower in the event of default; and (3) obtain the borrower's driver's license number, if any, at the time of loan application (for the parent loan PLUS program, as well). Eliminates a provision which allowed an institution to refuse to certify a student's eligibility for a loan, or allowed it to certify a lesser amount, under specified conditions. Revises loan deferment provisions. Retains deferment while the borrower is in specified courses of study. Replaces the various current categorical deferments with a hardship deferment of up to three years in the aggregate. Requires the lender to grant specified forbearance if the borrower is a Peace Corps or VISTA volunteer does not qualify for such hardship deferment. Revises provisions for Federal reinsurance coverage. Revises the period in which guaranty agencies must file reinsurance claims. Revises requirements for calculation and payment of such reinsurance. Requires in the case of Stafford, SLS, and PLUS loan applicants over age 21, that the lender: (1) obtain a credit report; and (2) require a cosigner for such applicants who have adverse credit histories. Allows the lender to charge such applicants for the actual cost of such credit reports, up to $25. Requires a 60-day delayed disbursement of Stafford or SLS loans to first-year undergraduates at institutions with default rates of 30 percent or greater. (Retains the current 30-day delayed disbursement for first-year undergraduates at institutions with default rates less than 30 percent.) Revises provisions for eligibility limitations, suspensions, terminations, other hearing procedures, and fines for lenders or institutions that violate program requirements. Sets forth conflict-of-interest restrictions on guaranty agency officers and employers. Prohibits any guaranty agency from permitting any of its officers or employees, or any member of their immediate families, to have a direct financial interest in, or serve as an officer or employee of, any lender, secondary market, contractor, or service with which the guaranty agency does business. Includes financial information among the information the Secretary may reasonably require from a guaranty agency to carry out the student loan programs and protect the U.S. financial interest. Revises the administrative cost and collection retention allowances for guaranty agencies. Revises provisions for oversight of guaranty agencies. Authorizes the Secretary to require a guaranty agency to submit and implement a management plan if the ratio of its reserve funds to outstanding guarantees is less than a set level, or if its administrative or financial condition jeopardizes its continued ability to perform its responsibilities under its guaranty agreement. Authorizes the Secretary to terminate the guaranty agreement with any agency that fails to submit an acceptable management plan or fails to improve substantially its condition in accordance with such a plan. Authorizes the Secretary to assume guaranty agency functions of agencies whose agreements are terminated by the Secretary or themselves. Limits the Secretary's liability for any outstanding liabilities of a guaranty agency, the functions of which the Secretary has assumed, to the fair market value of assets assigned by the agency to the Secretary, minus any necessary liquidation or administrative costs. Requires State backing of designated guaranty agencies. Requires each State to guarantee, with its full faith and credit or the equivalent, all student loans guaranteed by the guaranty agency designated for that State for borrowers attending eligible institutions in that State. Provides that a State may elect to guarantee, in addition, student loans guaranteed by any other guarantee agency for borrowers who are attending eligible institutions in that State. Requires the State, if such a guaranty agency backed by the State is unable to discharge its insurance obligation, to be responsible for discharging them, as well as administrative costs associated with transferring the guaranty agency's operations to another entity. Directs the Secretary, if a State discharges such insurance obligations, to pay the State the amount the guaranty agency would otherwise have received as reimbursement. Directs the Secretary, unless a State demonstrates by January 1, 1994, that it is backing the designated guaranty agency, to assess institutions of higher education participating in the student loan program that are located in that State a fee based on the risk of financial loss to the Federal Government that the State would otherwise assume. Requires such fees to be deposited in the student loan insurance fund. Requires State to pay a share of default costs in specified circumstances. Allows a State to charge a fee to an institution of higher education in the State participating in the loan program, to an approved fee structure based on the institution's cohort default rates and the State's risk of loss under such requirement. Eliminates the student loan program eligibility of foreign institutions (but not of study abroad that is part of the curriculum of U.S. institutions). Revises the definition of cohort default rate. Reduces the special allowance rates for holders of loans for which the cohort default rate exceeds 20 percent. Requires the Student Loan Marketing Association (Sallie Mae) to notify the Secretary, within 15 days, when: (1) it makes a loan or extends any other form of credit to a guaranty agency; (2) its cumulative loans or other forms of credit outstanding to any one lender exceed $50,000,000; or (3) it makes any additional loans or other forms of credit to a lender whose cumulative outstanding loans from it exceed $50,000,000. Requires Sallie Mae's annual report on its operations and activities: (1) to be submitted to the Secretary and the Congress (currently the President and the Congress); and (2) to include specific information regarding its investments and debts, the characteristics of its student loan portfolio, and other data which the Secretary may reasonably require. Part C: Work-Study Programs - Extends the authorization of appropriations for Work-Study Programs (but reduces the amount of such funding). Lowers the maximum Federal share of the the compensation of students employed in the work-study program to 50 percent for FY 1992 and succeeding fiscal years. (Current law sets it at 70 percent for academic year 1990-1991 and succeeding academic years.) Eliminates special incentives (such as increased Federal administrative allowance and increased Federal share of student compensation for community service-learning jobs under the work-study program. Lowers the maximum Federal share of the cost of any job location and development program, under the work-study program from 80 percent to 50 percent. Prohibits students attending proprietary institutions of higher education from being employed by such institutions under the work-study program (but allows them to participate in work-study program employment by a government agency or a private nonprofit organization). Reduces from $200 to $100 the amount of work-study program compensation in excess of need that a student may receive. Eliminates provisions for private sector employment agreements under the work-study program. Part D: Income Contingent Loan Program - Extends through FY 1996 the authorization of appropriations for the Income Contingent Direct Loan Program (ICL program) (and increases the amount of such funding). Eliminates the limitation that the Secretary may not enter into ICL agreements with more than ten institutions of higher education. Makes consortia of institutions of higher educations (as well as single institutions) eligible to participate in the ICL program. Provides for an aggregate ICL loan limit of $50,000 for individual graduate and professional students, including any such loans made to such persons before they become graduate or professional students. Provides for an annual limit of $10,000 on ICL loans to graduate and professional students. (Retains current limits for undergraduates.) Requires ICL applicants to provide their driver license number, if any. Requires institutions to: (1) obtain a credit report on any ICL applicant over age 21; and (2) require any such applicant with an adverse credit history to obtain a cosigner and report to the Congress on the cost-effectiveness of the ICL program, its impact on participating institutions and students, and the feasibility of extending it to a loan program of general applicability. Part E: Perkins Loan Program - Authorizes appropriations for the Perkins Loan Program, but only for reimbursement of institutions for Perkins loans that are cancelled for certain public service. Terminates the authorization of appropriations for: (1) Federal contributions to student loan funds established under such program; and (2) continuation loans to certain students who have received earlier Perkins Loans. Revises provisions for terms of such loans and cancellation for public service. Extends provisions for distribution of assets from such student loan funds. Repeals provisions for allocation of funds. Part F: Need Analysis - Revises provisions for need analysis to apply them to all need-based student assistance programs, including Pell Grants (which currently have a separate need analysis system). Revises the definitions of cost of attendance and family contribution, as well as provisions for data elements used in determining expected family contribution. Revises the formula for calculation of the expected family contribution for a dependent student to eliminate references to the student's spouse. Allows application of any parent's negative available income: (1) to reduce the parent's income supplement amount from assets; and (2) if there is any negative amount remaining after that is reduced to zero, to increase the allowances against the dependent student's income. Revises the minimum dependent student contribution to be the greater of: (1) specified amounts that vary according to family total income; or (2) 70 percent of the student's total income, minus the adjustment to student income. Eliminates certain exceptions to the general need analysis calculation for dislocated workers and displaced homemakers. Excludes from the calculation of net worth the net value of the principal place of residence for the families of dependent students and for independent students, if their adjusted gross income is less than $20,000. Revises the tables for determination of standard maintenance allowance, employment expense allowance, adjusted net worth of business and of farm, asset protection allowance, and parent's assessment from available income. Revises the asset protection allowance to provide for consideration of the average age of both parents. Revises provisions for family contribution for married or single independent students without dependents (including various revisions similar to those described for dependent students). Includes married, as well as unmarried, students under this category of independent students without dependents. Revises provisions for minimum student contribution under this category. Revises tables for determining various allowances and other factors. Revises provisions relating to the family contribution for married or single independent students with dependents (including provisions similiar to those in other categories). Revises tables for determining various allowances and other factors. Eliminates certain restrictions on the Secretary's authority to prescribe regulations to carry out need analysis requirements. Revises provisions relating to development of revised tables of assessment rates for purposes of such need analysis. Authorizes the Secretary to prescribe regulations specifying situations in which the data elements considered in determining a student's expected family contribution may be modified to accommodate the special circumstances of the student. Part G: General Provisions - Revises general provisions relating to student assistance programs. Includes as an institution of higher education for the student assistance programs any institution that provides programs of at least six months (or 600 clock hours) that prepare students for gainful employment in recognized occupations, and that has been in existence for at least two years. Makes ineligible for student assistance program participation for specified periods any institution whose cohort default rate equals or exceeds a specified threshold percentage. Revises provisions for proprietary institutions of higher education. Authorizes the Secretary, if a particular category of proprietary institution does not meet specified student assistance program requirements because there is no nationally recognized accrediting agency or association qualified to accredit such institutions, to: (1) appoint an advisory committee to recommend qualifying standards; and (2) determine whether the particular schools meet them. Provides for reduction of student assistance loan award maximums for short-term programs. Revises provisions relating to a master calendar. Revises provisions for a common financial reporting form for determination of expected family contribution. Requires students, in order to remain eligible for assistance, to satisfy specified minimum academic achievement standards, including an academic standing above the bottom ten percent of their postsecondary class. Directs the Secretary to implement a system of verification of immigration status. Revises requirements for borrower information to be submitted to the institution during the exit interview. Eliminates certain provisions for training in financial aid and student support services. Requires any institution participating in any student assistance program to have in effect a fair and equitable refund policy and to provide a written statement of it, with examples, to prospective students. Revises provisions for student assistance program participation agreements. Requires the institution to acknowledge the authority of the Secretary, guaranty agencies, accrediting agencies, and State licensing bodies to share with each other any information pertaining to the institution's eligibility to participate in such programs. Prohibits institutions from providing any incentive payments for securing enrollments to any persons or entities engaged in any student recruiting or admission activities or in making decisions regarding the award of student financial assistance. Eliminates the requirement that hearings be on the record, with respect to program participation limitation, suspension, or termination procedures. Authorizes the Secretary to conditionally certify an institution's eligibility to participate in student assistance programs, under specified circumstances. Provides for wage garnishment for loan collection. Authorizes a guaranty agency, or the Secretary where appropriate, to garnish the disposable pay of an individual to collect the amount owed or the required repayment, subject to certain conditions. Provides for data matching. Authorizes the Secretary to obtain from Federal or State agencies specified information relating to an individual for student loan collection purposes. Directs the Secretary of Labor to enter into an agreement to provide prompt access for the Secretary to wage and unemployment compensation claims information and data maintained by or for the Department of Labor or State employment security agencies. Subjects to specified criminal penalties attempts to commit specified offenses. Amends the Higher Education Technical Amendments of 1991 to make permanent the elimination of limitations on actions to collect defaulted student loans or grant overpayments. Title V: Education Recruitment, Retention, and Development - Establishes a new Partnerships for Innovative Teacher Education program, replacing the current Midcareer Teacher Training for Nontraditional Students program. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to and contracts with State and local educational agencies, institutions of higher education, and consortia of such institutions and agencies to plan, establish, and operate teaching schools to develop and put into practice the best knowledge about teaching. Provides that such awards shall be for a term of three years, with renewals for two additional years under specified conditions. Provides for applications, priorities, uses of funds by award recipients, and authorized activities of such teaching schools. Authorizes appropriations. Sets the Federal share at 75 percent for the first three years and 50 percent for the final two years. Repeals provisions for School, College, and University Partnerships. Retains Professional Development and Leadership Programs. Authorizes appropriations to complete the final year of funding for the territories under provisions for Leadership in Educational Administration Development. Repeals provisions for Professional Development Resource Centers and Leadership in Educational Administration Development. Retains Teacher Scholarships and Fellowships. Renames the Congressional Teacher Scholarship Programs the Paul Douglas Teacher Scholarship Program. Makes such scholarships available to outstanding high school graduates who demonstrate an interest in teaching. Authorizes appropriations. Revises requirements for the teaching service obligation of certain scholarship recipients, repayment conditions, assurances of pursuing a teaching career, and maintenance of academic achievement. Revises the Christa McAuliffe Fellowship Program to authorize appropriations. Bases allotment of funds on the number of public school teachers in each State and other specified jurisdictions. Authorizes the Secretary, in extraordinary circumstances, to waive or defer all or a portion of the service requirement, or to allow fellows to fulfill their service requirement by teaching in another school or school district. Requires States, in making fellowship awards, to give priority to applicants proposing fellowship projects involving pursuit of eligible activities on a full-time basis as part of a sabbatical. Eliminates the requirement that announcement of such awards be made in a public ceremony. Repeals provisions for State Task Forces on Teacher Training. Title VI: International Education Programs - Revises the International and Foreign Language Studies program for graduate and undergraduate language and area centers to eliminate stipends and allowances for: (1) individuals undergoing advanced training; and (2) students beginning their third year of graduate training. Repeals provisions for grants to institutions of higher education or public or private nonprofit library institutions or consortia to acquire, maintain bibliographic data on, preserve, and make available to researchers and scholars certain periodicals published outside the United States which are not commonly held by U.S. academic libraries. Authorizes appropriations to carry out International Education Programs. Title VII: College Facilities Loans and Insurance - Revises and redesignates the Construction, Reconstruction, and Renovation of Academic Facilities Loans and Insurance program to: (1) provide higher education institutions with access to private capital construction debt through the College Construction Loan Insurance Association; and (2) provide for servicing of the remaining loan portfolio of the Higher Education Facilities Loans, College Housing Loans, and College Housing and Academic Facilities Loans authorized before the effective date of this Act. Repeals the authorization of appropriations and other provisions for: (1) Grants for the Construction, Reconstruction, and Renovation of Undergraduate Academic Facilities; (2) Grants for Construction, Reconstruction, and Renovation of Graduate Academic Facilities; (3) Loans for Construction, Reconstruction, and Renovation of Academic Facilities; (4) Grants to Pay Interest on Debt; (5) Housing and Other Educational Facilities Loans; and (6) Special Programs. Authorizes appropriations for remaining programs. Title VIII: Cooperative Education - Extends the authorization of appropriations for Cooperative Education (but reduces the amount of such funding). Eliminates certain reservations of funds for specified categories of projects. (Retains the current division of 75 percent of funds for grants for cooperative education programs and 25 percent for demonstration and innovation projects, training and resource centers, and research.) Defines cooperative education as the provision of alternating or parallel periods of academic study and public and private employment in order to give students work experience related to their academic or occupational objectives and an opportunity to earn the funds necessary for continuing and completing their education. Revises matching requirements for cooperative education grants. Requires grant applicants to describe fiscal support plans to ensure that such programs shall continue beyond the five-year period of Federal assistance at not less than the level of expenditures for the initial year of Federal assistance. Authorizes the Secretary to elect not to make a continuation award to a fund recipient that has failed to maintain such fiscal effort in years after the grant period. Requires each recipient to document to the Secretary its maintenance of fiscal effort beyond the five-year period of Federal assistance. Revises grant application requirements to require descriptions of: (1) the extent to which programs in the academic discipline for which the application is made have had a favorable reception by public and private sector employers; and (2) the plans the applicant will carry out to evaluate their cooperative education program at the end of the grant period. Eliminates certain factors for special consideration of applications. Directs the Secretary to give special consideration to applications which demonstrate a commitment to serving disadvantaged students and students with disabilities. Revises provisions relating to the duration of grants. Provides that: (1) only institutions that have received such a grant before enactment of this Act shall be eligible to receive one additional continuation grant of not more than five years; and (2 all other institutions may receive only a single five-year grant. Revises provisions for training and resource centers to provide that their improvement of materials used in cooperative education programs shall take place in conjunction with other specified activities. Title IX: Postsecondary Improvement Programs - Revises provisions for the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE). Repeals consultation provisions which prohibit any FIPSE grant or contract unless it has been submitted to the appropriate State entity and that entity has had an opportunity to submit comments and recommendations to the Secretary. Specifies that the Secretary appoints the Director of the National Board of FIPSE. Revises Board functions and repeals a requirement for a minimum number of Board meetings annually. Eliminates provisions requiring the Director to establish grant and contract review and evaluation procedures, and prohibiting such procedures from being subject to any review outside of officials responsible for FIPSE administration. Extends the authorization of appropriations for the FIPSE program. Revises and renames the Minority Science and Engineering Programs the Minority Science Improvement Program. Repeals a requirement tht the Secretary submit to the Congress an annual list of grantees. Directs the Secretary in cooperation with the heads of other Federal departments and agencies that operate programs similar to the Minority Science Improvement Program, to report to the President before 1995, summarizing and evaluating those programs. Repeals provisions for Science and Engineering Access Programs. Requires grant recipients, in order to remain eligible to receive funds, to demonstrate to the Secretary that they are making reasonable progress toward achieving the project goals. Repeals specified provisions: (1) relating to Procedures for grant and contract review; and (2) for the Advisory Board for the Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Programs. Extends the authorization of appropriations for the Minority Science Improvement Program. (Eliminates provisions allocating funds and providing an additional appropriation for new activities specifically aimed at increasing the participation of minority students in scientific and engineering research careers.) Revises and renames the Innovative Projects for Community Services and Student Financial Independence programs the Innovative Projects for Community Services, to support innovative projects to encourage student participation in community service projects, including literacy projects. Provides that the Secretary (rather than the FIPSE Board Director) shall establish the procedures under which the FIPSE Board approves Innovative Projects grant and contract applications. Extends the authorization of appropriations for Innovative Projects for Community Services (and increases the amount of such funding to reflect the incorporation of certain functions of the Student Literacy Corps eliminated by this Act). Title X: Partnerships for Economic Development and Urban Community Service - Repeals the Partnerships for Economic Development and Community Service program. Title XI: General Provisions - Revises the definition of institution of higher education. Requires such institutions, in order to be eligible to participate in HEA programs, to comply with such minimum State licensing standards as the Secretary may prescribe by regulation and which the relevant State licensing body is to impose upon institutions it licenses. Revises the alternative accreditation process. Authorizes the Secretary, if a particular category of institutions is not accredited because no nationally recognized accrediting agency or association is qualified to do so, to appoint an advisory committee to: (1) recommend standards to qualify institutions in such category to participate in HEA programs; and (2) review whether particular institutions meet such standards. Requires an institution, if it is accredited by more than one accrediting body, to designate, for HEA eligibility purposes, one such body as it primary accreditor, on either an institutionwide or program basis. Deems such an institution no longer accredited for purposes of HEA eligibility for a 24-month period if its accreditation is terminated for cause by the primary accreditor, or if it withdraws from such accreditation voluntarily under a show cause or suspension order, unless such accreditation is restored by the same accreditor during such 24-month period. Revises provisions relating to treatment of territories and territorial student assistance. Changes from mandatory to discretionary the Secretary's authority to waive the eligibility criteria of any postsecondary education program administered by the Department of Education where such criteria does not take into account the unique circumstances of specified U.S. territories. Eliminates provisions for: (1) promulgation of certain regulations; and (2) an authorization of appropriations for supporting the cost of providing postsecondary education programs on Guam for nonresident students from specified U.S. territories. Extends the authorization for the continued existence of the National Advisory Committee on Accreditation and Institutional Eligibility. Revises provisions for peer review of applications to authorize the Secretary to use up to one-half of one percent of appropriations, for discretionay grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to provide for the panels of readers required to review the applications for such grants, contracts, and agreements. Provides for sharing of institutional eligibility information by the Secretary, guaranty agencies, accrediting agencies, and State licensing bodies. Makes ineligible for any HEA assistance any individual who is in default on any loan made, insured, or guaranteed by the Federal Government, unless satisfactory repayment arrangements are made. Repeals provisions for: (1) a Joint Study Commission on Postsecondary Institutional Recognition; and (2) regional technology transfer centers. Title XII: Effective Dates - Sets forth effective dates for various provisions of this Act.

Family Preservation Act of 1991

United States · United States Congress · 6 June 1991

Family Preservation Act of 1991 - Title I: Child Welfare Services - Amends part B (Child Welfare Services) of title IV of the Social Security Act to convert the Child Welfare program from an authorization to a capped entitlement program. Requires maintenance of State effort under such program. Sets forth a new formula for allotments to States under such program. Repeals provisions for incentive payments to States which maintain a foster care inventory, information system, and case review system, but requires States to provide such protections and other services designed to keep families together or reunify them, or to place children for adoption, with a legal guardian, or in some other planned, permanent living arrangement. Requires States to submit the following types of reports on child welfare services and expenditures: (1) pre-expenditure reports; (2) post-expenditure reports; and (3) comparative financial contributions reports. Reserves funds for entitlement grants to States to plan for and provide child welfare services designed to strengthen and preserve families. Requires use of part of such funds to develop or expand specialized child welfare services programs, for families in crisis due to substance abuse, that: (1) emphasize comprehensive services geared to the whole family; and (2) support or expand availability of programs for pregnant women and programs that allow mothers (and other caretaker relatives) to reside with their children while receiving services or treatment. Requires uses of the remaining part of such funds to develop or expand: (1) service programs to help children, where appropriate, return to families from which they have been removed, or be placed for adoption, with a legal guardian, or in some other planned, permanent living arrangement; (2) preplacement preventive services programs to help children at risk of foster care placement remain with their families; or (3) service programs for follow-up care for families to whom a child has been returned after a foster care placement. Reserves funds for grants to State court systems to assess and improve procedures in child welfare cases, in carrying out the Child Welfare Services program and part E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of title IV of the Social Security Act. Sets forth application requirements and formulas for determining the amount of such grants for FY 1993 through 1997. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (Secretary) to submit interim and final reports to the Congress on the information obtained from assessments conducted with such grants and the impact of such grant program on State court procedures and functions. Requires each State to compile annually a detailed directory of programs designed to keep families together or reunify them or place children permanently, identifying which of such programs provides specialized child welfare services to families in crisis due to substance abuse. Title II: Foster Care and Adoption Assistance - Amends title IV (Grants to States for Aid and Services to Needy Families with Children and for Child Welfare Services) of the Social Security Act to add a new part C, Comprehensive Service Projects to grant States flexibility and resources to develop comprehensive and coordinated services designed to: (1) preserve and strengthen families with children at risk of placement outside their homes; (2) reunite children with their families expeditiously if an out-of-home placement is found to be necessary; and (3) place children in adoptive homes or other permanent arrangements in a timely fashion if reunification with their families is not appropriate. Permits any State to apply to the Secretary for permission to: (1) conduct a comprehensive service project in a selected area or areas; and (2) suspend certain child welfare services and foster care and adoption assistance requirements with respect to State activities in such area or areas during the project. Sets forth application requirements and administrative provisions for such projects. Prohibits the Secretary of HHS from requiring as a condition of approval of a project application: (1) the State to select any area or areas in which to conduct the project; or (2) the project to comply with any requirements not specified in the project authorization. Sets forth those requirements with which such a project must comply. Provides for determining the expenses for which a State might properly seek reimbursement, for purposes of calculating such grant amount. Authorizes the Secretary to increase such grant amount, to the extent appropriate, by taking specified factors into account. Sets forth requirements for notification to States of grant amounts, and for grant payments in equal quarterly installments. Prohibits a State from carrying out such a project in a manner that impairs the entitlement of any child to the foster care benefits he or she would have received if the Secretary had approved the State plan for the fiscal year and had not authorized the State to conduct such a project. Deems a State to have in effect an approved foster care and adoption assistance plan during the period in which it conducts such a project for purposes of a State plan requirements under part A (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) of title IV of the Social Security Act. Requires States to report annually on funds expended under such projects to the Secretary and the Advisory Commission on Children and Families. Provides for project termination. Requires a State to discontinue the project at the end of a fiscal year: (1) if it has notified the Secretary that it intends to do so; or (2) if the Secretary has determined that the State is not conducting the project in accordance with requirements and is not making satisfactory progress toward achieving the State plans. Applies Federal child welfare and foster care and adoption assistance requirements with respect to the population of and the State activities in the project area or areas upon such project discontinuance. Prohibits a State from conducting another such project for five years after project discontinuance. Amends part E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance) of title IV of the Social Security Act to eliminate means tests and reduce certain reimbursement rates. Expands eligibility for foster care maintenance payments in certain cases. Covers respite care for foster parents with children who have special needs. Expands the definition of children with special needs, for purposes of the adoption assistance program, to include: (1) those children for whom information is known and available about their genetic or social history indicating a high risk of medical conditions or physical, mental or emotional handicaps (which makes, it reasonable to conclude they cannot be placed for adoption without providing part E adoption assistance or Medicaid medical assistance under title XIX (Grants to States for Medical Assistance Programs) of the Social Security Act; and (2) those children that have been adopted and have a medical condition, or a mental, physical, or emotional handicap that either existed before the adoption but was not diagnosed until afterwards or first manifests itself after the adoption but is congenital or was caused beforehand. Includes relatives (as well as foster parents) who are prospective adoptive parents and with whom the child has significant emotional ties while in their care for purposes of an exception to the requirement that an effort be made to place special needs children with appropriate adoptive parents without providing adoption assistance or Medicaid assistance. Requires each States to submit to the Secretary the factors and conditions it uses to identify children with special needs, for purposes of the adoption assistance program, and any modifications to such factors and conditions. Directs the Secretary to establish an Advisory Committee on Foster Care Placement to study and report to the Secretary and the Congress on the implementation of specified requirements, under State plans for foster care and adoption assistance, that reasonable efforts be made: (1) prior to placement of a child in a foster home, to prevent or eliminate the need for removal of the child from the child's home; and (2) to make it possible for the child to return to the child's home. Provides Federal coverage of 90 percent of State costs in developing and installing statewide mechanized data collection and information retrieval systems which: (1) the Secretary determines are likely to enhance the administration of such programs; (2) are capable of interfacing with the State data collection system for information on child abuse and neglect; and (3) meet other specified requirements. Covers 50 percent of State costs for operation of such systems. Provides that all State expenditures for development, installation, and operation of such systems shall be treated as necessary for proper and efficient administration of the State plan, without regard as to whether the systems may be used with respect to children other than those on behalf of whom payments may be made for foster care maintenance or adoption assistance. Reduces, after three years, from 90 to 50 percent the Federal matching payment for development and installation of such systems. Defers a deadline for implementation of automated systems until one year after certain regulations are promulgated. Directs the Secretary to establish a work group, including representatives of specified organizations to advise on planning and implementation of the system to be used for collection of data relating to adoption and foster care in the United States. Requires the State plan to provide for: (1) a triennial review of the amounts paid as foster care maintenance payments and adoption assistance to assure their continuing appropriateness; and (2) a report to the Secretary on the results. Requires that the dispositional hearing to determine the final status of a foster child occur within 12 months of his or her original placement, rather than the current 18 months. Revises the time frame for judicial determinations on voluntary placements. Sets forth case plan requirements for placement of children in out-of-State foster care, including a finding that the child needs services not available in the State. Requires annual review, with the child present, of the status of children in out-of-State foster care placements. Requires States to collect data on the numbers of children in out-of-State foster care placements. Requires a State, in order to receive payments for expenditures after FY 1993 for foster care maintenance payments made with respect to a child placed in foster care outside the State, to conduct and submit a study to the Secretary by the end of such fiscal year, identifying the number and common characteristics of such children and the reason why they were not placed in foster care in the State. Eliminates the ceilings on Federal foster care payments to States and the States' authority to transfer unused foster care funds to the Child Welfare Services program. Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish an advisory committee; and (2) issue final regulations for training of staff of agencies responsible for administering foster care and adoption assistance programs and for training of foster and adoptive parents. Requires such committee to include representatives of public agencies and private nonprofit organizations with an interest in child welfare. Directs the Secretary to annually publish information, on a State-by-State basis, on expenditures for, and the operation of, the Child Welfare Services program, the Foster Care and Adoption Assistance program, and Comprehensive Service Projects. Amends title IV of the Social Security Act to add a new part G, Child Welfare Review System. Directs the Secretary to establish such system to: (1) review each State child welfare program to assess whether the requirements of such Act are being carried out; (2) impose financial penalties in cases of substantial failure to comply; and (3) provide technical assistance to any such program. Requires the Secretary to complete such a review for each State program once every three years. Sets forth provisions relating to effects of noncompliance, suspension of financial penalties, and administrative and judicial review. Requires that all State child welfare programs be reviewed at least once by the end of FY 1996. Prohibits the Secretary from reducing or withholding any payment or seeking any repayment from any State under part B or E by reason of a determination made in connection with specified reviews or audits for certain periods. Title III: Emergency Assistance - Amends part A (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) (AFDC) of title IV of the Social Security Act to require States to provide emergency assistance to needy families with children, including services designed to prevent homelessness. Title IV: Social Services Block Grant - Amends title XX (Block Grants to States for Social Services) of the Social Security Act to authorize increased appropriations under such program for FY 1992 and 1993 and thereafter. Title V: Research, Demonstration, and Evaluation Activities - Amends part A (General Provisions) of title XI (General Provisions and Professional Standards Review) of the Social Security Act to require the Director of the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) to establish an Advisory Commission on Children and Families (the Commission). Requires the Commission to collect and assess specified types of information in order to identify cost-effective approaches to protect and enhance the physical, mental, emotional, and financial well-being of children and their families. Directs OTA to report annually to the Congress on the Commission and its assessment. Requires the Commission to conduct, through contracts with independent research organizations, the following research and evaluation projects: (1) an evaluation of child welfare service programs, including intensive family preservation programs; (2) foster care evaluations; (3) longitudinal child welfare data bases, and studies of child welfare population dynamics; and (4) comprehensive service projects evaluations. Directs the Secretary to conduct the following research and evaluations: (1) a study (under contract with an independent research organization) to assess the prevalence and nature of risks to the safety of employees of child welfare systems; and (2) a three-year study (under contract with an organization with demonstrated appropriate experience) to examine methodologies for measuring the workloads of providers of child welfare services and community mental health services. Directs the Secretary to authorize the following types of child welfare demonstration projects: (1) abandoned infants permanent placement; (2) termination of parental rights; (3) child welfare worker training in U.S. areas that border on Mexico; (4) staff recruitment and retention; and (5) joint training for staff of child welfare, mental health, and juvenile justice agencies. Directs the Secretary to provide technical assistance to States for: (1) interpreting and implementing parts B, C, and E; (2) disseminating information on innovative child welfare agencies; (3) correcting problems identified through Federal audits and reviews and carrying out corrective action plans under part E; (4) implementing the foster care and adoption data collection system; and (5) addressing other matters identified by such Secretary. Title VI: Credit for Certain Adoption Expenses - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an income tax credit for certain expenses related to the adoption of a child with special needs.

