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Bill· HRH.R. 1404 (102nd)open
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1991
Veterans Entrepreneurship Promotion Act of 1991 - Amends the Small Business Act to direct the President to establish Government-wide goals annually for procurement contracts awarded to small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans. Increases the Government-wide goals for small business participation (including veteran-owned small businesses) from 20 percent to 25 percent of the total value of all prime contract awards for each fiscal year. Mandates that: (1) the Government-wide goal for participation by small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans be at least five percent of such contract and subcontract awards; and (2) that certain reports submitted to the Small Business Administration (SBA) and to the Congress include the extent of participation in the Federal procurement process by small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans. Declares it the policy of the United States to grant small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans the maximum opportunity to participate in the performance of Federal contracts and subcontracts. Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (the Administrator) to implement an outreach and information dissemination program for small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans. Outlines the parameters of a loan assistance program implemented by the SBA for small businesses owned and controlled by veterans. Requires the Administrator to study and report to the Congress and the President on methods to reduce costs incurred by veterans during the loan application process. Directs the Administrator to take steps to ensure that small businesses owned by veterans have access to SBA programs providing entrepreneurial training, business development assistance, counseling, and management assistance. Authorizes the SBA to make grants for veterans' outreach programs with governmental and private sector entities. Mandates the establishment of an interagency working group to develop a comprehensive outreach program for veterans affected by reductions in armed forces personnel. Requires certain Government agencies to collect information on: (1) businesses owned and controlled by veterans; and (2) the number of such businesses that are first-time recipients of Government contracts. Amends the Small Business Economic Policy Act of 1980 to require the President to report annually to the Congress on small businesses owned and controlled by veterans and by veterans with service-connected disabilities. Directs the Administrator, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' Employment and Training to establish an interagency working group to develop a comprehensive outreach program to assist veterans of the Persian Gulf War and veterans affected by reductions of military personnel. Amends the Small Business Act to provide for an Associate Administrator for Veterans Programs who shall be responsible for programs of assistance to small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans. Requires the SBA to enter into negotiations with any Federal agency to perform any specific Government procurement contract through the services of small businesses owned and controlled by veterans. Outlines contracting procedures. Establishes within the SBA a veterans business opportunity and development assistance program to assist exclusively small business concerns eligible under the program's parameters. Vests responsibility for the coordination and formulation of policies relating to Federal assistance to such concerns with the Associate Administrator for Veterans Programs. Restricts an individual's eligibility under the Program to business concern only. Establishes a Division of Program Certification and Eligibility in the Office of Veterans Programs. Requires the Administrator to present an annual program status report to the Congress. Establishes the National Veterans Business Council to: (1) review Federal and State initiatives relating to business concerns owned by veterans; and (2) report annually to the President and the Congress regarding private and public sector initiatives and multiyear goals for veteran-owned businesses. Terminates the Council three years after its first meeting. Amends the Small Business Act to authorize appropriations.
Bill· HRH.R. 1403 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1991
Comprehensive Urban Transportation Act of 1991 - Establishes a strategic urbanized program for providing assistance for the Federal-aid highway systems in urbanized areas with populations of 50,000 or more for projects designed to help reduce traffic congestion and traffic flow problems. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to: (1) apportion funds authorized for expenditure under the program according to specified guidelines based on population; and (2) require that projects be selected by the State highway department of each State. Allows up to 25 percent of the amount apportioned in a fiscal year to a State under the program to be transferred for other specified uses if requested by the State highway department and approved by the Governor of such State and the Secretary as being in the public interest. Directs the Secretary to set aside $300,000,000 for discretionary projects. Sets forth criteria which must be met before a State may obtain funding. Specifies factors which the Secretary shall consider in selecting projects, including: (1) project cost; (2) traffic congestion levels; (3) importance of a project to a congestion relief planning effort; and (4) impact of a project on economic development. Specifies that the Federal share shall not exceed 50 percent of the cost of any project. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the use of such funds for public transportation, railway-highway crossings, carpool and vanpool projects, bicycle transportation, pedestrian walkways, and research and planning.
Bill· HRH.R. 1373 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1991
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to remove the limitation on the amount of outside income which a beneficiary may earn without incurring a reduction in benefits. Provides additional financing to the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund from income tax revenues from individuals who have attained age 62.
Bill· HRH.R. 1406 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1991
Savings and Investment Incentive Act of 1991 - Title I: Retirement Savings Incentives - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to remove the limitations on deductions for individual retirement plans and provides a cost-of-living adjustment for deductible amounts. Establishes special individual retirement accounts that are nondeductible. Makes such accounts nontaxable if earnings on contributions are held for at least five years. Applies the early withdrawal penalty to distributions made before the end of the five year-period. Title II: Penalty-Free Distributions - Provides exemptions from the ten-percent penalty on early withdrawals from individual retirement plans for: (1) first home purchases; (2) higher education expenses; and (2) financially devastating medical expenses.
Bill· HRH.R. 1382 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an individual an itemized deduction of travel expenses in connection with the trade or business of logging, including the miles to and from the individual's home.
Bill· HRH.R. 1379 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from the gross income of an individual amounts received as a pension or annuity under a public retirement system to the extent they are not attributable to services covered under the social security system. Limits the tax exclusion based upon calculations relating to income tax treatment of social security benefits.
Bill· HRH.R. 1372 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide that, where there is a distress termination of a pension plan, the tax on the failure to meet minimum funding standards shall be waived if there is a revocation of one or more business hardship waivers. Requires an increase in the unfunded benefit liabilities of the plan by the amount of the tax which would have been imposed as an initial tax.
Resolution· HRESH.Res. 111 (102nd)passed
United States · United States Congress · 12 March 1991
Sets forth the rule for the consideration of H.R. 1175 (supplemental appropriations for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm).
Bill· HRH.R. 1367 (102nd)open
United States · United States Congress · 11 March 1991
Unemployment Insurance Reform Act of 1991 - Title I: Federal Supplemental Compensation Program - Subtitle A: Establishment of Program - Establishes a Federal supplemental unemployment compensation program. Allows any State to enter into and participate in an agreement with the Secretary of Labor (the Secretary) under which the State agency which administers the State unemployment compensation law will make payments of Federal supplemental compensation: (1) to individuals who have exhausted all rights to regular compensation under State law, have no rights to such regular compensation or any additional State or Federal compensation, and are not receiving Canadian compensation; and (2) for any week of unemployment begining in the individual's eligibility period. Sets forth provisions relating to exhaustion of regular benefits and weekly amount of supplemental benefits equal to regular benefits. Requires a State, under such an agreement, to establish a Federal supplemental compensation account with respect to the benefit year of each eligible individual who file an application. Limits benefit payments to not more than the amount in the individual's account. Sets forth formulas for determining the amount in such account. Provides that such amount shall be equal to the lesser of: (1) 100 percent of the total amount of regular compensation (including dependents' allowances) payable to the individual with respect to the most recent regular benefit year; or (2) the applicable limit times the average weekly benefit amount for the benefit year. Sets the applicable limit at: (1) 26 for an eight-percent period, i.e. one triggered by a total unemployment rate (TUR) of eight percent or more in the State, seasonally adjusted, for the most recent three months with available data; (2) 18 for a seven-percent period; and (3) nine for a six-percent period. Sets forth special rules relating to such applicable limits. Coordinates the Federal supplemental compensation program with the trade readjustment allowance program under the Trade Act of 1974. Sets forth general, special, and transitional rules for supplemental benefit periods, individual eligibility periods, State on and off indicators, and a temporary national trigger. Sets forth provisions for payments to States having such agreements for Federal supplemental compensation. Sets forth reachback provisions for certain individuals' eligibility for such benefits. Sets forth provisions relating to fraud and overpayments. Subtitle B: Repeal of Extended Program - Repeals the Federal-State Extended Unemployment Act of 1970, and references to the extended unemployment compensation program (established by such Act) in the Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and in the Social Security Act (SSA). Title II: Modifications to Eligibility Provisions - Amends FUTA to limit the circumstances under which individuals may be disqualified for unemployment compensation under State law. Amends specified Federal law to repeal certain limitations on payment of unemployment compensation to former members of the Armed Forces. Amends FUTA to allow optional unemployment benefits for certain school employees, by making denial of such benefits discretionary rather than mandatory. Amends FUTA with respect to the treatment of certain determinations with respect to claims for unemployment compensation benefits under State law. Amends FUTA to require State agencies administering unemployment compensation to approve any training program involving classroom training, occupational skill training, basic or remedial education, or literacy or remedial English training, in the case of any individual who has received compensation under State law for ten weeks or more during the benefit year (thus allowing such individual to receive such compensation while participating in such training). Title III: Federal Job Search Assistance - Subtitle A: General Provisions - Requires State unemployment compensation law, for purposes of approval requirements under FUTA, to: (1) require certain unemployment compensation recipients to participate in a qualified intensive job search program (the program) after receiving such compensation for ten weeks during any benefit year; (2) entitle such individuals to an intensive job search program voucher; and (3) disqualify those who do not satisfactorily participate in such program from receiving such compensation for a specified period. Makes such program requirements applicable to such recipients if, during a specified three-year period, they had at least 126 weeks of employment at wages of $30 or more a week with their last employer (or an equivalent amount computed under prescribed regulations). Sets forth exceptions to such program requirements, special rules, and program qualifications. Provides that such vouchers entitle the organization (including the State employment service) providing the program to a payment from the State agency equal to the lesser of: (1) the reasonable costs of providing the program; or (2) the average weekly benefit amount in the State. Requires Federal payments to each State's account in the Unemployment Trust Fund in an amount equal to the payments made by the State agency for such program vouchers. Provides for payments on a calendar month basis, and for certification by the Secretary. Subtitle B: Conforming Amendments - Amends FUTA to add to requirements for approval of State unemployment compensation law the requirement for individual participation in intensive job search assistance programs and entitlement to such program vouchers. Makes conforming amendments to other FUTA and SSA provisions. Amends SSA provisions relating to payments from the supplemental compensation and reemployment assistance account to add references to such programs and vouchers. Subtitle C: Effective Date - Sets forth effective dates for specified provisions of this Act. Title IV: Financing Provisions - Subtitle A: Modifications to Federal Unemployment Tax - Amends FUTA provisions related to the rate of the Federal unemployment tax. Modifies the formula for determining such rate to make such FUTA excise tax on employers equal: (1) five and four-tenths percent of the total wages paid during the calendar year with respect to employment; and (2) a specified percentage of the total Federal taxable wages paid during the calendar year with respect to employment. (Provides that such percentage shall be lowered as it is phased-in, from 0.75 percent in 1992 to 0.3 percent in 1997 and thereafter.) Makes conforming modifications to credit provisions and tax computation provisions. Subtitle B: Financing Reforms - Amends the SSA to modify provisions for Federal unemployment accounts. Provides for an increase in quarterly credits for States with adequate balances. Provides for appropriate adjustments in transfers to the Federal unemployment account. Provides for borrowing between Federal accounts, under specified circumstances, with respect to: (1) the employment security administration account; (2) the Federal unemployment account; or (3) supplemental compensation and reemployment assistance account. Amends the SSA to revise provisions for entitlement grants to States to assist in the administration of their unemployment compensation laws (including administration pursuant to agreements under any Federal unemployment compensation law). Provides for an annual aggregate payment of such a State entitlement in the sum of: (1) the basic unemployment insurance service grant; and (2) the additional workload grant. Directs the Secretary, within 12 months, to report to the Congress a proposal for revising the method of allocating grants among the States for administration of the unemployment insurance program. Prohibits the Secretary from revising such method until 12 months after such report is submitted to the Congress. Amends the SSA to establish an Advisory Council on Unemployment Compensation. Directs the Secretary to establish such a council by December 31, 1991, and every fifth year thereafter. Requires each such council to evaluate the unemployment compensation program. Sets forth membership and staff provisions. Requires each council to report to the Congress by October 1 of the year following the year in which is required to be established. Terminates each council after it submits its report. Exempts the following unemployment compensation programs from any order issued under part C of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 for FY 1992 or any succeeding fiscal year: (1) Federal supplemental compensation program payments under title I of this Act; (2) Federal job search assistance payments under title III of this Act; and (3) employment security administration payments to States under title III of the Social Security Act.
Bill· SS. 594 (102nd)open
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1991
Foreign Relations Persian Gulf Conflict Emergency Supplemental Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 1991 - Authorizes specified amounts for emergency supplemental appropriations for FY 1991 for: (1) Department of State salaries and expenses; (2) the evacuation of U.S. Government employees and their dependents and other U.S. citizens from diplomatic posts; and (3) Agency for International Development evacuation expenses. Designates such funds as emergency requirements pursuant to the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act). Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to authorize the Secretary of State to purchase special purpose passenger motor vehicles without regard to price limitations. Declares that the Congress takes note of the efforts of the President and the Secretary to encourage U.S. allies to assist financially in the effort to liberate Kuwait. Calls on the President and the Secretary to ensure that the burdensharing promises made by the allies are fulfilled.
Bill· SS. 610 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1991
Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1991 - Title I: Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1991 - Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1991 - Authorizes appropriations out of the Highway Account of the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) for: (1) the National Highway Program; (2) the Urban and Rural Program; (3) the Bridge Program; (4) the Right-of-Way Revolving Fund; (5) emergency relief; (6) the Federal Lands Highway Program; (7) the University Transportation Centers Program; and (8) highway use tax evasion projects. Specifies that unobligated balances of funds apportioned or allocated to a State under Federal highway provisions before October 1, 1991, shall be available for obligation in such State under the law, regulations, policies, and procedures relating to the obligation and expenditure of those funds in effect on September 30, 1991. Repeals the FY 1993 authorization under the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956. Authorizes appropriations for Interstate construction to complete the Interstate System (IS) out of the Highway Account of the HTF for each of FY 1992 through 1995. Provides for certain allocations for Massachusetts for such fiscal years. Sets forth a formula for the apportionment of authorized funds for such fiscal years among the States. Authorizes appropriations out of the Highway Account of the HTF for highway projects for the Interstate Substitution Program. Defines the National Highway System (NHS) as: (1) the highways of the IS; (2) other urban and rural principal arterials, including toll facilities; (3) highways of the Strategic Highway Network (SHN) (defined as a network of highways that constitutes an important factor in U.S. strategic defense policy); and (4) major Strategic Highway Network Connectors (SHNCs) (which provide access from major military installations to the SHN). Makes the following activities, subject to specified conditions, eligible for funding: (1) construction; (2) operational and highway safety improvements; (3) modifications to existing facilities necessary to accommodate other modes; (4) transportation planning; (5) highway safety research and development; (6) technology transfer activities; (7) control of junkyards and outdoor advertising; (8) projects that enhance rural and urban accessibility and mobility; and (9) startup costs for traffic management and control. Specifies that: (1) designation of the NHS, other than the IS, SHN, and SHNCs, shall be by the State in cooperation with local officials; (2) in urbanized areas, local officials shall act through the designated metropolitan planning organization; (3) the NHS shall be based on a functional reclassification of roads and streets in each State which shall be designated not later than September 30, 1993, in accordance with guidelines issued by the Secretary of Transportation; and (4) the Secretary shall have the authority to approve, in whole or in part, the NHS and may add segments to the NHS as necessary to meet National Highway Program objectives. Sets forth further specifications with respect to the use of the NHS by trucks, the selection of projects by the States, and new construction or major reconstruction of NHS beltways and bypasses. Directs the Secretary to establish an Urban and Rural Program to provide a category of funds that minimizes Federal requirements and provides flexibility in the use of available funds for either highway or transit projects. Specifies eligible highways and projects. Authorizes the Secretary to approve innovative highway- and transit-related immediate action, non-capital intensive projects to help relieve congestion and transportation-related air quality problems in urbanized areas of more than 200,000 population, or projects in rural areas that respond to rural transportation problems through innovative approaches and strategies. Sets forth provisions with respect to project compliance with State and Federal requirements. Requires States to have an ongoing bridge inspection and inventory system. Directs the Secretary to set aside specified funds for Metropolitan and Rural Innovative Bonus Projects. Sets forth provisions with respect to the obligation of funds, and the Federal share of projects, for the construction of toll roads, bridges, tunnels, and ferries. Declares it to be in the vital interest of the nation that a program be established to enable the States and Federal agencies to replace and rehabilitate highway bridges over waterways, other topographical barriers, other highways, or railroads when the State or Federal agencies and the Secretary find that a bridge is important, that it is unsafe and poses a safety hazard to highway users, that its replacement or rehabilitation would minimize disruptions, delays and costs to users, or that its replacement or rehabilitation would provide more efficient routes for emergency services. Directs the Secretary to: (1) inventory all highway bridges; (2) assess each bridge from the standpoint of safety and adequacy to serve traffic, based upon level-of-service criteria set by the Secretary; (3) assign each bridge not meeting such criteria to an improvement category (i.e., replacement or rehabilitation); and (4) determine the cost of improving each bridge based on such category. Sets forth requirements and procedures for Federal participation in, and approval of, bridge replacement and rehabilitation projects. Makes funds available to the States under a Major Bridge Discretionary Program. Sets forth criteria and requirements under such program. Makes provisions of the General Bridge Act of 1946 applicable to bridges authorized to be replaced, in whole or in part, by this Act, with exceptions. Specifies the Federal share (up to 75 percent) of bridge construction. Directs the Secretary to: (1) implement programs, in a manner that encourages the inventory, retention, rehabilitation, adaptive reuse, and future study of historic bridges; and (2) require each State to complete an inventory of all bridges on and off the Federal-aid system to determine their historic significance. Makes funds available for the repair or reconstruction of highways which the Secretary finds to have suffered serious damage as the result of a natural disaster over a wide area or a catastrophic failure from any external cause in any part of the United States, subject to specified restrictions. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) assist the territorial governments of the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in a program for the construction and improvement of a system of arterial highways and necessary inter-island connectors designated by the Governor of each territory; and (2) provide technical assistance for the establishment of an appropriate agency to administer on a continuing basis highway planning, design, construction, and maintenance operations. Makes funds available for engineering and economic surveys and investigations, planning of future highway programs, studies of the economy, safety, and convenience and the desirable regulation and equitable taxation of highway usage, and for research and development. Establishes a coordinated Federal Lands Highways Program consisting of forest highways, park roads and parkways, and Indian reservation roads. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) engage in research, development, and technology transfer activities on motor carrier transportation and all phases of highway planning and development; (2) enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with the National Academy of Sciences, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, or any State agency, authority, organization, or person, for such purposes; (3) make grants for research fellowships for such purposes; (4) engage in research, development, technology transfer, and other activities related to Intelligent Vehicle Highway Systems; and (5) undertake on a cost-shared basis collaborative research and development with non-Federal entities. Directs the Secretary to establish and operate in the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) a National Highway Institute to develop and administer training programs for FHWA State and local transportation and highway department employees, State and local police, public safety and motor vehicle employees, and U.S. citizens and foreign nationals engaged in highway work of interest to the United States. Sets forth provisions with respect to the Federal share of the cost of tuition and direct educational expenses. Authorizes the Secretary to carry out a transportation assistance program that will provide highway and transportation agencies in urbanized areas of 50,000 to 1,000,000 population and in rural areas with access to modern highway technology. Authorizes the Secretary to engage in activities to inform the domestic highway community of technological innovations abroad that could significantly improve highway transportation in the United States and promote U.S. highway expertise internationally, and increase transfers of U.S. highway transportation technology to foreign countries. Directs the Secretary to cooperate with State and local officials in urbanized areas in the development of transportation plans and programs which are formulated with due consideration to comprehensive long-range land use plans, development objectives, innovative financing mechanisms, overall social, economic, environmental, system performance, and energy conservation goals and objectives; and with due consideration to their probable effect on the future development of the area. Specifies that the transportation planning process, at a minimum, shall cover the existing urbanized area and the area expected to become urbanized within the forecast period, and that it may encompass the entire Metropolitan Statistical Area/Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area at the discretion of the Governor and the affected units of local government. Requires that transportation plans and programs in urbanized areas of more than 200,000 population be based on a continuing transportation planning process which: (1) is carried out by a metropolitan planning organization and is comprehensive to the degree appropriate based on the complexity of transportation problems in the area, including transportation-related air quality problems; and (2) considers all modes of transportation, including intermodal connectivity, the balance between future development and transportation needs, and an areawide multimodal congestion management system. Specifies that in nonattainment areas for transportation-related pollutants the multimodal congestion management system shall address air quality considerations and be coordinated with the process for development of the transportation element of the State Implementation Plan required by the Clean Air Act. Requires that the costs and impacts of proposed action on both mobility and air quality be evaluated. Bars the Secretary from approving any highway project in urbanized areas of more than 200,000 population that by reconstruction or new construction significantly increases the vehicle carrying capacity of a transportation corridor unless the project is consistent with the congestion management system. Directs the metropolitan planning organization to cooperate with the State in the development of a congestion management, bridge management, pavement management, safety management, and traffic monitoring system. Requires that: (1) a metropolitan planning organization be designated in each urbanized area by agreement among the units of general purpose local government and the Governor to carry out such transportation planning process; (2) such organization develop a transportation improvement program that includes all projects proposed for funding within the study area under the National Highway Program, the Urban and Rural Program, and the Bridge Program; and (3) in urbanized areas of 200,000 population or less, such organization, the State, and transit operators, at a minimum, meet the requirements of this Act by the development of such a transportation improvement program (including consideration of transportation-related air quality problems). Directs the Secretary to cooperate with the States in carrying out: (1) statewide transportation planning to support transportation programs and projects funded under this Act; and (2) State highway research. Sets forth provisions regarding State matching fund requirements and waiver of such requirements. Requires the States and the Federal agencies to exercise effective control of the erection and maintenance of outdoor advertising signs, displays, or devices in areas adjacent to the NHS and rural arterials located outside of urbanized areas, and of the establishment and maintenance of junkyards outside of urbanized areas adjacent to the NHS. Encourages, and authorizes the Secretary to allocate funds to, States to initiate or expand efforts for planning and program development for scenic byways. Directs the Secretary to issue guidelines for evaluation of congestion pricing measures proposed in response to air quality problems for operational tests in designated urbanized areas. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) the availability and apportionment of funds for the various programs, including specifications of the Federal share of certain projects; (2) administration of Federal lands highways funds; (3) acquisition of rights-of-way; and (4) private, State, and local donations. Specifies that the State matching share for a project with respect to which Federal assistance is provided out of the Highway Account of the HTF may be credited with the fair market value of land incorporated into the project and lawfully donated to the State after April 2, 1987, and the fair market value of land owned by the State or a local government and incorporated into the project. Authorizes the Secretary to withhold project approvals on National Highway Program projects for failure of a State to have a bridge management, pavement management, safety management, and congestion management system. Requires each State to have such systems, as well as a traffic monitoring system to provide statistically-based traffic data. Requires any State transportation or highway department which submits plans for: (1) a National Highway Program project involving the bypassing of, or going through, any city, town, or village, to certify to the Secretary that it has had public hearings or the opportunity for hearings and has considered the economic, social, and environmental effects and its consistency with the goals and objectives of urban planning promulgated by the community; and (2) an IS project to make a similar certification to enable persons in rural areas who have property contiguous to the highway or property through which the highway will pass to express objections they may have to the proposed locations of the highway. Requires the State transportation or highway department to prepare a record of the hearing. Sets forth NHS standards which, at a minimum, enable National Highway Program projects to accommodate the types and volumes of traffic anticipated for the project for a 20-year period, with exceptions. Sets forth additional provisions with respect to: (1) sign, curb, and pavement marking and traffic signal standards; (2) highway and railroad grade crossing safety standards; (3) soil erosion guidelines; (4) consideration of economic, social, and environmental effects; and (5) highway noise level standards. Directs the Secretary: (1) to develop and promulgate guidelines to assure that highways constructed pursuant to this title are in conformity with any approved plan for the implementation of any ambient air quality standard for any air quality control region designated pursuant to the Clean Air Act, as amended; (2) not to approve projects involving bridge approaches if the project and bridge will significantly affect the traffic volume and the highway system of a contiguous State without first taking into full consideration the views of such State; and (3) not to approve projects that will result in the severance or destruction of an existing major route for nonmotorized transportation traffic and light motorcycles unless the project provides a reasonable alternative route or an alternative route exists. Requires that projects for resurfacing, restructuring, or rehabilitating any highway, other than a fully access-controlled highway, in which Federal funds participated be constructed in accordance with standards to preserve and extend the service life of highways and to enhance highway safety, and that projects on fully access-controlled highways be constructed in accordance with new construction and major reconstruction standards. Sets forth: (1) procedures for submission and approval of State transportation or highway department plans, specifications, and estimates for proposed projects; (2) alternate project procedures; and (3) provisions with respect to right-of-way agreements, including commercial use and management of rest areas, vending machines, and the use of income from right-of-way airspace. Establishes guidelines with respect to highway construction, including: (1) limitations on the use of convict labor; (2) State warranty or guarantee provisions; (3) bidding requirements; (4) wages; (5) equal employment opportunity provisions, including the prohibition of discrimination based on sex; (6) highway construction training, including training of disadvantaged businesses to achieve proficiency to compete for contracts and subcontracts; (7) Indian employment; and (8) provisions with respect to utility facilities. Makes it the duty of the State transportation or highway department to maintain NHS projects and the IS. Authorizes the Secretary to approve as an NHS project the acquisition of land adjacent to the right-of-way for the construction of carpool and other publicly-owned parking facilities, to encourage carpools, for exclusive or preferential high occupancy vehicle lanes, and to accommodate needed rail (included high speed ground transportation and magnetic levitation systems) or non-highway public mass transit facilities, subject to specified conditions. Authorizes: (1) the State to use Federal highway funds to construct improved lanes, paths, or shoulders, traffic control devices, shelters, and parking facilities for bicycles and pedestrians, and carry out nonconstruction projects related to safe bicycle and pedestrian use, subject to specified limitations; and (2) the Secretary to approve as part of highway construction the costs of landscaped and roadside development. Declares it to be Government policy that special effort should be made to preserve the natural beauty on the countryside, public park and recreation lands, wildlife and waterfowl refuges, and historic sites. Authorizes the Secretary to approve certain transportation programs or projects requiring the use of publicly-owned land of a public park, recreation area, wildlife and waterfowl refuge, or historic site only if: (1) there is no prudent and feasible alternative to using such land; and (2) the program or project includes all possible planning to minimize harm to such park, recreation area, wildlife and waterfowl refuge, or historic site resulting from such use. Authorizes the use of National Highway Program and Urban and Rural Program funds to participate in wetland mitigation banks or to contribute to statewide programs that create, conserve, or enhance wetland habitat. Authorizes the Secretary, in an emergency, to use certain Department of Transportation appropriations for medical assistance necessary for the immediate relief of FHWA employees engaged in hazardous work. Declares it to be in the national interest to utilize small business enterprises to the fullest practicable extent in highway construction. Authorizes the Secretary to provide for: (1) the construction and maintenance of defense access roads (including bridges, tubes, and tunnels) to military reservations, defense industries and industry sites, and the sources of raw material when the roads are certified to the Secretary as important to the national defense; and (2) necessary reconstruction of the Alaska-Canada International Highway. Directs the Secretary to report to specified committees periodically regarding the condition and performance of the existing system and estimates of the future highway and bridge needs of the nation, including the results of studies of the air quality impacts of transportation programs. Authorizes the Secretary to carry out experimental programs which allow the FHWA and the States to demonstrate innovative and nontraditional design, construction, and management practices, or both, for highway projects while utilizing a competitive process for selection of contractors. Directs the Secretary to evaluate such projects and report on the results. Transfers funds made available for transit projects under this Act or under Federal highway provisions to, and for administration by, the Mass Transportation Administration. Lists Federal highway provisions, as amended by this Act, which are designed to promote clean air, such as: (1) the Research and Technology Program (to enable States to more effectively assess environmental impacts and the effectiveness of mitigation strategies); (2) the Urbanized Area Planning Program (requiring consideration of long-range land use plans, development objectives, and overall social, economic, and environmental impacts; consideration of all modes of transportation, including intermodal connectivity; and development of a multimodal congestion management system); (3) a right-of-way airspace provision permitting the use of income from such right-of-way without charge for high speed rail, magnetic levitation systems, and other transit use; and (4) provisions permitting bicycle and pedestrian projects with National Highway, Urban and Rural, and Federal Lands Highways Program funds. Waives matching fund requirements of qualifying projects between October 1, 1991 and September 30, 1993. Specifies that the Federal share shall be the percentage of the construction costs as the State transportation or highway department requests, up to 100 percent, but that the total amount of increased Federal share per fiscal year which may be obligated for qualifying projects in any State shall not be greater than 25 percent of the total amounts apportioned for the National Highway, Urban and Rural, and Bridge Programs in FY 1992. Requires States to repay the total amount of increases in the Federal share on or before March 30, 1994. Repeals provisions of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1978 prohibiting the expenditure of Federal funds for highway signs relating to speed limit, distance, or other measurement solely using the metric system. Sets forth limitations on obligations for Federal-aid highway program for FY 1992 through 1996 and provisions regarding the redistribution of unused obligation authority. Title II: Highway Safety Act of 1991 - Highway Safety Act of 1991 - Authorizes appropriations out of the Highway Account of the HTF for: (1) FHWA highway safety programs; (2) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) highway safety programs and highway safety research and development; (3) a National Driver Register; (4) traffic and motor vehicle safety programs; and (5) motor vehicle information and cost saving programs. Directs the Secretary to periodically conduct a rulemaking to determine those programs most effective in reducing highway crashes, injuries, and deaths. Specifies that: (1) any rule issued pursuant to such rulemaking shall be developed in cooperation with the States; and (2) when such a rule takes effect, only the programs established by the rule as most effective in reducing highway crashes, injuries, and deaths shall be eligible to receive Federal financial assistance. Requires the State highway safety agency to coordinate its highway safety plan with the motor carrier safety plan developed under this Act. Directs each State to submit to the Secretary such speed-related data as the Secretary determines is necessary for each 12-month period ending on September 30, including data on citations and travel speeds on public highways with speed limits posted at or above 55 miles per hour (mph). Specifies that: (1) the annual apportionment to the Secretary of the Interior (for Indians in identified areas) shall not be less than three-quarters of one percent of the total apportionment of funds to the States; and (2) the Federal share for highway safety programs shall not exceed 60 percent of the total program costs, with exceptions. Authorizes the Secretary to award safety bonus funds to States that take specific actions to advance highway safety. Establishes criteria and eligibility requirements for, and formulas for determining the amount of, alcohol, safety belt use, and fatality rate bonuses and other safety bonuses (such as having programs that emphasize pedestrian, bicycle, and motorcycle safety; provision for a lead agency at the State level for emergency medical services with adequate powers and equipment; and public information and education programs on significant highway safety problems). Requires the Secretary to periodically report to the Congress on the States' efforts to qualify for safety bonus funds. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) engage in research on all phases of highway safety and traffic conditions, including the effect thereon on State laws and activities related to Intelligent Vehicle Highway Systems; (2) test, develop, or assist in the testing and development of any material, invention, patented article, or progress; (3) use appropriated funds for training or education of highway safety personnel, research fellowships in highway safety, development of improved accident investigation procedures, emergency service plans, demonstration projects, and related research and development activities; and (4) carry out safety research on the relationship between the consumption and use of drugs and their effect upon highway safety and drivers of motor vehicles, driver behavior research, and biomechanics research. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) undertake, on a cost-shared basis, collaborative research and development with non-Federal entities; and (2) enter into cooperative research and development agreements, except that the Secretary may agree to provide not more than 70 percent of the cost of any such research and development project and must establish a procedure to consider the views of experts and the public concerning the project areas. Bars a State from having: (1) a maximum speed limit on any public highway within its jurisdiction in excess of 55 mph other than on a highway on the IS located outside of an urbanized area; and (2) a maximum speed limit of 65 mph on any highway within its jurisdiction on the IS located outside of an urbanized area, or under other specified circumstances. Requires each State to annually certify to the Secretary that it is enforcing all speed limits on public highways, after considering the speed-related data it submits to the Secretary. Bars the Secretary from approving projects in any State which has failed to make such certification. Requires the Secretary to withhold ten percent of National Highway, and Urban and Rural, Program funds apportioned to any State on the first day of each fiscal year in which the purchase or public possession in such State of any alcoholic beverage by a person who is less than 21 years of age is lawful. Provides for apportionment of withheld funds to other States which are in compliance with such provision. Requires that all facts contained in any report of a Federal department, agency, officer, employee, or agent relating to a highway traffic crash or investigation be made available for use in any civil, criminal, or other judicial proceeding arising out of the crash. Specifies that: (1) any such officer, employee, or agent may be required to testify in such proceedings as to the facts developed in the investigation; and (2) this and other specified reports shall be made to the public in a manner which does not identify individuals. Directs the Secretary to establish and maintain a National Driver Register to assist chief driver licensing officials of participating States in exchanging information regarding the motor vehicle driving records of individuals. Sets forth provisions with respect to: (1) the contents of such Register; (2) responsibility for accuracy of information; (3) cut-off dates for maintaining information; (4) State participation in the Register; (5) reports by such officials to the Secretary; and (6) accessibility of Register information. Establishes: (1) criminal penalties for unauthorized disclosure of such information and for requesting and obtaining Register information under false pretenses; and (2) a National Driver Register Advisory Committee. Authorizes appropriations out of the Highway Account of the HTF to carry out highway and alcohol safety programs under the safety bonus provisions of this Act. Makes such funds available until expended and not subject to any obligation limitation for State and community highway safety programs. Requires the Secretary to establish: (1) national bridge inspection standards for the proper safety inspection and evaluation of all highway bridges; and (2) a program designed to train governmental employees to carry out highway bridge inspections. Bars the admission into evidence (or use for other purposes) in Federal or State court of reports and surveys compiled to identify, evaluate, or plan the safety enhancement of potential accident sites, hazardous roadway conditions, or railway-highway crossings, for the purpose of developing any highway safety construction improvement project which may be implemented utilizing Federal highway funds. Sets forth provisions regarding the use of automotive crash test dummies. Repeals the annual report requirement of the Highway Safety Act of 1966. Title III: Motor Carrier Act of 1991 - Motor Carrier Act of 1991 - Authorizes appropriations out of the Highway Account of the HTF for the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program and for the motor carrier safety functions of the FHWA. Prohibits States from enacting or enforcing laws denying reasonable access to commercial motor vehicles between the NHS and terminals, facilities for food, fuel, repairs, and rest, and points of loading and unloading for household good carriers and for any truck tractor-semitrailer combination in which the semitrailer has a length not to exceed 28 1/2 feet and which generally operates as part of a specified vehicle combination, with exceptions (but allows State or local governments to impose reasonable restrictions, based on safety considerations, on any such combination). Bars States from establishing, maintaining, or enforcing any regulation of commerce which imposes a vehicle length limitation of less than 48 feet on the length of the semitrailer unit operating in a truck tractor-semitrailer combination, and of less than 28 feet on the length of any semitrailer and trailer operating in such a combination, on any segment of the NHS. Sets forth: (1) additional provisions with respect to semitrailer and trailer combinations, and truck tractors; and (2) NHS segment exemptions (and procedures), such as where the Governor of a State transmits to the Secretary notification of specific evidence of safety problems. Sets forth analogous provisions limiting commercial motor vehicle width to 102 inches on NHS segments. Directs the Secretary: (1) within 12 months, to conduct a review of information systems utilized by one or more States or jurisdictions pertaining to the collection of and accounting for fees and taxes for vehicle registration, motor fuel use, or other purposes; (2) within 24 months, to establish an information system to serve as a clearinghouse and depository of information pertaining to the collection of and accounting for fees for registering commercial motor vehicles and taxes charged by States for motor fuel used by such vehicles, with the maintenance of the system to be supported by user fees; and (3) to establish standards to ensure uniform data collection and reporting by all States. Makes funds available for such purpose. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to States: (1) for the development and implementation of a program to register and collect commercial motor vehicle fuel taxes according to standards established under this title; and (2) to carry out a project to demonstrate methods of linking safety fitness of the registrant or the motor carrier responsible for the operation of the commercial motor vehicle when registering such vehicle. Makes funds available for such purposes. Authorizes the Secretary to promulgate regulations barring States from registering commercial motor vehicles under the standards established under this title if the State or Secretary determines that the registrant or the motor carrier responsible for the operation of such vehicle has not demonstrated the safety fitness required to operate such vehicle. Authorizes and directs the Attorney General to institute a civil action for injunctive relief that may be appropriate to assure compliance with provisions under this title. Authorizes the court to issue specified injunctive relief as appropriate. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to States (including the District of Columbia and the U.S. territories) for the development and implementation of programs for the enforcement of Federal rules, regulations, standards, and orders applicable to commercial motor vehicle safety, vehicle size, and maximum weight, and commercial motor vehicle awareness and enforcement, and compatible State rules, regulations, standards, and orders. Directs the Secretary to formulate procedures for a State to submit a plan where the State agrees to adopt, and assume responsibility for, enforcing such Federal rules. Sets forth requirements for State plans, including ensuring that the State will devote adequate resources for administering the plan and providing a right of entry and inspection to carry out the plan. Directs the Secretary to: (1) reject any State plan that does not provide that the aggregate expenditure of funds of the State and political subdivisions for commercial motor vehicle safety, drug awareness and enforcement, and size and weighing activities will be maintained at a level that does not fall below the average level of expenditures in such State for the last full fiscal year; (2) make a continuing evaluation of the manner in which each State is carrying out its State plan; and (3) withdraw approval under appropriate circumstances (subject to specified procedures and judicial review). Authorizes the Secretary to reimburse a State up to 75 percent of the costs incurred by such State in the development and implementation of programs for the enforcement of such rules, regulations, standards, and orders, and up to 100 percent of such costs if the Secretary determines that such programs are particularly beneficial to all jurisdictions. Sets forth additional provisions with respect to deductions of funds for administration, allocation criteria, the availability, release, and reallocation of funds, obligation of funds, and payments to States. Prohibits States, political subdivisions, or interstate agencies from enacting or enforcing laws or rules relating to interstate or intrastate rates, routes, or services of any motor carrier providing transportation of passengers or property in interstate commerce, or the leasing, rental, or other sourcing of commercial drivers and motor vehicles by interstate motor carriers. Directs the Secretary to issue regulations to establish uniform standards for: (1) the registration of commercial motor vehicles; and (2) the collection and distribution of taxes charged by States for motor fuel used by such vehicles (which, at a minimum, provide for single base State collection with proportional sharing of the motor fuel taxes charged within the States where the commercial motor vehicle is operated, reciprocity among the agreeing States, and uniform, simplified tax reporting requirements). Bars any State from having in effect or enforcing a law or regulation which: (1) limits operation of any commercial motor vehicle within its borders by reason of such vehicle's not being registered in the State when it is registered in another State; and (2) imposes a tax upon the use of motor fuel by commercial motor vehicles, except as may be imposed upon the purchase of fuel within such State, unless the State is in compliance with the requirements established under this title. Authorizes the Secretary to promulgate regulations to establish uniform standards for the collection and distribution of taxes and fees exclusively associated with the purchase, use, and operation of commercial motor vehicles. Sets forth provisions regarding State vehicle size and weight limitations, including a formula for the maximum gross weight to be allowed by any State for vehicles using the IS. Repeals: (1) various provisions of the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982, including provisions regarding grants for enforcement programs for commercial motor vehicle safety, length and width limitations, and access to the IS, as well as certain unobligated authorizations; and (2) provisions relating to required State registration of operating authority granted by the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC). Revises Federal provisions with respect to the registration of motor carriers by a State to prohibit any State from requiring an interstate private or former motor carrier or interstate broker of property to prove the lawfulness of specified interstate transportation activity, such as requiring such carrier or broker to: (1) file and maintain a certificate or permit issued to such carrier or broker by the ICC; (2) register more vehicles operated under such a certificate or permit; (3) display or carry on any vehicle any means of identification evidencing the lawfulness of such transportation activity; or (4) pay a fee or a tax with respect to such activities. Title IV: Federal Mass Transportation Act of 1991 - Federal Mass Transportation Act of 1991 - Amends Federal law to rename the Urban Mass Transportation Administration of the Department of Transportation the Mass Transportation Administration. Amends the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964 (the Act) to make the following projects eligible to receive discretionary capital grants under the Act: (1) public highways (other than those functionally classified as local or rural minor collectors); (2) the deployment of innovative techniques and methods in the management and operation of public transportation services; and (3) mass transportation services to meet the special needs of elderly and handicapped persons. Authorizes the obligation of such grants for full funding contracts. Revises the eligibility criteria for discretionary capital grants or loans for construction of new fixed guideway systems to provide that such systems: (1) be based upon a thorough assessment of the feasibility of using a variety of innovative financing mechanisms as well as its overall capital plan; and (2) are included in a specified report. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1992 through 1996. Prohibits the Secretary of Transportation (Secretary) from approving an application for discretionary capital grants or loans for the construction of highway transportation projects unless an authorization is made for the fiscal year in which such application is being sought. Authorizes the Secretary to approve innovative highway- and transit-related, immediate action, noncapital-intensive projects to help relieve congestion and transportation-related air quality problems in certain urbanized areas or projects in rural areas that respond to rural transportation problems through innovative approaches and strategies. Sets forth project requirements. Changes from 75 percent to no more than 60 percent the Federal share of net costs for highway transportation projects, except for construction of a new fixed guideway system and extension to a fixed guideway system which shall be up to 50 percent of net project cost. Declares that it is in the national interest to encourage and promote the development of transportation systems that will effectively serve the States and local communities. Directs the Secretary to cooperate with State and local officials in urbanized areas in the development of transportation programs which are based upon long-range land use plans and economical and environmental concerns, including their probable effect on the future development of the area. Requires a metropolitan planning organization to be designated in each urbanized area to develop a transportation improvement program. Authorizes the Secretary to contract for and make grants to States and local agencies, or enter into working agreements with other Federal agencies, for the planning, engineering, design, and evaluation of public transportation projects, and for other technical studies. Makes a specified amount of block grant transportation funds available based on a specified formula for expenditure in certain urbanized areas. Eliminates certain percentage requirements from such formula based grants. Requires recipients of such grants to assure that the proposed program of transportation projects provides for the maximum feasible coordination of public transportation services assisted under the Act with transportation services assisted by other Federal sources. Revises eligibility requirements with respect to such grants. Changes from 80 percent to no more than 60 percent the Federal share of net costs for construction of transportation projects, except for noncapital expenses which shall be 50 percent of net project cost. 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. 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 a clearinghouse between the centers and the transportation industry. Directs the Secretary to make grants to universities to establish three additional National Centers for Transportation Management, Research, and Development as a means to accelerate the involvement of minorities and women in transportation-related professions, particularly in the science, technology, and engineering disciplines. 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 the research conducted in such centers pursuant to authorizations under the Act or the HTF. Authorizes the Secretary to transfer facilities and equipment that are acquired by a recipient of Federal transportation funds and are no longer needed by the recipient to any public body to be used for any public purpose for no less than 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. Requires funds that are available under the Act for public highway projects to be transferred to the FHWA. Requires construction employees who work on transportation construction projects in excess of $250,000 to be paid wages at rates not less than those prevailing on similar construction in the locality. Prohibits any person from dividing any project into contracts of $250,000 or less if such project would not have been divided but for avoiding such minimum wage rate requirement. Revises provisions of the Act relating to Federal transportation assistance for mass transportation projects that meet the special needs of elderly persons and individuals with disabilities. Changes from 95 percent to no more than 60 percent the Federal share of net costs for such projects. Authorizes the Governor of a State to allocate certain Federal transportation funds for construction of highway projects to certain urbanized areas. Requires the Secretary to evaluate the performance of each Governor in allocating such funds every three years. Limits the amount of formula based grants for transportation projects in nonurbanized areas that may be used for operating assistance. Changes from 80 percent to no more than 60 percent the Federal share of net costs for public transportation construction projects in nonurbanized areas. Makes public highways (other than those functionally classified as local or rural minor collectors) eligible construction projects to receive Federal transportation formula based grants for nonurbanized areas provided specified conditions are met. Authorizes States to transfer facilities and equipment acquired with such assistance to recipients eligible to receive assistance under this Act so long as such assets continue to be used for transportation purposes. Authorizes the Secretary to retain funds returned to him or her in connection with grants or contracts for human resources projects that involve public transportation. Authorizes appropriations from the Mass Transit Account of the HTF for FY 1992 through 1996 for mass transportation projects. Sets forth a formula for allocation of such funds. Authorizes the Secretary to issue regulations requiring as a condition to receiving mass transportation assistance that a recipient certify that it has established alcohol and drug abuse control and testing programs for itself or for its workers who are involved in safety sensitive functions. 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 to oversee the construction of such projects. Earmarks one-third of the funds appropriated from the Mass Transit Account of the HTF for grants or contracts for mass transportation projects. 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 establish a program of transit technology development. Directs the Secretary to establish an Industry Technical Panel consisting of representatives of transportation suppliers and operators and others involved in technology development to assist him or her in the identification of priority technology development areas and in establishing guidelines for project development, project cost sharing, and project execution. Allocates on a specified formula funds from the HTF for State and local transit cooperative research and planning programs. Title V: Highway Revenue Act of 1991 - Highway Revenue Act of 1991 - Extends for three years: (1) HTF taxes and related exemptions; and (2) HTF appropriations and authorizations. Makes amounts in the Highway Account of the HTF available for specified traffic safety and cost savings programs. Makes conforming amendments to the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) reduce Federal gasoline, and diesel and special motor fuels, taxes; and (2) reduce the amount transferred by the Secretary of the Treasury to the Mass Transit Account as the mass transit portion of the amount appropriated to the HTF which are attributable to taxes under the Code imposed after March 31, 1983.
Bill· SS. 601 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1991
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the United States shall use diplomacy to encourage the Government of El Salvador and the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN) to: (1) participate in good-faith negotiations to achieve a cease-fire and permanent settlement of the conflict in El Salvador; (2) adhere to the terms of agreements signed in Geneva, Switzerland, Caracas, Venezuela, and San Jose, Costa Rica; and (3) support the role of the Secretary General of the United Nations in advancing proposals on the outstanding issues defined in the Caracas Accords to resolve the conflict. Withholds from El Salvador unobligated military assistance for FY 1991 and prior fiscal years and military assistance allocated for FY 1992 and 1993 until the Congress enacts a joint resolution authorizing the provision of such assistance and the President reports to the Congress that: (1) those responsible for ordering and carrying out, or obstructing the investigation into, the November 1989 murders of certain priests and civilians have been apprehended and brought to justice; (2) internationally recognized workers' rights have been extended to Salvadoran workers; (3) the El Salvadoran Government has pursued legal avenues to bring to trial and obtain verdicts for those responsible for the murders of Archbishop Romero and certain land reformers and for the bombings of the FENASTRAS headquarters; (4) the El Salvadoran Government is complying with international standards of respect for humanitarian and medical workers; (5) steps have been taken to place the El Salvadoran military under the control of the civilian government; (6) the El Salvadoran Government is negotiating to achieve a cease-fire and a settlement of the conflict and has not rejected a plan for the settlement of the conflict put forth by the United Nations Secretary General; and (7) the El Salvadoran Government, through its military and security forces, has not engaged in assassinations of, or acts of violence against, civilians and has not failed to control such activities by elements subject to the control of such forces. Prohibits funding for: (1) the stationing of U.S. military personnel in El Salvador as trainers or advisors to the El Salvadoran armed forces; and (2) the financing of covert operations in El Salvador or for covert military assistance to the El Salvadoran Government. Establishes the Demobilization, Transition, and Reconstruction Fund to assist with the cost of monitoring a permanent settlement of the conflict, the demobilization of combatants in the conflict and their transition to peaceful pursuits, and the reconstruction of El Salvador. Makes the Fund available only upon the President's notification to the Congress that the El Salvadoran Government and the FMLN have reached a permanent settlement to the conflict. Requires the President, upon notification of a permanent settlement or on September 30, 1992, if no notification has occurred prior to such date, to transfer withheld military assistance to the Fund. Prohibits economic support fund (ESF) assistance from being obligated as balance-of-payments or cash assistance for El Salvador. Makes ESF assistance for El Salvador available only for projects for child nutrition, health, clean water, basic education, agrarian reform, resettling refugees, and other human needs of the people of El Salvador. Requires such assistance to be used only for programs implemented solely by civilian agencies. Subjects ESF assistance for El Salvador to reprogramming notifications under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.