National Energy Security Act of 1991

United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1991

National Energy Security Act of 1991 - Title I: Findings and Purposes - Subtitle A: Findings and Purposes - Sets forth the energy efficiency and development purposes of this Act. Subtitle B: Goals, Least-Cost Energy Strategy, and Director of Climate Protection - Enumerates the goals of this Act, including establishment in 1992 of an international framework convention on global climate change and international commitment to such convention. Requires the first National Energy Policy Plan submitted by the President to the Congress to include a least-cost energy strategy prepared by the Secretary of Energy according to specified guidelines. Directs the Secretary to appoint a Director of Climate Protection, who shall participate annually in the formulation of such strategy. Title II: Definitions - Sets forth definitions used in this Act. Title III: Corporate Average Fuel Economy - Motor Vehicle Fuel Efficiency Act of 1991 - Amends the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act to direct the Secretary of Transportation to prescribe average fuel economy standards for passenger automobiles and light trucks manufactured in model years 1996 through 2001, and for those manufactured in model years 2002 and thereafter. Requires such Secretary to determine the maximum feasible average fuel economy achievable according to prescribed formulas for passenger automobiles, light trucks, or classes of light trucks manufactured during such model years. Provides that credits for exceeding average fuel economy standards may be transferred among manufacturers and among vehicle classes of a manufacturer. Requires the Secretary of Transportation to issue rules implementing such a credit trading system. Grants average fuel economy credits for small passenger automobiles manufactured with airbags for either driver seating position only, or for both the driver and front seat outboard seating positions. Directs the Secretary of Energy to distribute at least 100 explanatory booklets each year to every dealer and an additional number if requested. Requires the Secretary of Transportation to assess an excessive fuel consumption fee upon a manufacturer whose average fuel economy does not meet certain statutory standards. Replaces civil penalties for such non-compliance with the excessive fuel consumption fee according to prescribed guidelines. Establishes the Excessive Fuel Consumption Fund. Authorizes the Secretary of Energy to make payments from the Fund for purposes of: (1) providing financial assistance to State programs encouraging voluntary removal from the marketplace of pre-1980 model-year automobiles; and (2) funding other energy conservation programs. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to report annually to the Congress regarding the Fund's financial condition and operations. Requires the Secretary of Energy to adopt rules necessary to review and approve State programs that qualify for financial assistance for the older vehicle scrappage program. Mandates that as a prerequisite to Federal assistance at least 50 percent of scrappage program costs be paid from non-Federal funds. Title IV: Fleets and Alternative Fuels - Subtitle A: Alternative Fuel Fleets - Sets forth a schedule according to which Federal agencies, when buying, leasing, or otherwise acquiring vehicles for a Federal fleet, must increase the percentage of alternative fuel vehicles in such fleet from ten percent in 1995 up to 90 percent in 2000 and each year following. Directs the Secretary of Energy (Secretary) to work with the Administrator of General Services and each Federal agency head to plan effective coordination of such acquisitions. Authorizes appropriations. Mandates State acquisition of alternative fuel vehicles according to the same schedule if specified circumstances prevail. Sets forth a different schedule for private and municipal fleets, rising from 30 percent in 1998 to 70 percent in 2000 and after. Provides for exemptions from such requirements in specified circumstances. Requires the Secretary to allocate credits to States or private persons for any vehicles acquired in excess of requirements. Sets forth civil penalties for violations of this subtitle. Authorizes the Secretary to request the Attorney General to bring civil actions to enforce it. Authorizes the Secretary to delegate administration and enforcement of this subtitle within any State to its Governor if a State program exists. Authorizes appropriations to provide financial assistance to States to which the Secretary delegates such authority. Subtitle B: Electric and Electric-Hybrid Vehicle Demonstration, Infrastructure, Development, and Conforming Amendments - Part A: Electric and Electric-Hybrid Vehicle Demonstration - Electric and Electric-Hybrid Vehicle Demonstration Act - Directs the Secretary to conduct a program to demonstrate electric vehicles, electric-hybrid vehicles, and their assorted equipment. Provides for solicitation and selection of proposals to negotiate up to ten cooperative agreements to receive financial assistance to conduct such demonstrations. Provides for discount payments to reimburse proposers for giving discounts to vehicle purchasers or lessees. Requires 50 percent of the costs of a cooperative agreement to be provided from non-Federal sources. Authorizes appropriations. Part B: Electric and Electric-Hybrid Vehicle Infrastructure Development - Electric Vehicle and Electric-Hybrid Infrastructure Development Act - Directs the Secretary to establish a program for the collection and dissemination of information and data which would be useful to persons seeking to manufacture, sell, lease, own or operate electric and electric-hybrid vehicles. Requires the Secretary to issue guidelines for States and local governmental entities to use in developing comprehensive infrastructure plans to support the deployment of such vehicles. Requires the Secretary to offer State Governors the opportunity to request and receive technical and financial assistance in formulating comprehensive State infrastructure plans. Directs the Secretary to undertake cooperative agreements with non-Federal persons, including fleet operators, to provide the infrastructure necessary to support the use of such vehicles. Requires at least 50 percent of costs to be provided from non-Federal sources. Authorizes appropriations. Part C: Amendment to the Alternative Motor Fuels Act - Makes conforming amendments to the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) and the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act. Subtitle C: Alternative Fuels - Replacement and Alternative Fuels Act of 1991 - Directs the Secretary to establish a program to promote the development and use of domestically produced replacement and alternative fuels (including liquefied petroleum gas, natural gas, "neat" alcohol, hydrogen, coal-derived liquid fuels, and electricity) to replace conventional petroleum motor fuels. Requires the Secretary to study and determine the feasibility of domestically producing enough such fuels by the year 2010 to replace at least 30 percent of the projected consumption of motor fuel in the United States for that year. Requires annual demand estimates of the number and geographic distribution and the amount of each type of alternative fuel vehicle. Requires the Secretary to obtain voluntary commitments from providers of domestic replacement and alternative fuels to produce and offer for public sale sufficient amounts of such fuels to meet demand. Requires the Secretary to: (1) notify the Congress if the amount of such fuels in any area of the United States is insufficient to meet demand; and (2) submit a plan of action to require such providers to make adequate supplies available. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle D: Mass Transit and Training - Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to enter into cooperative agreements and joint ventures with local or regional transit authorities in urban areas of over 100,000 population to demonstrate the feasibility and safety of using natural gas or other alterative fuels for mass transit. Mandates that as a prerequisite to such a cooperative agreement or joint venture at least 25 percent of the demonstration costs be borne by the local or regional transit authority. Authorizes the Secretary to grant priority to any entity that demonstrates that the use of alternative fuels for mass transit would have a significant effect on the ability of an air quality region to comply with regulations governing ambient air quality. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary of the Department of Labor to implement a technician training and certification program for the vehicle installation of equipment that converts gasoline or diesel-fueled vehicles to run solely on alternative fuels. Authorizes appropriations. Title V: Renewable Energy - Subtitle A: CORECT and COEECT - Amends the EPCA to name certain interagency working groups the Committee on Renewable Energy Commerce and Trade (CORECT) and the Committee on Energy Efficiency Commerce and Trade (COEECT). Requires: (1) CORECT to promote the development and application in lesser-developed countries of renewable energy resource products and technologies that promote the use of hybrid fossil-renewable energy systems; (2) COEECT to promote the development and application in such countries of energy efficiency resource products and technologies; and (3) both to provide in-country technical training and financial assistance. Authorizes CORECT and COEECT to establish renewable energy and energy efficiency industry outreach offices in the Pacific Rim and in the Caribbean Basin. Requires the Secretary to report biennially to the Congress on the range of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies available to meet the energy needs of developing countries. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle B: Renewable Energy Initiatives - Amends the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Technology Competitiveness Act of 1989 (REEETCA) to direct the Secretary to solicit proposals and provide financial assistance for joint ventures with respect to: (1) oil and diesel fuel displacement using specified renewable energy sources; and (2) training individuals from developing countries in the United States in the operation and maintenance of renewable energy equipment and of energy efficiency equipment. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary to solicit proposals and provide financial assistance for at least one joint venture for a utility-scale photovoltaic project of at least ten megawatts. Amends REEETCA to direct the Secretary to enter into buy-down agreements with private lenders to pay the Federal share of the interest on loans to certain qualified borrowers to finance the manufacture, construction, or acquisition of equipment that principally utilizes a renewable energy technology. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary to report to certain congressional committees an evaluation of opportunities to minimize waste from processes in the U.S. industries. Establishes certain facilities and equipment located at Keahole Point, Hawaii as the Spark M. Matsunaga Renewable Energy and Ocean Technology Center to carry out research, development, and technology transfer activities on solar and renewable energy, energy storage, and related matters. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary to establish: (1) a program to reward outstanding achievements in specified renewable energy technologies with awards of up to $5,000,000; and (2) a milestone for technical achievement for the year 2010 for each such technology. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle C: Hydropower - Amends the Federal Power Act to eliminate certain mandatory conditioning powers of Federal land mangers with respect to Government dams. Requires the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to give hydroelectric license applicants earliest practicable notice of studies that will be required to accompany a license application. Provides for a single consolidated review of project licensing under the National Environmental Protection Act of 1969 (NEPA). Makes FERC the lead agency for NEPA compliance activities associated with hydroelectric licensing. Grants States exclusive authority to license hydropower projects of five megawatts or less, under certain conditions. Requires the Secretary to study and report to certain congressional committees on cost-effective opportunities to increase hydropower production at existing federally-owned or -operated water regulations, storage, and conveyance facilities. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to study and implement water use efficiency measures at Federal reclamation projects in order to increase hydropower production, make more efficient use of project power, and provide more water for fish and wildlife. Removes Federal licensing jurisdiction over: (1) hydroelectric projects on fresh waters in Hawaii; and (2) two specified hydroelectric projects in Alaska. Extends the time for project development for two specified hydropower projects in Arkansas. Title VI: Energy Efficiency - Subtitle A: Industrial, Commercial and Residential - Amends the Energy Conservation and Production Act (ECPA) to require the Secretary of Energy to issue a Federal building code to assure that all new Federal buildings and buildings receiving Federal mortgages include energy efficiency measures that are technologically feasible and economically justified. Requires the Secretary to support the upgrading of an industry voluntary building energy code for new residential and commercial buildings. Directs the Secretary to provide incentive funding to States which adopt building energy codes at least as stringent as those of the industry voluntary building codes. Authorizes appropriations. Amends the National Energy Conservation Policy Act (NECPA) to direct the Secretary to issue voluntary guidelines for use by States, local organizations and others to develop energy rating systems for residential buildings. Requires the Secretary to provide technical assistance to State and local organizations to encourage adoption of residential energy efficiency rating systems based on such guidelines. Amends the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act to provide for notifying homebuyers of the availability of energy efficient mortgages providing financial incentives for the purchase of energy efficient homes at the time of mortgage application. Requires the Secretary to assess the energy performance of manufactured housing and make recommendations to the National Commission on Manufactured Housing about thermal insulation and technically feasible and economically justified energy efficiency improvements applicable to such housing. Requires the Commission to make its own recommendations to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Requires the Secretary of Energy to test the performance and cost-effectiveness of manufactured housing built to established energy efficiency standards. Directs the Secretary to pursue a research and development program and a joint venture program to improve efficiency in energy-intensive industries and industrial processes. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the Secretary to make triennial reports to the Congress evaluating energy efficiency policy options and their potential to decrease overall U.S. energy use and oil consumption per unit of GNP. Directs the Secretary to establish voluntary guidelines for the conduct of energy audits and the installation of insulation to achieve cost-effective increases in energy efficiency in industrial facilities. Authorizes appropriations for a program of education and technical assistance to promote the use of such guidelines. Requires the Secretary to provide financial and technical assistance to support the voluntary development of a national window rating program to establish energy efficiency ratings for windows and window systems. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Administrator of the Energy Information Administration to expand the scope and frequency of data collection under the National Energy Information System in order to improve the ability to evaluate the effectiveness of energy efficiency policies and programs. Directs the Secretary to provide financial and technical assistance to support voluntary development of a national energy efficiency rating program for lamps and luminaires. Directs the Federal Trade Commission to prescribe labeling rules for them. Authorizes appropriations. Adds lamps, commercial air conditioning and heating equipment, and utility distribution transformers to the appliance efficiency program. Requires the Secretary to study and report to the Congress on the practicability and cost-effectiveness of upgrading utility distribution transformers at the time of their routine maintenance. Directs: (1) the Secretary to support the development of a voluntary labeling system for commercial office equipment; or (2) the Federal Trade Commission to develop such a program if one is not developed voluntarily within two years. Authorizes appropriations. Amends EPCA to establish a specified standard for showerheads manufactured after July 1, 1992, unless the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) publishes a different standard before March 1, 1992, in which case the ANSI standard shall apply. Preempts State and local showerhead flow rate standards and labeling requirements. Subtitle B: Federal Energy Management - Amends NECPA to prescribe energy management requirements for energy conservation and efficiency in Federal buildings. Directs the Administrator of the General Services Administration: (1) to conduct an analysis of significant energy consuming products in the Federal Supply Schedule; and (2) to develop a method to identify products which offer cost-effective opportunities to reduce energy consumption and costs. Requires the Administrator of the General Services Administration to consider fuel efficiency and cost savings when evaluating bids for the purchase of passenger vehicles and light trucks. Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress on: (1) the funding of Federal energy efficiency projects; and (2) a biennially updated demonstration plan for energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies in federally-owned facilities. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary to establish a financial bonus program, not to exceed $5,000 per award, to reward facility energy managers for outstanding energy savings in Federal agencies. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the Secretary to submit to the Congress a plan for demonstrating in Federal facilities, or by Federal agencies, energy efficiency technologies that have received Federal assistance for research and development and are now ready for commercialization. Requires the Secretary to study and report to the Congress on the potential of using Federal purchasing power to encourage the development and commercialization of new energy efficiency products. Subtitle C: Utilities - Amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to permit State-regulated electric utilities to charge rates that will make their investments in energy efficiency and conservation measures as profitable as their investments in new facilities construction. Requires the Secretary to report to the President and the Congress on: (1) the extent to which State-regulated electric utility rates reflect least-cost planning; (2) specified effects of least-cost planning; and (3) the extent to which ratemaking methodologies implementing least-cost planning take into account the impact of such measures upon electric utilities' rate of return on investment. Prescribes guidelines for conservation grants to State regulatory authorities. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the Southwestern Power Administration and the Southeastern Power Administration (known collectively as PMAs) to consider, as a condition of any future power contract with a nonregulated utility customer, requiring such a customer to implement integrated resource planning. Requires the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to employ integrated resource planning in exercising its functions. Subtitle D: Used Oil Energy Production - Amends EPCA to prescribe market incentive guidelines for the reuse of used oil. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the Secretary to report annually to the Congress on the implementation of the recycled oil program. Subtitle E: State, Local Insular, and Tribal Energy Assistance - Sets forth guidelines for Federal financial assistance to Insular Area governments for renewable energy and energy and energy efficiency measures to reduce their dependence on imported fuels. Amends EPCA to authorize the Secretary to provide up to $1,000,000 to States to capitalize a State revolving fund to undertake energy efficiency projects in State and local government buildings in those States which have demonstrated a commitment to improve building energy codes. Authorizes the Secretary to provide supplemental grants to Weatherization Program grant recipients to cover: (1) the costs of arranging private sector contributions to the program; and (2) the costs of training and education activities between program grant recipients (technical transfer grants). Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes existing State Energy Conservation Programs to use Federal funds to assist in training building designers and contractors in energy system, energy efficiency, and renewable energy technologies. Authorizes the Secretary to make competitive supplemental grants under the existing State Energy Conservation Programs to increase public understanding of energy issues or to provide teacher training in energy education. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Secretary to grant financial assistance to tribal governments to plan and implement energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Requires State Energy Conservation Plans to provide for vehicles to turn left from a one-way street into a one-way street at a red light as a condition for receipt of Federal funding. Subtitle F: LIHEAP Options Pilot Program - Energy Options Study Act of 1991 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to study and report to the Congress on the advantages and disadvantages of using futures and options contracts for fuel as a means of protecting funds under the Low-Income Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (LIHEAP funds) from large price increases in fuels. Authorizes the Secretary to conduct: (1) a pilot program in cooperation with one or more governmental or tribal fund recipients in which the recipient uses futures and futures options in its fuel assistance program; and (2) a pilot program to educate governmental entities and consumer cooperatives on the prudent and effective use of such futures and futures options to increase their protection against unexpected fuel price surges. Authorizes appropriations. Title VII: Oil and Gas Leasing in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge - Subtitle A: Statement of Purpose and Policy and Definitions - Declares that it is the congressional purpose to: (1) authorize competitive oil and gas leasing development on the Arctic Coastal Plain in a manner consistent with environmental and wildlife protection; and (2) provide a new funding source of energy-related projects to enhance energy security and reduce dependence on imported oil. Subtitle B: Congressional Determination of Compatibility - Declares that it is congressional policy that oil and gas activities on the Coastal Plain which are conducted with no significant adverse impact upon fish, wildlife, and the environment shall be deemed compatible with the purpose of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and that no further compatibility findings by the Secretary of the Interior (the Secretary) are required under the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act. Subtitle C: Coastal Plain Competitive Leasing Program - Directs the Secretary to establish and implement a competitive oil and gas leasing program that will result in an environmentally sound program for Coastal Plain resources exploration, development, and production. Declares that this title is the sole authority for leasing on the Coastal Plain. Directs the Secretary to promulgate rules and regulations to implement this title. Declares that the Congress finds that the "Final Legislative Environmental Impact Statement" (April 1987) on the Coastal Plain satisfies the legal requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. Sets forth the administrative parameters for: (1) lease sales and lease terms; (2) antitrust review by the Attorney General; (3) exploration and development and production plans; (4) plan approval; (5) bonding, surety, or other financial arrangement requirements; and (6) lease suspension and cancellation. Allows the Secretary to cancel leases in any areas of particular environmental sensitivity. Requires the Secretary's consent for lease assignments or subletting. Mandates that lessees unite to the greatest extent practicable in collectively adopting and operating under a cooperative or unit plan for oil pools and gas fields. Provides for the confidentiality of privileged or proprietary information regarding development activities which must be furnished to the Secretary. Sets forth civil and criminal penalties for violations of this title. Provides for adjudication of lease controversies. Sets forth joint, several, and strict liability for environmental damages and removal costs resulting from oil pollution or the discharge of hazardous substances. Provides for judicial review of complaints regarding regulations issued by the Secretary. Requires the Secretary to report annually to the Congress regarding the leasing program under this Act. Repeals certain limitations applicable to subsurface interests owned by the Inupiat Eskimo people. Provides for expedited judicial consideration of any claims for relief by certain Alaskan corporations. Subtitle D: Coastal Plain Environmental Protection - Directs the Secretary to promulgate environmental protection regulations which ensure that Coastal Plain activities will result in no significant adverse effect on fish and wildlife, their habitat, and the environment. Requires site-specific assessment and mitigation. Designates the Sadlerochit Spring area as a special area for wildlife conservation and environmental protection. Authorizes the Secretary to exclude such area from leasing and to designate other Coastal Plain areas as special areas requiring protection. Directs the Secretary to prepare and periodically update a facilities construction and siting plan for oil and gas development and transportation. Authorizes the Secretary to grant rights-of-way and easements across the Coastal Plain in a manner that does not adversely affect fish, wildlife, and the environment. Requires the Secretary to conduct additional studies to monitor the human, marine, and coastal environments. Directs the Secretary to promulgate regulations providing for bi-annual facility inspections for compliance with environmental and safety regulations. Provides funding for a ten-year period for environmental monitoring and enforcement on the Coastal Plain. Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to: (1) consult with the Department of Transportation and the State of Alaska about the State's role in monitoring and enforcing the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act; and (2) report annually to the Congress regarding the environmental monitoring activities. Subtitle E: Land Reclamation and Reclamation Liability Fund - Makes leaseholders fully responsible and liable for land reclamation within the Coastal Plain and other Federal lands adversely affected by lease activities. Requires establishment of the Coastal Plain Liability and Reclamation Fund within six months of a commercial discovery within the Coastal Plain. Directs the Secretary to collect fees based upon the crude oil volume entering the trans-Alaska pipeline. Prescribes revenue collection and expenditure procedures. Subtitle F: Disposition of Oil and Gas Revenues - Sets forth an allocation schedule for revenue distribution related to oil and gas leasing within the Arctic National Refuge, Alaska. Mandates that revenues distributed to the United States from such oil and gas leases be deposited into the Energy Security Fund. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to make such funds directly available to the Secretary of Energy for specified energy projects transmitted to the Congress following the initial deposit of funds in the Energy Security Fund. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes appropriations from the Energy Security Fund, for a period of five fiscal years, of up to a certain amount annually to fund high priority Arctic research projects and programs related to understanding the long- and short-term effects of energy development and production activities on the Arctic environment. Directs the Chairman of the Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee to prepare a list of eligible projects and programs for inclusion in the President's budget. Subtitle G: Export Restrictions - Prohibits the export of crude oil produced from Coastal Plain lands except in specified circumstances. Subtitle H: Outer Continental Shelf Leasing Moratorium - Prohibits the Secretary from preparing or conducting any preleasing or leasing activity under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act with respect to the areas seaward from California and from New Jersey until after January 1, 2000. Title VIII: Advanced Nuclear Reactor Commercialization - Civilian Advanced Nuclear Reactor Commercialization Act of 1991 - Directs the Secretary of Energy to implement a comprehensive advanced nuclear reactor research, development, and demonstration program that will lead to commercialization of advanced reactor technologies after 1996. Requires the Secretary of Energy to submit to the Congress a detailed five-year plan to carry out such program. Directs the Secretary to conduct a program of technical and financial assistance to encourage the development and submission for certification of advanced light water reactor designs which can be certified by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) by the end of 1995. Provides for cooperative and cost-sharing agreements with private parties seeking such certification. Requires annual progress reports to the Congress from the Secretary and the NRC. Requires the Secretary to solicit proposals to carry out the preliminary engineering design of one or more prototype advanced nuclear reactor technologies (other than an advanced light water reactor) necessary to support a decision on whether to recommend construction of a full-scale prototype demonstration using such a technology. Requires the Secretary to make a recommendation by January 31, 1996, on whether to build such a prototype demonstration reactor. Authorizes the Secretary to solicit proposals to implement such recommendation after 180 days following it submission to the Congress. Title IX: Nuclear Reactor Licensing - Nuclear Reactor Licensing Act of 1991 - Amends the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to require the NRC to hold a hearing before granting a combined license to construct and operate a nuclear reactor. Requires a combined license to set forth all the inspections, tests, analyses, and acceptance criteria necessary to establish that the plant, once built, is safe to operate. Requires the NRC to ensure that all such requirements are satisfied. Provides for post-construction hearings on combined licenses to determine whether requirements have been met. Authorizes the NRC to allow a plant to operate under a combined license pending a post-construction hearing unless it appears unsafe to do so. Requires post-construction hearings to be informal unless the NRC determines formal proceedings are necessary to resolve factual disputes. Authorizes the NRC to amend a combined license and permit a plant to operate pending a hearing on the amended license if the amendment does not raise significant safety issues. Title X: Uranium - Subtitle A: Uranium Enrichment - Uranium Enrichment Act of 1991 - Amends the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to repeal the existing statutory contracting requirements applicable to uranium enrichment enterprises. Establishes the United States Enrichment Corporation as a wholly-owned Government corporation to conduct uranium marketing and enrichment activities as a commercial, profitable, self-financing enterprise. Sets forth the Corporation's corporate office and powers and vests its management in an Administrator (appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate). Grants the Secretary of Energy general supervision over such Administrator only with respect to national security and health and environmental concerns. Establishes a Corporate Board whose members shall be appointed by the President, and who shall advise the Administrator and the Secretary regarding Corporation matters. Prescribes guidelines for: (1) Corporation personnel; (2) certain property transfers from the Department of Energy; (3) the Corporation's capital structure; and (4) Corporation pricing policies, including user charges for decommissioning, decontamination, and remedial activities. Requires the Corporation to make annual status reports to certain congressional committees, the President, and the Secretary. Prescribes licensing and taxation guidelines for the Corporation. Sets guidelines for payments in lieu of taxes by the Corporation to States and local governments. Requires the Administrator to make recommendations to the President and the Congress by specified dates regarding the transfer of the Corporation's functions and assets to private ownership. Establishes the Uranium Enrichment Decontamination and Decommissioning Fund to cover the Corporation's decommission and decontamination expenses. Applies Federal environmental and occupational safety and health law to the Corporation as though it were privately owned. Exempts the Corporation from sequestration because the maximum deficit amount has been exceeded under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act). Prohibits the Corporation's total FY 1991 expenditures from exceeding its total FY 1991 receipts. Subtitle B: Uranium - Part 1: Short Title, Findings and Purpose, Definitions - Uranium Security and Tailings Reclamation Act of 1991 - Sets forth findings, purposes, and definitions of this title. Part 2: Uranium Revitalization - Directs the Corporation to establish for a minimum five-year period a voluntary overfeeding program to be made available to its enrichment services customers. ("Overfeeding" means the use of uranium in the enrichment process in excess of the amount required at the transactional tails assay, thus reducing customers' power costs). Provides that the resultant savings shall be credited to such customers. Establishes the National Strategic Uranium Reserve, consisting of 50,000,000 pounds of natural uranium, to be restricted to military purposes and Government research under the control of the Secretary. Confers continuing responsibility upon the Secretary for promotion of the domestic uranium industry, but without using any supervisory authority over the Corporation. Directs the Secretary to develop recommendations and implement Government programs promoting domestic uranium exports. Restricts all uranium purchases by Federal entities to uranium purchased from domestic producers. Exempts the TVA from such restriction. Part 3: Remedial Action for Active Processing Sites - Provides that remedial action costs such as decontamination, decommissioning, and reclamation at an active uranium or thorium processing site shall be borne by specified licensees for any activity resulting in byproduct material. Sets forth a reimbursement schedule for: (1) individual active site uranium licenses; (2) all active site uranium licensees; and (3) thorium licensees. Directs the Secretary to promulgate regulations governing such reimbursement. Authorizes appropriations. Part 4: Import of Uranium, Enriched Uranium, and Uranium Enrichment Services - Directs the United States International Trade Commission to investigate and report to the President and the Congress on whether non-market economy countries are exporting uranium, enriched uranium, or offering uranium enrichment services at prices below the cost of production or provision. Requires the President, if the investigation results are positive, to report to the Congress on what actions the Federal Government is taking to discourage or end such pricing practices. Requires the owner or operator of any civilian nuclear power reactor to report annually to the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Energy Information Administration, on the country of origin and the seller of any uranium, enriched uranium, or enrichment services the owner or operator has imported or purchased during the previous fiscal year. Requires such information to be made available to specified congressional committees. Directs the Secretary to encourage States and utility regulatory authorities to consider the objectives of this part, including the national need to avoid dependence on imports, when considering whether to allow electric power plant owners or operators to recover in customer rates and charges any cost of domestic uranium, enriched uranium, or enrichment services from a non-affiliated seller greater than the cost of such items from non-domestic sources. Authorizes the Secretary or the United States Enrichment Corporation to buy enriched uranium from other sources of enriched uranium at prices below, respectively, Department of Energy or Corporation production costs if such purchases are necessary to reduce production costs and maintain competitive prices. Title XI: Natural Gas - Amends the Natural Gas Act to authorize an optional certificate (OC) of public convenience and necessity procedure for the construction and operation of interstate natural gas pipelines. Directs FERC to issue OCs without a hearing if applicants are willing to accept terms and conditions attached to the certificate, including a prohibition on the recovery of OC facility costs in the rates for other facilities or services. Replaces the ordinary rate review procedure with a special complaint procedure in such instances. Requires FERC to conduct a hearing on the record about a proposed OC construction if such construction would result in the displacement of sales or transportation services being provided by a local distribution company (LDC). Amends the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 to authorize FERC to permit: (1) any interstate pipeline to transport natural gas; and (2) the construction of natural gas transportation facilities for interstate commerce. Outlines administrative procedures for FERC compliance with the requirements of the NEPA with respect to natural gas transportation. Requires FERC to conduct a hearing on the record about a proposed OC construction if such construction would result in the displacement of sales or transportation services being provided by an LDC. Declares that FERC issuance of a construction certificate is the only Federal action that may be considered a major Federal action requiring a detailed environmental impact statement (EIS). Requires FERC to permit contractors or consultants selected from a FERC-approved list and paid by the certificate applicant to prepare such required EISs and related documents. Sets forth administrative procedures for rates and charges, utilization of rulemaking procedures, and review of FERC orders. Declares that the formation or operation of an independent producer cooperative shall only be an illegal antitrust law violation if anticompetitive effects substantially outweigh the procompetitive effects. Declares that certain activities related to the sale and distribution of vehicular natural gas (VNG) shall not subject currently exempt entities to the jurisdiction of the Natural Gas Act. Provides that persons not otherwise public utilities may sell or transport VNG without becoming subject to the jurisdiction of State laws in effect before January 1, 1989. States that the VNG activities alone shall not subject a company to regulation under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 (PUHCA) or change the status of companies already registered as gas utility companies. Provides for streamlining of the certificate issuance procedure, especially with respect to repair and replacement facilities, unopposed applications, evidence of need, and phased consideration of need and certificate applications. Authorizes FERC to order an interstate pipeline to interconnect with a production or gathering facility, or an intrastate or OC pipeline in the production area. Authorizes FERC, after a hearing, to exempt the natural gas cost component of a pipeline's rates from regulation after finding that the pipeline provided comparable transportation service and served a competitive market. Amends the Department of Energy Organization Act to provide that general policy discussions by all members of FERC do not constitute a meeting for Sunshine Act purposes. Title XII: Outer Continental Shelf - Amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to add a new title: the "Coastal State and Community Outer Continental Shelf Impact Assistance Act". Establishes the Coastal State and Community Outer Continental Shelf Impact Assistance Fund, to be funded by a specified percentage of all new revenue attributable to an Outer Continental Shelf lease any part of which is within 200 geographical miles of the coast line. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to annually transmit impact assistance from such Fund to coastal States according to prescribed guidelines. Requires a recipient coastal State to prioritize allocation of such revenues among its subdivisions which are socially or economically impacted by Outer Continental Shelf mineral development. Directs the Secretary to report to certain congressional committees on the availability of Outer Continental Shelf areas for oil and gas leasing, development and production. Title XIII: Research, Development, Demonstration and Commercialization Activities - Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish priorities according to prescribed criteria for energy research and development and commercialization; and (2) submit to the Congress an accompanying management plan which shall be revised biennially. Requires the Secretary to implement a program: (1) promoting the development and commercialization of new and advanced natural gas utilization technologies; (2) of research and development to increase the recoverable natural gas resource base; (3) of research, development, and commercialization of specified high efficiency heat engines; (4) of research and development of oil shale; (5) of research on extracting oil from western oil shales (including, if appropriate, establishment of at least one field testing center); and (6) of research, development, and demonstration of a high-temperature superconducting electric power system. Authorizes appropriations. Amends REEETCA to repeal the authorization limitations for: (1) renewable energy research and development programs; and (2) energy efficiency research and development programs. Directs the Secretary to expand or institute programs of research, development, and demonstration for: (1) natural gas and electric heating and cooling technologies for residential and commercial buildings; (2) fusion energy that leads to electricity production after the year 2010; (3) techniques related to improving electric vehicles, electric-hybrid vehicles, and battery technology; and (4) increased economic recoverability of domestic oil resources including both advanced secondary oil recovery and tertiary oil recovery. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary to study and report to the Congress on: (1) the development potential of domestic tar sands sources; (2) the potential costs and benefits of telecommuting; (3) the potential for minimizing the volume and toxic lifetime of nuclear waste; and (4) the adequacy of current programs and plans of nuclear waste management. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary to enter into agreements with qualified entities to provide post-secondary science and mathematics education programs for low-income and first generation college students. Authorizes appropriations. Title XIV: Coal, Coal Technology, and Electricity - Subtitle A: Coal and Coal Technology - Requires the Secretary to conduct: (1) an advanced coal-based technology research and development program aimed at controlling sulfur and nitrogen oxides at greater proficiency levels (and report periodically to the Congress on the program's status); (2) a research and development program on technologies for non-fuel use of coal (after first submitting a plan to the Congress); (3) a research, development, demonstration, and commercialization program for coal refining technologies; (4) a research, development, and demonstration program for underground coal gasification technology for in-situ conversion of coal to a cleaner burning, easily transportable gaseous fuel; (5) a low-rank coal research and development program; (6) a proof-of-concept program in magnetohydrodynamics; and (7) a research, development, and demonstration program for using ultra-clean coal-water slurry in diesel locomotive engines. Requires the Secretary to submit to certain congressional committees a plan for the export of U.S. coal. Establishes the Clean Coal Technology Export Coordinating Council (Council) to: (1) expand the export and use of clean coal technologies (especially in lesser developed countries); and (2) develop a comprehensive data base and information dissemination system regarding their potential need and availability. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the Secretary to report to certain congressional committees regarding the status of technologies for combining coal with other materials. Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish a national clearinghouse for the exchange and dissemination of technical information on technology relating to coal and coal-derived fuels; and (2) study and report to the Congress on the institutional, legal, and regulatory barriers to increased use of coal combustion byproducts by potential governmental and commercial users. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish a data base containing all transportation rates for specified modes of transporting domestic coal for a certain period; (2) study the rates and distribution patterns of domestic coal to determine the impact of Federal policies upon such patterns; and (3) report the data base and study results to the Congress. Subtitle B: Electricity - Declares that for purposes of the Clean Air Act certain physical or operational changes to an electric utility steam generating unit undertaken for purposes of pollution control shall not be treated as a modification if the change does not increase the maximum hourly emissions of any pollutant regulated under such Act above the maximum hourly emissions achievable at that unit during the last five years of operation before the change. Sets conditions for finding such a unit in compliance with technology requirements with respect to nitrogen oxide emissions. Requires the Secretary to study and report to the Congress on physical impediments to the transfer of excess electrical energy from regions with surplus electrical energy to regions experiencing shortages. Declares that State regulatory authorities are not required to base calculations of avoided cost, under the Public Utility Policies Act (PURPA), on the rates for or the costs of demonstration projects under the Federal clean coal technology program. Directs FERC to complete a rulemaking to establish a demonstration program for regulatory incentives to promote the development of clean coal technologies and other innovative control technologies that limit power plant emissions. Requires FERC to establish a process for negotiating with potential developers of such technology projects to agree upon cost caps for future projects and preapproval of project expenses if they fall within the agreed-upon cap. Encourages States to provide additional incentives for the implementation of clean coal technologies, and requires FERC to give priority in incentive rate treatment to units located in States with incentive programs. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress on progress in encouraging State regulatory authorities to provide such incentives. Title XV: Public Utility Holding Company Act Reform - Defines an "exempt wholesale generator" (EWG) as a corporate entity: (1) engaged exclusively in the business of owning or operating all or part of one or more eligible facilities and selling electric energy at wholesale; and (2) exempt from corporate organizational restrictions under PUHCA. Permits registered utility holding companies, exempt utility holding companies, non-utilities, and other companies not currently subject to PUHCA to own EWGs without limitation. Declares that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) shall continue to have jurisdiction over: (1) the issuance of securities by a registered utility holding company in order to finance the acquisition of an EWG; (2) the guarantee of securities of an EWG by such a holding company; and (3) service, sales and construction contracts between an EWG and such a holding company, including the creation or maintenance of any other relationship (except ownership). Prohibits FERC from approving a rate or charge for the sale of electricity by EWGs: (1) where a State commission would use the purchase of such electricity as the basis for not permitting recovery of existing capital investment by the purchasing utility (stranded investment); or (2) where the wholesale purchaser is merely a broker interposed for purposes of making an indirect sale to an industrial or other retail customer (sham wholesale transaction, also known as "cherry picking"). Declares that any rate or charge for the wholesale sale of electricity in interstate commerce by an EWG shall not be considered just and reasonable if it allows the EWG to receive undue advantage resulting from the fact that the purchaser is an affiliate or associate company of the EWG. Amends the Federal Power Act to grant State commissions in accordance with State law the authority to review the prudence of wholesale electricity purchases by utilities under their jurisdiction, except in certain instances involving allocation of power costs within registered utility holding company systems. Extends such authority even within such systems in instances involving purchase of power from EWGs. Amends PURPA to require State commissions to analyze the effects on reliability and utility purchasers of the use of leveraged capital structures by wholesale sellers of power (including EWGs) and the adequacy of fuel supplies employed by such sellers. Requires State commissions to consider reflecting the results of such analysis in approving or disapproving wholesale electricity purchases. Requires EWGs to make their books and records available to State commissions. Title XVI: Strategic Petroleum Reserve - Amends EPCA to add the Strategic Petroleum Reserve Enhancement Act of 1991. Directs the President to enlarge the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to 1,000,000,000 barrels as rapidly as possible. Authorizes the Secretary of Energy to create a 10,000,000 barrel Defense Petroleum Inventory (DPI). Authorizes the President, acting through the Secretary, to: (1) acquire petroleum products for storage in the SPR or the DPI from foreign governments without competitive procurement; and (2) contract, without regard to certain provisions of EPCA and other Federal law, for storage in the SPR or the DPI of petroleum products owned by foreign governments.

Waiving certain points of order during consideration of the bill (H.R. 2519) making appropriations for the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and for sundry independent agencies, commissions, corporations, and offices for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1992, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1991

Waives points of order against the consideration of H.R. 2519 (appropriations).

Adoption Assistance and Maternal Certificates Act

United States · United States Congress · 4 June 1991

Adoption Assistance and Maternal Certificates Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to mandate grants to ten States to establish demonstration programs to provide maternal health certificates to low-income pregnant females residing or awaiting residence in, or receiving outpatient services from, a maternity home. Requires eligible maternity homes to provide a range of services in accordance with standards promulgated under this Act, including regarding room and board, medical care, and counseling and services concerning health, adoption, education, vocation, or employment. Limits the time period covered and the dollar amounts paid per day. Requires matching funds from a State agency, the home, or both. Prohibits requiring a woman, in order to be eligible for this program, to participate in the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program under title IV of the Social Security Act. Authorizes appropriations. Requires that adoption data from private agencies that receive Federal assistance (and voluntarily-released data from private agencies that receive no Federal assistance) be included in an existing system of data collection, under the Social Security Act, relating to adoption and foster care Requires an adoption or foster care agency that receives Federal assistance to disclose, to prospective adoptive and foster parents, information about the history of the child, including: (1) medical history; (2) social background; (3) information about the placement of the child; and (4) any record of abuse or neglect. Makes it unlawful to discriminate against an individual in the making, performance, modification, or termination of an insurance contract (defined as a health or life insurance contract which provides family coverage) on the basis of the fact that a son or daughter of the individual is not a biological child of the individual. Declares it an unlawful employment practice to discriminate against an employee with respect to a term or condition of any leave benefit on the basis of the fact that a son or daughter is not a biological child of the employee. Defines "son or daughter," for both such insurance and such employment discrimination, to mean a biological, adopted, or foster child, a stepchild, a legal ward, a child placed for adoption, or a child of a person standing in loco parentis, who is: (1) under 18 years old; or (2) 18 years old or older and incapable of self care. Allows any person to bring a civil action for equitable relief, damages and interest, and attorney's fees. Amends the Social Security Act to add to the formula, used for determining the amount of payments to States for foster care and adoption assistance, provisions relating to expenditures for recruitment of adoptive parents for a child with special needs. Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1988 and 1989 to remove provisions terminating, on a specified date, a program for reimbursement for adoption expenses incurred by a member of the armed forces.

A resolution to make a minority party appointment to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

United States · United States Congress · 4 June 1991

Adds Senate Chafee to the minority party's membership on the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

Pepper Commission Health Care Access and Reform Act of 1991

United States · United States Congress · 4 June 1991

Pepper Commission Health Care Access and Reform Act of 1991 - Title I: Access To Private or Public Health Insurance For Basic Health Services Through Employment - Amends the Social Security Act to add a new title XXI entitled "Access to Private or Public Health Insurance For Basic Health Services Through Employment." Requires, under the new title, that employers enroll their employees and family members in a qualified employer health plan or in the public health insurance plan discussed in title II of this Act. Sets forth requirements relating to employee premiums and cost-sharing. Title II: Access to Health Insurance for Basic Health Services Through a Public Health Insurance Plan - Amends the Social Security Act to add a new title XXII entitled "Access to Health Insurance for Basic Health Services Through a Public Health Insurance Plan." Provides, under title XXII, for a new public health insurance program to be administered by the Health Care Financing Administration through the use of fiscal agents in the same manner as under Medicare (title XVIII of the Social Security Act) to process claims. Requires program coverage of basic health services, including preventive services, subject, except with respect to preventive services, to specified deductible and coinsurance requirements, with an overall annual limit on cost-sharing of $3,000. Makes U.S. residents and citizens who are not Medicare beneficiaries or enrolled under the qualified employer health plan described under title I or any other qualified health insurance plan eligible to enroll in the public health insurance program. Makes low-income individuals enrolling in the program eligible for assistance to limit or eliminate their financial obligations under the program. Requires the program to provide early and periodic screening, diagnosis, and treatment services (EPSDT) services for children. Allows Medicare beneficiaries to obtain Medicare supplemental (Medigap) coverage under the public health insurance program. Prohibits payment under title XXII for services furnished which are not reasonable and medically necessary. Allows provision of covered services without limitation, except as specified under prescribed guidelines. Provides for the use of Medicare payment rules for purposes of benefit payments under title XXII. Sets forth provisions for: (1) determining the amount of premiums to be charged individuals and employers for enrollment under title XXII; and (2) collecting premiums. Creates in the Treasury the Public Health Insurance Trust Fund to support the public health insurance program through the premiums charged under this Act. Authorizes appropriations each fiscal year to cover the Government's share of program costs. Outlines requirements established under part F (Qualified Health Plans) of title XXII respecting basic benefits, limits on pre-existing condition exclusions and on cost-sharing, and other protections which private health insurance plans must afford consumers in order to be certified by the Secretary of Health and Human Services as qualified for issuance or sale. Outlines administrative provisions. Directs the Secretary to provide information via a toll-free telephone number on low-income assistance and other information concerning the public health insurance program. Authorizes the Secretary to conduct demonstration projects under this title. Title III: Quality Assurance and Cost Containment - Authorizes the Secretary to waive the requirements of titles XVIII and XXII of the Social Security Act insofar as they prevent the use of State uniform payment rates, under prescribed conditions. Requires the Administrator for Health Care Policy and Research to design, implement, and evaluate studies on medical malpractice issues and demonstration projects related to medical malpractice reform for the purpose of making recommendations to the Congress respecting: (1) incentives to improve the quality of care; and (2) cost-effective methods of providing efficient and appropriate compensation to individuals injured in adverse medical occurrences. Authorizes appropriations. Title IV: Group Health Insurance Reform - Subtitle A: General Reforms - Amends the Public Health Service Act to add a new title XXVII entitled "Group Health Insurance Standards." Requires States to enforce the minimum Federal standards required to be established under the new title for employment-related health plans. Requires the Secretary to certify such plans as meeting such requirements if the applicable State has not established a regulatory program to enforce the standards. Prohibits employment-related health plans from denying or limiting coverage of basic health services on the basis of an individual's health status or lack of insurability. Sets forth additional requirements applicable to all employment-related health plans. Requires small employer health plans to offer a basic benefit package, use community rating, guarantee issue and renewal of policies, and meet certain information disclosure and recordkeeping requirements. Subtitle B: Encouraging Establishment of Managed Care - Preempts State law restricting the use of network plans and utilization review programs that meet Federal standards. Subtitle C: Repeal of COBRA Continuation Requirements under the Public Health Service Act - Repeals title XXII of the Public Health Service Act. Title V: Expansion of Primary Care and Public Health Delivery Capacity in Meeting Health Objectives - Amends the Public Health Service Act to extend the authorization of appropriations for programs related to immunization, tuberculosis, lead poisoning, sexually transmitted diseases, migrant health centers, community health centers, health services for the homeless, health services for residents of public housing, family planning, and HIV disease. Amends title XXII (Access to Health Insurance for Basic Health Services Through a Public Health Insurance Plan) of the Social Security Act, as added by title II of this Act, to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, from amounts in the Public Health Insurance Trust Fund established by this Act, to make grants to plan and develop primary care centers and public health clinics, defined as migrant or community health centers or other entities qualified to receive a grant under specified provisions of the Public Health Service Act. Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress every five years on the impact of this Act in meeting the goals in the report "Healthy People, 2000." Requires each report to include recommendations regarding changes in qualified health plan benefits and payment policies to promote achievement of national health promotion and disease prevention goals and objectives. Title VI: Financing and Tax-Related Provisions - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) provide a full deduction for qualified health plan insurance costs of self-employed individuals; (2) make such deduction permanent; (3) repeal provisions imposing an excise tax for the failure of group health plans to satisfy coverage requirements; and (4) impose a surtax on individual and corporate income tax liability. Title VII: Medicare and Medicaid Amendments - Subtitle A: Medicare - Amends the Medicare program to assure coordination of enrollment with qualified health plans and to provide coverage of colon rectal cancer screening services. Subtitle B: Medicaid - Amends the Medicaid program (title XIX of the Social Security Act) to continue Medicaid benefits not covered under such public health insurance program and to discontinue those benefits covered under the program. Title VIII: Conforming Changes to ERISA - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to repeal provisions regarding continuation coverage under group health plans and to make other conforming changes to assure coordination with the amendments made by this Act.

To amend title XI of the Higher Education Act of 1965 in order to encourage urban educational institutions to form partnerships to use their knowledge and resources for the solution of severe urban problems.

United States · United States Congress · 4 June 1991

Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to revise and retitle title XI as Urban Community Service. Establishes an Urban Community Service program to provide incentives to urban institutions (including academic, private, and civic bodies) to work together to devise and implement solutions to the most pressing and severe problems in their communities. Requires applications for such urban community service program grants to contain a plan agreed to by the members of a consortium that includes a public or private four-year institution of higher education (and, where possible and appropriate, a community college) in partnership with an urban school system, a local government, a private business, or a nonprofit institution. Allows the Secretary of Education (the Secretary) to waive this consortium requirement for applicants with an appropriate integrated and coordinated plan. Gives priority to applications that: (1) include plans agreed to by a consortium of several members of the specified categories; and (2) propose to conduct joint projects supported by other local, State, and Federal programs. Requires grant funds to be used for planning, applied research, training, resource exchanges, technology transfers, delivery of services, or other activities to design and implement programs to assist urban communities to meet and address their most pressing problems. Includes the following problem areas among those for which such activities are authorized: (1) urban poverty and its alleviation; (2) health care including delivery and access; (3) under-performing school systems and students; (4) problems faced by the elderly in urban settings; (5) crime prevention and alternative interventions; (6) urban housing; (7) urban infrastructure; (8) economic development; and (9) other problem areas which the participants agree are of high priority for that urban area. Establishes an Urban College, University, and School Partnerships program to encourage partnerships of urban institutions of higher education (or consortia of such institutions) and secondary schools and school systems serving low-income and disadvantaged urban students to support programs to improve school retention and graduation rates, student academic skills, opportunities to continue education beyond high school, and prospects for productive employment. Requires an urban institution of higher education (or consortium), to be eligible for such a university-school partnership grant, to enter a written partnership agreement with a local education agency (LEA). Allows such partnership to include businesses, labor organizations, professional associations, community-based organizations, or other public or private agencies or organizations. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to university-school partnerships to support the authorized program activities. Requires that grant preference be given to: (1) programs to serve predominantly low-income neighborhoods; (2) partnerships to run programs during the regular school year and during the summer; and (3) programs to serve educationally disadvantaged students, potential dropouts, pregnant adolescents, and teen-aged parents. Requires maintenance of fiscal effort by LEAs participating in such partnership agreements. Requires such grant applications to assure: (1) establishment of a partnership governing body including one representative from each participant; (2) a gradually declining specified Federal share of project costs; and (3) use of such Federal grant funds to supplement and not supplant non-Federal funds. Provides for: (1) peer review panels for title XI grant applications; and (2) multiyear disbursement of Urban Community Service program grant funds, under specified conditions. Authorizes appropriations.

International Cooperation Act of 1991

United States · United States Congress · 3 June 1991

International Cooperation Act of 1991 - Title I: Economic Assistance - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to revise policy provisions concerning economic assistance. Sets forth the objectives of U.S. development cooperation policy and economic assistance programs as the: (1) promotion of broad based economic growth; (2) improvement of resource management to bring about environmentally and economically sustainable patterns of development; (3) alleviation of poverty through the development of human resources; and (4) promotion of democracy, respect for human rights, and social and economic pluralism. Requires the President to use the authorities of this Act to provide assistance to meet long-term development needs in developing countries. Authorizes the President to provide such assistance to promote specified activities contributing to broad based, sustainable, and participatory development and economic growth. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1992 and 1993 for development assistance. Earmarks specified amounts for health improvement, child survival activities, prevention and control of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), and reducing vitamin A deficiency. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1992 and 1993 for population planning assistance. Earmarks a specified amount for the United Nations Population Fund if: (1) the Fund maintains such funds in a separate account, without commingling; (2) none of the funds are made available for China; and (3) any agreement to obligate such funds expressly states that funds will be refunded to the United States if used for family planning in China or abortions in any country. Prohibits the denial of funds for population activities to nongovernmental or multilateral organizations on the basis of any criterion that is not applicable to foreign governments. Authorizes the President to use development and economic support assistance and assistance from the Development Fund for Africa to support human rights and activities to improve the performance of democratic institutions and to promote democracy. Requires a substantial portion of such assistance to be provided to nongovernmental organizations. Prohibits such assistance from being used to influence the outcome of an election in any country. Permits Development Fund for Africa assistance to be used only for countries in Subsaharan Africa. Authorizes the use of such assistance for: (1) development education programs to educate U.S. citizens about developing countries; and (2) nongovernmental organizations to carry out programs concerned with the economic and social development of such countries. Authorizes the President, acting through the administrator of the agency responsible for administering this title (administering agency), to provide assistance for microenterprises in developing countries. Directs the agency to establish specified criteria for determining the financial intermediaries that will receive such assistance. Requires a significant portion of such assistance to be used to support direct credit assistance by, and the institutional development of, financial intermediaries with a primary emphasis on assisting people living in absolute poverty, especially women. Outlines funding sources for such assistance. Permits the President, in order to generate local currencies for providing such assistance, to use development and economic support assistance or assistance from the Development Fund for Africa to provide assistance to developing countries on a loan basis repayable in local currencies. Sets forth minimum levels of assistance to be provided under this Act. Requires the administrator to develop a monitoring system to evaluate the administering agency's microenterprise development activities. Earmarks amounts out of funds for development assistance and assistance for the Development Fund for Africa for private voluntary organizations for FY 1992 and 1993. Requires agencies responsible for environmental programs in developing countries to prepare initial examinations to ensure that such programs are environmentally sustainable. Declares that beneficiary countries should bear a share of the costs of development assistance programs under this Act. Prohibits funds made available under this title from being used for military or paramilitary purposes. Authorizes the President to furnish economic support assistance to countries and organizations to promote economic or political stability. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1992 and 1993 for such assistance. Declares that economic support assistance should be provided through commodity import programs, project assistance, sector programs, or the provision of U.S. goods and services. Permits such assistance to be provided as a cash transfer only pursuant to an agreement requiring that the country spend an amount equal to such transfer to purchase U.S. goods and services. Requires such agreements to include provisions to ensure that representatives of the U.S. Comptroller General have access to necessary records and personnel for monitoring and auditing purposes. Exempts from such requirements countries which: (1) receive less than $25,000,000 cash transfer assistance annually; or (2) have certain agreements with the United States. Authorizes the President to waive the requirements of this section when it is in the national interest. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1992 and 1993 for contributions to international organizations. Earmarks specified amounts of such funds for: (1) the United Nations Development Program; (2) the United Nations Children's Fund; (3) the United Nations Environmental Program; (4) the International Fund for Agricultural Development; (5) the Special Program for Africa of the International Fund for Agricultural Development; (6) the United Nations University; and (7) the Organization of American States (OAS) for purposes of establishing an electronic network for the exchange of science and technology information among universities in OAS member countries. Authorizes funds to be earmarked for the International Atomic Energy Agency only if the Secretary of State reports to the appropriate congressional committees that Israel is not being denied the right to participate in the Agency. Applies evaluation and auditing procedures for the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the Asian Development Bank to the International Development Association, the International Finance Corporation, the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, the Inter-American Development Bank, the Inter-American Investment Corporation, the African Development Bank, the African Development Fund, and the Asian Development Fund. Revises provisions concerning the housing and urban development guarantee program. Raises the limit on: (1) the face value of guarantees with respect to any country; (2) the average face value of guarantees; and (3) the total principal amount of guarantees issued. Authorizes appropriations for the program for FY 1992 and 1993. Terminates authorities with respect to housing guarantees after FY 1993. Authorizes assistance to be provided to developing countries to support private sector activities meeting specified criteria. Permits the President to issue guarantees assuring against losses incurred in connection with loans made for such activities. Sets forth terms and conditions for such guarantees. Authorizes the President to make direct loans for such activities, subject to certain conditions. Establishes ceilings for direct loans and for contingent liability for guarantees. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1992 and 1993. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1992 and 1993 for: (1) international disaster assistance; and (2) American schools, libraries, and hospital centers abroad. Permits the President to use development or economic support assistance or assistance from the Development Fund for Africa for grants to, or contracts with, nongovernmental organizations to enable such organizations to: (1) purchase debt obligations owned by developing countries to commercial lending institutions or other private parties; and (2) cancel such obligations subject to the President's approval, to the extent that such countries make available assets or policy commitments to promote the objectives of this title. Authorizes grantees or contractees to retain interest earned on the proceeds of debt-for-development or debt-for-environment purchases or exchanges pending the disbursement of such proceeds and interest for the purposes for which assistance was provided. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1992 and 1993 for operating expenses of the administering agency and of the Office of the Inspector General of such agency. Permits development or economic support assistance or assistance from the Development Fund for Africa to be used for such expenses, subject to a specified limitation. Requires the President to establish a program performance evaluation capacity to: (1) develop a program performance information system to afford the administering agency's managers a means for monitoring achievement of impact and interim performance of the agency's major programs; (2) prepare and disseminate reports on the agency's progress in meeting development objectives for major assistance categories and recipient countries; (3) strengthen the implementation of foreign assistance projects; and (4) coordinate with the Inspector General of such agency to ensure complementarity of efforts. Directs the President to report annually to the Congress on: (1) progress toward achieving the four basic objectives set forth under this title; and (2) a country-by-country analysis of the impact on economic development in each country during the preceding three to five years of U.S. economic assistance programs, with a discussion of U.S. interests that were served by such assistance. Requires the President to maintain within the administering agency a Center for University Cooperation in Development and a Center for Voluntary Cooperation in Development. Provides that the respective purposes of such centers shall be to strengthen the partnership for development between the U.S. Government and: (1) U.S. and developing country institutions of higher education engaged in education, research, and public service programs relevant to developing countries; and (2) U.S. private voluntary organizations, cooperatives, and credit unions engaged in activities relevant to such countries. Authorizes funds from development assistance and assistance from the Development Fund for Africa to be made available for the Centers. Requires the agency administrator to establish a permanent Advisory Committee on Voluntary Cooperation in Development. Title II: Military Assistance, Related Assistance, and Military Sales Programs - Chapter 1: Consolidation and Revision of Assistance Authorities - Revises policy provisions concerning military assistance. Revises the President's authority to furnish military assistance to friendly countries to permit the President to: (1) finance the sale of defense articles or services; or (2) finance the procurement of such articles (under certain circumstances) by any member country of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) or any major non-NATO ally through leases from U.S. commercial suppliers. Requires sales under the Defense Trade and Export Control Act (formerly, the Arms Export Control Act) which are wholly paid from funds made available on a grant basis under this Act or were transferred or made available under former authorities prior to this Act's enactment to be priced to exclude the costs of salaries of members of the U.S. armed forces (other than members of the Coast Guard) and unfunded estimated costs of civilian retirement and other benefits. Prohibits assistance from being furnished under this chapter in any case involving coproduction or licensed production outside the United States of any defense article of U.S. origin unless the President furnishes full information on the proposed transaction to the appropriate congressional committees. Prohibits the obligation of certain assistance for the procurement of: (1) any vessel of war built pursuant to a prime contract awarded to a foreign shipyard; or (2) any weapons system or other major system for a vessel of war built pursuant to such a contract awarded to a foreign rather than a U.S. shipyard because of unfair foreign competition. Exempts from such prohibition vessels of war built in the foreign country which is the recipient of such assistance or built pursuant to a prime contract signed before the effective date of this Act. Permits military assistance to be provided for civic action in Africa. Authorizes assistance provided under this chapter to be on a grant, credit, or guarantee basis. Outlines criteria to be considered by the President in determining the terms of assistance. Requires repayment in U.S. dollars within 12 years of the signature of a loan agreement for credit assistance. Provides that the interest rate on such loans shall be at least five percent annually. Outlines disbursement procedures for funds used to finance the procurement of defense articles and services. Makes such assistance available to a foreign country to make payments to the United States for credits or loans for defense articles or services granted under predecessor military sales or assistance legislation. Revises provisions concerning eligibility for the receipt of defense articles or services and makes them applicable to the financing of such articles or services. Makes defense articles sold or leased under the Defense Trade and Export Control Act or furnished under predecessor foreign assistance or military sales legislation subject to the eligibility provisions of this title. Directs the President to establish controls to make financed commercial arms sales subject to monitoring and auditing requirements no less stringent in accountability than requirements of Federal Acquisition Regulation applicable to sales under the Defense Trade and Export Control Act relating to improper business practices and personal conflict of interest. Incorporates provisions of the Arms Export Control Act concerning the opinion of the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency with respect to furnishing assistance. Authorizes appropriations for military assistance and sales for FY 1992 and 1993. Sets aside two percent of appropriations for military financing for assistance to eligible countries for which the Congress has not specified an amount of assistance. Revises provisions concerning transfers of excess defense articles for the modernization of defense capabilities. Requires excess defense articles to be made available to maintain the military balance in the Eastern Mediterranean. Requires the President to ensure, over a three-year period beginning in FY 1992, that the ratio of the value of such articles made available for Turkey to those made available for Greece closely approximates the ratio of the amount of foreign military financing provided for Turkey to the amount provided for Greece. Revises provisions concerning the transfer of excess defense articles to: (1) eligible major drug producing or transit countries (currently, major drug producing countries in Latin America and the Caribbean); and (2) eligible countries, international organizations, or private voluntary organizations for natural resources and wildlife management. Makes provisions concerning transportation and related costs of such articles under provisions governing transfers for the modernization of military capabilities applicable to transfers for counternarcotics or natural resource and wildlife management purposes. Adds to the list of conditions for such transfers that the transfer of articles is preferable to selling them. Sets forth congressional notification requirements. Permits transfers for natural resource and wildlife management purposes to be made available without cost to the recipient. Excludes certain excess defense articles from the annual ceiling on transfers. Revises provisions concerning military personnel detailed overseas for management of military assistance programs. Requires at least one person assigned to each country to be responsible for monitoring international security assistance. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1992 and 1993 for: (1) international military education and training; and (2) peacekeeping operations. Revises provisions concerning the location of stockpiles. Places a ceiling on the value of additions to stockpiles during FY 1992 and 1993. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1992 and 1993 for antiterrorism assistance. Revises provisions concerning special drawdown authorities. Authorizes the President to direct the drawdown of Department of Defense commodities or services for: (1) international narcotics control assistance; (2) international disaster assistance; or (3) assistance under the Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1962. Places a ceiling on articles and services provided for such assistance. Raises the ceiling on the value of defense articles and services authorized to be provided under existing emergency authorities. Makes the Secretary of Defense responsible for establishing priorities in the procurement, delivery, and allocation of defense articles and services. Requires the President to appoint one officer to coordinate security assistance programs. Prohibits personnel overseeing the management of assistance programs or providing defense services or military education and training overseas from performing combatant duties. Makes technical and conforming amendments to the Arms Export Control Act. Revises a provision regarding the Guaranty Reserve Fund and redesignates the Fund as the Foreign Military Loan Liquidating Account. Repeals a provision concerning the availability of funds for procurement of defense articles and services outside the United States. Permits the President to waive requirements under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 concerning the disposition of defense articles and services furnished before the effective date of this title. Chapter 2: Foreign Military Sales Program - Amends the Arms Export Control Act to rename such Act as the Defense Trade and Export Control Act. Repeals a provision concerning purposes for military sales or leases. Deems references to the Arms Export Control Act to be references to the Defense Trade and Export Control Act. Requires the President to take the following steps to address financial management problems with respect to payments on account of foreign military sales: (1) establish a new account for the deposit of funds for sales entered into after September 30, 1992, to isolate such financial transactions from previous sales; (2) establish a centralized accounting system; (3) improve coordination and conformity among the accounting and billing systems of each of the military services; and (4) reconcile the discrepancies between reported disbursements and reported performance with respect to such sales. Directs the President to notify the Congress before: (1) designating a country as a major non-NATO ally; or (2) terminating such a designation. Deems Australia, Egypt, Israel, Japan, and the Republic of Korea to have been so designated by the President. Raises the threshold on the dollar amount of defense equipment or services on which the President is required to submit specified certifications. Revises provisions concerning presidential certifications and congressional procedures for certain arms transfers. Sets forth conditions under which New Zealand is eligible for shorter congressional review procedures. Adds to the list of information required in the President's quarterly report on military exports information on all concluded defense coproduction agreements. Imposes sanctions on foreign parties to coproduction agreements that violate restrictions concerning unauthorized third party transfers or unauthorized dispositions of defense articles or services or technical data if the President so notifies the Congress or the Congress so determines by joint resolution. Lists such sanctions as: (1) the suspension of authority to produce defense articles abroad pursuant to such agreements; and (2) a prohibition on the issuance and approval of licenses with respect to the foreign party. Disqualifies for financing under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 for 12 months any contracts of a person convicted or debarred for a violation of international traffic in arms regulations under the Defense Trade and Export Control Act. Exempts international organizations from a prohibition on the issuance of export licenses for items on the U.S. Munitions List to foreign persons. Requires the President to review biennially and revise, as necessary, international traffic in arms regulations. Provides that charges for defense articles that are not major defense equipment sold or licensed for export under the Defense Trade and Export Control Act shall exclude nonrecurring costs of research on or development or production of such articles. Repeals provisions concerning: (1) discrimination; (2) restraint in arms sales to Subsaharan Africa; (3) foreign military sales credit standards; (4) foreign military sales to less developed countries; and (5) the crediting of registration fees. Chapter 3: Other Provisions - Prohibits funds authorized by any Act from being made available to facilitate the sale of M-833 antitank shells or comparable shells containing a depleted uranium penetrating component to any country other than a NATO member or major non-NATO ally. Sets forth U.S. policy with respect to arms transfers to the Middle East and Persian Gulf region. Requires the President to seek negotiations among, and undertake efforts to convene a conference of, the five members of the United Nations Security Council and other nations, as appropriate, to establish a multilateral arms transfer and control regime with respect to the Middle East and Persian Gulf region. Declares that the purpose of such regime should be to: (1) limit the proliferation of conventional weapons and ballistic missile technologies and systems and halt the proliferation of unconventional weapons; (2) maintain the military balance in the region through the reduction of conventional weapons and the elimination of unconventional weapons; and (3) promote regional arms control in such region. Directs the President to submit to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs: (1) a U.S. plan for establishing a multilateral regime to restrict transfers of arms to the Middle East; and (2) an analysis of the feasibility and potential elements of such regime. Prohibits the United States from agreeing to any transfers of major military equipment to the Middle East and Persian Gulf region unless the President submits such plan and analysis and reports that there has been agreement by another major arms supplier on or after May 21, 1991, to transfer such equipment to any nation in the region. Exempts from such prohibition emergency or replacement transfers or transfers pursuant to agreements entered into before May 21, 1991. Requires the President to report to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee on: (1) all transfers of conventional and unconventional arms to the Middle East; (2) the current military balance in the region; (3) the operation of any agreements comprising the arms transfer and control regime; and (4) supplier nations that have refused to participate in such a regime or that have engaged in conduct that violates or undermines the regime. Title III: Trade and Development Agency and Overseas Private Investment Corporation - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to revise the authorities of the Director of the Trade and Development Agency (replaces the Trade and Development Program). Requires the Agency to disseminate information about its activities to the private sector. Sets forth the duties of the Inspector General of the Agency for International Development (AID) with respect to the Agency. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1992 and 1993. Revises provisions concerning the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC). Requires OPIC, in determining whether to provide insurance, reinsurance, guarantees, or financing for a project, to ensure that the project is consistent with objectives concerning resource sustainable development. Prohibits OPIC payments from being issued in connection with losses resulting from violations of foreign trade practices under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Raises the ceiling on the maximum contingent liability for outstanding OPIC guarantees. Authorizes OPIC to draw specified amounts from a noncredit account revolving fund to pay estimated subsidy costs of program levels for the loan guarantee and direct loan programs. Permits OPIC to: (1) establish a revolving fund to be available solely for the equity finance program; and (2) make a one-time transfer to such fund from the noncredit account revolving fund. Revises provisions concerning OPIC's insurance reserves. Authorizes OPIC to draw a specified amount from the noncredit account revolving fund for administrative expenses of the direct loan and loan guarantee programs. Makes provisions concerning income and revenues applicable to income and revenues from OPIC's noncredit activities (currently, revenues and income from any source). Authorizes (currently, requires) OPIC to charge fees for its services. Provides for annual (currently, triennial) audits of OPIC. Removes OPIC's exemption from Federal taxation. Title IV: International Narcotics Control - Revises provisions concerning international narcotics control. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1992 and 1993 for international narcotics control. Makes a prohibition on the use of narcotics control funds for the procurement of weapons or ammunition inapplicable (subject to congressional notification requirements) to: (1) weapons or ammunition for the defensive arming of aircraft used for narcotics control purposes; or (2) firearms and related ammunition provided to Department of State employees for narcotics control activities. Requires the President (currently, the Secretary of State) to maintain records on aircraft use under this title. Authorizes foreign military financing assistance under the Defense Trade and Export Control Act to be made available to finance the leasing of aircraft. Removes a prohibition on the use of narcotics control funds by foreign countries to acquire real property for military or law enforcement forces if the President notifies the appropriate congressional committees. Permits funds for economic support assistance, foreign military financing, or international military education and training to be transferred and consolidated with funds for international narcotics control if: (1) such assistance is withheld from the country for which it was allocated because of laws that require the withholding of assistance from countries that have not cooperated with the United States or taken steps to halt illicit drug production and trafficking; and (2) such funds are used for assistance to countries that have taken significant steps to halt illicit drug production or trafficking. Makes provisions of law that restrict assistance to countries inapplicable with respect to narcotics-related assistance, provided that the President notifies the appropriate congressional committees. Revises congressional reporting and certification requirements with respect to international narcotics control. Requires the President to notify the appropriate congressional committees annually of countries determined to be major drug transit or illicit drug producing countries. Makes prohibitions on the provision of assistance to foreign law enforcement agencies inapplicable, during FY 1992 and 1993, to: (1) transfers of defense articles and services for counternarcotics purposes; and (2) foreign military financing and international military education and training for narcotics-related purposes. Title V: Special Assistance Initiatives and Other Region or Country Specific Provisions - Authorizes the President to provide project and program assistance for long-term development in Subsaharan Africa. Designates such assistance as the Development Fund for Africa. Requires the purpose of such assistance to be to help the poor majority of men and women in Subsaharan 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 promote sustained economic growth, encourage private sector development, promote individual initiatives, and help to reduce the role of central governments in areas more appropriate for the private sector. Requires the local-level perspective of the rural and urban poor in Subsaharan Africa to be taken into account during the planning process for project assistance. Declares that consultations should be undertaken with private and voluntary organizations which have demonstrated effectiveness in or commitment to the promotion of local grassroots activities on behalf of development in Subsaharan Africa. Requires: (1) local people to be consulted and involved in projects that have a local focus; and (2) development activities to expand the participation and integration of African women in certain critical sectors. Requires assistance provided by this Act to emphasize projects to address critical sectoral priorities for development. Authorizes assistance to promote economic policy reforms. Requires such reforms to include provisions to protect vulnerable groups from possible negative consequences of such 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 and the prevention and control of AIDS; (3) voluntary family planning services; (4) improved relevance, equity, 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. Requires assistance provided under this Act to be concentrated in countries that will make the most effective use of such assistance. Allows assistance to be made available to: (1) assist Subsaharan African countries to increase their capacity to participate in donor coordination mechanisms at the country, regional, and sector levels; and (2) assist sector projects supported by the Southern African Development Coordination Conference (SADCC). Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) there should be periodic evaluations of the progress of the administering agency in achieving assistance goals in Subsaharan Africa; and (2) the period of availability of funds appropriated for such assistance should be extended whenever appropriate. Authorizes appropriations. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the United States should participate with multilateral financial institutions and other bilateral donors in an economic reform and development program in the Philippines; and (2) a commitment of resources by the United States, donors, and such institutions and a reform effort and leadership role by the Government of the Philippines will be necessary to ensure economic growth in the Philippines and enhanced participation of the Filipino people in the democratic process. Authorizes the President to provide assistance to promote the goals of this Act. Links such assistance to progress by the Government of the Philippines in implementing its economic, structural, judicial, and administrative reform program. Authorizes appropriations. Limits the amount of appropriations for FY 1992. Expresses the sense of the Congress that prior to requesting additional amounts to carry out this Act, the President should take into account: (1) the progress being made by the Philippines toward achieving reform objectives; (2) the extent of participation by the bilateral donors and multilateral financial institutions; and (3) the efforts to coordinate the assistance program. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the coordination of objectives and programs by donors, institutions, and the Government of the Philippines is critical to the success of the multilateral assistance program; (2) all donors should simplify procurement and disbursement procedures to ensure that conditions on the provision or use of assistance are complementary; and (3) the Philippines should establish internal procedures that will ensure the most effective use of such assistance. Sets forth the Caribbean Regional Development Act of 1991. Sets forth U.S. policy with respect to development and economic assistance for the Caribbean. Provides that priority in providing development assistance should be given to supporting indigenous democratic Caribbean institutions that represent and benefit the poor. Requires priority in the allocation of assistance to the Caribbean to be given to: (1) increased food production; (2) rural development; (3) community-based agro-industries; (4) small- and medium-sized farm and manufacturing enterprises; (5) the expansion of tourism; (6) regional integration; (7) the upgrading of technical and managerial skills; (8) support for renewable natural resources; (9) private sector development; (10) democratic development and the administration of justice; and (11) human services and human resources development. Directs the President, in providing assistance to a Caribbean country, to take into account whether the government of such country has failed to protect worker rights and is taking steps to implement laws that demonstrate advancement in providing such rights. Prohibits the administering agency from providing assistance for the use of any substance in a Caribbean country if such use is prohibited under the country's or U.S. public health laws. Declares that the agency should: (1) ensure the active participation of women in the development process; and (2) take into account the perspectives of the poor in the development process. Establishes in the Department of the Treasury the Enterprise for the Americas Facility to support improvement in the lives of the people of Latin America and the Caribbean through market-oriented reforms and economic growth with actions to promote debt reduction, investment reforms, and community based conservation and sustainable use of the environment. Makes eligible for Facility benefits Latin American or Caribbean countries that: (1) have in effect, received approval for, or are making progress toward, specified International Monetary Fund arrangements and structural or sectoral adjustment loans from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development or the International Development Association; (2) have put in place major investment reforms in conjunction with an Inter-American Development Bank loan or are implementing or making progress toward an open investment regime; and (3) have agreed with commercial bank lenders on a financing program for debt or debt service reduction. Authorizes the President to reduce the amount owed to the United States (as a result of concessional loans made pursuant to the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 or predecessor foreign economic assistance legislation) by any country eligible for Facility benefits. Sets forth requirements with respect to the exchange of obligations, repayment of principal, and interest on new obligations issued by beneficiary countries. Requires beneficiary countries that enter into Environmental Framework Agreements to establish Enterprise for the Americas Environmental Funds. Authorizes the Secretary of State to enter into Environmental Framework Agreements concerning the operation and use of Environmental Funds with countries eligible for Facility benefits. Directs administering bodies in each beneficiary country to administer the Environmental Funds and to make grants for environmental activities. Requires grants from the Funds to be used for activities that link the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources with local community development. Subjects grants of more than $100,000 to veto by the U.S. Government or the government of the beneficiary country. Establishes an Environment for the Americas Board to: (1) advise the Secretary on the negotiations of Environmental Framework Agreements; (2) ensure that a suitable administering body is identified for each Environmental Fund; and (3) review the programs, operations, and fiscal audits of administering bodies. Declares that the President should encourage other official creditors of beneficiary countries whose debt is reduced under this Act to provide debt reduction to such countries. Requires the President to ensure that Environmental Funds are able to receive donations from private and public entities and private creditors of beneficiary countries. Permits military assistance and sales to be delivered to the armed forces of any Latin American or Caribbean country only with the prior approval of such a country's civilian government. Earmarks a specified amount of funds from economic support and development assistance and assistance from the Development Fund for Africa for assistance for disadvantaged South Africans. Prohibits support to organizations financed or controlled by the Government of South Africa. Requires priority in providing such assistance to be given to South African nongovernmental organizations whose staff are selected on a nonracial basis and which have the support of the disadvantaged communities being served. Extends a certain waiver of a prohibition on assistance to Pakistan if the President certifies that Pakistan does not possess a nuclear explosive device and that the proposed U.S. assistance program will reduce the risk that Pakistan will possess such device. Prohibits the allocation of assistance or the sale or transfer of defense articles or services for Pakistan for FY 1992 and 1993 unless such certification is made. Amends the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 to increase the number of representatives on the Environment for the Americas Board. Title VI: Special Authorities, Restrictions, Reports, General Provisions, and Technical and Conforming Amendments - Chapter 1: Special Authorities, Restrictions, and Reports - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to revise provisions concerning the transfer of funds between accounts. Prohibits: (1) transfers to increase amounts for foreign military financing; and (2) the transfer of funds for the housing and urban development guarantee program and funds for development assistance or assistance under the Development Fund for Africa. Raises the ceilings on the amounts of assistance provided under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 that may be provided to any one country. Exempts from such limitation assistance for countries that are the victims of active (currently, Communist or Communist-supported) aggression. Revises provisions concerning assistance for unanticipated contingencies. Prohibits such assistance from being provided for foreign military financing or international military education and training. Raises the annual ceiling on such assistance. Authorizes the President to transfer unobligated funds (without regard to the 20 percent increase limitation) to provide assistance to a country that has recently emerged or is in the process of emerging: (1) as a democracy; or (2) from civil strife and has a democratically elected government or is making progress toward a democratic form of government. Authorizes the President to adopt as a U.S. contract or obligation any contract with a U.S. or third-country contractor that had been funded with assistance prior to the termination of such assistance. Applies assistance termination provisions to any provision of law concerning such terminations. Exempts from restrictions on foreign assistance (except for countries that support terrorism) assistance for: (1) child survival activities; (2) the prevention and control of AIDS; (3) the needs of displaced children; (4) environmentally sound, sustainable resource management; and (5) efficient energy systems. Revises prohibitions concerning restrictions on assistance. Adds to the list of restrictions prohibitions on assistance for: (1) a country whose government engages in a consistent pattern of human rights violations; (2) a country whose elected head of government is deposed by a military coup; (3) projects designed to increase exports of agricultural, textile, or apparel commodities from developing countries if such exports would be in competition with U.S. exports or be expected to cause injury to U.S. exporters of the same or a similar commodity; and (4) a country that provides lethal military equipment to a terrorist government. Exempts from such prohibition assistance: (1) that is important to U.S. national interests, provided that such assistance will further U.S. nonproliferation objectives; (2) for the alleviation of suffering resulting from a natural or manmade disaster; (3) that benefits poor people; and (4) that will be furnished through nongovernmental organizations to promote respect for human rights and democracy. Prohibits the provision of such assistance until the President reports to the appropriate congressional committees. Requires the President to maintain a list of Communist countries for purposes of restricting assistance. Authorizes the President to remove or exempt a country from the list or prohibitions on assistance, provided that such removal or exemption is reported to the appropriate congressional committees. Prohibits assistance to any country which is more than one year in arrears to the U.S. Government on loan payments under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 or former authorities of the Arms Export Control Act. Applies prohibitions on the use of development assistance for abortions or involuntary sterilizations to the use of assistance for Subsaharan Africa or the Philippines for such purposes. Requires funds for voluntary family planning services to be available only for projects which offer a broad range of family planning methods and services. Consolidates and revises provisions concerning prohibitions on assistance to countries engaged in transfers of nuclear materials. Outlines required elements of annual congressional presentation documents on foreign assistance. Revises provisions regarding: (1) U.S. assistance policies and human rights; and (2) congressional notification for program changes. Requires the President to submit quarterly reports to the appropriate congressional committees on the funds obligated for development and economic support assistance. Directs the President to report triennially to the Speaker of the House and the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on: (1) the percentage of the budget of each country receiving development or economic assistance that is devoted to military purposes; and (2) the degree to which such country is using its foreign exchange or other resources to acquire military equipment. Chapter 2: Administrative and General Provisions - Revises provisions regarding presidential authorities under this Act. Authorizes the President to designate an agency to administer foreign assistance programs. Revises provisions concerning the allocation of funds and reimbursement among agencies. Permits funds to be used for programs under the Agricultural Act of 1949 and the Food for Progress Act of 1985. Removes funding limitations on assistance for the construction of living quarters, offices, schools, and hospitals abroad and for assistance to schools educating dependents of personnel abroad. Permits economic and development assistance funds to be used to reimburse Federal or State agencies or institutions of higher education that detail employees for economic or development assistance programs that require special technical skills. Excludes such employees from applicable personnel ceilings during the detail period. Provides that if an amount appropriated for any fiscal year pursuant to this Act is less than the authorization amount and the provision calls for earmarked funds, such funds shall be deemed to be reduced to an amount bearing the same ratio to such funds as the amount appropriated bears to the authorization amount. Exempts funds for Israel and Egypt from such reduction. Sets forth provisions concerning the generation and use of local currencies. Revises provisions concerning the use of local currencies owned by the United States. Authorizes nongovernmental organizations to invest local currencies accrued as a result of economic assistance provided by this Act and other specified Acts and to use interest earned on investments for assistance purposes. Revises provisions concerning the use of private enterprise for the procurement of commodities and defense articles. Authorizes the use of Federal facilities for technical assistance purposes when such facilities are not competitive with private enterprise. Revises provisions concerning procurement standards and procedures. Allows (currently, requires) the use of excess personal property or property already owned by a Federal agency (if a substantial savings would occur) in lieu of, or supplementary to, the procurement of new items for U.S.-assisted programs. Revises provisions concerning the use of excess property. Removes a ceiling on the amount of domestic excess property that may be held. Prohibits excess property from being used for economic assistance purposes unless approval is given and the President makes specified determinations regarding such property. Authorizes the use of economic assistance funds to pay transportation charges on shipments by the American National Red Cross and by registered U.S. private voluntary organizations. Revises provisions concerning personnel. Permits personnel detailed to foreign governments or international organizations to be assigned on a leave without pay status. Authorizes the detailing of Department of Defense personnel to any civil office to carry out this Act. Revises provisions concerning discrimination against U.S. personnel. Chapter 3: Technical and Conforming Provisions - Incorporates provisions of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 concerning the Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs into another Act. Prohibits U.S. courts from declining on the ground of the Federal Act of State Doctrine to make a determination on the merits of international law in any case in which claim of title or right to property is asserted by any party, based upon a confiscation after January 1, 1959, by a state in violation of international law. Exempts from such prohibition cases in which: (1) an act of a foreign state is not contrary to international law or cases with respect to a right to property acquired pursuant to an irrevocable letter of credit issued in good faith prior to the time of taking; or (2) the President determines that application of such doctrine is required by U.S. foreign policy interests. Amends Federal provisions governing coins and currency to grant the Secretary of the Treasury: (1) responsibility with respect to foreign credits owed to or by the United States; and (2) sole authority to establish for all foreign currencies or credits the exchange rates at which such currencies are to be reported by Federal agencies. Authorizes the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission, at the request of the President, to report on the value of any property of any U.S. person expropriated by a foreign government. Redesignates the Trade and Development Program as the Trade and Development Agency. Makes technical and conforming amendments to specified Acts. Repeals specified Acts. Title VII: Latin America and the Caribbean - Chapter 1: El Salvador - Reserves this portion of the bill for provisions relating to El Salvador. Chapter 2: Other Provisions Pertaining to Central America - Declares that it shall be U.S. policy to: (1) support Central American countries in efforts to build democracy, restore peace, establish respect for human rights, expand economic opportunities, and improve living conditions; (2) support dialogue as the proper means of resolving armed conflicts in Central America; (3) assist in the implementation of, and secure international cooperation and support for, recommendations of the International Commission on Central American Recovery and Development; (4) support the United Nations Development Program for its Special Plan of Economic Cooperation for Central America; (5) organize a partnership among donor countries and Central American countries to mobilize resources and promote a forum for dialogue on issues of development, democracy, social justice, and human rights; and (6) support and promote the Enterprise for the Americas Initiative to assist Central American countries in opening their economies and managing their foreign debt. Prohibits the provision of military aircraft to Central American countries during FY 1992 and 1993 unless the appropriate congressional committees are notified in advance. Requires the Secretary of State to notify such committees whenever any helicopters or other military aircraft are provided to such countries by any foreign country. Prohibits the provision of foreign military financing to Guatemala during FY 1992 and 1993 except as provided by this Act. Establishes the Demobilization and Transition Fund for Guatemala. Authorizes the President to transfer amounts made available for foreign military financing to the Fund. Makes funds available only upon notification to the appropriate congressional committees that the Guatemalan Government and the Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unit have agreed to a ceasefire. Permits such funds to be available only for: (1) costs of demobilization, retraining, relocation, and reemployment in civilian pursuits of former combatants; and (2) costs of monitoring the ceasefire and permanent settlement. Prohibits the authorities of the Defense Trade and Export Control Act from being used to sell to the Guatemalan Government, or issue licenses for the export to Guatemala of: (1) weapons or ammunition; or (2) aircraft, unless the aircraft are unarmed and the Guatemalan Government has agreed that they will not be armed. Permits FY 1992 and 1993 development and economic support assistance and assistance under the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 for Guatemala to be used only by civilian agencies and nongovernmental organizations. Requires such assistance to be targeted for: (1) programs that address poverty, basic human needs, and environmental concerns; (2) the improvement of democratic institutions and the promotion of political pluralism; (3) the National Reconciliation Commission; (4) fiscal reform and administration; or (5) programs that promote trade and investment. Prohibits such assistance from being used for partisan political purposes or as an instrument of counterinsurgency. Waives assistance target requirements if the President notifies the appropriate congressional committees that Guatemala has made progress in eliminating human rights violations and in bringing to trial those responsible for major human rights cases. Declares that the President should: (1) take into account the extent to which the Nicaraguan Government has brought the armed forces under civilian control and undertaken investigations into, and prosecution of those responsible for, human rights violations prior to providing assistance for FY 1992 and 1993; and (2) consider the extent to which foreign military financing for Nicaragua will further the goals of strengthening civilian control over the military, ending human rights abuses, and stemming the export of lethal military equipment prior to providing such financing for such fiscal years. Prohibits foreign assistance for any member of the Nicaraguan resistance who has not disarmed or is not abiding by the terms of the cease-fire agreement and the addenda to the Toncontin Agreement. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Nicaraguan Government should expedite the processing of claims by private citizens based on expropriation of property by the Sandinista government. Earmarks a specified amount of FY 1992 and 1993 economic support assistance for Central America for the Concerted Plan of Action in Favor of Central American Refugees, Returnees and Displaced Persons. Expresses the sense of the Congress with respect to strengthening democratic legislatures in Central America. Chapter 3: The Caribbean - Congratulates Haiti on its transition to democracy. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the United States should: (1) provide significant and sustained assistance to the Haitian Government so long as it abides by the Haitian Constitution and respects freedom of expression and human rights; (2) continue to provide substantial assistance to Haitian private voluntary organizations to institutionalize democracy and promote economic development; and (3) provide a specified amount of economic assistance to Haiti during FY 1992 and 1993. Encourages the Government of the Dominican Republic to improve respect for the human rights of Haitian laborers engaged in the sugar cane harvesting industry in the Dominican Republic. Withholds a specified amount of economic support assistance from the Dominican Republic until the President notifies the appropriate congressional committees of the steps taken by the Government of the Dominican Republic to improve such human rights. Permits assistance under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 to be provided to the Government of Guyana only if the President reports to the appropriate congressional committees that such government is in power as a result of free and fair elections. Exempts from such restriction international narcotics control assistance or assistance for the holding of free and fair elections. Expresses the sense of the Congress that following the submission of the report regarding Guyana, the United States should provide significant and sustained assistance for Guyana under such Acts. Earmarks a specified amount of such assistance for basic human needs. Condemns the armed forces of Suriname for the December 1990 coup and for disregard for civilian authority. Urges the armed forces to permit a peaceful transfer of power to the elected civilian government. Calls upon the President to withhold assistance from Suriname until a peaceful transfer of power has taken place and to use assistance to bolster civilian rule. Chapter 4: Andean Initiative - Authorizes appropriations for development and economic support assistance for FY 1992 and 1993 for Andean countries. Requires priority in the use of funds for Bolivia and Peru to be given to support programs that focus on providing coca farmers with alternative sources of income. Declares that specified amounts of such assistance should be used for law enforcement assistance, protection against narco-terrorist attacks, and assistance for human rights offices in Bolivia, Colombia, and Peru. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1992 and 1993 for foreign military financing assistance for Andean countries. Requires such assistance to be designed to: (1) enhance the ability of the recipient government to control illicit narcotics production and trafficking; (2) strengthen respect for human rights and the rule of law to control narcotics production and trafficking; and (3) assist the armed forces of the Andean countries in their support roles for such countries' law enforcement agencies. Permits the provision of such assistance only if: (1) such country has a democratic government; and (2) the government of such country does not engage in a consistent pattern of human rights violations. Permits such assistance to be used for certain law enforcement training and equipment for purposes of narcotics control efforts. Limits the amount of military and law enforcement assistance for Bolivia, Colombia, and Peru. Prohibits Peru's Sinchi Police from being considered as a law enforcement unit. Permits assistance or the transfer of excess defense articles under this Act to an Andean country only if the President determines that: (1) such country is implementing programs to reduce the flow of cocaine to the United States; and (2) the armed forces and law enforcement agencies of such country are not engaged in a consistent pattern of human rights violations and the government of such country has made progress in protecting human rights. Exempts from the human rights condition assistance for programs providing coca farmers with alternative sources of income. Waives provisions of law that prohibit assistance to countries in arrears on loan payments to the United States with respect to narcotics-related assistance to Andean countries. Chapter 5: Other Provisions Pertaining to the Region - Makes assistance available for countries with democratically-elected governments in Latin America and the Caribbean. Prohibits the use of such funds for: (1) lethal equipment; and (2) the participation of Department of Defense personnel and members of the U.S. armed forces in law enforcement training. Permits law enforcement training in the Caribbean to be provided only by the Department of Justice International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program. Makes specified amounts available for such assistance. Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1969 to authorize appropriations for the Inter-American Foundation for FY 1992 and 1993. Revises provisions concerning the composition of the Foundation's Board of Directors and the principal office. Prohibits foreign military financing or sales to Chile under the Defense Trade and Export Control Act during FY 1992 and 1993 unless the appropriate congressional committees are notified in advance. Earmarks development and economic support assistance for the Central American Journalism Program and Regional Administration of Justice Program's Center for the Administration of Justice to support democracy building activities in the region. Title VIII: Europe and the Middle East - Chapter 1: Middle East - Earmarks funds for economic support assistance, foreign military financing grants, and assistance for stockpiles for Israel for FY 1992 and 1993. Makes certain amounts of military financing available for advanced weapon systems research and development and the procurement of defense articles and services. Permits the drawdown of a specified amount of defense articles and services from the Department of Defense and military education and training for Israel. Reduces such amount by the value of articles, services, and education and training provided to Israel under the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1991. Requires such drawdowns, to the maximum extent feasible, to be made from units withdrawn from Europe. Earmarks funds for economic support assistance and foreign military financing for Egypt for FY 1992 and 1993. Permits such assistance to include support for law enforcement training. Requires specified amounts of amounts allocated by the Agency for International Development (AID) during FY 1992 and 1993 for democratic initiatives and human rights to be made available for the growth of indigenous nongovernmental organizations that contribute to pluralism, democracy, and respect for human rights and the rule of law in the Middle East. Earmarks specified amounts of FY 1992 and 1993 economic support assistance for the West Bank and Gaza Program and for regional cooperative projects in the Middle East. Earmarks specified amounts of FY 1992 and 1993 development assistance to finance projects under the Cooperative Development Program and cooperative development research among the United States, Israel, and developing countries. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the United States should support educational, cultural, and humanitarian activities that bring Israelis together with Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza. Sets forth U.S. policy with respect to Lebanon. Earmarks funds for economic support and development assistance for Lebanon for FY 1992 and 1993. Prohibits the sale of defense articles and services under the Defense Trade and Export Control Act and suspends the delivery of such articles and services to Lebanon unless the President submits to the appropriate congressional committees a report that: (1) sets forth the purpose and value of the articles and services to be provided; (2) identifies the intended end-user within the Lebanese Government of such articles and services; and (3) states that such articles and services will assist the Lebanese Government in establishing effective control of Lebanese territory and that sufficient safeguards exist to ensure that such articles and services will not benefit the Government of Syria. Prohibits assistance to Syria until the President reports to the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that the Goverment of Syria: (1) has demonstrated willingness to enter into negotiations with Israel; (2) does not deny its citizens the right to emigrate and does not impose taxes with respect to emigration; (3) is assisting the U.S. Government in obtaining the release of American hostages in Lebanon; (4) no longer supports international terrorist groups; (5) is withdrawing its armed forces from Lebanon; (6) is no longer acquiring chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons and will not use weapons currently in its arsenal to threaten its neighbors; (7) is cooperating with U.S. antinarcotics efforts and taking steps to remove members of the government who are involved in the drug trade; (8) has made progress in improving human rights; and (9) has extradited the Nazi war criminal Alois Brunner. Requires the President to report to the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on third country transfers of weapons and military equipment to Syria. Permits the transfer of equipment, supplies, or material captured from Iraq by U.S forces in Operation Desert Storm to the government of any Middle Eastern country only if specified congressional committees are notified in advance. Expresses the sense of the Congress that under international law and the terms of specified United Nations resolutions: (1) Iraq is liable for loss, damage, or injury to foreign governments, nationals, and corporations as a result of its invasion and occupation of Kuwait; and (2) Israel suffered damage as a result of Iraq's aggression and should be able to receive compensation from Iraq commensurate with damage suffered. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the United States should work with its Arab coalition partners to: (1) encourage their support for efforts to achieve peace and stability in the Middle East and to settle the Arab-Israeli conflict; and (2) take specific steps with respect to Israel and terrorism. Requires the President to submit to the appropriate congressional committees an analysis of: (1) the Middle East arms balance based upon the cumulative impact of transfers of defense articles and services to the region by all countries; (2) how U.S. policy goals are advanced by U.S. transfers; (3) what type of military or economic compensation is required to countries whose qualitative edge the United States is committed to maintaining, how such compensation is to be funded, and the steps taken to preserve such qualitative edge and areas requiring attention due to a decline in comparative advantage; and (4) defense articles and services obtained by Middle East countries from sources other than the United States. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the United States should obtain rescission by the United Nations General Assembly of Resolution 3379 (maintains that Zionism is a form of racism) and calls upon the General Assembly to rescind such resolution. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the 1981 Israeli preemptive strike against the Iraqi nuclear reactor at Osirak was a legitimate and justifiable exercise of self-defense which also reduced the threat of Iraqi nuclear aggression against countries bordering Iraq; and (2) the United States should seek the repeal of United Nations Security Council Resolution 487 which condemned the strike. Prohibits sales from being made to Kuwait under the Defense Trade and Export Control Act and licenses from being issued for the export to Kuwait of any item on the U.S. Munitions List unless the President certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that the Kuwaiti Government has: (1) put an end to arbitrary arrest, torture, and extrajudicial killing by Kuwaiti armed forces and is making an effort to stop such acts by nongovernmental resistance groups; (2) clarified the legal basis for arrest and detention; (3) ensured that those detained have access to legal counsel and to human rights groups; (4) ensured the rights to a speedy trial, due process, and an appeal of any sentence to detainees; (5) the intention to extend the right to vote to all citizens irrespective of sex or literacy; and (6) established a date for parliamentary elections. Chapter 2: Eastern Mediterranean - Earmarks funds for economic support assistance for Cyprus for FY 1992 and 1993. Permits such assistance to be used only for scholarships or bicommunal projects. Earmarks funds for foreign military financing assistance for Greece and Turkey for FY 1992 and 1993. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should support Turkey's inclusion in the full range of political, economic, and military institutions in Europe. Supports the United Nations Secretary General's peace initiatives regarding Cyprus and encourages both parties on Cyprus to cooperate with the Secretary General. Chapter 3: Support for East Europe Democracy - Amends the Support for East European Democracy (SEED) Act of 1989 to make eligible for SEED benefits any Eastern European country taking steps toward: (1) political pluralism and economic reform; (2) respect for human rights; and (3) a willingness to build a friendly relationship with the United States. (Currently, most SEED programs target Hungary and Poland.) Extends specified structural adjustment, debt reduction, and stabilization assistance to such countries. Authorizes AID to provide assistance to support private sector development in Eastern Europe and U.S. participation in capital projects. Permits the President, acting through the AID Administrator, to use funds for labor market transition assistance to eligible Eastern European countries. Extends technical assistance and training for labor market transition assistance to eligible Eastern European countries. Removes a provision authorizing appropriations for Peace Corps programs in Poland and Hungary. Extends assistance for the development of Peace Corps and credit unions to eligible Eastern European countries. Applies provisions governing the use of Polish currency generated by agricultural assistance to local Eastern European currencies generated by such assistance. Repeals provisions concerning: (1) OPIC support for Poland and Hungary; (2) Trade and Development Program activities in Poland and Hungary; (3) tax treatment of loans with below market interest rates for Poland and Israel; and (4) the trade credit insurance program for Poland. Extends Export-Import Bank programs to Czechoslovakia. Urges the President to seek bilateral investment treaties with eligible Eastern European countries to establish a legal framework for U.S. investment in such countries. Extends educational and cultural exchange programs and the scholarship partnership program to eligible Eastern European countries. Removes funding provisions concerning the scholarship partnership program. Authorizes the AID Administrator to use funds available for the scholarship partnership program for scholarships to enable Eastern European students to study at American institutions of higher education in Europe. Extends assistance for the support of democratic institutions and environmental protection and energy efficiency activities to eligible Eastern European countries. Authorizes the President, acting through the AID Administrator and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, to provide assistance for environmental and energy activities in eligible Eastern European countries, with emphasis on assistance for policies encouraging and providing incentives for end-use energy efficiency and conservation and reliance on renewable energy resources. Requires the President to work with officials of the Government of Czechoslovakia to establish a regional program to facilitate cooperative activities to address the public health aspects of environmental degradation. Earmarks funds for such program. Revises provisions concerning medical assistance to Poland. Authorizes the President, acting through the AID Administrator, to: (1) provide medical training, health care planning assistance, and other assistance to improve health care to eligible Eastern European countries; and (2) provide assistance to support the infrastructure for a housing sector in such countries. Redesignates the SEED Information Center System as the Eastern European Business Information Center System. States that the System should develop special information on business opportunities in the communications, broadcasting, and information field for use by U.S. industry and the SEED Program coordinator. Repeals a provision concerning economic and commercial officers at U.S. embassies and missions in Hungary and Poland. Authorizes and allocates appropriations for SEED programs for FY 1992 and 1993. Sets forth provisions concerning the reallocation or reduction of such funds. Chapter 4: Other Provisions Relating to Europe - Amends the Anglo-Irish Agreement Support Act of 1986 to make economic support funds available for U.S. contributions to the International Fund. Removes a certification requirement under such Act and revises reporting requirements. Earmarks economic support assistance for FY 1992 and 1993 for assistance to Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania and to eligible recipients in the Soviet Union that request U.S. technical assistance in support of democratic or market-oriented reforms. Permits such assistance to be provided only through the government of such state or republic or through nongovernmental organizations. Defines an "eligible recipient in the Soviet Union" as the government of any republic or local government that was elected through free and fair elections or any indigenous nongovernmental organization that promotes democratic and market-oriented reforms. Authorizes additional appropriations for FY 1992 and 1993 for disaster assistance to Armenia and to carry out the Soviet-East European Research and Training Act of 1983. Revises reporting requirements under such Act. Expresses the sense of the Congress with respect to U.S. policy toward Yugoslavia and the situation in Kosovo province. Expresses the sense of the Congress that regulations issued pursuant to the Defense Trade and Export Control Act should be amended to allow the importation into the United States of sporting and hunting rifles and shotguns manufactured in Poland, Hungary, or Czechoslovakia. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) President Bush should place Soviet cessation of aid to Cuba high on the list of objectives of the upcoming U.S.-Soviet summit; (2) a Soviet cutoff of aid to Cuba should remain a high priority in U.S.-Soviet relations until the Soviet Union ends its economic and military support for the Castro regime; and (3) a democratically-elected government in Cuba should remain a goal of American foreign policy. Title IX: Asia and the Pacific - Chapter 1: East Asia and the Pacific - Requires the President, in determining whether to furnish assistance or make sales of defense articles or services to Burma (Myanmar) during FY 1992 and 1993, to make a specified certification with respect to international narcotics control in Burma and to take into account whether the Burmese Government has: (1) ceded legal authority to a civilian government as mandated by the 1990 elections; (2) released persons arrested for the peaceful expression of their political views; and (3) ceased harassment of persons and political parties attempting to exercise freedoms of expression, association, and assembly. Sets forth notification requirements with respect to certain assistance for Burma. Declares that the Congress would welcome decisions by the President to: (1) impose economic sanctions on Burma under the Customs and Trade Act of 1990; and (2) call upon industrialized countries to impose similar sanctions upon Burma. Expresses the sense of the Congress with respect to the settlement of the Cambodian conflict and genocide. Makes available FY 1992 and 1993 economic support assistance for humanitarian and development assistance for Cambodians along the Thai-Cambodia border and throughout Cambodia. Sets forth conditions on the disbursement of such assistance. Prohibits any funds from being used to promote or augment the capacity of the Khmer Rouge to conduct military or paramilitary operations in Cambodia or Indochina. Earmarks funds for FY 1992 and 1993 for humanitarian assistance to children and war victims in Cambodia. Authorizes the President to use funds under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 for: (1) nonmilitary training of noncommunist Cambodians in the United States; and (2) an international relief and reconstruction program in Cambodia. Prohibits the provision of FY 1992 and 1993 foreign military financing assistance and assistance for international military education and training to Fiji unless the President certifies to the Congress that Fiji has held elections in which there has been broad participation by all communities. Sets forth provisions concerning Malaysia's policy of denying first asylum to Indochinese asylum-seekers. Requires the President to allocate the amount of funds requested in the congressional presentation materials for the South Pacific regional program for FY 1992 unless he notifies the appropriate congressional committees in accordance with reprogramming procedures. Makes available specified amounts of economic support, development, and international disaster assistance for such program. Earmarks development assistance funds for scholarships for study at postsecondary institutions in the United States. Commends Taiwan for sharing in the responsibilities associated with Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Calls on the President to accept future contributions from Taiwan for multinational operations regardless of the positions of China. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the United States should give the highest priority to accounting for Americans missing in Southeast Asia and to negotiating the return of any Americans still held captive in Southeast Asia; (2) the United States should heighten public awareness of the missing Americans through dissemination of factual data; (3) progress on accounting for missing Americans and other humanitarian issues will affect the process of normalizing relations between the United States and Vietnam; and (4) the President should provide specified amounts to support humanitarian projects in Laos for efforts to resolve questions concerning Vietnam prisoners of war or those missing in action. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should encourage the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to consider for OECD membership the Governments of South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Makes available specified amounts of economic support, development, and international disaster assistance for humanitarian assistance for displaced Burmese nationals in Thailand and Burma. Prohibits the sale, and the issuance of licenses for export, to China of any item on the U.S. Munitions List for military end-users if the President determines that: (1) any U.S. defense article or technology was used in certain missiles or aircraft transferred to Iran, Iraq, Libya, Pakistan, or Syria by China in contravention of the Defense Trade and Export Control Act; and (2) any chemical weapon or nuclear equipment or materials were transferred to such countries by China. Makes such prohibition inapplicable to the sale or export of systems or components designed for inclusion in civil products and controlled as defense articles only for purposes of export to a controlled country, unless the President determines that the intended recipient is the Chinese military or security forces. Chapter 2: South Asia - Authorizes the President to make available development and economic support assistance for humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people and for reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan and the establishment of a broad-based freely-elected Afghan Government. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) land mines in Afghanistan; and (2) the termination of military assistance to, and a political settlement in, Afghanistan. Congratulates Bangladesh on the transition to a democratically-elected government and welcomes the economic adjustment program being implemented in coordination with the International Monetary Fund. Urges the President to provide debt relief under the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 to Bangladesh. Requires the President to allocate the amount of funds requested in the congressional presentation materials for Nepal for FY 1992 unless he notifies the appropriate congressional committees in accordance with reprogramming procedures. Makes available specified amounts of economic support, development, and international disaster assistance for Nepal if a democratically-elected government assumes office pursuant to free and fair elections. Sets forth provisions concerning human rights abuses in Sri Lanka. Requires the President, in determining whether to provide assistance or make sales of defense articles or services to Sri Lanka during FY 1992 and 1993, to take into account whether the Government of Sri Lanka has: (1) established a public register of detainees and ensured that detainees have access to lawyers and family members; (2) taken steps to deter disappearances and killings of civilians by persons under control of government forces; (3) taken measures to minimize civilian casualties in combat operations in the north and the east; and (4) made serious efforts to investigate and prosecute those involved in the murder of journalist Richard DeZoysa. Encourages the Government of Sri Lanka to provide human rights education and training. Chapter 3: Industrial Cooperation Projects in China and Tibet - Expresses the sense of the Congress that U.S. nationals conducting industrial cooperation projects in China or Tibet should adhere to specified principles, including to: (1) suspend the use of merchandise manufactured by convict or forced labor; (2) seek to ensure political and religious freedom without fear of one's employment status; (3) ensure that methods of production do not pose a danger to project employees and the surrounding environment; (4) strive to use business enterprises that are not controlled by China; (5) promote human rights in China; and (6) prohibit compulsory population control activities on the premises of such projects. Requires the Secretary of State to forward a copy of such principles to member nations of the OECD and encourage them to promote such principles. Requires each U.S. national to register with the Secretary and indicate whether they agree to implement such principles. Sets forth specified reporting requirements. Title X: Africa - Chapter 1: Authorizations of Assistance for Africa - Amends the African Development Foundation Act to authorize appropriations for the African Development Foundation for FY 1992 and 1993. Requires funds from the Development Fund for Africa to be used to assist sector projects supported by the SADCC. Urges the President to use diplomatic means to protect the security of SADCC projects and urges the Government of South Africa to respect the territorial integrity of SADCC states and to refrain from military aggression across its borders. Earmarks funds for FY 1992 and 1993 for economic support assistance for Subsaharan Africa. Welcomes the commitment of several governments in Subsaharan Africa to move toward democratic and multiparty systems of government. Urges the President to increase assistance to promote the development of democratic institutions in Africa. Directs the admninistrator of the administering agency to provide for the establishment of an African Center for Conflict Resolution to analyze, research, and resolve conflicts in Africa. Requires funds from the Development Fund for Africa to be made available for the Center. Chapter 2: Provisions Relating to Specific Countries - Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the Government of Angola and the Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) should be commended for their willingness to enter into negotiations to reach a ceasefire agreement in the Angolan conflict and to reach agreement on a date for national elections; and (2) the United States should continue to support negotiations between the leaders of the Angolan Government and UNITA to achieve an agreement for a process of reconciliation among Angolans. Requires the President, in determining whether to provide assistance to Burundi during FY 1992 and 1993, to take into account that the Government of Burundi has: (1) made progress in reforming its military by engaging in a massive Hutu recruitment program; (2) taken steps to reverse discrimination against the Hutu; and (3) embarked on a major repatriation to accommodate the return of Hutu. Sets forth U.S. policy with respect to Ethiopia. Urges the President to impose diplomatic and economic pressures upon the Ethiopian Government if such Government fails to act in good faith to resolve its internal wars peacefully and to improve respect for human rights. Requires the President to report to the appropriate congressional committees every 90 days on Ethiopia's actions with respect to internal wars, human rights, and economic reform. Sets forth U.S. policy with respect to Kenya. Suspends economic and military assistance and sales to Kenya. Waives such suspension if the President reports to the appropriate congressional committees that the Government of Kenya is taking steps to: (1) charge and try or release all prisoners; (2) cease physical abuse or mistreatment of prisoners; (3) respect the independence of the judiciary; and (4) respect freedom of expression. Declares that it is U.S. policy to commit heightened diplomatic resources to resolving the fundamental political conflicts in Liberia. Makes available international disaster assistance funds for civil strife, rehabilitation, and general recovery in Liberia. Permits the President to transfer funds obligated for economic support assistance for Liberia to fund peacekeeping efforts in Liberia by the Economic Community of West Africa Monitoring Group. Authorizes assistance to Liberia under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 only if the President reports to the appropriate congressional committees that the Government of Liberia has achieved progress toward reconciliation among parties to the conflict in Liberia. Commends the Malawi Government's response to the influx of refugees from Mozambique. Condemns the abuse of human rights of Malawian citizens. Urges President Banda to release prisoners of conscience, end incommunicado detention and torture of prisoners, and permit freedom of speech and association in Malawi. Prohibits foreign military financing for the Malawi Young Pioneers and permits such assistance only for the Malawian military's effort to secure the Nacala Railroad and for activities to assist in the Mozambique peace process. Sets forth U.S. policy with respect to Mozambique. Conditions the provision of economic support assistance and foreign military financing for FY 1992 and 1993 for Mozambique on steps by the Government of Mozambique to increase respect for human rights and promote a political settlement to the conflict in such country. Encourages a peaceful and democratic solution to the problems in Somalia. Declares that it is U.S. policy to commit heightened diplomatic resources to resolving the fundamental political conflicts in Somalia. Permits foreign military financing, international military education and training, and economic support assistance for FY 1992 and 1993 to be provided to Somalia only if the President reports to the appropriate congressional committees that the Government of Somalia has made progress toward democratization and respect for human rights. Declares that the President, in providing assistance for refugees in Somalia under the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954, should ensure that: (1) an impartial counting of eligible beneficiaries of food assistance by donors has been completed; (2) none of the beneficiaries belong to military or paramilitary units; and (3) the amount of such assistance does not significantly exceed the number of beneficiaries of such assistance. Permits international disaster assistance for Somalia to be used for civil strife relief, rehabilitation, and general recovery in Somalia. Sets forth U.S. policy toward South Africa. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the United States should support the elimination of apartheid and the establishment of democratic majority rule in South Africa through a policy to bring about a nonracial democracy; (2) U.S. firms and the Government should provide specified assistance to disadvantaged South Africans; and (3) the President should seek the cooperation of U.S. allies in Western Europe and Japan to join in multilateral initiatives to aid disadvantaged South Africans. Requires funds to be made available from the Development Fund for Africa for assistance for the development and financing of low-cost housing in South Africa. Declares that it is U.S. policy to encourage negotiations between the Government of Sudan and the Sudanese People's Liberation Army to end the conflict between these factions. Prohibits economic support assistance (except for basic human needs) and foreign military financing and for Sudan during FY 1992 and 1993. Makes such prohibition inapplicable if the President reports to the appropriate congressional committees that the Government of Sudan is making progress toward respect for human rights and democratization. Prohibits the provision of foreign military financing, international military education and training, and economic support and development assistance to Zaire during FY 1992 and 1993 unless the President reports to the appropriate congressional committees that free and fair elections have been held in Zaire. Chapter 3: United States Commission on Southern Africa - United States Commission on Southern Africa Act - Establishes the United States Commission on Southern Africa to solicit private sector funds to develop skilled personnel in South Africa and Namibia, particularly in middle management business and government positions, by providing for the training of disadvantaged South Africans and Namibians in the fields of education, health care, law, and housing. Authorizes the Commission to establish and provide funds for human resource development programs and to provide scholarships and internships for appropriate study and training. Prohibits the use of such funds for programs conducted by or through South African organizations which are financed or controlled by the Government of South Africa. Authorizes the use of such funds only for programs which clearly reflect the objective of an end to apartheid. Provides for the annual audit of the Commission by certified public accountants. Authorizes the U.S. Comptroller General to carry out an annual audit of the Commission. Directs the Commission to ensure that: (1) recipients of Commission assistance keep separate accounts of such assistance and records to facilitate effective audits; and (2) the Commission has access to such records. Makes Development Fund for Africa assistance available for a grant to the Commission. Chapter 4: Other Provisions - Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) special efforts should be undertaken to reduce trade barriers and to promote economic interchange between the United States and developing countries in Subsaharan Africa; and (2) the countries of Subsaharan Africa are to be applauded for their stance during the Persian Gulf conflict and commended for their support of the United States. Permits international military education and training to be provided to a Subsaharan African country only if the President considers whether: (1) that country has a government that was democratically-elected as the result of free and fair elections or is committed to respecting human rights and permitting freedom of expression and has achieved progress in a process of democratization; (2) the armed forces of such country are involved in human rights violations or the government of the country fails to respect human rights; and (3) the armed forces of such country or other elements of the government of that country are engaged in destabilization efforts aimed at any other country. Requires the President, when obligating funds for countries that do not meet such conditions, to report to the appropriate congressional committees on the reasons for providing such assistance. Provides for the transfer of a specified amount of funds from the Development Fund for Africa for contributions to the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the United Nations Educational and Training Program for Southern Africa. Exempts international narcotics control assistance or assistance provided through nongovernmental organizations for the holding of free and fair elections from the restrictions on assistance under this title. Provides that any sanction imposed by any State or governmental subdivision that is directed at South Africa or persons engaging in commercial or financial transactions in or with South Africa and that also applies to Namibia shall be null and void with respect to Namibia unless such sanction is consistent with Federal law. Title XI: Other Provisions - Amends the Peace Corps Act to extend the authorization of appropriations for the Peace Corps through FY 1993. United States Environmental Security and Foreign Policy Act of 1991 - Sets forth U.S. policy with respect to global environmental security. Gives the Secretary of State primary responsibility for overseeing environmental agreements and activities between the United States and foreign countries and international organizations and commissions. Requires the Secretary to report biennially to the Congress on: (1) multilateral environmental initiatives and negotiations concluded or in process; (2) bilateral agreements on the environment; (3) U.S. participation in, and support of, environment programs in international organizations and multilateral development banks; (4) international cooperation activities with respect to research and monitoring of environmental and natural resource conditions; and (5) environmental policies and activities of the United States in providing foreign assistance. Expresses the sense of the Congress with respect to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. Expresses the sense of the Congress that a major effort should be made to strengthen the right to food in international law to assure the access of all persons to adequate food supplies. Declares that the Secretary, through the U.S. representative to the United Nations, should propose to the United Nations General Assembly that a Declaration and a Convention concerning the right to food be adopted and submitted to countries for ratification. Expresses the sense of the Congress that a major effort should be made to reform and restructure the United Nations mechanism for responding to international disasters and other humanitarian emergencies. Requires the Secretary, through the U.S. representative to the United Nations, to develop a proposal for strengthening the United Nations response to such emergencies. Directs the AID Administrator to release the Institute Centroamericano de Administration de Empresas from its obligation to make payments to the U.S. Government on a loan made pursuant to a specified Alliance for Progress Loan Agreement.

Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1992

United States · United States Congress · 3 June 1991

Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1992 - Title I: Department of Veterans Affairs - Makes appropriations for FY 1991 to the Department of Veterans Affairs for: (1) the Veterans Benefits Administration; (2) the Veterans Health Administration; and (3) departmental administration, including the Office of the Inspector General. Authorizes the transfer of funds among specified appropriations. Authorizes the use of appropriations to procure consultant services. Authorizes the use of certain appropriations to pay prior year accrued obligations for certain benefits. Title II: Department of Housing and Urban Development - Makes appropriations for FY 1992 for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for: (1) housing programs; (2) community planning and development; (3) research and technology; (4) fair housing activities; and (5) management and administration, including the Office of the Inspector General and personal services and travel of departmental headquarters. Limits the amounts of specified loan obligations, including guarantee commitments of the Government National Mortgage Association. Makes funds available for the renewal of expiring low-income subsidy contracts. Makes funds available for grants to public housing agencies for use in eliminating drug-related crime in public housing projects. Makes funds available for the low-income moderate rehabilitation program to be used to assist homeless individuals. Transfers assets and liabilities of the revolving fund for rehabilitation loans to the revolving fund for liquidating programs under the Independent Offices Appropriation Act, 1955. Allows the following municipalities to retain land disposition proceeds from certain financially closed-out projects not paid to HUD: (1) the city of Vallejo, California; (2) the city of New London, Connecticut; and (3) the Housing Authority of the city of Jefferson, Missouri. Allows the cities of Newburyport and Malden, Massachusetts, to retain categorical settlement grant funds or urban renewal grant funds after the financial closeout of specified projects. Cancels the indebtedness of Calhoun Falls, South Carolina, relating to a public facilities loan. Limits the number of Senior Executive Service positions other than career-appointees in HUD. Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to establish a separate fair market rental rate for Monroe County, Pennsylvania. Amends the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act and the Housing Act of 1959 to allow service coordinators in housing for the elderly projects. Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to give priority to public housing applications for new construction, acquisition, or acquisition and rehabilitation in areas with an adequate supply of housing for low-income families. Title III: Independent Agencies - Makes appropriations for FY 1992 to the: (1) American Battle Monuments Commission; (2) Consumer Product Safety Commission; (3) Court of Veterans Appeals; (4) Department of Defense-Civil for cemeterial expenses, Army; (5) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); (6) Executive Office of the President for the Council on Environmental Quality and the Office of Environmental Quality, the National Space Council, and the Office of Science and Technology Policy; (7) Federal Emergency Management Agency; (8) General Services Administration for the Consumer Information Center; (9) Department of Health and Human Services for the Office of Consumer Affairs; (10) National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); (11) National Credit Union Administration for the obligations of the Central Liquidity Facility; (12) National Institute of Building Sciences; (13) National Science Foundation; (14) Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation; and (15) Selective Service System. Sets forth limitations on average employment in EPA headquarters. Makes funds available to the Interagency Council on the Homeless as authorized under the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act. Prohibits the use of funds by NASA to fund grants, contracts, or other agreements with an expected duration of more than one year when a primary effect of such grant, contract, or agreement is to provide a guaranteed customer base for or establish an anchor tenancy in new commercial space hardware or services unless an appropriations Act approves such new hardware or services. Authorizes the use of income derived from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Endeavor Teacher Fellowship Trust Fund to award fellowships to U.S. nationals who are undergraduate students pursuing teaching degrees in elementary and secondary education in mathematics, science or technology disciplines. Prohibits the use of funds by NASA to administer, execute, or implement specified Federal regulations with respect to the liability of aerospace contractors in connection with poor workmanship. Title IV: Corporations - Authorizes certain corporations and agencies of HUD to make commitments without regard to fiscal year limitations as necessary to carry out provisions under the Government Corporation Control Act. Allows any collections by such corporations and agencies to be used for new loan or mortgage purchase commitments to the extent provided under this Act, with specified exceptions. Makes funds available for payment of expenditures of the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation (FSLIC) Resolution Fund and for the Office of Inspector General of the Resolution Trust Corporation. Title V: General Provisions - Specifies certain uses, limitations, and prohibitions on uses of funds appropriated by this Act. Requires FY 1992 pay raises to be absorbed within the levels appropriated in this Act. Prohibits the use of funds by HUD for first class travel of officials or employees unless required by medical necessity or on airplane flights longer than seven hours. Prohibits the use of funds by the Department of Veterans Affairs for any new lease of real property above a specified amount unless a report is submitted to the congressional Committees on Appropriations and a period of 30 days expires after submission of such report. Directs the Resolution Trust Corporation to report to the Congress at least once a month on its review of certain insolvent institution cases resolved by the FSLIC. Prohibits the use of funds to implement the Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-576). Amends Federal law with respect to veterans medical care to extend from September 30, 1991 to September 30, 1992, the requirement for veterans to make copayments for medications. Amends the Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1990 to extend through FY 1992 the amendments made to modify health care categories and copayments for veterans. Increases the amount made available for veterans medical care for use only for procurement of medical equipment. Provides that such veterans medical care provisions shall not take effect if the amount provided for medical care to the Department of Veterans Affairs is less than a specified amount plus reimbursements.

To amend the Housing Act of 1949 to extend the requirement for reciprocity in the approval of housing subdivisions.

United States · United States Congress · 3 June 1991

Amends the Housing Act of 1949 to extend Federal agency reciprocity in the approval of a reasonable value determination by the Department of Veterans Affairs with regard to housing subdivisions. Makes such extension retroactive for approvals made between the enactment of the Department of Housing and Urban Development Reform Act of 1989 and the enactment of this Act.

Condemning violence in Armenia.

United States · United States Congress · 3 June 1991

Condemns: (1) the attacks on innocent children, women, and men in Armenian areas and communities in and around Nagorno-Karabakh; and (2) the indiscriminate use of force, including the shelling of civilian areas, on Armenia's eastern and southern borders. Calls for: (1) the end to the blockades and use of force and intimidation directed against Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh; (2) the withdrawal of Soviet forces newly deployed for the purpose of intimidation; (3) dialogue among all parties involved as the only acceptable route to achieving a lasting resolution of the conflict; and (4) an immediate end to deportations of Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh and the freedom for all refugees to return to their homes. Reconfirms the U.S. commitment to the success of democracy and self-determination in the Soviet Union and its republics by expressing its deep concern about any Soviet retribution, intimidation, or leverage against such republics.

Federal Transit Act of 1991

United States · United States Congress · 24 May 1991

Federal Mass Transportation Act of 1991 - Amends Federal law to rename the Urban Mass Transportation Administration of the Department of Transportation the Federal Transit Administration. Amends the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964 (the Act) to declare as one of the findings of the Congress that significant improvements in public transportation are necessary to achieve national goals for improved air quality, energy conservation, and mobility for elderly persons, persons with disabilities, and economically disadvantaged persons in urban and rural areas. Declares that one of the purposes of the Act is to provide financial assistance to State and local governments and their instrumentalities to help implement such national goals as they relate to the mobility of such persons. Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation (Secretary) to enter into: (1) full funding contracts with applicants for capital grants for mass transportation projects; and (2) early systems work agreements (which promote completion of such projects more rapidly and at less cost) with such applicants if specified conditions are met. Limits the total estimated amount of Federal contingent commitments to incur obligations covered by early systems work agreements and full funding contracts to no more than the amount authorized under this section or the unobligated balance remaining in the transit account of the Highway Trust Fund, whichever is greater, less an amount to cover capital grants which are not covered by a letter of interest. Prohibits the total amount obligated by such agreements and contracts from exceeding any limitation contained in law. Allocates funds from the amounts available for capital grants and loans for mass transportation projects for: (1) rail modernization; (2) construction of new fixed guideway systems and extensions to such systems; (3) the replacement, rehabilitation, and purchase of buses and related equipment and the construction of bus-related facilities; and (4) capital projects necessary to satisfy requirements of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 and the Americans With Disabilities Act. Requires the Secretary to make certain funds available for rail modernization of: (1) historic rail systems first; and (2) then new systems. Authorizes the Secretary to make discretionary capital grants and loans to States and local public bodies for: (1) projects for the deployment of innovative techniques and methods in the management and operation of public transportation services; and (2) mass transportation services for elderly persons and persons with disabilities. Revises certain criteria used for the making of discretionary capital grants or loans for construction of new fixed guideway systems or extensions. Requires: (1) the Secretary to provide appropriate adjustments for inflation over time and for regional differences in the costs of land and construction when determining such systems' cost-effectiveness; and (2) the alternatives analyses to take account of the direct and indirect costs of relevant alternatives that would provide comparable capacity expansion, including costs related to air pollution, noise pollution, congestion, energy conservation, and economic development. Changes to mandatory the Secretary's current discretionary authority to also consider other appropriate factors, including the current state of land use in the community and the degree to which the project increases the mobility of the transit dependent population, when making such grants or loans. Waives certain requirements with respect to such projects if such grants or loans account for less than $25,000,000 or less than 30 percent of the total project's costs. Prohibits the amount of interest on bonds issued by a State or local public body for a mass transportation project that is considered part of the Federal share of such project's costs from being greater than the most favorable interest terms reasonably available for the project at the time of borrowing. Declares it is in the national interest to promote the development of transportation systems that integrate various modes of transportation, maximize mobility of people and goods within urbanized areas, and minimize transportation-related fuel consumption and air pollution. Requires the designation by agreement among the Governor and units of general purpose local government representing at least 90 percent of the affected population metropolitan planning organizations (MPO) for each urbanized area with a population of more than 50,000. Authorizes the designation of more than one MPO within a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) if specified conditions are met. Includes within the boundaries of a metropolitan area any area that: (1) is a nonattainment area for any transportation-related pollutant under the Clean Air Act; or (2) is likely to be significantly affected by air pollution within a subsequent 20-year period. Directs the Secretary to establish requirements to encourage Governors and MPOs with responsibility for a portion of a multi-State MSA or Consolidated MSA (CMSA) to provide coordinated transportation planning for the entire MSA or CMSA. Requires the Secretary to designate as transportation management areas any metropolitan areas that: (1) have populations of more than 250,000; or (2) are noncompliance areas under the Clean Air Act. Requires the Secretary to publish a list of such areas annually. Requires each MPO to prepare for its metropolitan area a metropolitan strategy that at a minimum: (1) identifies transportation facilities (including major roadways, mass transit, and multimodal and intermodal facilities) that should function as an integrated metropolitan transportation system, emphasizing those facilities that serve specified national and regional transportation functions; (2) assesses major demands on the metropolitan transportation system (projected over the subsequent 20-year period); (3) sets forth a long-range strategy for meeting metropolitan area personal mobility and goods transportation needs, including State and local actions to improve transportation efficiency and capacity; (4) explains how proposed transportation decisions will achieve compliance with specified environmental and resource conservation laws, further energy conservation programs, and affect other concerns of the metropolitan area such as housing, community development, and historic preservation; (5) includes a financial plan that demonstrates how such strategy can be implemented; (6) projects capital investment and other measures to ensure the preservation and most efficient use of existing transportation facilities; and (7) indicates proposed transportation enhancement activities. Authorizes the Secretary to provide for the development of abbreviated strategies for metropolitan areas not designated as a transportation management area. Requires States to develop a statewide transportation strategy that takes into account the transportation needs of areas that have no MPO. Directs each MPO to develop a transportation improvement program for a period of at least three years. Requires States to develop a similar program for areas with no MPO. Requires each MPO to submit to the Governor and the Secretary a list of highway and transit projects for its transportation management area. Prohibits any such projects that are funded under the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1991 and the Federal Public Transportation Act, with specified exceptions, from being approved unless they are included in the list of projects approved by an MPO. Authorizes the Secretary to contract for and make grants to States and local public bodies and agencies, or enter into agreements with other Federal departments and agencies, for the planning, engineering, design, and evaluation of public transportation projects, and for other specified technical studies. Encourages to the maximum extent feasible the participation of private enterprise with respect to such plans and programs. Requires the Secretary to ensure that capital and block transportation grants be used to support balanced and comprehensive transportation planning that takes account of the relationships among land use and all transportation modes, without regard to the programmatic source of such planning funds. Sets forth a formula for the allocation of planning funds to metropolitan areas and transportation management areas. Declares that the Federal share of costs for such transportation planning activities shall be 75 percent, except where the Secretary determines that it is in the Federal interest not to require a State or local matching share. Authorizes grants for construction projects in designated transportation management areas to be made available for highway projects if specified requirements are met. Revises the formula for apportioning public transportation block grants for urbanized areas according to fixed guideway revenue vehicle or route miles, and bus revenue vehicle miles and bus passenger miles. (Repeals the "incentive tier".) Applies specified safety provisions of the Act to public transportation block grants. Requires certain certifications that must be submitted annually by a public transportation block grantee to be consolidated into a single document as part of such grantee's application. Requires the Secretary to publish a list of all required certifications annually. Requires the Secretary to establish streamlined administrative procedures to govern compliance with certification requirements with respect to block grantee control over track and signal equipment used in ongoing operations. Revises certain requirements of block grantees with respect to the preparation of a proposed program of projects to require them to assure that such program provides for the maximum feasible coordination of public transportation services assisted under the Act with transportation services assisted by other Federal sources. Authorizes the Secretary, in lieu of the Federal environmental review procedures under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, to approve projects by recipients of assistance under the Act who assume responsibilities for environmental review, decisionmaking, and other action that would apply to the Secretary if such projects were undertaken as Federal projects. Requires each recipient to submit a certain annual certification with respect to the approval of such projects. Amends the Surface Transportation and Uniform Relocation Assistance Act of 1987 to repeal specified conditions relating to the construction of a certain segment of Interstate Route I-95 in Florida in order to permit continued Federal operating assistance for commuter rail service in southern Florida. Includes research on transportation safety as a responsibility of each university transportation center established under the Act. Requires the Secretary to coordinate the research, education, training and technology transfer in such centers, the dissemination of the results of the research, and provide for a clearinghouse between the centers and the transportation industry. Authorizes the Secretary to make funds that are appropriated to the Department of Transportation for transportation research available to one or more of the centers for research that is compatible with research conducted in them pursuant to authorizations under the Act or the Highway Trust Fund. Authorizes the Secretary to transfer facilities and equipment acquired by a recipient of Federal transportation funds but no longer needed to any public body for any public use for at least five years after such transfer. Sets forth specified determinations to be made by the Secretary with respect to the transfer of such assets for purposes other than for mass transportation. Authorizes the Secretary to allow the solicitation for a turnkey system project (a vendor-specific project under which a recipient contracts with a vendor to build and operate a transit system that meets specific performance criteria) to be awarded before Federal requirements are met so long as such award is made without prejudice to their implementation as a means to advance new technologies and lower the cost of constructing new mass transportation systems. Authorizes the Secretary to approve no more than four projects for an initial demonstration phase. Authorizes a recipient that procures rolling stock with Federal transportation assistance to enter into multiyear agreements for the purchase of such stock and replacement parts in which the recipient may exercise an option to purchase additional stock or replacement parts for no more than a five year period from the date of the original contract. Directs the Secretary to permit two or more recipients to form a consortium to purchase such stock. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants and loans to the Governor of each State for allocation to State approved private nonprofit organizations and public bodies (currently, such assistance goes directly to private nonprofit corporations and associations) to assist them in providing transportation services to elderly persons and persons with disabilities. Declares that nothing in the Act shall be construed to prohibit the leasing of vehicles purchased with such assistance to local public bodies or agencies as a means of improving transportation services to such individuals. Authorizes States to transfer facilities and equipment acquired with Federal transportation assistance for nonurbanized areas or elderly persons and persons with disabilities to any recipient eligible to receive such assistance if such equipment or facilities continue to be used in accordance with its requirements. Authorizes the Secretary to retain and continue to use any funds returned in connection with grants or contracts for programs that address human resource needs with respect to public transportation activities. Authorizes appropriations from the Mass Transit Account of the Highway Trust Fund and from the general fund of the Treasury for formula and discretionary grant programs for mass transportation projects. Earmarks a specified amount of such funds and funds appropriated under the National Capital Transportation Act of 1969 for: (1) metropolitan planning activities; (2) rural transit assistance programs; (3) State and national transportation planning and research programs; (4) administrative expenses of the Secretary; (5) transportation services to elderly persons and persons with disabilities; and (6) university transportation centers. Makes specified amounts of such funds available for: (1) completion of interstate transfer transit projects; and (2) block grants for transportation projects in urbanized areas. Prohibits the Secretary from using more than three-quarters of one percent (currently, one-half of one percent) of funds for mass transportation projects to contract with persons overseeing the construction of such projects. Makes funds available for: (1) State transit cooperative research programs; and (2) State transportation planning and research in urbanized areas. Requires the Secretary, as part of such program, to establish an independent governing board to recommend mass transportation research, development, and technology transfer activities. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to, and enter into cooperative agreements with, the National Academy of Sciences to implement such activities. Makes funds available to the Secretary for grants or contracts for national mass transportation programs. Earmarks a specified amount of such funds for special urban transportation demonstration initiatives. Authorizes the Secretary to charge and retain fees, tuition, or other related amounts resulting from conferences, seminars, and training sessions for the development of transit technology. Authorizes the Secretary to undertake a program of transit technology development. Requires the Secretary to establish an Industry Technical Panel to assist in identifying priority technology development areas and in setting guidelines for project development, project cost sharing, and project execution. Authorizes funds for mass transportation projects appropriated before October 1, 1983 and remaining available for expenditure after October 1, 1991, to be transferred to the most recent appropriation for such projects.

Pepper Commission Health Care Access and Reform Act of 1991

United States · United States Congress · 23 May 1991

Pepper Commission Health Care Access and Reform Act of 1991 - Title I: Access To Private or Public Health Insurance For Basic Health Services Through Employment - Amends the Social Security Act to add a new title XXI entitled "Access to Private or Public Health Insurance For Basic Health Services Through Employment". Requires, under the new title, that employers enroll their employees and family members in a qualified employer health plan or in the public health insurance plan discussed in title II of this Act. Sets forth requirements relating to employee premiums and cost-sharing. Title II: Access to Health Insurance for Basic Health Services Through a Public Health Insurance Plan - Amends the Social Security Act to add a new title XXII entitled "Access to Health Insurance for Basic Health Services Through a Public Health Insurance Plan." Provides, under title XXII, for a new public health insurance program to be administered by the Health Care Financing Administration through the use of fiscal agents in the same manner as under Medicare (title XVIII of the Social Security Act) to process claims. Requires program coverage of basic health services, including preventive services, subject, except with respect to preventive services, to specified deductible and coinsurance requirements, with an overall annual limit on cost-sharing of $3,000. Makes U.S. residents and citizens who are not Medicare beneficiaries or enrolled under the qualified employer health plan described under title I or any other qualified health insurance plan eligible to enroll in the public health insurance program. Makes low-income individuals enrolling in the program eligible for assistance to limit or eliminate their financial obligations under the program. Requires the program to provide early and periodic screening, diagnosis, and treatment services (EPSDT) services for children. Allows Medicare beneficiaries to obtain Medicare supplemental (Medigap) coverage under the public health insurance program. Prohibits payment under title XXII for services furnished which are not reasonable and medically necessary. Allows provision of covered services without limitation, except as specified under prescribed guidelines. Provides for the use of Medicare payment rules for purposes of benefit payments under title XXII. Sets forth provisions for: (1) determining the amount of premiums to be charged individuals and employers for enrollment under title XXII; and (2) collecting premiums. Creates in the Treasury the Public Health Insurance Trust Fund to support the public health insurance program through the premiums charged under this Act. Authorizes appropriations each fiscal year to cover the Government's share of program costs. Outlines requirements established under part F (Qualified Health Plans) of title XXII respecting basic benefits, limits on pre-existing condition exclusions and on cost-sharing, and other protections which private health insurance plans must afford consumers in order to be certified by the Secretary of Health and Human Services as qualified for issuance or sale. Outlines administrative provisions. Directs the Secretary to provide information via a toll-free telephone number on low-income assistance and other information concerning the public health insurance program. Title III: Quality Assurance and Cost Containment - Authorizes the Secretary to waive the requirements of titles XVIII and XXII of the Social Security Act insofar as they prevent the use of State uniform payment rates, under prescribed conditions. Requires the Administrator for Health Care Policy and Research to design, implement, and evaluate studies on medical malpractice issues and demonstration projects related to medical malpractice reform for the purpose of making recommendations to the Congress respecting: (1) incentives to improve the quality of care; and (2) cost-effective methods of providing efficient and appropriate compensation to individuals injured in adverse medical occurrences. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary to submit to the Congress a report on requiring use of uniform claims forms. Title IV: Group Health Insurance Reform - Subtitle A: General Reforms - Amends the Social Security Act to add a new title XXIII entitled "Group Health Insurance Standards." Requires States to enforce the minimum Federal standards required to be established under the new title for employment-related health plans. Requires the Secretary to certify such plans as meeting such requirements if the applicable State has not established a regulatory program to enforce the standards. Prohibits employment-related health plans from denying or limiting coverage of basic health services on the basis of an individual's health status or lack of insurability. Sets forth additional requirements applicable to all employment-related health plans. Requires small employer health plans to offer a basic benefit package, use community rating, guarantee issue and renewal of policies, and meet certain information disclosure and recordkeeping requirements. Subtitle B: Reinsurance Systems - Directs the National Association of Insurance Commissioners to develop several models of legislation for the enactment of reinsurance systems that may be used by States with respect to health insurance policies (including small employer health plans). Subtitle C: Encouraging Establishment of Managed Care - Preempts State law restricting the use of managed care plans and utilization review programs that meet Federal standards. Title V: Expansion of Primary Care and Public Health Delivery Capacity in Meeting Health Objectives - Amends the Public Health Service Act to extend the authorization of appropriations for programs related to immunization, tuberculosis, lead poisoning, sexually transmitted diseases, migrant health centers, community health centers, health services for the homeless, health services for residents of public housing, family planning, and HIV disease. Amends title XXII (Access to Health Insurance for Basic Health Services Through a Public Health Insurance Plan) of the Social Security Act, as added by title II of this Act, to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, from amounts in the Public Health Insurance Trust Fund established by this Act, to make grants to plan and develop primary care centers and public health clinics, defined as migrant or community health centers or other entities qualified to receive a grant under specified provisions of the Public Health Service Act. Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress every five years on the impact of this Act in meeting the goals in the report "Healthy People, 2000." Requires each report to include recommendations regarding changes in qualified health plan benefits and payment policies to promote achievement of national health promotion and disease prevention goals and objectives. Title VI: Financing and Tax-Related Provisions - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) provide a full deduction for qualified health plan insurance costs of self-employed individuals; (2) make such deduction permanent; (3) impose an excise tax on entities for willful and uncorrected violations of requirements applicable to employment-related health plans under title XXIII of the Social Security Act; (4) allow very small businesses a refundable credit against income taxes for qualified employer health plan costs; and (5) repeal provisions imposing an excise tax for the failure of group health plans to satisfy coverage requirements. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to review and report to the Congress on the impact of this Act, and the tax credits provided above, on employers of ten or fewer full-time employees. Requires the public health insurance plan to be funded through one or more funding means in a manner which is: (1) progressive in the aggregate; (2) sufficient, each year, over time, and in the aggregate, to cover the net costs of the plan; and (3) not derived from any one age group of society. Title VII: Medicare and Medicaid Amendments - Subtitle A: Medicare - Amends the Medicare program to assure coordination of enrollment with qualified health plans. Subtitle B: Medicaid - Amends the Medicaid program (title XIX of the Social Security Act) to continue Medicaid benefits not covered under such public health insurance program and to discontinue those benefits covered under the program. Title VIII: Conforming Changes to ERISA - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to repeal provisions regarding continuation coverage under group health plans.

Comprehensive Services For Children and Youth Act of 1991

United States · United States Congress · 22 May 1991

Comprehensive Services for Children and Youth Act of 1991 - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award grants to eligible entities to pay 80 percent of the costs for activities relating to school-based or community-based coordinated educational and social services programs to strengthen the educational performance and future potential of at-risk youth (both in-school and out-of-school). Requires such grants to be awarded only to programs designed to: (1) co-locate a range of educational and social services; (2) provide multi-year services to at-risk children and youth and their families; (3) serve the specified target population; and (4) be coordinated by the eligible entity with activities under other Federal, State, and local grants received by partnership members for purposes and target populations described in this Act, into an integrated service delivery system co-located at a school or other community-based site accessible to and used by at-risk youth. Gives priority to eligible entities providing comprehensive services extending beyond traditional school or service hours, that may include year-round programs providing evening and weekend services. Allows such grants to be made for up to five years, if recipients make satisfactory progress toward program objectives. Requires an equitable geographic distribution to both urban and rural areas with a high proportion of at-risk youth. Authorizes bonus awards to recipients demonstrating increases in coordination and level of services above those anticipated in the application or interim report. Makes eligible to receive such grants, to serve in-school children and youth, a partnership between a local educational agency (LEA) that is eligible for certain funds for education of disadvantaged children under chapter 1 title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (chapter 1 program), and at least one nonprofit community-based organization with a history of providing social services to low-income at-risk youth and their families, and which: (1) must also include public health, child welfare, social services, job training, public housing agencies or other public agencies providing services to such youth and families; and (2) may include private industry councils, or other relevant planning and program implementation boards providing services to such youth and families. Makes eligible for such grants, to serve out-of-school youth, a partnership between at least one public entity of the types described above, or an LEA eligible for chapter 1 program funds, and at least one nonprofit comunity-based organization described above. Requires the eligible entity, to receive such a grant, to serve the following target population: (1) students enrolled in schools participating in school-wide projects assisted under the chapter 1 program, and their families; (2) students enrolled in schools that are the most economically disadvantaged within the LEA; (3) out-of-school youth at-risk of having limited future options as a result of teenage pregnancy and parenting, substance abuse, recent immigration, disability, limited English proficiency, family migration, illiteracy, being a child of a teen parent, living in a single parent household, or being a high school dropout; or (4) any combination of in-school and out-of-school youth. Allows the eligible entity to serve the families of such students or youth. Includes among authorized activities: (1) one-stop shopping programs in schools or nearby community-based service centers to provide comprehensive educational and social services to the target population and families, support necessary costs (such as rentals, leases, open and lock-up fees, maintenance, security, and operation), and encourage participation of service providers necessary for comprehensive services delivery; (2) unified eligibility procedures, integrated data bases or administrative structures, and secure confidentiality procedures for information-sharing and interagency communications, including various technological developments to improve coordination; (3) integrated needs assessment, case planning, and case management services, through staff support for interagency teams of service providers or hiring school-based social services coordinators or neighborhood youth corps; and (4) integrated social services for at-risk students, for smooth transitions of preschool children to elementary school and of secondary or alternative school students to job training, higher education, or full employment. Sets forth application requirements and limitations for planning grants. Requires grant funds under this Act to be used to supplement but not supplant non-Federal funds. Sets forth grant application requirements. Requires each eligible entity desiring such a grant to establish a coordinated services planning council to develop such application. Directs the Secretaries of Education and of Health and Human Services to jointly review such applications, and to consult with the Secretaries of Labor and of Housing and Urban Development, as appropriate. Requires grant recipients to submit annual interim reports to the Secretary of Education. Amends the Augustus F. Hawkins Human Resources Reauthorization Act of 1990 to direct the Federal Council on Children, Youth, and Families to: (1) identify and eliminate program regulations or practices that impede coordination and collaboration; (2) develop and implement plans for creating jointly funded programs, unified assessments, eligibility, application procedures, and confidentiality regulations that facilitate information-sharing; and (3) make recommendations to the Congress on legislative action needed to facilitate coordination of educational and social services. Directs the Secretary of Education (the Secretary) to study grants awarded under this Act to identify: (1) for elimination, regulatory and statutory obstacles encountered; and (2) for replication, appropriate innovative procedures and program designs. Directs the Secretary to evaluate the success of such grants in achieving outcome measures and coordinating services. Directs the Secretary to report, with recommendations, to specified congressional committees on such study. Sets forth requirements for grant payments, Federal and non-Federal shares, technical assistance, and dissemination of information on successful models through the National Diffusion Network. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1992 through 1996 to carry out this Act.

Regulatory Efficiency for Depository Institutions Act

United States · United States Congress · 22 May 1991

Title I: Community Reinvestment Act Amendments - Regulatory Efficiency For Depository Institutions Act - Amends the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 to provide that a regulated financial institution that receives a written rating of "satisfactory" or better by a Federal depository institutions regulatory agency with respect to its record of meeting the community's low-and-moderate income credit needs shall not be subject to any further such evaluation during the two-year period beginning on the date of the evaluation's public disclosure. Exempts certain small-sized institutions from the requirements of such Act. Prohibits a Federal financial supervisory agency from requiring a regulated financial institution to prepare certain community credit needs data that duplicate information submitted under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act of 1975. Title II: Expedited Funds Availability and Electronic Transfers - Amends the Expedited Funds Availability Act with respect to: (1) availability schedules; (2) deposits into shared automated teller machines (ATMs); (3) new accounts; (4) next day availability schedule exceptions; and (5) Federal Reserve Board jurisdiction to impose risks of loss and liability. Amends the Electronic Fund Transfer Act to impose consumer liability of $500 for unauthorized electronic fund transfers in cases where the cardholder has substantially contributed to its unauthorized use (including writing on, or keeping with the card or other means of access a personal identification or other security code). Title III: Amendments to the Truth in Lending Act - Amends the Truth in Lending Act to exempt from its disclosure requirements credit transactions involving consumers who earn more than $200,000 annually, or who have net assets in excess of $1,000,000 at the time of such transaction. Imposes liability upon a cardholder for the unauthorized use of a credit card if the liability exceeds $50, and the cardholder does not provide the card issuer timely notice of unauthorized transactions after receipt of his account statement. Authorizes the Board to modify or waive rights under such Act regardless of circumstances. Title IV: Amendment to the Fair Credit Reporting Act - Amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to permit a consumer reporting agency to furnish a consumer report to a person it has reason to believe intends to use the information for solicitation or marketing of financial services, if such report contains no specific information on the credit experience of any consumer. Title V: Homeownership Amendments - Amends the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 to provide that federally-related real estate transactions having a value of not more than $100,000 shall not require the services of either a State-certified or licensed appraiser. Amends the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974 to increase to three business days the time by which lenders of federally-related home mortgage loans must furnish borrowers with a federally-produced real estate settlement procedures information booklet. (Currently such booklet must be furnished at the time the mortgage application is received.) States that no booklet need be provided if the loan is denied. Amends the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act of 1975 to exempt from its provisions certain small-sized depository institutions. Amends the Competitive Equality Banking Act of 1987 to limit an "adjustable rate mortgage loan" solely to consumer loans. Amends the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 to repeal the requirement that a creditor notify a delinquent homeowner of the availability of homeownership debt counseling offered by the creditor and federally-approved nonprofit organizations. Prohibits a Federal financial institutions regulatory agency from requiring an institution under its jurisdiction to collect or analyze data in connection with Fair Housing Act requirements (other than a data form required under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act of 1975).

Military Construction Appropriations Act, 1992

United States · United States Congress · 22 May 1991

Military Construction Appropriations Act, 1992 - Appropriates funds for FY 1991 for military construction functions administered by the Department of Defense (DOD) in specified amounts for: (1) military construction, Army (including such funds under prior law); (2) military construction, Navy (including a rescission); (3) military construction, Air Force (including rescissions); (4) military construction, defense agencies (including a specified transfer of funds); (5) North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Infrastructure; (6) military construction, Army National Guard; (7) military construction, Air National Guard; (8) military construction, Army Reserve; (9) military construction, Naval Reserve; (10) military construction, Air Force Reserve; (11) family housing, Army (12) family housing, Navy and Marine Corps; (13) family housing, Air Force; (14) family housing, defense agencies; (15) homeowners assistance fund, defense; and (16) the Department of Defense Base Closure Accounts. Prohibits funds appropriated in this Act from being used for payments under certain cost-plus-a-fixed-fee contracts without specific approval by the Secretary of Defense. Authorizes funds appropriated in this Act to be used for: (1) the hire of passenger motor vehicles; and (2) advances to the Federal Highway Administration, Department of Transportation, for the construction of defense access roads. Prohibits funds appropriated in this Act from being used for: (1) construction of new bases inside the continental United States for which specific appropriations have not been made; (2) the purchase of certain lands or easements for amounts in excess of 100 percent of their value as determined by the Corps of Engineers or the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, except under specified conditions; (3) acquisition, site preparation, or the installation of any utilities for family housing, except for housing for which funds have been made available under annual military construction appropriation Acts; (4) transferring or relocating any activity from one base or installation to another without prior notification to the Committees on Appropriations; and (5) the procurement of steel for any construction project or activity for which American steel producers have been denied the opportunity to compete. Prohibits the use of funds available for military construction and housing during FY 1991 to pay real property taxes in any foreign nation. Prohibits funds appropriated in this Act from being used for: (1) the initiation of a new installation overseas without prior notification to the Committees on Appropriations; (2) certain architect and engineer contracts for projects in Japan or in any NATO-member country, unless awarded to U.S. firms solely or in joint ventures; or (3) the award of any contract for military construction in the U.S. territories and possessions in the Pacific and on Kwajalein Island in excess of $1,000,000 to a foreign contractor, with specified exceptions. Directs the Secretary to notify the Senate and House Armed Services and Appropriations Committees of the plans and scope of any military exercise involving U.S. personnel 30 days prior to its occurrence if amounts expended for construction are expected to exceed $100,000. Transfers certain funds of the Military Family Housing Management Account to the appropriations for family housing provided in this Act. Prohibits more than 20 percent of the funds appropriated in this Act which are limited for obligation during the current fiscal year from being obligated during the last two months of the fiscal year. Makes certain prior year funds available for military construction authorized during the first session of the 102nd Congress. Directs the Secretary, by February 15, 1992, to provide the Appropriations Committees with a report detailing the specific actions proposed to be taken by DOD during FY 1992 to encourage other members of NATO and Japan to assume a greater share of the common defense burden of such nations and the United States. Permits certain expired or lapsed funds to be used to pay certain overhead and other costs associated with military construction or family housing projects. Allows funds appropriated for military construction projects to be obligated until the end of the fourth year after such funds were appropriated, with certain conditions. Limits the amount of funds that may be obligated for the contract cleaning of military family housing units. Prohibits any funds appropriated in this Act from being used for new military family housing units in the Republic of Korea in connection with any increase in accompanied tours after June 6, 1988. Authorizes the transfer of unobligated DOD military construction and family housing operation and maintenance and construction funds to the foreign currency fluctuations, construction, defense appropriation to be merged with and available for its purposes. Prohibits any funds appropriated in this Act for planning and design activities from being used to initiate design of the Pentagon Annex. Prohibits any funds appropriated in this Act from being available for study, planning, design, or architect and engineer services related to the relocation of the Yongsan Garrison, Korea. Requires funds necessary for FY 1992 pay raises for programs funded by this Act to be absorbed within the levels appropriated in this Act. Amends the Dire Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Consequences of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Food Stamps, Unemployment Compensation Administration, Veterans Compensation and Pensions, and Other Urgent Needs Act of 1991 to extend until November 5, 1990, the effective date of the repeal of specified provisions of the Military Construction Appropriations Act, 1991 which: (1) authorize the President to seize and liquidate certain property to pay U.S. creditors holding claims against Iraq; and (2) provide criminal penalties against the perpetrators of, and remedies, jurisdiction, and venue for the victims of, international terrorism.

Environmental Research, Development, and Demonstration Authorization Act of 1991

United States · United States Congress · 20 May 1991

Environmental Research, Development, and Demonstration Authorization Act of 1991 - Authorizes appropriations to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for FY 1992 through 1994 for specified environmental research, development, and demonstration activities and for program management and support of the Office of Research and Development. Prohibits the Administrator from using any funds appropriated in this Act for office closings or reductions in force unless a congressional notice and wait procedure has been complied with by the Administrator. Requires the Administrator to establish a separately identified core research program consisting of fundamental ecological, health, and risk reduction research to support efforts to identify, assess, and mitigate serious environmental risks. Directs the Administrator to establish a Research Strategy Council to oversee, review, and ensure adequate funding of the core research program. Requires the Science Advisory Board to review and make recommendations on core research program activities. Directs the Administrator to establish an Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program to conduct comprehensive, long-term environmental monitoring, data collection, and data analysis to assess and respond to the current and long-term status and trends of the ecological resources of the United States. Requires the Administrator to coordinate Program activities with other Federal agencies and to make available to the public and the Congress statistical data summaries and interpretive reports on ecological status and trends developed as a result of the Program. Directs the Administrator to: (1) establish a modernization program to identify, acquire, and maintain modern buildings, facilities, supplies, and equipment needed to conduct high quality research; and (2) conduct studies and make assessments of the adequacy of the equipment and facilities to meet the needs of EPA and to attract well-qualified scientists, engineers, and other appropriate personnel. Repeals a required annual report from the Administrator of a five-year plan for environmental research, development, and demonstration. Requires the Science Advisory Board to submit annual reports to the Congress and the Administrator on the proposed research program described in the President's budget request for research, development, and demonstration activities of the EPA. Requires the Board to conduct periodic evaluations of selected areas of the current and planned activities. Requires concurrent submission to the Congress of any report required from the Board to the Administrator. Directs the Administrator to carry out a program of research and monitoring on regional, national, and global impacts of environmental pollution and perturbation on biological diversity. Authorizes the Administrator to: (1) lease facilities, buildings, and other property to promote the activities authorized under this Act; and (2) enter into cooperative agreements to conduct application reviews and use research funds for such cooperative agreements. Directs the Administrator to: (1) report biannually to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works on the accomplishments of programs authorized under this Act; (2) develop and implement a research program to increase understanding of the health effects of exposure to electric and magnetic fields; and (3) carry out a program of environmental technology transfer and exchange of scientific information to make full use of EPA's research, development, and demonstration efforts. Requires the annual EPA appropriations request to distinguish funding requested for source reduction research and development and demonstration activities. Authorizes the Administrator to undertake multimedia source reduction projects. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the Administrator to: (1) identify at least ten research issues correlating to environmental hazards in the category of highest risk to human health and the environment and address such issues as part of an overall strategic planning process; and (2) outline research priorities on efforts aimed at eliminating or minimizing the generation of wastes or pollutants. Directs the Adminstrator to conduct research on methods for evaluating emerging products and techniques for detecting lead in paint films and dust. Requires the National Institute of Standards and Technology to develop protocols, criteria, and minimum performance standards to be used in such evaluation and to ensure reliable and effective lead detection technologies. Requires the Administrator to conduct research on: (1) the short-and long-term efficacy of lead abatement and management techniques for housing based on levels of lead in dust and in occupants' blood; and (2) the performance properties of products for encapsulating or stripping lead-based paint. Directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology to establish performance criteria and standards for encapsulants and strippers. Requires the Administrator to: (1) conduct a long-term research study to establish the sources of lead exposure for children with blood lead levels greater than ten micrograms per deciliter; and (2) sponsor public education and outreach efforts to increase awareness of lead poisoning from household sources and the need for abatement and management actions. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Administrator to provide funds for establishing a voluntary accreditation program to the National Institute for Standards and Technology. Requires the National Institute for Standards and Technology to establish protocols, criteria, and performance standards and implement an accreditation program with respect to laboratory analysis of lead in paint films, soil, and dust. Directs the Administrator to establish a separately identified research program to improve EPA's capability to identify and assess risks to public health and ecosystems resulting from contamination of the environment.

Youthbuild Act of 1991

United States · United States Congress · 17 May 1991

Youthbuild Act of 1991 - Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to provide grants for Youthbuild projects which shall employ economically and educationally disadvantaged youth to help construct or rehabilitate rental and transitional housing for homeless persons and low-income families. Authorizes appropriations.

Escrow Deposit Act of 1991

United States · United States Congress · 16 May 1991

Escrow Deposit Act of 1991 - Amends the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974 to prohibit a servicer or lender that has established an escrow account in connection with a federally related mortgage loan from requiring a borrower to deposit in such account a sum exceeding one sixth of the estimated real estate carrying charges (i.e. taxes, insurance premiums, and so forth). States that the statutory limitations placed upon advance escrow deposits shall not be construed: (1) to require or permit deposits based on one sixth of each of the estimated real estate carrying charges during a 12-month period, or in any other manner that results in an additional escrow balance exceeding the statutory limit; (2) to require any escrow deposit; or (3) to require any particular deposit amount. Sets forth a minimum mandatory interest rate to be paid by the servicer of such accounts. Establishes a right of action to enforce borrower rights under such Act including, at the court's discretion, the award of litigation expenses to the prevailing party.

Department of Defense Authorization Act, 1992-1993

United States · United States Congress · 14 May 1991

Department of Defense Authorization Act, 1992-1993 - Title I: Procurement Authorization of Appropriations - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1992 and 1993 to the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, and Air Force for aircraft, missiles, weapons and tracked combat vehicles, ammunition, shipbuilding and conversion, and for other procurement. Authorizes appropriations for: (1) FY 1992 and 1993 for procurement for the defense agencies; (2) FY 1992 for procurement for the Defense Inspector General; and (3) FY 1992 and 1993 for the chemical demilitarization program (the destruction of lethal chemical weapons). Title II: Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1992 and 1993 for research, development, test, and evaluation (R&D) for the armed forces and the defense agencies. Title III: Operation and Maintenance Authorization of Appropriations - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1992 and 1993 for operation and maintenance for the Army, the Navy, the Marine Corps, the Air Force, the defense agencies, the reserves, the National Guard, the National Board for the Promotion of Rifle Practice, the Defense Inspector General, drug interdiction and counter-drug activities, defense, the Court of Military Appeals, environmental restoration, and for humanitarian assistance. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1992 and 1993 for working capital funds for the armed forces and the defense agencies. Title IV: Military Personnel Authorizations for Fiscal Years 1992 and 1993 - Part A: Active Forces - Authorizes end strengths for active-duty forces for FY 1992 and 1993. Part B: Reserve Forces - Authorizes end strengths for reserve components of the armed forces for FY 1992 and 1993. Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to vary such end strengths in a limited amount. Authorizes end strength reductions for the Selected Reserve for each such fiscal year, as prescribed. Authorizes increases for each such fiscal year in the number of certain personnel authorized to be on active duty in support of the reserve forces. Part C: Military Training Student Loads - Authorizes the average military training student loads for FY 1992 and 1993. Provides for the adjustment of such student loads consistent with manpower strengths as authorized under this Act. Title V: General Provisions - Repeals: (1) a Federal provision requiring a separate budget request for reserve and National Guard procurement in each annual defense budget submitted to the Congress; (2) the current limitation on the number of military and civilian personnel assigned to headquarters and non-management headquarters and support activities within the Department of Defense (DOD); and (3) a requirement for the authorization of civilian DOD personnel by end strength. Revises the submission date of a report required under the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1990 and 1991 concerning annual defense outlays. Directs the Secretary of Defense to establish in DOD a Defense Business Operations Fund to finance operations within or among DOD departments and agencies, including: (1) the financing and furnishing of inventories and supplies; and (2) the performance of industrial, commercial, and support activities. Establishes such Fund in the Treasury and provides for debits, credits, and authorized Fund uses. Provides transition provisions for defense working capital funds affected by the creation of the Fund. Establishes in the Treasury the Lease Replacement Fund, Defense (Lease Fund), to be available for the rehabilitation, construction, and renovation of property and facilities owned by DOD which are determined to be suitable, available, or needed for utilization as replacement facilities for facilities being leased by or on behalf of DOD. Authorizes the transfer of appropriations for funding the Lease Fund. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1992 and 1993. Repeals a provision of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1991 which provides funding for the Navy for the V-22 aircraft program. Repeals a Federal provision requiring the Secretary to establish guidelines for reducing the number of civilian DOD employees employed by industrial- or commercial-type activities. Provides for the determination of the amount of the variable housing allowance to be paid to members and former members of the reserves. Authorizes the provision of special pay to health care officers who: (1) are reserves on active duty other than for training for at least 31 days but less than one year; (2) are involuntarily retained on active duty for at least 31 days; or (3) voluntarily agree to remain on active duty for less than one year while other officers are involuntarily retained on active duty or in cases of other special circumstances as determined by the Secretary. Provides that, in the case of retired officers ordered to active duty who serve on such active duty in a grade higher than their retired grade, such officers shall be advanced on the retired list upon release from such active duty to the highest grade satisfactorily served. States that if such retired list grade is higher than their original retired grade, such service must be for a minimum of three years of total active service. Allows the President to waive such three-year requirement in individual cases. Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1991 to allow the number of certain intelligence personnel to be adjusted in accordance with certain actions taken by the Secretary of Defense and the Director of Central Intelligence with respect to the revision of priorities and the consolidation of functions. Extends through FY 1993: (1) the period during which an aviation career officer may sign an agreement for an extension of duty, thereby allowing such officer to receive special pay for such extension; and (2) the provision of special pay to enlisted members of the Selected Reserve assigned to certain high-priority units. Extends through FY 1995: (1) a provision which repealed a provision of the Department of Defense Authorization Act, 1984 which disallowed certain service to be considered for purposes of mandatory retirement under the retired reserve; (2) the original appointment period as a reserve medical officer for purposes of grade determination; (3) the promotion authority for certain reserve officers serving on active duty; (4) the initial appointment period for certain health professionals of the Selected Reserve to qualify for education loans through the Secretary of Defense; and (5) the enlistment and reenlistment bonus authority for members of the reserves. Repeals a Federal provision authorizing the temporary promotions of certain Navy lieutenants through FY 1992. Extends through FY 1994: (1) the period during which a registered nurse may sign an agreement for service in such capacity as a commissioned officer, thereby receiving an accession bonus; (2) the period during which a person may sign an agreement as a candidate under the nurse officer candidate accession bonus program; and (3) the provision of special pay for nurse anesthetists serving in a military capacity. Extends through FY 1997 the enlistment and reenlistment bonus authority for active-duty personnel. Authorizes the Secretaries of the military departments concerned to assign such powers, functions, and duties as considered appropriate to the General Counsels of such departments. Authorizes such General Counsels to temporarily perform the duties of the Secretaries of such military departments. Identifies the General Counsels as the chief legal officers of such departments. Establishes the pay grade for General Counsels at Level IV of the Executive Schedule. Establishes within DOD the position of Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy to act for, and exercise the powers of, the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy when the Under Secretary is absent or disabled. Establishes the pay grade for the Deputy Under Secretary at Level IV of the Executive Schedule.

Transportation for Livable Communities Act of 1991

United States · United States Congress · 14 May 1991

Transportation for Livable Communities Act of 1991 - Title I: Planning - Bars the Secretary of Transportation from approving a program in whole or in part, or any project, unless the Secretary finds that the program conforms to and carries out plans and programs pursuant to this Act. Declares it to be in the national interest to encourage and promote the conservation and development of transportation systems embracing various modes of transportation in a manner that will serve the States and local communities efficiently and effectively. Directs the Secretary to cooperate with State and local officials in developing transportation plans and programs which, at a minimum: (1) utilize transportation system management and investment strategies designed to make the most efficient use of existing transportation facilities; (2) promote or reinforce land use patterns for residence and employment that enhance the attractiveness and feasibility of mass transportation; (3) demonstrate why alternative transportation modes or management strategies are not feasible substitutes to any proposed expansions of highway capacity; (4) incorporate actions to reduce energy consumption; (5) minimize physical or visual disruption of scenic landscapes, vistas, and historic areas; (6) conform to and complement local and State plans and programs concerning housing, community development, rural conservation, air and water quality, recreation, and historic preservation; (7) effectuate reductions in the demand in congested areas for motor vehicle travel and, particularly, for single passenger automobile travel; and (8) specify proposed transportation enhancement activities. Requires that the planning process consider all modes of transportation, account for reasonably anticipated funds, and be continuing, cooperative, and comprehensive. Bars the construction of any highway project in a metropolitan area unless the responsible public officials of the area in which the project is located have been consulted and their views considered with respect to the corridor, mode of transportation, and location and design of the project. Directs the Secretary to cooperate with each State in the development of transportation plans and programs which will serve the State and its local communities and rural areas effectively, accomplish social and economic development goals, conserve energy, preserve open space and scenic and historic resources, promote improvement of air and water quality, and encourage efficient land use patterns. Requires that: (1) such plans and programs be based on long-range needs and goals and meet specified requirements to achieve such goals; and (2) the State provide an opportunity for public comment and respond in reasonable detail to the comments received. Title II: Transportation Enhancement Activities - Defines "transportation enhancement activities" to include, with respect to a project and the area to be served by the project: scenic and historic landscape enhancement; demonstration projects to encourage excellence in the design, construction, rehabilitation, and use of transportation facilities; archeological planning and research; acquisition of scenic, recreational, and historic sites or areas; and control and removal of outdoor advertising. Includes transportation enhancement activities within the definition of highway. Authorizes the Secretary to approve related transportation enhancement activities under the highway bridge replacement and rehabilitation program. Requires States to expend not less than eight percent of the amounts apportioned in any fiscal year to a State in any fiscal year under this Act on transportation enhancement activities. Specifies the Federal share of Federal-aid highway project costs that are attributable to transportation enhancement activities, with exceptions. Title III: National Scenic and Historic Highway System - Establishes the National Scenic and Historic Highway System. Directs the Secretary, within one year, to establish criteria for designating National Scenic and Historic Highways, including: (1) consideration of the scenic beauty and historic significance of the highways or the highways' surroundings; (2) operation and management standards for the highways; (3) standards for highway signage; and (4) design review procedures for siting the highways and location of structures, landscaping, and travelers' facilities on or adjacent to the highways. Sets forth procedures by which States may nominate an existing or planned highway for inclusion in the National Scenic and Historic Highway System. Directs the Secretary to: (1) conduct an inventory of Federal lands highways and designate appropriate highways for inclusion in such System; and (2) withdraw the designation of a highway, other than a Federal lands highway, upon the request of a State or upon determining that the highway does not meet criteria established pursuant to this Act. Authorizes the Secretary to approve projects for the purpose of identifying, designating, and operating National Scenic and Historic Highways, but bars projects for the grading, construction, repair, or rehabilitation of a highway roadbed. Limits the Federal share to 95 percent of the cost of such projects. Directs the Secretary to set aside $25,000,000 to carry out such purpose for FY 1992 through 1996.

Community Mental Health Services Improvement Act of 1991

United States · United States Congress · 13 May 1991

Community Mental Health Services Improvement Act of 1991 - Title I: Community Mental Health Services Block Grant - Amends title XIX (Block Grants) of the Public Health Service Act to replace provisions relating to State comprehensive mental health services plans with provisions directing the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health, to make a grant to each State each year for providing, through community mental health centers, comprehensive community mental health services to adults with serious mental illness and to children with a serious emotional disturbance. Includes in the comprehensive package health, mental health, rehabilitation, employment, housing, educational, dental, and other support services. Requires, for such children, a system of integrated social, educational, juvenile, substance abuse, health, and mental health services. Sets forth criteria for the centers, including providing: (1) 24-hour-a-day emergency services; and (2) day treatment or other partial hospitalization services, or psychosocial rehabilitation services. Requires States to establish and maintain a State mental health planning council to: (1) serve as an advocate for individuals with mental illnesses or emotional problems; and (2) review the allocation and adequacy of mental health services in the State. Authorizes appropriations to carry out: (1) this title; and (2) provisions requiring annual data collection on mental illness. Provides, with regard to existing alcohol and drug abuse and mental health services block grant provisions and the provisions added by this title, for: (1) annual independent peer review to assess the quality and appropriateness of treatment services; (2) a single consolidated application for States to request funds; (3) considering programs or activities funded in whole or in part with funds under such provisions as programs or activities receiving Federal financial assistance for purposes of specified civil rights laws; (4) a prohibition of discrimination in such programs or activities on the basis of sex or religion; and (5) a prohibition of the Secretary delegating to the States the primary responsibility for interpreting governing provisions. Title II: Comprehensive Mental Health Services for Children with Serious Emotional Disturbances - Directs the Secretary of HHS, through the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health, to make grants to States and their political subdivisions for comprehensive community mental health services to seriously emotionally disturbed children. Allows such grants only to those already receiving payments under existing alcohol and drug abuse and mental health services block grant provisions. Requires, in making the grants, special consideration for an entity which agrees to provide non-Federal contributions greater than required. Requires non-Federal contributions in a specified ratio. Requires grantees to establish and operate, through grants and contracts, one system to provide specified mental health services to children under 22 years old, including 24-hour-a-day emergency services, home-based services, day treatment, respite care, and therapeutic foster care. Requires a memorandum of understanding, to facilitate the availability of services, with providers of medical, educational, vocational counseling, vocational rehabilitation, and mental health protection and advocacy services. Prohibits using grant funds or non-Federal contributions made with respect to the grant for such linked non-mental health services. Requires that the system: (1) enter into a memorandum of understanding regarding facilitation of services available under programs such as title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act and specified provisions of the Education of the Handicapped Act; (2) provide case management services; and (3) develop and implement an individualized plan of services for each child admitted to the system. Mandates submission by the States and approval by the Secretary of a system plan. Limits fees for system services. Limits grants to five years. Authorizes appropriations. Title III: Mental Health Research - Transfers provisions relating to service research on community-based mental health treatment programs from portions of the Public Health Service Act relating to State comprehensive mental health services plans to portions relating to mental health research. Requires set-aside of a specified percentage of funds appropriated under the Act for mental health research to carry out the transferred provisions. Replaces, in the transferred provisions, references to the Administrator of the Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration with references to the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health. Title IV: Protection and Advocacy for Mentally Ill Individuals - Amends the Protection and Advocacy for Mentally Ill Individuals Act of 1986 to include in the definition of "mentally ill individual" a person with a significant mental illness or emotional impairment who is imprisoned in a State or Federal facility. Authorizes appropriations to carry out provisions of such Act relating to protection and advocacy systems. Title V: Conforming Amendments - Amends the Public Health Service Act to conform to changes made by this Act. Title VI: Federal Accountability - Declares ineffective any rule or regulation of the Department of Health and Human Services inconsistent with the amendments made by this Act, including a specified regulation recognizing that, under the block grant programs, the States are primarily responsible for interpreting the governing statutory provisions. Title VII: General Provisions - Sets forth the effective date of this Act and the amendments made by this Act.

Enterprise Zone Jobs-Creation Act of 1991

United States · United States Congress · 9 May 1991

Enterprise Zone Jobs-Creation Act of 1991 - Title I: Designation of Enterprise Zones - Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (Secretary) to designate enterprise zones for purposes of providing tax and regulatory relief and improving local services. Limits choices to areas nominated by States and local governments. Limits the total number of areas that may be designated, and the time period of the designation. Authorizes the Secretary to designate a zone only if the area meets certain locational, demographic, unemployment, and poverty criteria. Requires nominating local governments, as a condition of the Secretary's designation, to agree in writing to follow a course of action that may include reducing tax rates, improving local services, simplifying or streamlining regulation of business, and providing job training to area residents. Describes areas to which the Secretary must give preference in selecting areas for designation. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress every four years on the effects of such enterprise zones' designation in accomplishing the purposes of this Act. Title II: Federal Income Tax Incentives - Allows a nonrefundable income tax credit to enterprise zone employees for five percent of any wages earned as do not exceed a specified amount. Phases out such credit. Provides for the nonrecognition of capital gain on the sale of enterprise zone property. Allows a taxpayer a deduction on the aggregate amount paid for the purchase of enterprise stock on its original issue by a qualified issuer. Requires any gain from the disposition of the stock to be treated as ordinary income. Title III: Regulatory Flexibility - Amends Federal law to revise the definition of "small entity" for purposes of the analysis of regulatory functions to include qualified business, government, and nonprofit enterprises operating within enterprise zones. Authorizes Federal agencies, upon request by a designating government, to waive or modify rules and regulations pertaining to the implementation of projects or activities within an enterprise zone. Requires agencies to approve the request if the resulting benefits of job creation, community development, or economic revitalization outweigh the public interest in retaining the rule unchanged. Disallows waiver or modification of a rule that would directly violate a statutory requirement or present a danger to the public health and safety. Title IV: Establishment of Foreign-Trade Zones in Enterprise Zones - Requires the Foreign-Trade Zone Board to consider on a priority basis and to expedite the processing of applications for the establishment of foreign-trade zones within enterprise zones. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to give priority to, and expedite applications for, the establishment of ports of entry necessary to establish such zones. Title V: Repeal of Title VII of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1987 - Repeals title VII (enterprise zone development) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1987.

Veterans Health Care Amendments Act of 1991

United States · United States Congress · 9 May 1991

Veterans' Health Care and Research Amendments of 1991 - Title I: Health-Care Benefits - Amends Federal veterans' benefits provisions to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to contract with non-Department of Veterans Affairs facilities for the treatment of any veteran who has a total and permanent service-connected disability. Authorizes the provision of dental care for a dental condition from which a veteran is suffering and when medically necessary in preparation for hospital admission or for a veteran otherwise receiving medical care and services. Increases from $500 to $1000 the annual per-person limitation on the provision of such dental care. Authorizes the Secretary to periodically review and adjust the yearly limit. Amends the Veterans' Health Care Amendments of 1986 to extend through FY 1992 an annual report requirement under such Act concerning the furnishing of non-service-connected health care to veterans. Increases certain authorized costs for home improvements and structural alterations furnished as part of necessary home health services available to disabled veterans. Extends through FY 1992 the authority for the operation of the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in the Philippines. Authorizes the Secretary to expand the current program of outreach and community-based residential care for homeless chronically mentally ill veterans by: (1) increasing the number of Department employees providing services; and (2) providing such services in at least four cities in which there is a significant unmet need for such assistance. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into agreements with public or nonprofit entities for the contractual provision of such services. Requires the agreeing entity to provide at least 25 percent of the cost of such services. Authorizes appropriations for both the current program and the program authorized by this provision. Allows such additional program to be carried out only if the amount appropriated for the FY 1992 medical care account of the Department is at least $100,000,000 greater than the amount requested in the President's budget for such account for such fiscal year. Title II: Health-Care Personnel - Provides the qualifications required for social workers employed by the Veterans Health Services and Research Administration of the Department. Requires a minimum two-year service requirement in the Department for graduates of the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Professional Scholarship Program. Authorizes the Secretary to purchase promotional items of nominal value for recruitment purposes. Title III: Administrative Provisions - Prohibits funds from being appropriated for any fiscal year, and prohibits the Secretary from obligating or expending funds, for any major medical project or major medical facility lease unless funds have been specifically authorized by law. Defines a "major medical facility lease" as a lease having an average annual rental amount of more than $300,000 (currently $500,000). Requires the Geriatrics and Gerontology Advisory Committee to submit to the Secretary such reports as considered appropriate (currently, only one report is required) on all appropriate matters of geriatrics and gerontology. Adds certain assessments to such report requirements. Directs the Secretary, in order to improve the quality of clinical care at Department health-care facilities, to carry out a pilot program for the conduct of medical research at Department medical centers in the areas of: (1) mental illness; (2) alcohol and substance abuse; or (3) neurological, psychiatric, and geriatric rehabilitation. Allows research under such program to be conducted only at a medical center at which its director has entered into an agreement with a medical school or other institution under which such institution agrees to provide partial funding or in-kind support for the proposed research. Requires the Secretary to solicit from Department employees proposals for research projects to be carried out under the program. Requires the FY 1992 medical and prosthetic research account of the Department to be increased by a specified amount before such research program may be conducted. Provides similar limitations for FY 1993 and 1994 research projects under the program. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1992 through 1994. Requires the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to prescribe standards of performance by Department medical facility laboratories with respect to laboratory examinations and other procedures. Requires an implementation report. Authorizes the Secretary, in certain instances, to acquire and use real property: (1) before title to such property is approved under Federal statutes; and (2) even though the property will be held in other than a fee simple interest, as long as the Secretary determines that the interest acquired is sufficient for its intended purpose. Extends from three to four years the period allowed for a Department research corporation to establish itself as a tax-exempt entity under the Internal Revenue Code in order to avoid dissolution. Extends through FY 1994 the authority of the Department to establish such corporations. Authorizes the Secretary to provide for the operation of child care centers at Department facilities if the Secretary determines, based on employee demand, that such operation is in the best interests of the Department and that it is practicable to do so. Requires priority to be given to employees of: (1) the Department; (2) other Federal departments and agencies; and (3) affiliated schools and corporations, in that order. Authorizes the Secretary to provide such services to members of the public if necessary to ensure the financial success of the center. Directs the Secretary to establish reasonable charges for the provision of child care services at each center, in a sum at least sufficient to meet all operating expenses. Outlines specified actions authorized to be taken by the Secretary in connection with the establishment and operation of such centers. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into agreements for the joint acquisition of medical equipment. Outlines conditions to such joint acquisition, including payment of no more than one half of the purchase price of such equipment by the Secretary, the exchange of use of such equipment between the joint holders, and provision by the institution involved of its share of the purchase price. Authorizes the Secretary to transfer to the other joint holder its interest in the equipment if the Secretary determines that such transfer would be justified by compelling clinical considerations or the economic interest of the Department. Authorizes the Secretary to purchase the interest of the joint holder of such equipment under similar conditions. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into escrow agreements with institutions to facilitate the procurement of medical equipment. Outlines escrow agreement requirements. Requires the Secretary to report on the implementation of such joint acquisition under these provisions. States that Department quality assurance activities shall be deemed to be part of the operation of hospitals, nursing homes, and domiciliary facilities of the Department, without regard to the location of the duty stations of employees carrying out such activities. Title IV: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment Act of 1991 - Directs the Secretary to implement the recommendations of the Chief Medical Director's Special Committee on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder with respect to specialized inpatient and outpatient programs of the Department for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Requires the Secretary, during FY 1992, to establish and operate: (1) not less than five new specialized inpatient PTSD units; (2) not less than ten new PTSD clinical treatment teams; and (3) not less than five outpatient programs for the treatment of veterans suffering from both PTSD and substance abuse problems. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1992 for such purposes. Directs the Secretary, in carrying out medical research and awarding grants, to designate a level of funding support for, and assign a priority to, the conduct of research on mental illness, including research regarding PTSD, PTSD in association with substance abuse, and the treatment of those disorders. Provides for the distribution of funds for such purposes. Requires the Secretary to provide an implementation report. Directs the Secretary to assess the needs for treatment and rehabilitative services of veterans believed to be suffering from PTSD. Requires the Secretary to develop a plan for providing such treatment and services, as well as for expanding and refining services available for the treatment of PTSD. Directs the Secretary to consult with the Special Committee in developing such plan and expansion and refining. Requires a report from the Secretary on the plan developed.

Transportation for Livable Communities Act of 1991

United States · United States Congress · 9 May 1991

Transportation for Livable Communities Act of 1991 - Title I: Planning - Bars the Secretary of Transportation from approving a program in whole or in part, or any project, unless the Secretary finds that the program conforms to and carries out plans and programs pursuant to this Act. Declares it to be in the national interest to encourage and promote the conservation and development of transportation systems embracing various modes of transportation in a manner that will serve the States and local communities efficiently and effectively. Directs the Secretary to cooperate with State and local officials in developing transportation plans and programs which, at a minimum: (1) utilize transportation system management and investment strategies designed to make the most efficient use of existing transportation facilities; (2) promote or reinforce land use patterns for residence and employment that enhance the attractiveness and feasibility of mass transportation; (3) demonstrate why alternative transportation modes or management strategies are not feasible substitutes to any proposed expansions of highway capacity; (4) incorporate actions to reduce energy consumption; (5) minimize physical or visual disruption of scenic landscapes, vistas, and historic areas; (6) conform to and complement local and State plans and programs concerning housing, community development, rural conservation, air and water quality, recreation, and historic preservation; (7) effectuate reductions in the demand in congested areas for motor vehicle travel and, particularly, for single passenger automobile travel; and (8) specify proposed transportation enhancement activities. Requires that the planning process consider all modes of transportation, account for reasonably anticipated funds, and be continuing, cooperative, and comprehensive. Bars the construction of any highway project in a metropolitan area unless the responsible public officials of the area in which the project is located have been consulted and their views considered with respect to the corridor, mode of transportation, and location and design of the project. Directs the Secretary to cooperate with each State in the development of transportation plans and programs which will serve the State and its local communities and rural areas effectively, accomplish social and economic development goals, conserve energy, preserve open space and scenic and historic resources, promote improvement of air and water quality, and encourage efficient land use patterns. Requires that: (1) such plans and programs be based on long-range needs and goals and meet specified requirements to achieve such goals; and (2) the State provide an opportunity for public comment and respond in reasonable detail to the comments received. Title II: Transportation Enhancement Activities - Defines "transportation enhancement activities" to include, with respect to a project and the area to be served by the project: scenic and historic landscape enhancement; demonstration projects to encourage excellence in the design, construction, rehabilitation, and use of transportation facilities; archeological planning and research; acquisition of scenic, recreational, and historic sites or areas; and control and removal of outdoor advertising. Includes transportation enhancement activities within the definition of highway. Authorizes the Secretary to approve related transportation enhancement activities under the highway bridge replacement and rehabilitation program. Specifies the Federal share of Federal-aid highway project costs that are attributable to transportation enhancement activities, with exceptions. Requires States to expend not less than eight percent of the amounts apportioned in any fiscal year to a State in any fiscal year under this Act on transportation enhancement activities. Title III: National Scenic and Historic Highway System - Establishes the National Scenic and Historic Highway System. Directs the Secretary, within one year, to establish criteria for designating National Scenic and Historic Highways, including: (1) consideration of the scenic beauty and historic significance of the highways or the highways' surroundings; (2) operation and management standards for the highways; (3) standards for signage for the highways; and (4) design review procedures for siting the highways and location of structures, landscaping, and travelers' facilities on or adjacent to the highways. Sets forth procedures by which States may nominate an exisitng or planned highway for inclusion in the National Scenic and Historic Highway System. Directs the Secretary to: (1) conduct an inventory of Federal lands highways and designate appropriate highways for inclusion in such System; and (2) withdraw the designation of a highway, other than a Federal lands highway, upon the request of a State or upon determinining that the highway does not meet criteria established pursuant to this Act. Authorizes the Secretary to approve projects for the purpose of identifying, designating, and operating National Scenic and Historic Highways, but bars projects for the grading, construction, repair, or rehabilitation of a highway roadbed. Limits the Federal share to 95 percent of the cost of such projects. Directs the Secretary to set aside $25,000,000 to carry out such purpose for FY 1992 through 1996. Title IV: Control of Outdoor Advertising - Authorizes (current law requires) reduction of Federal highway funds by up to five (currently, equal to ten) percent of apportioned funds for States that have not made provision for effective control of outdoor signs, displays, or devices (advertising) along Federal-aid highways. Requires, as part of effective control, that: (1) each State maintain an annual inventory of such advertising, identify such advertising as illegal, nonconforming, or conforming under State law, and assure that any prohibited advertising shall be removed; and (2) no State allow or undertake any vegetation removal or other alteration of the highway right-of-way to improve visibility of such advertising or permit modification of nonconforming advertising to improve its visibility or prolong its useful life. Prohibits any new advertising from being erected under Federal highway provisions after October 1, 1991, and treats advertising erected between such date and the effective date of this Act as nonconforming. Sets forth provisions with respect to the removal and acquisition of advertising and Federal participation in costs incurred by the State for such removal. Bars outdoor advertising by Federal agencies on public lands (excluding Indian lands and reservations) that fails to conform to regulations issued by the Federal agency with jurisdiction over, or responsibility for, such land. Requires such regulations to be at least as stringent as the requirements of the State in which the land is located.

To restore reductions in veterans benefits made by the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990.

United States · United States Congress · 9 May 1991

Repeals a Federal provision prohibiting the payment of any disability compensation to an incompetent veteran having neither spouse, child, nor dependent parent until the value of such veteran's estate is reduced to less than $10,000. Presumes a veteran to be permanently and totally disabled if such person is 65 years of age or older or becomes unemployable after age 65. Restores the full permitted monthly pension (currently limited to $90) for veterans having neither spouse nor child and receiving Medicaid-covered nursing home care. Provides that the remarriage of a surviving spouse of a veteran shall not eliminate the right of such former spouse to survivors' benefits if the remarriage is terminated or dissolved by a divorce court unless the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines that the divorce was secured through fraud or collusion by the surviving spouse. Provides the same restoration of survivors' benefits eligibility for a veteran's child who marries when such marriage is later terminated or properly dissolved without fraud or collusion. Repeals a Federal provision requiring a minimum copayment for medication received for a non-service connected disability by a veteran with a service-connected disability rated at less than 50 percent. Authorizes the Secretary, to the extent that resources and facilities are available, to furnish hospital and nursing home care needed by a veteran for a non-service-connected disability if the veteran's income falls below a prescribed level. Authorizes the Secretary to furnish such care for a non-service connected disability to a veteran who is not otherwise eligible for such care if the veteran agrees to pay a minimum amount for such care. Provides that a veteran may not be required to make a payment for outpatient services furnished during any 90-day period to the extent that such payment would cause the total amount paid by the veteran for outpatient medical services to exceed the amount of the inpatient Medicare deductible in effect on the first day of such 90-day period. Revises the income thresholds used to determine whether a veteran is required to make payments for services when such veteran is not otherwise eligible for such services. Entitles all veterans with a service-connected disability (currently, only those veterans with a service-connected disability rated at 20 percent or more) to the basic veterans' educational assistance entitlement. Repeals a Federal provision requiring a specified percentage increase in the veterans' housing loan fee for loans closed between November 1, 1990, and September 30, 1991. Authorizes the Secretary, in lieu of furnishing a headstone or grave marker, to reimburse a person for the cost of acquiring a non-Government headstone or marker for placement in any cemetery other than a national cemetery in connection with the burial of a deceased veteran. Restores the plot allowance for veterans buried in a cemetery other than a national cemetery. (Currently, veterans whose eligibility for benefits is based on being a veteran of any war may not receive such plot allowance if they choose not to be buried in a national cemetery.)

Freedom From Want Act

United States · United States Congress · 8 May 1991

Freedom from Want Act - Title I: Domestic Assistance Programs - Part A: Nutrition, Education, and Health Care - Expresses the sense of the Congress that it should make a commitment to increasing participation in the special supplemental food program for women, infants, and children (the WIC program) by 20 percent in each of FY 1992 through 1996, so that the goal of full participation may be reached by the end of FY 1996. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Head Start Act should be fully funded so that the goal of participation of all eligible three- and four-year-old children in Head Start programs can be achieved by FY 1994. Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to increase the reimbursement provided by the Department of Agriculture for congregate and home-delivered meals for older Americans to 65.66 cents in FY 1992, with adjustments for inflation in FY 1993 and 1994. Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to undertake a Children's Vaccine Initiative, for research, development, testing, and evaluation of children's vaccines, and for assisting in delivery of such vaccines in the United States and throughout the world. Directs the Secretary of HHS to consult with the World Health Organization and the United Nation's Children's Fund in organizing such Initiative. Requires the Director of the National Vaccine Program to plan and coordinate such Initiative, and ensure that the Public Health Service conducts activities under the Initiative in collaboration with nongovernment institutions and other Federal agencies. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to ensure that rules issued under the Federal Meat Inspection Act that impose labeling standards for any meat or meat food product sold or offered for sale in commerce also impose equivalent labeling standards for meat or meat food products distributed by the Department of Agriculture through domestic commodity food assistance programs. Part B: Individual Development Account Demonstration - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a deduction for payments (other than certain assistance from an organization of a demonstration project under this part) made by or on behalf of eligible individuals to an individual development account (IDA) to accumulate funds to pay the following qualified expenses: (1) postsecondary education expenses; (2) first-home purchase; (3) business capitalization; (4) retirement expenses; and (5) transfers to an IDA of the individual's spouse or dependent. Sets forth requirements relating to such IDAs. Establishes five-year IDA demonstration projects to determine: (1) the social, psychological, and economic effects of providing to individuals with limited means an opportunity to accumulate assets; and (2) the extent to which an asset-based welfare policy may be used to enable individuals with low income to achieve economic self-sufficiency. Allows any organization to apply to the Secretary of the Treasury for grants to conduct such a project. Requires each organization authorized to conduct such a project to establish a Reserve Fund drawn from investments, public and private funds, and IDA penalty amounts. Requires the organization to use Reserve Fund amounts to: (1) assist project participants in obtaining skills and information to achieve economic self-sufficiency through activities requiring IDA qualified expenses; (2) provide financial assistance to the IDAs of individuals selected by the organization to participate in the project; (3) administer the project; and (4) provide the organization evaluating the project with necessary information. Directs the organization to invest Reserve Fund amounts that are not immediately needed to carry out such project fund uses. Limits the administrative expenses. Requires that unused Federal grant funds be transferred to the Secretary when the project terminates. Makes eligible for IDA demonstration project assistance any individual who is a member of a household with: (1) a household income for the immediately preceding calendar year of not more th an 200 percent of the poverty threshold; and (2) a household net worth, as of the close of such year, of not more than $20,000. Directs the project organization to select individuals whom the organization deems suited to receive such assistance. Sets forth a table for organization contributions to an individual's IDA, based on: (1) the individual income for the applicable period, as a percentage of the poverty threshold; and (2) matched with the lesser of either a specified percentage of the qualified savings of the individual for the period, or a specified dollar amount. Provides for a greater organization contribution for individuals with lower incomes. Requires local control over demonstration projects by giving the organization sole authority over project administration, and allowing the Secretary of the Treasury to prescribe only regulations that are necessary to ensure compliance with approved applications and this Act. Requires each project organization to prepare ten semiannual progress reports for an oversight panel, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Treasurer (or equivalent official) of the State in which the project is conducted. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to establish an oversight panel for such demonstration projects. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to revoke the original authorization for a demonstration project upon receipt of a notice that the project has failed to implement the oversight panel's recommendations. Sets forth required revocation actions and procedures. Requires the oversight panel to enter into a contract with an independent research organization to evaluate the IDA demonstration projects, individually and as a group, addressing specified questions. Authorizes appropriations for IDA demonstration projects. Requires that funds in the IDAs of demonstration project participants to be disregarded for purposes of all means-tested Federal programs. Part C: Microenterprise Programs - Amends the Social Security Act to include microenterprise training programs under the JOBS program under provisions for aid to families with dependent children (AFDC). Requires adjustment of performance standards for microenterprises to take account of the time required for their establishment. Provides for limited exclusions of microenterprise resources and income under the AFDC program. Defines a microenterprise as a commercial enterprise which has five or fewer employees, one or more of whom owns the enterprise; and (2) none of the owners of which has income exceeding 200 percent of the poverty threshold. Authorizes States to waive Federal AFDC requirements with respect to participants in State-approved microenterpise programs. Provides that participation in such State-approved microenterprise programs shall not affect the participants' means-tested Federal benefits. Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to make microenterprises eligible for rural development loans and grants. Expresses the sense of the Congress that one percent of funds for specified types of rural development assistance should be reserved for certain purposes relating to microenterprises. Amends the Housing and Community Development Act to make microenterprises eligible for assistance under community development block grants. Provides that certain assisted activities relating to microenterprises shall be considered to benefit persons of low and moderate income. Expresses the sense of the Congress that each grantee under the community development block grant program should reserve one percent of any grant received to provide assistance to facilitate commercial economic development through microenterprises. Amends the Small Business Act to express the sense of the Congress that: (1) one percent of specified funds for small business loans should be reserved for specified purposes relating to microenterprises; and (2) the Small Business Administrator should take such other necessary actions to maximize participation by microenterprises in programs under such Act and the Small Business Investment Act of 1958. Provides for small business loans for microenterprises. Amends the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) to authorize the use of funds for training activities with respect to microenterprises. Directs the State Governor to adjust performance standards relating to microenterprises to reflect the time required to establish and develop a stable income from such an enterprise as participants seek to achieve economic self-sufficiency. Provides for JTPA microenterprise grants. Directs the Secretary of Labor, from specified funds for FY 1992 through 1996, to make grants in limited amounts to not more than ten States per year to implement and enhance community-based microenterprise activities. Requires State matching funds and annual reports. Authorizes appropriations for such microenterprise grants. Part D: Increasing the Food Purchasing Power of Low-Income Households - Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to make grants to up to 20 nonprofit community-based organizations to carry out food retailing development projects to: (1) increase the access of individuals residing in communities underserved by supermarkets to more affordable and quality food; and (2) strengthen the operation of existing food retail stores in underserved communities by providing such stores with services that lower costs, improve management, and increase the quality and nutritional value of food inventories. Sets forth priorities in selecting grantees. Sets forth requirements for grant expenditures. Authorizes appropriations for such food retailing development program. Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to make grants to up to ten eligible entities to carry out a food stamp and producer direct marketing demonstration project to: (1) increase retail marketing opportunities for local agricultural producers through farmers markets, roadside stands, and other means; (2) increase the access to and consumption of fresh, perishable agricultural commodities by low-income individuals; (3) identify and implement successful strategies to increase the number of agricultural producers certified to redeem food stamp coupons in exchange for commodities sold directly to coupon recipients; and (4) increase the number of food stamp recipients who use such coupons to purchase such commodities from agricultural producers. Sets forth requirements for grant expenditures. Defines an eligible entity as a community-based organization with strong ties to both the farming community and to an anti-hunger organization. Authorizes appropriations for such food stamp and producer direct marketing demonstration program. Amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to revise WIC farmers' market demonstration programs. Increases from ten to 20 the number of States allowed to provide WIC participants with coupons to purchase fresh fruit and vegetables from farmers markets. Sets forth requirements for program reports and review. Authorizes appropriations. Part E: Assessing Food Security within Communities - Amends the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 to provide for regional centers for community food security. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture, through the Federal Extension Service, to make competitive grants to seven land grant colleges and universities to establish seven regional centers for community food security, with one of them designated to serve as a coordinating center. Sets forth requirements for selection of recipients, use of grants, prohibited uses, term of grants, performance evaluations, and annual reports. Defines food security as the ability of all people at all times to purchase or receive from usual food sources enough nutritionally adequate food for an active and healthy life. Part F: Findings Regarding Communities Making the Transition to Hunger-Free Status - Expresses the sense of the Congress regarding criteria for communities making the transition to food secure status. Part G: Infant Mortality Reduction - Subpart 1: Low Birthweight and Infant Mortality - Establishes within the Department of Health and Human Services a program to make grants to States, municipalities, and nonprofit organizations to establish demonstration projects to reduce infant mortality by reducing the incidence of low birthweight births in high-risk communities. Sets forth grant application requirements and preferences in awards. Directs the Secretary of HHS to: (1) establish an Infant Mortality Advisory Panel; and (2) evaluate such projects and provide technical assistance to grantees. Requires annual reports from grantees. Limits project duration to three years. Authorizes appropriations. Subpart 2: Breast Feeding and Infant Morbidity and Mortality Study - Directs the Secretary of HHS to establish a program to award grants to conduct studies of the impact of breastfeeding on infant mortality and morbidity in certain high-risk populations. Authorizes appropriations for each fiscal year for conducting such study. Part H: Amendments to the Food Stamp Act of 1977 - Mickey Leland Childhood Hunger Relief Act - Subpart 1: General Provisions - Sets forth general provisions. Subpart 2: Ensuring Adequate Food Assistance - Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to remove the excess shelter deduction cap for purposes of food stamp program (program) eligibility. (Sets forth transitional caps through FY 1995.) Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to adjust the basic benefit level upwards by specified increments at the beginning of each fiscal year until it reaches 105 percent of the cost of the thrifty food plan. Eliminates food stamp reductions for households reapplying for program reinstatement within 30 days. Excludes third party payments for transitional housing for the homeless from consideration as program income. Increases funding for the nutrition assistance program in Puerto Rico. Excludes general assistance vendor payments from consideration as program income. Subpart 3: Promoting Self-Sufficiency - Excludes from consideration as program income: (1) the first $50 a month received as child support; and (2) child support payments to non-household members. Increases annually the fair market value limit of vehicles that program recipients may own. Excludes from financial resources the value of a vehicle a household depends upon to carry heating fuel or water for home use where it has no other access to fuel or water. Increases dependent care deductions and participant and State agency reimbursements in connection with employment and training activities. Subpart 4: Simplifying the Provision of Food Assistance - Permits related adults living in the same household to apply for separate program benefits under specified conditions. Permits a participating family made up of, or including, an elderly or disabled member to own $300 in allowable financial resources. (Current law refers to a family member 60 years of age or older.) Makes program authorization of appropriations permanent. Subpart 5: Implementation and Effective Dates - Sets forth the effective dates for provisions of this Act. Title II: International Programs - Part A: Food as a Human Right - Declares that the United States should: (1) make a major effort toward strengthening the right to food in international law; and (2) propose to the United Nations General Assembly that a Declaration and Convention on the Right to Food be adopted and submitted to countries for ratification. Prohibits the provision of development assistance under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the provision or financing of agricultural commodities under the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 for countries that engage in a consistent pattern of violations of internationally recognized rights to food and medical care. Requires the United States to: (1) make a major effort toward reforming and restructuring the United Nations mechanism for responding to international disasters and humanitarian emergencies; and (2) evaluate the role of the United Nations Disaster Relief Organization and develop a proposal for strengthening the United Nations response to such emergencies. Part B: Democratic Empowerment - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize the President, acting through the administrator of the agency responsible for administering development assistance (administering agency), to provide assistance for eligible emerging democracies. Defines an "eligible emerging democracy" as a least developed country that is making a transition from an undemocratic to a democratic system of government. Lists authorized assistance as development and relief and rehabilitation assistance and assistance for child survival, maternal health, basic nutrition, and basic education. Waives provisions of law that prohibit or restrict assistance to countries in arrears or default on loan or credit payments owed to the United States with respect to assistance for eligible emerging democracies. Establishes a Fund for Democratic Empowerment to carry out such assistance program. Authorizes appropriations. Part C: Children - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1992 and 1993 for U.S. contributions to the United Nations Children's Fund. Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize appropriations for the Child Survival Fund for FY 1992 and 1993. Earmarks amounts of foreign assistance for activities that deal directly with the special health needs of children and mothers. Requires the President, with respect to the provision of development assistance, to promote and undertake activities relating to research on, and the treatment and control of, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in developing countries. Designates such assistance as the International AIDS Prevention and Control Program. Earmarks amounts of development assistance for FY 1992 and 1993 for the Vitamin A Deficiency Program and programs to eliminate iodine deficiency. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the United States should join in a comprehensive initiative to reduce micronutrient deficiencies from iron, as well as leading in the elimination of vitamin A and iodine deficiency. Earmarks foreign assistance for basic education programs. Directs the President to report annually to the Congress on U.S. contributions to the goals and strategies of the World Declaration on the Survival, Protection and Development of Children; the Plan of Action for Implementing the Declaration; the World Declaration on Education for All; and the Framework for Action to Meet Basic Learning Needs. Part D: Women in Development - Removes a limitation on, and earmarks an amount of, assistance to promote the participation and integration of women in the development process in developing countries. Requires specified amounts of such assistance to be used to support the integration of women into programs of the administering agency and to support needs of such agency in administering the women in development policy. Part E: Refugees - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1992 and 1993 for migration and refugee assistance, with earmarked funds for programs of refugee assistance overseas. Expresses the sense of the Congress that other international donors should join with the United States in ensuring that refugee relief and rehabilitation efforts are adequately funded and supported. Part F: Agriculture and the Environment - Requires agricultural development programs supported by the United States under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and in the multilateral development banks and International Monetary Fund (IMF) to incorporate principles of environmental sustainability. Directs the Administrator of the Agency for International Development (AID) to establish specified environmental sustainability guidelines and standards to be applied to all agricultural development programs supported under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, bilateral agricultural projects, and, where appropriate, environmental projects supported under such Act. Requires the U.S. executive directors of the multilateral development banks and the IMF to seek the adoption of requirements comparable to such standards by their respective institutions. Declares that AID should make a long-term commitment to research the ecological and socioeconomic components of sustainable agricultural development. Provides that research topics should include: (1) how traditional systems of agriculture respond to local ecological conditions and how such responses can be incorporated in agricultural development that aims to increase yields without degrading long-term productive potential or the ability to withstand ecological pressures; (2) the role of subsistence agriculture in meeting the nutritional needs of rural populations and the improvement of subsistence food production; and (3) the improvement of crops which comprise a substantial part of the diet of the poorest part of the population. Declares that the United States should encourage the Consultative Group on International Agriculture to incorporate such topics into its research priorities and to promote the application of research findings into project design and implementation. States that AID should increase its support for agricultural research institutions that have demonstrated a capacity to contribute to sustainable agricultural development. Directs the AID Administrator to report to the Congress on AID programs directed toward sustainability as a basis for agricultural assistance efforts. Part G: World Bank and International Monetary Fund - Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Secretary of the Treasury should instruct the U.S. executive directors of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank), the International Development Association (Association), and the IMF to seek the establishment by their institutions of programs and policies to assist in the realization of the right to food. Amends the International Financial Institutions Act to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct: (1) the U.S. executive director of the Association to advocate, in the context of the Association's tenth replenishment, that at least 50 percent of the Association's loans go to countries that have developed a national development and poverty alleviation strategy; and (2) the U.S. executive directors of the World Bank and the IMF to urge such institutions to develop Policy Framework Papers (including sections on environmental goals) for borrowing countries. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the World Bank and the Association should: (1) give greater programmatic and budgetary priority to child survival and development; and (2) commit to devoting at least five percent of the annual lending programs to primary health and five percent to basic education. Directs the Secretary to instruct the U.S. executive directors of the World Bank and the Association to urge such institutions to: (1) promote environmental sustainability as a guiding principle in agricultural development projects; (2) emphasize food-based policies in agriculture by increasing funding for research focusing on improving foods which comprise a substantial portion of the diet of poor people; and (3) ensure that such projects target and integrate women. Amends the Bretton Woods Agreements Act to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. executive director of the IMF to urge the IMF to ensure that IMF programs are designed to avoid any deterioration in the provision of social services for basic human needs and to maintain sustainable use of the environment. Part H: Debt Relief - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize the President to make certain debt relief authorities concerning relatively least developed countries with respect to which an IMF standby agreement or a World Bank or Association structural adjustment program or similar IMF program is in effect applicable to least developed countries pursuing specified national economic policy reforms, even if such an arrangement is not in effect. Part I: Private and Voluntary Organizations - Increases the amount of funding for private and voluntary organizations under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.

Recycling Building Code Act of 1991

United States · United States Congress · 7 May 1991

Recycling Building Code Act of 1991 - Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to develop model construction standards providing suitable space for the separation, collection, and temporary storage of material for recycling in new building construction and major renovation of multifamily and commercial developments. Directs the Administrator to ensure that organizations responsible for developing national model building codes and authorities which regulate building construction within States or political subdivisions adopt such standards. Requires Federal agencies to assure that the construction of new Federal buildings or buildings built with Federal assistance meet or exceed the requirements of the recycling standards. Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to assure that any newly constructed public housing units meet or exceed such requirements.

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the determination of eligible basis in difficult development areas for the low-income housing credit.

United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1991

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify the determination of eligible basis in difficult development areas for the low-income housing credit by taking into account the adjusted basis of the real property upon which buildings are located.

Heinz Elder Life Program Act

United States · United States Congress · 25 April 1991

Heinz Elder Life Program Act - Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to modify the definition of "information and referral" to include services for older individuals that: (1) assess their problems and capacities; (2) link older individuals to available opportunities and needed services; and (3) benefit the entire older community. Elevates the status of the Commissioner on Aging to Assistant Secretary. Directs the Assistant Secretary to establish a Commission to study existing reporting requirements and related programs and make legislative and regulatory recommendations to achieve specified objectives. Includes as functions of the Assistant Secretary the: (1) establishment of information and assistance services as priority services for the aged and aging; and (2) development of guidelines for choosing legal assistance providers and developers. Requires area agencies on aging: (1) to establish an informal grievance procedure for older individuals who are dissatisfied with, or denied, services with further appeal to the appropriate area agency on aging; and (2) in providing legal assistance, to give priority to legal problems related to income, health care, long-term care, nutrition, housing and utilities, defense of guardianship, abuse and neglect, and age discrimination. Requires State plans to also provide priority legal assistance in such areas. Requires technical assistance and training to State long-term care ombudsman programs to include assistance in recruiting and retaining volunteers for ombudsman programs by establishing a national program for recruitment efforts. Requires State agencies on aging to encourage adoption of memoranda of understanding between legal assistance providers and long-term care ombudsman providers that will ensure that the providers will coordinate services to the greatest extent possible. Requires the program for the prevention of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of older individuals to require that State agencies make all reasonable efforts to resolve any conflicts with other public agencies with respect to the confidentiality of information in complaints and other reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of older individuals by entering into memoranda of understanding that limit information disclosure according to current guidelines. Establishes a program to provide transportation services to older individuals. Authorizes appropriations. Makes legal assistance agencies eligible to participate in demonstration projects for developmental disabilities and mental illness established under the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act and under the Protection and Advocacy for Mentally Ill Individuals Act of 1986. Reauthorizes and extends such demonstration projects through FY 1993. Adds a new section to provide for demonstration projects to determine the feasibility of using the aging network as the infrastructure for a comprehensive long-term care system. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Assistant Secretary to establish a program of grants to State agencies to support and assist older individuals by providing legal assistance in areas such as living wills, durable powers of attorney, and other life planning areas. Authorizes appropriations.

Fire Safety Enhancement Act of 1991

United States · United States Congress · 25 April 1991

Fire Safety Enhancement Act of 1991 - Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to require the installation of smoke detectors in all residential units financed or assisted by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the determination of eligible basis in difficult development areas for the low-income housing credit.

United States · United States Congress · 25 April 1991

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify the determination of eligible basis in difficult development areas for the low-income housing credit by taking into account the adjusted bases of the real property upon which buildings are located.

Fair Access to Housing Act of 1991

United States · United States Congress · 25 April 1991

Fair Access to Housing Act of 1991 - Amends the National Housing Act, the Federal National Mortgage Association Charter Act, and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Act to prohibit property location discrimination in secondary mortgage market operations.

A bill to modify the Qualified Thrift Lender Test, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 25 April 1991

Amends the Home Owner's Loan Act with respect to the qualified thrift lender test to: (1) reduce the required percentage of a thrift's housing related assets; and (2) include as qualified thrift investments domestic residential real estate loans and loans held by savings associations made to purchase any Resolution Trust Corporation asset.

International Cooperation Act of 1991

United States · United States Congress · 25 April 1991

International Cooperation Act of 1991 - Title I: Statement of Policy; Economic Assistance Programs - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to revise policy provisions. Declares that it should be U.S. policy that the financial, material, and human resources authorized by this Act should serve the following goals: (1) to promote and consolidate democratic values, market principles, and peace; (2) to protect against transnational threats; and (3) to meet humanitarian needs. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the United States should: (1) concentrate development assistance in countries which will make the most effective use of such assistance; (2) focus development assistance on activities which the United States can provide most effectively and which meet the particular economic assistance requirements of a country; and (3) not provide assistance if the relevant sector or economic policies of a country are unfavorable to the sustainability or impact of the assisted project. Authorizes the President to provide development assistance to support economic growth and democratic development and to address humanitarian needs and global problems. Authorizes appropriations for development assistance for FY 1992. Permits the President to use development assistance funds for: (1) capital and infrastructure assistance; (2) development education programs to educate U.S. citizens about developing countries; and (3) assistance to nongovernmental organizations to strengthen their capacity to carry out programs for the economic and social development of developing countries. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the well-being of countries is affected by how the world's environment and physical resource base are managed and that consumption patterns, systems of industrial and agricultural production, and the use of natural resources have an impact on long-term development and growth and survival of all countries; (2) environmentally responsible management of physical resources is necessary by countries to insure their availability for future generations and to assure that the burdens of improved resource management do not fall disproportionately on the poor; and (3) economic assistance programs should assist countries in carrying out programs and policies that promote environmentally sound economic development. Declares that recipient countries should bear a share of the costs of development assistance programs under this Act. Prohibits economic assistance from being used for military or paramilitary purposes or for the purchase of Stingers and mules to transport them. Exempts from such prohibition assistance involving the participation of military personnel in training activities and conferences. Authorizes the President to: (1) make investments in, loans for, and guarantees assuring against losses incurred in, projects in developing countries that meet specified private sector criteria; and (2) make loans (currently, issue guarantees against losses incurred in connection with loans) for housing and urban projects. Revises provisions concerning the housing and urban development guarantee program. Prohibits assistance for such projects if the credit subsidy associated with the borrower would exceed 25 percent. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the President to furnish assistance to countries and organizations to strengthen administration of justice in developing countries and emerging democracies. Permits the President to provide such assistance if a country: (1) has recently emerged or is in the process of emerging as a democracy; or (2) has recently emerged or is emerging from civil strife and has a democratically elected government or is making substantial progress toward a democratic form of government. Authorizes appropriations. Revises provisions concerning international narcotics control. Permits funds for economic support assistance, foreign military financing, or international military education and training to be transferred and consolidated with funds for international narcotics control if: (1) such assistance is withheld from the country for which it was allocated because of laws that require the withholding of assistance from countries that have not cooperated with the United States or taken steps to halt illicit drug production and trafficking; and (2) such funds are used for assistance to countries that have taken significant steps to halt illicit drug production or trafficking. Makes provisions of law that prohibit assistance to countries in default on obligations owed to the United States inapplicable with respect to narcotics-related assistance. Revises congressional reporting requirements with respect to international narcotics production and trafficking. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1992 for such assistance. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1992 for American schools, libraries, and hospital centers abroad. Permits the President to use funds available under this title for grants to, or contracts with, nongovernmental organizations to enable such organizations to: (1) purchase debt obligations owed by developing countries to commercial lending institutions, foreign governments, or other parties; and (2) cancel such obligations subject to the President's approval, to the extent that such country makes available assets or policy commitments to promote the goals of this Act. Authorizes grantees or contractees to retain interest earned on the proceeds of debt-for-development or debt-for-environment purchases or exchanges pending the disbursement of such proceeds and interest for the purposes for which assistance was provided. Authorizes Federal agencies to: (1) furnish services and commodities on an advance-of-funds or reimbursement basis to friendly countries, international organizations, and nongovernmental organizations; and (2) contract with individuals for personal services abroad or in the United States to perform such services in lieu of Federal employees. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1992 for international disaster assistance. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1992 for grants to international organizations. Permits the President to withhold contributions from an organization if such organization is denying Israel or other designated countries the right to participate in such organization's activities. Withholds contributions from Libya, Iran, Cuba, and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). Authorizes the withholding of contributions from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East unless the Agency assures that no U.S. contribution is used to assist any refugee who: (1) is receiving military training as a member of the PLO or any other guerrilla organization; or (2) has engaged in any act of terrorism. Declares that the President should (currently, requires) seek evaluation and auditing of programs of the United Nations, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the International Development Association, the International Finance Corporation, the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, the Inter-American Development Bank, the Inter-American Investment Corporation, the African Development Bank, the African Development Fund, the Asian Development Fund, and the Asian Development Bank. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1992 for operating expenses of the agency (administering agency) designated by the President to administer this title and of the Office of Inspector General of such agency. Permits such agency to expend funds in advance of appropriations to maintain operations at posts abroad for up to three days. Declares that the President should establish a program performance evaluation capacity to: (1) develop a program performance information system to afford such agency's managers a means for monitoring achievement of impact and interim performance of the agency's major programs; (2) prepare and disseminate reports on the agency's progress in meeting development objectives for major assistance categories and recipient countries; (3) strengthen the implementation of foreign assistance projects; and (4) coordinate with the Inspector General of such agency to ensure complementarity of efforts. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the sustained participation of U.S. private voluntary organizations, cooperatives, and credit unions that are engaged in development activities serves as an important means of improving the lives of the poor in developing countries; (2) sustained participation of U.S. colleges and universities in the economic development programs of developing countries is vital to such countries' achievement of economic growth and open democratic political systems; and (3) such sustained participation would be enhanced by providing such organizations the opportunity to participate in the planning, development, and implementation of programs involving such organizations. Encourages the President to establish a partnership with such organizations to achieve the attainment of goals concerning development assistance. Title II: Military Assistance and Related Assistance and Sales Programs - Chapter 1: Consolidation and Revision of Accounts - Revises policy provisions concerning military assistance. Revises the President's authority to furnish military assistance to friendly countries to permit the President to: (1) finance the sale of defense articles or services; or (2) finance the procurement of such articles (under certain circumstances) by any member country of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) or any major non-NATO ally through leases from U.S. commercial suppliers. Requires sales under the Defense Trade and Export Control Act (formerly, the Arms Export Control Act) which are wholly paid from funds made available on a grant basis under this Act or were transferred or made available under former authorities prior to this Act's enactment to be priced to exclude the costs of salaries of members of the U.S. armed forces (other than members of the Coast Guard) and unfunded estimated costs of civilian retirement and other benefits. Permits the financing of the procurement of defense articles and services not sold by the U.S. Government only if the country or international organization proposing to make such procurement has signed an agreement with the United States specifying the conditions under which the procurement may be financed. Requires such agreements to grant the U.S. Government the right to deobligate any furnished funds that have not been committed for an approved use three years after the effective date of such an agreement. Authorizes assistance provided under this chapter to be on a grant, credit, or guarantee basis. Outlines criteria to be considered by the President in determining the terms of assistance. Outlines disbursement procedures for funds used to finance the procurement of defense articles and services. Makes such assistance available to a foreign country to make payments to the United States for credits or loans for defense articles or services granted under predecessor military sales or foreign assistance legislation. Revises provisions concerning eligibility for the receipt of defense articles or services and makes them applicable to the financing of such articles or services. Makes defense articles sold or leased under the Defense Trade and Export Control Act or furnished under predecessor foreign assistance or military sales legislation subject to the eligibility provisions of this title. Raises the ceiling on the value of defense articles and services authorized to be made available under certain emergencies. Revises and combines provisions concerning transfers of excess defense articles. Authorizes the transfer of: (1) excess defense articles (currently, nonlethal articles) to countries for which a foreign military financing program was justified in the fiscal year in which the transfer is authorized; and (2) excess property of the Coast Guard on the same basis as Department of Defense property is transferred. Declares that decisions to furnish foreign military financing assistance should take into account whether such assistance will: (1) contribute to an arms race; (2) increase the possibility of outbreak or escalation of conflict; or (3) prejudice the development of multilateral arms control arrangements. Permits such assistance to be provided for civic action in Africa. Authorizes appropriations for such assistance for FY 1992. Revises provisions concerning the location of stockpiles. Places a ceiling on the value of additions to stockpiles during FY 1992. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1992 for: (1) international military education and training; and (2) peacekeeping activities. Removes conditions on the type of arms on the U.S. Munitions List that may be provided for antiterrorism assistance. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1992 for antiterrorism assistance. Makes technical and conforming amendments to the Arms Export Control Act. Revises a provision regarding the Guaranty Reserve Fund and redesignates the Fund as the Foreign Military Loan Liquidating Account. Repeals a provision concerning the availability of funds for procurement of defense articles and services outside the United States. Permits the President to waive requirements under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 concerning the disposition of defense articles and services furnished before the effective date of this title. Chapter 2: Foreign Military Sales Program - Amends the Arms Export Control Act to rename such Act as the Defense Trade and Export Control Act. Repeals a provision concerning purposes for military sales or leases. Deems references to the Arms Export Control Act to be references to the Defense Trade and Export Control Act. Authorizes the President, by notifying the Congress, to designate a country as a major non-NATO ally or terminate such a designation. Deems Australia, Egypt, Israel, Japan, and the Republic of Korea to have been so designated by the President. Revises provisions concerning presidential certifications and congressional procedures for certain arms transfers. Raises the threshold on the dollar amount of defense equipment or services on which the President is required to submit specified certifications. Deems to be defense articles or services (for purposes of import and export controls) articles or services having military or intelligence applications. Requires articles and services that have gained a predominant civil application to be removed from the U.S. Munitions List. Disqualifies for financing under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 for 12 months any contracts of a person convicted or debarred for a violation of international traffic in arms regulations under the Defense Trade and Export Control Act. Authorizes the President to impose controls to prevent the proliferation of nuclear-capable missiles and chemical, biological, and related weapons. Permits charges for defense articles sold or licensed or approved for export after September 30, 1991, to exclude nonrecurring costs of research on or development or production of such articles. Replaces the authorities of specified Federal officials under the Defense Trade and Export Control Act with the authority of the President. Repeals an exemption to a prohibition on the resale of military firearms furnished to foreign governments. Repeals provisions concerning: (1) reports and price availability estimates; (2) discrimination; (3) restraint in arms sales to Subsaharan Africa; (4) foreign military sales credit standards; (5) foreign military sales to less developed countries; and (6) the crediting of registration fees. Title III: Overseas Private Investment Corporation; Trade and Development Agency - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to revise provisions concerning the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC). Limits the amount of OPIC's equity investments under a pilot program to 49 percent per project for projects in Eastern Europe. Directs OPIC to give preferential consideration in its investment insurance, reinsurance, and guarantee activities to investment projects sponsored by or involving U.S. small business or cooperatives. Permits OPIC to establish a revolving fund to be available solely for a pilot equity finance program. Authorizes (currently, requires) OPIC to charge fees for any service performed under this title. Provides for annual (currently, triennial) financial audits of OPIC. Authorizes the Inspector General of the administering agency (currently, the Agency for International Development) to conduct audits, investigations, and security activities with respect to OPIC. Eliminates OPIC's exemption from Federal taxation. Revises the authorities of the Director of the Trade and Development Agency (replaces the Trade and Development Program). Requires the Agency to disseminate information about its activities to the private sector. Sets forth the duties of the Inspector General of the administering agency with respect to the Agency. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1992. Title IV: Special Authorities, Restrictions on Assistance, and Reports - Revises provisions concerning special authorities of the President with respect to the furnishing of assistance and arms export sales, credits, and guaranties. Raises the ceilings on the amount of arms sales or leases, foreign assistance, and foreign currencies authorized to be furnished or used under the President's special authority to waive restrictions on assistance. Raises the ceilings on the amounts of such assistance that may be provided to any one country. Exempts from such limitation assistance for countries that are the victims of active (currently, Communist or Communist-supported) aggression. Authorizes the President to use funds (other than funds for foreign military financing or international military education and training) under this Act for unanticipated contingencies. Places an annual ceiling on such assistance. Prohibits such assistance from being used for gifts to foreign officials. Makes specified amounts of economic support and foreign military financing assistance available for emergency use to promote economic, political, or military stability. Authorizes the President to adopt as a U.S. contract or obligation any contract with a U.S. or third-country contractor that had been funded with assistance prior to the termination of such assistance. Applies assistance termination provisions to any provision of law concerning such terminations. Revises provisions concerning prohibitions on assistance. Adds to the list of restrictions prohibitions on assistance for: (1) a country whose government engages in a consistent pattern of human rights violations; (2) a country whose elected head of government is deposed by a military coup; and (3) a country that is a major drug producing or transit country if the country has not cooperated with the United States and has not taken adequate steps to control the illicit cultivation, production, trafficking, and abuse of narcotic and psychotropic drugs. Exempts from such prohibition assistance: (1) that is important to U.S. national interests, provided that such assistance will further U.S. nonproliferation objectives; (2) for the alleviation of suffering resulting from a natural or manmade disaster; (3) that benefits needy people; and (4) that will be furnished through nongovernmental organizations to promote respect for human rights and democracy. Prohibits the provision of such assistance until the President reports to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Requires the President to maintain a list of Communist countries for purposes of restricting assistance. Authorizes the President to remove or exempt a country from the list or prohibitions on assistance, provided that such removal or exemption is reported to the Speaker of the House and the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Directs the President to report to such individuals on the rescission of a determination that a country provides support for international terrorism. Prohibits assistance to any country which is more than one year in arrears to the U.S. Government on loan payments under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 or former authorities of the Arms Export Control Act. Prohibits economic assistance from being made available to: (1) any organization or program which supports or manages a program of coercive abortion or involuntary sterilization; or (2) any foreign nongovernmental organization which performs or promotes abortion as a method of family planning. Requires funds for voluntary family planning services to be available only for projects which offer a broad range of family planning methods and services. Declares that the President should consider, in determining whether to provide economic assistance, whether assistance would be furnished to support any project designed to increase exports of agricultural, textile, or apparel commodities from developing countries that: (1) would be in direct competition with U.S. exports; and (2) can be expected to cause injury to U.S. exporters of the same or a similar commodity. Prohibits economic assistance from being used to influence the outcome of any election. Prohibits U.S. armed forces detailed to provide defense services, military education and training, or management of overseas military assistance programs from performing combat duties outside the United States in connection with such services. Outlines required elements of annual congressional presentation documents on foreign assistance. Revises provisions regarding U.S. assistance policies and human rights. Directs the President to report annually to the Congress on human rights practices in countries that are members of the United Nations. Revises provisions concerning congressional notification for program changes. Title V: General Provisions - Revises provisions regarding presidential authorities under this Act. Authorizes the President to designate an agency to administer economic assistance under this Act. Revises provisions regarding general authorities. Permits contracts which entail commitments for the expenditure of funds under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to be extended for up to ten (currently, five) years. Revises provisions regarding administrative uses of funds. Permits funds to be used for programs under the Agricultural Act of 1949 and the Food for Progress Act of 1985. Removes funding limitations on assistance for the construction of living quarters, offices, schools, and hospitals abroad and for assistance to schools educating dependents of personnel abroad. Permits economic assistance funds to be used to reimburse Federal or State agencies or institutions of higher education that detail employees for economic assistance programs that require specialized technical skills. Provides that if an amount appropriated for any fiscal year to carry out a provision of this Act is less than the authorization amount and the provision calls for earmarked funds, such funds shall be deemed to be reduced to an amount bearing the same ratio to such funds as the amount appropriated bears to the authorization amount. Sets forth provisions concerning the generation and use of local currencies. Revises provisions concerning the use of local currencies owned by the United States. Authorizes nongovernmental organizations to invest local currencies accrued as a result of economic assistance provided by this Act and other specified Acts and to use interest earned on investments for assistance purposes. Revises provisions concerning the use of private enterprise for the procurement of commodities and defense articles. Authorizes the use of Federal facilities for technical assistance purposes when such facilities are not competitive with private enterprise. Revises provisions concerning procurement standards and procedures. Allows (currently, requires) the use of excess personal property or property already owned by a Federal agency (if a substantial savings would occur) in lieu of, or supplementary to, the procurement of new items for U.S.-assisted programs. Revises provisions concerning the use of excess property. Removes a ceiling on the amount of domestic excess property that may be held. Prohibits excess property from being used for economic assistance purposes unless approval is given and the President makes specified determinations regarding such property. Authorizes the use of economic assistance funds to pay transportation charges on shipments by the American National Red Cross and by registered U.S. private voluntary organizations. Revises provisions concerning personnel. Permits personnel detailed to foreign governments or international organizations to be assigned on a leave without pay status. Authorizes the detailing of Department of Defense personnel to any civil office to carry out this Act. Revises provisions concerning discrimination against U.S. personnel. Title VI: Technical and Conforming Provisions - Prohibits U.S. courts from declining on the ground of the Federal Act of State Doctrine to make a determination on the merits of international law in any case in which claim of title or right to property is asserted by any party, based upon a confiscation after January 1, 1959, by a state in violation of international law. Exempts from such prohibition cases in which: (1) an act of a foreign state is not contrary to international law or cases with respect to a right to property acquired pursuant to an irrevocable letter of credit issued in good faith prior to the time of taking; or (2) the President determines that application of such doctrine is required by U.S. foreign policy interests. Amends Federal provisions governing coins and currency to grant the Secretary of the Treasury: (1) responsibility with respect to foreign credits owed to or by the United States; and (2) sole authority to establish for all foreign currencies or credits the exchange rates at which such currencies are to be reported by Federal agencies. Authorizes the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission, at the request of the President, to report on the value of any property of any U.S. person expropriated by a foreign government. Prohibits Federal employees from effecting arrests in foreign countries as part of foreign police actions with respect to narcotics control. Lists exceptions to such prohibition. Prohibits Federal employees from interrogating or being present during the interrogation of any U.S. person arrested in a foreign country with respect to narcotics control efforts without such person's written consent. Exempts from such prohibition members of the U.S. armed forces carrying out responsibilities under Status of Forces arrangements. Makes technical and conforming amendments to specified Acts. Repeals specified Acts. Title VII: Special Assistance Initiatives - Chapter 1: Development Fund for Africa - Authorizes project and program assistance for development in Subsaharan Africa. Requires the purpose of such assistance to be to help the poor majority of men and women in Subsaharan 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 promote sustained economic growth, encourage private sector development, promote individual initiatives, and help to reduce the role of central governments in areas more appropriate for the private sector. Declares that: (1) the local-level perspective of the rural and urban poor in Subsaharan Africa should be taken into account during the planning process for project assistance under this Act; and (2) consultations should be undertaken with private and voluntary organizations which have demonstrated effectiveness in or commitment to the promotion of local grassroots activities on behalf of development in Subsaharan Africa; (3) local people should be consulted and involved in projects that have a local focus; and (4) the President should ensure that development activities expand the participation and integration of African women in certain critical sectors. Requires assistance provided by this Act to emphasize projects to address critical sectoral priorities for development. Authorizes assistance to promote national economic policy reforms. Requires such reforms to include provisions to protect vulnerable groups, especially poor farmers and the urban poor, from possible negative consequences of such 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. Declares that assistance provided under this Act should be concentrated in countries that will make the most effective use of such assistance. Allows assistance to be made available to: (1) assist Subsaharan African countries to increase their capacity to participate in donor coordination mechanisms at the country, regional, and sector levels; and (2) assist sector projects supported by the Southern African Development Coordination Conference. Authorizes assistance to South Africa for: (1) grants to nongovernmental organizations promoting efforts to foster a just society and help the victims of apartheid; (2) assistance to political detainees and prisoners and their families and to support actions of black community organizations to resist, through nonviolent means, the enforcement of apartheid policies; and (3) activities to assist in an end to apartheid and in the establishment of a society based on nonracial principles. Permits such grants to be only for organizations whose character and membership reflect the objective of a majority of South Africans for an end to apartheid and for interracial cooperation and justice. Authorizes appropriations. Expresses the sense of the Congress that there should be periodic evaluations of the progress of the administering agency in achieving assistance goals in Subsaharan Africa. Chapter 2: Assistance for Eastern Europe - Sets forth U.S. policy and objectives with respect to assistance for Eastern Europe. Declares that the United States should provide assistance for eligible East European countries that are taking steps toward: (1) political pluralism; (2) economic reform; (3) respect for human rights; and (4) a willingness to build a friendly relationship with the United States. Defines an eligible East European country as Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Romania, Yugoslavia, and any other East European country taking such steps. Requires the basic objectives of such assistance to be the promotion of democracy and the encouragement of free market systems. Lists authorized types of assistance. Permits the President to furnish assistance to eligible East European countries. Provides that any authority in the Support for East European Democracy (SEED) Act of 1989 to furnish assistance for Poland or Hungary may be deemed to authorize assistance for any eligible East European country. Permits the President to use any funds made available for assistance for Eastern Europe under the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1991 to provide balance of payments support with respect to eligible East European countries. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should use the authorities provided under the SEED Act and this Act to provide stabilization assistance to assist Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and other East European countries the President deems appropriate. Authorizes appropriations. Permits the President to: (1) designate Enterprise Funds for any country in Eastern Europe in the same manner and with the same authorities and limitations applicable to the Enterprise Funds for Poland and Hungary established pursuant to the SEED Act; and (2) provide funding and support to the Funds. Authorizes U.S. agencies that are authorized to provide assistance or conduct programs for Poland or Hungary pursuant to the SEED Act to provide such assistance or conduct such programs for eligible East European countries. Permits the President to authorize agencies to implement programs for management and technical assistance for governments and private enterprises in Eastern European countries. Makes appropriations to carry out this chapter available for contracting with individuals for personal services. Chapter 3: Multilateral Assistance Initiative for the Philippines - Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the United States should participate with multilateral financial institutions and other bilateral donors in an economic reform and development program in the Philippines; and (2) a commitment of resources by the United States, donors, and such institutions and a reform effort and leadership role by the Government of the Philippines will be necessary to ensure economic growth in the Philippines and enhanced participation of the Filipino people in the democratic process. Authorizes the President to provide assistance to promote the goals of this Act. Links such assistance to progress by the Government of the Philippines in implementing its economic, structural, judicial, and administrative reform program. Authorizes appropriations. Limits the amount of appropriations for FY 1992. Expresses the sense of the Congress that prior to requesting additional amounts to carry out this Act, the President should take into account: (1) the progress being made by the Philippines toward achieving reform objectives; (2) the extent of participation by the bilateral donors and multilateral financial institutions; and (3) the efforts to coordinate the assistance program. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the coordination of objectives and programs by donors, institutions, and the Government of the Philippines is critical to the success of the multilateral assistance program; (2) all donors should simplify procurement and disbursement procedures to ensure that conditions on the provision or use of assistance are complementary; and (3) the Philippines should establish internal procedures that will ensure the most effective use of such assistance. Title VIII: Presidential Contingency Fund - Authorizes appropriations to the President for FY 1992 for unanticipated contingencies in programs within the International Affairs Budget Function. Title IX: Authorizations for Fiscal Year 1993 - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1993 to carry out programs for which appropriations for FY 1992 are authorized by this Act.

Fire Safety Enhancement Act of 1991

United States · United States Congress · 25 April 1991

Fire Safety Enhancement Act of 1991 - Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to require the installation of smoke detectors in all residential units financed or assisted by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Legal Services Reauthorization Act of 1992

United States · United States Congress · 24 April 1991

Legal Services Reauthorization Act of 1991 - Amends the Legal Services Corporation Act to authorize appropriations for the Legal Services Corporation for FY 1992 through 1996. Revises prohibitions on the use of Corporation funds for lobbying purposes. Requires the Corporation to: (1) arrange for evaluations to determine whether Corporation grant, corporation, or financial assistance recipients are providing comprehensive, economical, and effective legal assistance to eligible clients; and (2) conduct monitoring and investigations into allegations that a recipient has violated applicable requirements. Sets forth provisions concerning investigation procedures. Directs the Board of Directors of the Corporation to provide for the enforcement of requirements with respect to such recipients. Permits the Corporation to suspend, reduce, or terminate financial assistance or deny an application for refunding (after affording the recipient an opportunity to correct the failure) when: (1) there has been a substantial failure to comply with applicable requirements; or (2) evaluations demonstrate that a recipient has consistently failed to provide economical and effective legal assistance. Authorizes the Corporation to deny an application for refunding when the Corporation has identified an applicant for financial assistance that is better able to provide comprehensive, economical, and effective legal assistance for the geographic area served by the recipient. Revises provisions concerning notice to recipients prior to the suspension or termination of assistance or the denial of a refunding application. Prohibits the annual level of assistance from being reduced by more than five percent or $20,000, whichever is less, unless the recipient has been afforded notice and, at the recipient's request, a timely and fair hearing. Sets forth Corporation monitoring requirements. Requires the Corporation to develop criteria for evaluating the capability and performance of recipients. Places restrictions on the bringing of a class action suit by a recipient against the Federal Government or any State or local government. Requires recipients to adopt policies to attempt to negotiate settlements and to use alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, where appropriate, before filing suit. Prohibits the use of Corporation funds to alter, revise, or reapportion a congressional or State legislative district. Places restrictions on the use of Corporation funds for legal assistance for aliens. Revises requirements for governing bodies of grant or contract recipients to require a recipient's governing body to be comprised of (in the majority) attorneys who are appointed by State, county, or local bar associations the memberships of which represent a majority of the attorneys practicing law in the locality in which the recipient is to provide legal assistance. Sets forth requirements for governing bodies. Prohibits recipients from soliciting professional employment from a prospective client if: (1) the client has made known to the recipient a desire not to be solicited; (2) the solicitation involves coercion, duress, or harassment; or (3) the solicitation is made to urge the client to initiate litigation without a proper factual basis for the complaint. Prohibits the use of Corporation funds for initiating the defense of a person in a proceeding to evict such person from a public housing project if the person has been convicted of the illegal sale or distribution of a controlled substance and the proceeding has been brought by a public housing project agency because such person threatens the health or safety of other tenants or employees of such agency. Prohibits recipients from engaging in precomplaint settlement negotiations, filing a complaint, or pursuing litigation against a defendant unless a written retainer agreement which enumerates the facts on which the claim is based has been signed by the plaintiffs. Requires the Corporation to study the feasibility of a system of competition in the awarding of grants or contracts for legal assistance. Repeals prohibitions on the use of Corporation funds for providing legal assistance for proceedings concerning the desegregation of schools, violations of the Military Selective Service Act, or desertion from the armed forces. Revises recordkeeping requirements for recipients. Prohibits the use of alternative corporations to evade the provisions of this Act. Defines an "alternative corporation" as a group which has a single identity of interest with a recipient. Revises provisions concerning harassment and abuse of the legal process to authorize (currently, require) any court to award reasonable costs and attorneys' fees to a defendant if the Corporation commenced an action for purposes of harassment or retaliation or maliciously abused the legal process, or its actions were frivolous, unreasonable, or without foundation. Authorizes the Corporation to recover such costs from the recipient against whom the award was made by offsetting the amount against future grant awards. Prohibits the Corporation from deducting more than five percent annually from a grant for such purposes. Requires grants and contracts made for 1992 through 1996 to be made for at least 12 months.

Veterans' Homeless Pilot Project Amendments of 1991

United States · United States Congress · 24 April 1991

Veterans' Homeless Pilot Project Amendments of 1991 - Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct and report to the Congress on a pilot project using real property acquired by the Department of Veterans Affairs through foreclosures of home loans guaranteed by the Department to provide transitional housing for homeless veterans. Directs the Secretary to select properties that have no significant likelihood of being sold for a price sufficient to reduce the liability of the Department or the veteran who had defaulted on the loan guaranteed by the Department. Authorizes the Secretary to maintain, repair, and improve any property used in the pilot program, pay utilities, and purchase household furnishings using funds from appropriations for veterans' readjustment benefits. Requires major structural repairs, alterations, or improvements to be paid from the appropriate revolving fund (either the Loan Guaranty Revolving Fund or the Guaranty and Indemnity Fund). Authorizes the Secretary to charge rent to occupants of such housing. Exempts property used for the pilot project from State and local taxation. Authorizes the Secretary to furnish information, counseling, and guidance regarding benefits and opportunities to veterans participating in the pilot project.

Adoption Amendments of 1991

United States · United States Congress · 24 April 1991

Adoption Amendments of 1991 - Replaces Public Health Service Act provisions authorizing appropriations for adolescent family life demonstration projects with provisions requiring set-aside, for such projects, of a specified amount appropriated for the Health Resources and Services Administration. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for a limited amount of adoption expenses. Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1988 and 1989 to extend to October 1, 1993, the termination date of a test program for reimbursement of adoption expenses of members of the armed forces. Amends Part E (Foster Care and Adoption Assistance Program) of title IV of the Social Security Act to prohibit payments to a State under provisions relating to foster care and adoption assistance if any public agency responsible for adoption placement has failed to fully disclose to prospective adoptive parents all information regarding the child's health. Amends the Public Health Service Act to mandate grants to two States to establish demonstration programs to provide maternal health certificates to low-income pregnant females residing or awaiting residence in a maternity home. Requires eligible maternity homes to provide specified services, including room and board, medical care, and counseling and services concerning health, adoption, education, vocation, or employment. Requires that such homes accept the certificates as full payment. Directs the Secretary of Education to develop a model curriculum for educating individuals on issues of adoption that are relevant to the field of social work. Requires the curriculum to be appropriate for secondary, postsecondary, and continuing education settings. Authorizes appropriations.

Eugene Peters, of Pennsylvania, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the National Corporation for Housing Partnerships for the term expiring October 27, 1992, vice William F. Sullivan, term expired.

United States · United States Senate · 23 April 1991

Day Care Provider Tax Simplification Act

United States · United States Congress · 23 April 1991

Day Care Provider Tax Simplification Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide a revised allocation formula for determining deductions allowable to home day care providers for the business use to their homes.

Family Day Care Provider Tax Simplification Act

United States · United States Congress · 22 April 1991

Family Day Care Provider Tax Simplification Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide a revised allocation formula for determining deductions allowable to home day care providers for the business use of their homes.