Bill· SS. 588 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit tax-exempt private foundations and community foundations to establish tax-exempt cooperative service organizations to operate exclusively for charitable purposes. Declares that the excise tax based on investment income applies to such organizations.
Bill· HRH.R. 1338 (102nd)open
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1991
Requires that, except in specified instances, Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation (FSLIC) assistance be taken into account when determining losses or bad debts of savings and loans institutions (thus denying income tax deductions for losses or bad debts to the extent such assistance has compensated for them). Describes FSLIC assistance as money or property provided to a domestic building and loan association by the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation, the FSLIC Resolution Fund, or the Resolution Trust Corporation.
Bill· HRH.R. 1326 (102nd)open
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1991
Requires that, except in specified instances, Federal financial assistance be taken into account when determining losses or bad debts of savings and loans institutions (thus denying income tax deductions for losses or bad debts to the extent Federal assistance has compensated for them).
Bill· HRH.R. 1351 (102nd)open
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1991
Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1991 - Title I: Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1991 - Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1991 - Authorizes appropriations out of the Highway Account of the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) for: (1) the National Highway Program; (2) the Urban and Rural Program; (3) the Bridge Program; (4) the Right-of-Way Revolving Fund; (5) emergency relief; (6) the Federal Lands Highway Program; (7) the University Transportation Centers Program; and (8) highway use tax evasion projects. Specifies that unobligated balances of funds apportioned or allocated to a State under Federal highway provisions before October 1, 1991, shall be available for obligation in such State under the law, regulations, policies, and procedures relating to the obligation and expenditure of those funds in effect on September 30, 1991. Repeals the FY 1993 authorization under the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956. Authorizes appropriations for Interstate construction to complete the Interstate System (IS) out of the Highway Account of the HTF for each of FY 1992 through 1995. Provides for certain allocations for Massachusetts for such fiscal years. Sets forth a formula for the apportionment of authorized funds for such fiscal years among the States. Authorizes appropriations out of the Highway Account of the HTF for highway projects for the Interstate Substitution Program. Defines the National Highway System (NHS) as: (1) the highways of the IS; (2) other urban and rural principal arterials, including toll facilities; (3) highways of the Strategic Highway Network (SHN) (defined as a network of highways that constitutes an important factor in U.S. strategic defense policy); and (4) major Strategic Highway Network Connectors (SHNCs) (which provide access from major military installations to the SHN). Makes the following activities, subject to specified conditions, eligible for funding: (1) construction; (2) operational and highway safety improvements; (3) modifications to existing facilities necessary to accommodate other modes; (4) transportation planning; (5) highway safety research and development; (6) technology transfer activities; (7) control of junkyards and outdoor advertising; (8) projects that enhance rural and urban accessibility and mobility; and (9) startup costs for traffic management and control. Specifies that: (1) designation of the NHS, other than the IS, SHN, and SHNCs, shall be by the State in cooperation with local officials; (2) in urbanized areas, local officials shall act through the designated metropolitan planning organization; (3) the NHS shall be based on a functional reclassification of roads and streets in each State which shall be designated not later than September 30, 1993, in accordance with guidelines issued by the Secretary of Transportation; and (4) the Secretary shall have the authority to approve, in whole or in part, the NHS and may add segments to the NHS as necessary to meet National Highway Program objectives. Sets forth further specifications with respect to the use of the NHS by trucks, the selection of projects by the States, and new construction or major reconstruction of NHS beltways and bypasses. Directs the Secretary to establish an Urban and Rural Program to provide a category of funds that minimizes Federal requirements and provides flexibility in the use of available funds for either highway or transit projects. Specifies eligible highways and projects. Authorizes the Secretary to approve innovative highway- and transit-related immediate action, non-capital intensive projects to help relieve congestion and transportation-related air quality problems in urbanized areas of more than 200,000 population, or projects in rural areas that respond to rural transportation problems through innovative approaches and strategies. Sets forth provisions with respect to project compliance with State and Federal requirements. Requires States to have an ongoing bridge inspection and inventory system. Directs the Secretary to set aside specified funds for Metropolitan and Rural Innovative Bonus Projects. Sets forth provisions with respect to the obligation of funds, and the Federal share of projects, for the construction of toll roads, bridges, tunnels, and ferries. Declares it to be in the vital interest of the nation that a program be established to enable the States and Federal agencies to replace and rehabilitate highway bridges over waterways, other topographical barriers, other highways, or railroads when the State or Federal agencies and the Secretary find that a bridge is important, that it is unsafe and poses a safety hazard to highway users, that its replacement or rehabilitation would minimize disruptions, delays and costs to users, or that its replacement or rehabilitation would provide more efficient routes for emergency services. Directs the Secretary to: (1) inventory all highway bridges; (2) assess each bridge from the standpoint of safety and adequacy to serve traffic, based upon level-of-service criteria set by the Secretary; (3) assign each bridge not meeting such criteria to an improvement category (i.e., replacement or rehabilitation); and (4) determine the cost of improving each bridge based on such category. Sets forth requirements and procedures for Federal participation in, and approval of, bridge replacement and rehabilitation projects. Makes funds available to the States under a Major Bridge Discretionary Program. Sets forth criteria and requirements under such program. Makes provisions of the General Bridge Act of 1946 applicable to bridges authorized to be replaced, in whole or in part, by this Act, with exceptions. Specifies the Federal share (up to 75 percent) of bridge construction. Directs the Secretary to: (1) implement programs, in a manner that encourages the inventory, retention, rehabilitation, adaptive reuse, and future study of historic bridges; and (2) require each State to complete an inventory of all bridges on and off the Federal-aid system to determine their historic significance. Makes funds available for the repair or reconstruction of highways which the Secretary finds to have suffered serious damage as the result of a natural disaster over a wide area or a catastrophic failure from any external cause in any part of the United States, subject to specified restrictions. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) assist the territorial governments of the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in a program for the construction and improvement of a system of arterial highways and necessary inter-island connectors designated by the Governor of each territory; and (2) provide technical assistance for the establishment of an appropriate agency to administer on a continuing basis highway planning, design, construction, and maintenance operations. Makes funds available for engineering and economic surveys and investigations, planning of future highway programs, studies of the economy, safety, and convenience and the desirable regulation and equitable taxation of highway usage, and for research and development. Establishes a coordinated Federal Lands Highways Program consisting of forest highways, park roads and parkways, and Indian reservation roads. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) engage in research, development, and technology transfer activities on motor carrier transportation and all phases of highway planning and development; (2) enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with the National Academy of Sciences, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, or any State agency, authority, organization, or person, for such purposes; (3) make grants for research fellowships for such purposes; (4) engage in research, development, technology transfer, and other activities related to Intelligent Vehicle Highway Systems; and (5) undertake on a cost-shared basis collaborative research and development with non-Federal entities. Directs the Secretary to establish and operate in the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) a National Highway Institute to develop and administer training programs for FHWA State and local transportation and highway department employees, State and local police, public safety and motor vehicle employees, and U.S. citizens and foreign nationals engaged in highway work of interest to the United States. Sets forth provisions with respect to the Federal share of the cost of tuition and direct educational expenses. Authorizes the Secretary to carry out a transportation assistance program that will provide highway and transportation agencies in urbanized areas of 50,000 to 1,000,000 population and in rural areas with access to modern highway technology. Authorizes the Secretary to engage in activities to inform the domestic highway community of technological innovations abroad that could significantly improve highway transportation in the United States, promote U.S. highway expertise internationally, and increase transfers of U.S. highway transportation technology to foreign countries. Directs the Secretary to cooperate with State and local officials in urbanized areas in the development of transportation plans and programs which are formulated with due consideration to comprehensive long-range land use plans, development objectives, innovative financing mechanisms, overall social, economic, environmental, and system performance, energy conservation goals and objectives and with due consideration to their probable effect on the future development of the area. Specifies that the transportation planning process, at a minimum, shall cover the existing urbanized area and the area expected to become urbanized within the forecast period, and that it may encompass the entire Metropolitan Statistical Area/Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area at the discretion of the Governor and the affected units of local government. Requires that transportation plans and programs in urbanized areas of more than 200,000 population be based on a continuing transportation planning process which: (1) is carried out by a metropolitan planning organization and is comprehensive to the degree appropriate based on the complexity of transportation problems in the area, including transportation-related air quality problems; and (2) considers all modes of transportation, including intermodal connectivity, the balance between future development and transportation needs, and an areawide multimodal congestion management system. Specifies that in nonattainment areas for transportation-related pollutants the multimodal congestion management system shall address air quality considerations and be coordinated with the process for development of the transportation element of the State Implementation Plan required by the Clean Air Act. Requires that the costs and impacts of proposed action on both mobility and air quality be evaluated. Bars the Secretary from approving any highway project in urbanized areas of more than 200,000 population that by reconstruction or new construction significantly increases the vehicle-carrying capacity of a transportation corridor unless the project is consistent with the congestion management system. Directs the metropolitan planning organization to cooperate with the State in the development of a congestion management, bridge management, pavement management, safety management, and traffic monitoring system. Requires that: (1) a metropolitan planning organization be designated in each urbanized area by agreement among the units of general purpose local government and the Governor to carry out such transportation planning process; (2) such organization develop a transportation improvement program that includes all projects proposed for funding within the study area under the National Highway Program, the Urban and Rural Program, and the Bridge Program; and (3) in urbanized areas of 200,000 population or less, such organization, the State, and transit operators, at a minimum, meet the requirements of this Act by the development of such a transportation improvement program (including consideration of transportation-related air quality problems.) Directs the Secretary to cooperate with the States in carrying out: (1) statewide transportation planning to support transportation programs and projects funded under this Act; and (2) State highway research. Sets forth provisions regarding State matching fund requirements and waiver of such requirements. Requires the States and the Federal agencies to exercise effective control of the erection and maintenance of outdoor advertising signs, displays, or devices in areas adjacent to the NHS and rural arterials located outside of urbanized areas, and of the establishment and maintenance of junkyards outside of urbanized areas adjacent to the NHS. Encourages, and authorizes the Secretary to allocate funds to, States to initiate or expand efforts for planning and program development for scenic byways. Directs the Secretary to issue guidelines for evaluation of congestion pricing measures proposed in response to air quality problems for operational tests in designated urbanized areas. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) the availability and apportionment of funds for the various programs, including specifications of the Federal share of certain projects; (2) administration of Federal lands highways funds; (3) acquisition of rights-of-way; and (4) private, State, and local donations. Specifies that the State matching share for a project with respect to which Federal assistance is provided out of the Highway Account of the HTF may be credited with the fair market value of land incorporated into the project and lawfully donated to the State after April 2, 1987, and the fair market value of land owned by the State or a local government and incorporated into the project. Authorizes the Secretary to withhold project approvals on National Highway Program projects for failure of a State to have a bridge management, pavement management, safety management, and congestion management system. Requires each State to have such systems, as well as a traffic monitoring system to provide statistically-based traffic data. Requires any State transportation or highway department which submits plans for: (1) a National Highway Program project involving the bypassing of, or going through, any city, town, or village, to certify to the Secretary that it has had public hearings or the opportunity for hearings and has considered the economic, social, and environmental effects and its consistency with the goals and objectives of urban planning promulgated by the community; and (2) an IS project to make a similar certification to enable persons in rural areas who have property contiguous to the highway or property through which the highway will pass to express objections they may have to the proposed locations of the highway. Requires the State transportation or highway department to prepare a record of the hearing. Sets forth NHS standards which, at a minimum, enable National Highway Program projects to accommodate the types and volumes of traffic anticipated for the project for a 20-year period, with exceptions. Sets forth additional provisions with respect to: (1) sign, curb and pavement marking, and traffic signal standards; (2) highway and railroad grade crossing safety standards; (3) soil erosion guidelines; (4) consideration of economic, social, and environmental effects; and (5) highway noise level standards. Directs the Secretary: (1) to develop and promulgate guidelines to assure that highways constructed pursuant to this title are in conformity with any approved plan for the implementation of any ambient air quality standard for any air quality control region designated pursuant to the Clean Air Act, as amended; (2) not to approve projects involving bridge approaches if the project and bridge will significantly affect the traffic volume and the highway system of a contiguous State without first taking into full consideration the views of such State; and (3) not to approve projects that will result in the severance or destruction of an existing major route for nonmotorized transportation traffic and light motorcycles unless the project provides a reasonable alternative route or an alternative route exists. Requires that projects for resurfacing, restructuring, or rehabilitating any highway, other than a fully access-controlled highway, in which Federal funds participated be constructed in accordance with standards to preserve and extend the service life of highways and to enhance highway safety, and that projects on fully access-controlled highways be constructed in accordance with new construction and major reconstruction standards. Sets forth: (1) procedures for submission and approval of State transportation or highway department plans, specifications, and estimates for proposed projects; (2) alternate project procedures; and (3) provisions with respect to right-of-way agreements, including commercial use and management of rest areas, vending machines, and the use of income from right-of-way airspace. Establishes guidelines with respect to highway construction, including: (1) limitations on the use of convict labor; (2) State warranty or guarantee provisions; (3) bidding requirements; (4) wages; (5) equal employment opportunity provisions, including the prohibition of discrimination based on sex; (6) highway construction training, including training of disadvantaged businesses to achieve proficiency to compete for contracts and subcontracts; (7) Indian employment; and (8) provisions with respect to utility facilities. Makes it the duty of the State transportation or highway department to maintain NHS projects and the IS. Authorizes the Secretary to approve as a NHS project the acquisition of land adjacent to the right-of-way for the construction of carpool and other publicly-owned parking facilities, to encourage carpools, for exclusive or preferential high occupancy vehicle lanes, and to accommodate needed rail (included high speed ground transportation and magnetic levitation systems) or non-highway public mass transit facilities, subject to specified conditions. Authorizes: (1) the State to use Federal highway funds to construct improved lanes, paths, or shoulders, traffic control devices, shelters, and parking facilities for bicycles and pedestrians, and carry out nonconstruction projects related to safe bicycle and pedestrian use, subject to specified limitations; and (2) the Secretary to approve as part of highway construction the costs of landscaped and roadside development. Declares it to be Government policy that special effort should be made to preserve the natural beauty of the countryside, public park and recreation lands, wildlife and waterfowl refuges, and historic sites. Authorizes the Secretary to approve certain transportation programs or projects requiring the use of publicly-owned land of a public park, recreation area, wildlife and waterfowl refuge, or historic site only if: (1) there is no prudent and feasible alternative to using such land; and (2) the program or project includes all possible planning to minimize harm to such park, recreation area, wildlife and waterfowl refuge, or historic site resulting from such use. Authorizes the use of National Highway Program and Urban and Rural Program funds to participate in wetland mitigation banks or to contribute to statewide programs that create, conserve, or enhance wetland habitat. Authorizes the Secretary, in an emergency, to use certain Department of Transportation appropriations for medical assistance necessary for the immediate relief of FHWA employees engaged in hazardous work. Declares it to be in the national interest to utilize small business enterprises to the fullest practicable extent in highway construction. Authorizes the Secretary to provide for: (1) the construction and maintenance of defense access roads (including bridges, tubes, and tunnels) to military reservations, defense industries and industry sites, and the sources of raw material when the roads are certified to the Secretary as important to the national defense; and (2) necessary reconstruction of the Alaska-Canada International Highway. Directs the Secretary to report to specified committees periodically regarding the condition and performance of the existing system and estimates of the future highway and bridge needs of the nation, including the results of studies of the air quality impacts of transportation programs. Authorizes the Secretary to carry out experimental programs which allow the FHWA and the States to demonstrate innovative and nontraditional design, construction, and management practices, or both, for highway projects while utilizing a competitive process for selection of contractors. Directs the Secretary to evaluate such projects and report on the results. Transfers funds made available for transit projects under this Act or under Federal highway provisions to, and for administration by, the Mass Transportation Administration. Lists Federal highway provisions, as amended by this Act, which are designed to promote clean air, such as: (1) the Research and Technology Program (to enable States to more effectively assess environmental impacts and the effectiveness of mitigation strategies); (2) the Urbanized Area Planning Program (requiring consideration of long-range land use plans, development objectives, and overall social, economic, and environmental impacts; consideration of all modes of transportation, including intermodal connectivity; and development of a multimodal congestion management system); (3) a right-of-way airspace provision permitting the use of income from such right-of-way without charge for high speed rail, magnetic levitation systems, and other transit use; and (4) provisions permitting bicycle and pedestrian projects with National Highway, Urban and Rural, and Federal Lands Highways Program funds. Waives matching fund requirements of qualifying projects between October 1, 1991 and September 30, 1993. Specifies that the Federal share shall be the percentage of the construction costs as the State transportation or highway department requests, up to 100 percent, but that the total amount of increased Federal share per fiscal year which may be obligated for qualifying projects in any State shall not be greater than 25 percent of the total amounts apportioned for the National Highway, Urban and Rural, and Bridge Programs in FY 1992. Requires States to repay the total amount of increases in the Federal share on or before March 30, 1994. Repeals provisions of the Federal-aid Highway Act of 1978 prohibiting the expenditure of Federal funds for highway signs relating to speed limit, distance, or other measurement solely using the metric system. Sets forth limitations on obligations for the Federal-aid highway programs for FY 1992 through 1996 and provisions regarding the redistribution of unused obligation authority. Title II: Highway Safety Act of 1991 - Highway Safety Act of 1991 - Authorizes appropriations out of the Highway Account of the HTF for: (1) FHWA highway safety programs; (2) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) highway safety programs and highway safety research and development; and (3) a National Driver Register. Directs the Secretary to periodically conduct a rulemaking to determine those programs most effective in reducing highway crashes, injuries, and deaths. Specifies that: (1) any rule issued pursuant to such rulemaking shall be developed in cooperation with the States; and (2) when such a rule takes effect, only the programs established by the rule as most effective in reducing highway crashes, injuries, and deaths shall be eligible to receive Federal financial assistance. Requires the State highway safety agency to coordinate its highway safety plan with the motor carrier safety plan developed under this Act. Directs each State to submit to the Secretary such speed-related data as the Secretary determines is necessary for each 12-month period ending on September 30, including data on citations and travel speeds on public highways with speed limits posted at or above 55 miles per hour (mph). Specifies that: (1) the annual apportionment to the Secretary of the Interior (for Indians in identified areas) shall not be less than three-quarters of one percent of the total apportionment of funds to the States; and (2) the Federal share for highway safety programs shall not exceed 60 percent of the total program costs, with exceptions. Authorizes the Secretary to award safety bonus funds to States that take specific actions to advance highway safety. Establishes criteria and eligibility requirements for, and formulas for determining the amount of, alcohol, safety belt use, and fatality rate bonuses and other safety bonuses (such as having programs that emphasize pedestrian, bicycle, and motorcycle safety; provision for a lead agency at the State level for emergency medical services with adequate powers and equipment; and public information and education programs on significant highway safety problems). Requires the Secretary to periodically report to the Congress on the States' efforts to qualify for safety bonus funds. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) engage in research on all phases of highway safety and traffic conditions, including the effect thereon on State laws and activities related to Intelligent Vehicle Highway Systems; (2) test, develop, or assist in the testing and development of any material, invention, patented article, or process; (3) use appropriated funds for training or education of highway safety personnel, research fellowships in highway safety, development of improved accident investigation procedures, emergency service plans, demonstration projects, and related research and development activities; and (4) carry out safety research on the relationship between the consumption and use of drugs and their effect upon highway safety and drivers of motor vehicles, driver behavior research, and biomechanics research. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) undertake, on a cost-shared basis, collaborative research and development with non-Federal entities; and (2) enter into cooperative research and development agreements, except that the Secretary may agree to provide not more than 70 percent of the cost of any such research and development project and must establish a procedure to consider the views of experts and the public concerning the project areas. Bars a State from having: (1) a maximum speed limit on any public highway within its jurisdiction in excess of 55 mph other than on a highway on the IS located outside of an urbanized area; and (2) a maximum speed limit of 65 mph on any highway within its jurisdiction on the IS located outside of an urbanized area, or under other specified circumstances. Requires each State to annually certify to the Secretary that it is enforcing all speed limits on public highways, after considering the speed-related data it submits to the Secretary. Bars the Secretary from approving projects in any State which has failed to make such certification. Requires the Secretary to withhold ten percent of National Highway, and Urban and Rural, Program funds apportioned to any State on the first day of each fiscal year in which the purchase or public possession in such State of any alcoholic beverage by a person who is less than 21 years of age is lawful. Provides for apportionment of withheld funds to other States which are in compliance with such provision. Requires that all facts contained in any report of a Federal department, agency, officer, employee, or agent relating to a highway traffic crash or investigation be made available for use in any civil, criminal, or other judicial proceeding arising out of the crash. Specifies that: (1) any such officer, employee, or agent may be required to testify in such proceedings as to the facts developed in the investigation; and (2) this and other specified reports shall be made to the public in a manner which does not identify individuals. Directs the Secretary to establish and maintain a National Driver Register to assist chief driver licensing officials of participating States in exchanging information regarding the motor vehicle driving records of individuals. Sets forth provisions with respect to: (1) the contents of such Register; (2) responsibility for accuracy of information; (3) cut-off dates for maintaining information; (4) State participation in the Register; (5) reports by such officials to the Secretary; and (6) accessibility of Register information. Establishes: (1) criminal penalties for unauthorized disclosure of such information and for requesting and obtaining Register information under false pretenses; and (2) a National Driver Register Advisory Committee. Authorizes appropriations out of the Highway Account of the HTF to carry out highway and alcohol safety programs under the safety bonus provisions of this Act. Makes such funds available until expended and not subject to any obligation limitation for State and community highway safety programs. Requires the Secretary to establish: (1) national bridge inspection standards for the proper safety inspection and evaluation of all highway bridges; and (2) a program designed to train governmental employees to carry out highway bridge inspections. Bars the admission into evidence (or use for other purposes) in Federal or State court of reports and surveys compiled to identify, evaluate, or plan the safety enhancement of potential accident sites, hazardous roadway conditions, or railway-highway crossings, for the purpose of developing any highway safety construction improvement project which may be implemented utilizing Federal highway funds. Sets forth provisions regarding the use of automotive crash test dummies. Repeals the annual report requirement of the Highway Safety Act of 1966. Title III: Motor Carrier Act of 1991 - Motor Carrier Act of 1991 - Authorizes appropriations out of the Highway Account of the HTF for the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program and for the motor carrier safety functions of the FHWA. Prohibits States from enacting or enforcing laws denying reasonable access to commercial motor vehicles between the NHS and terminals, facilities for food, fuel, repairs, and rest, and points of loading and unloading for household good carriers and for any truck tractor-semitrailer combination in which the semitrailer has a length not to exceed 28 1/2 feet and which generally operates as part of a specified vehicle combination, with exceptions (but allows State or local governments to impose reasonable restrictions, based on safety considerations, on any such combination.) Bars States from establishing, maintaining, or enforcing any regulation of commerce which imposes a vehicle length limitation of less than 48 feet on the length of the semitrailer unit operating in a truck tractor-semitrailer combination, and of less than 28 feet on the length of any semitrailer and trailer operating in such a combination, on any segment of the NHS. Sets forth: (1) additional provisions with respect to semitrailer and trailer combinations, and truck tractors; and (2) NHS segment exemptions (and procedures), such as where the Governor of a State transmits to the Secretary notification of specific evidence of safety problems. Sets forth analogous provisions, limiting commercial motor vehicle width to 102 inches on NHS segments. Directs the Secretary: (1) within 12 months, to conduct a review of information systems utilized by one or more States or jurisdictions pertaining to the collection of and accounting for fees and taxes for vehicle registration, motor fuel use, or other purposes; (2) within 24 months, to establish an information system to serve as a clearinghouse and depository of information pertaining to the collection of and accounting for fees for registering commercial motor vehicles and taxes charged by States for motor fuel used by such vehicles, with the maintenance of the system to be supported by user fees; and (3) to establish standards to ensure uniform data collection and reporting by all States. Makes funds available for such purpose. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to States: (1) for the development and implementation of a program to register and collect commercial motor vehicle fuel taxes according to standards established under this title; and (2) to carry out a project to demonstrate methods of linking safety fitness of the registrant or the motor carrier responsible for the operation of the commercial motor vehicle when registering such vehicle. Makes funds available for such purposes. Authorizes the Secretary to promulgate regulations barring States from registering commercial motor vehicles under the standards established under this title if the State or Secretary determines that the registrant or the motor carrier responsible for the operation of such vehicle has not demonstrated the safety fitness required to operate such vehicle. Authorizes and directs the Attorney General to institute a civil action for injunctive relief that may be appropriate to assure compliance with provisions under this title. Authorizes the court to issue specified injunctive relief as appropriate. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to States (including the District of Columbia and the U.S. territories) for the development and implementation of programs for the enforcement of Federal rules, regulations, standards, and orders applicable to commercial motor vehicle safety, vehicle size and maximum weight, commercial motor vehicle awareness and enforcement, and compatible State rules, regulations, standards, and orders. Directs the Secretary to formulate procedures for a State to submit a plan where the State agrees to adopt, and assume responsibility for, enforcing such Federal rules. Sets forth requirements for State plans, including ensuring that the State will devote adequate resources for administering the plan and providing a right of entry and inspection to carry out the plan. Directs the Secretary to: (1) reject any State plan that does not provide that the aggregate expenditure of funds of the State and political subdivisions for commercial motor vehicle safety, drug awareness and enforcement, and size and weighing activities will be maintained at a level that does not fall below the average level of expenditures in such State for the last full fiscal year; (2) make a continuing evaluation of the manner in which each State is carrying out its State plan; and (3) withdraw approval under appropriate circumstances (subject to specified procedures and judicial review.) Authorizes the Secretary to reimburse a State up to 75 percent of the costs incurred by such State in the development and implementation of programs for the enforcement of such rules, regulations, standards, and orders, and up to 100 percent of such costs if the Secretary determines that such programs are particularly beneficial to all jurisdictions. Sets forth additional provisions with respect to deductions of funds for administration, allocation criteria, the availability, release, and reallocation of funds, obligation of funds, and payments to States. Prohibits States, political subdivisions, or interstate agencies from enacting or enforcing laws or rules relating to interstate or intrastate rates, routes, or services of any motor carrier providing transportation of passengers or property in interstate commerce, or the leasing, rental, or other sourcing of commercial drivers and motor vehicles by interstate motor carriers. Directs the Secretary to issue regulations to establish uniform standards for: (1) the registration of commercial motor vehicles; and (2) the collection and distribution of taxes charged by States for motor fuel used by such vehicles (which, at a minimum, provide for single base State collection with proportional sharing of the motor fuel taxes charged within the States where the commercial motor vehicle is operated, reciprocity among the agreeing States, and uniform, simplified tax reporting requirements). Bars any State from having in effect or enforcing a law or regulation which: (1) limits operation of any commercial motor vehicle within its borders by reason of such vehicle's not being registered in the State when it is registered in another State; and (2) imposes a tax upon the use of motor fuel by commercial motor vehicles, except as may be imposed upon the purchase of fuel within such State, unless the State is in compliance with the requirements established under this title. Authorizes the Secretary to promulgate regulations to establish uniform standards for the collection and distribution of taxes and fees exclusively associated with the purchase, use, and operation of commercial motor vehicles. Sets forth provisions regarding State vehicle size and weight limitations, including a formula for the maximum gross weight to be allowed by any State for vehicles using the IS. Repeals: (1) various provisions of the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982, including provisions regarding grants for enforcement programs for commercial motor vehicle safety, length and width limitations, and access to the IS, as well as certain unobligated authorizations; and (2) provisions relating to required State registration of operating authority granted by the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC). Revises Federal provisions with respect to the registration of motor carriers by a State to prohibit any State from requiring an interstate private or former motor carrier or interstate broker of property to prove the lawfulness of specified interstate transportation activity, such as requiring such carrier or broker to: (1) file and maintain a certificate or permit issued to such carrier or broker by the ICC; (2) register more vehicles operated under such a certificate or permit; (3) display or carry on any vehicle any means of identification evidencing the lawfulness of such transportation activity; or (4) pay a fee or a tax with respect to such activities. Title IV: Federal Mass Transportation Act of 1991 - Federal Mass Transportation Act of 1991 - Amends Federal law to rename the Urban Mass Transportation Administration of the Department of Transportation the Mass Transportation Administration. Amends the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964 (the Act) to make the following projects eligible to receive discretionary capital grants under the Act: (1) public highways (other than those functionally classified as local or rural minor collectors); (2) the deployment of innovative techniques and methods in the management and operation of public transportation services; and (3) mass transportation services to meet the special needs of elderly and handicapped persons. Authorizes the obligation of such grants for full funding contracts. Revises the eligibility criteria for discretionary capital grants or loans for construction of new fixed guideway systems to provide that such systems: (1) be based upon a thorough assessment of the feasibility of using a variety of innovative financing mechanisms as well as its overall capital plan; and (2) are included in a specified report. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1992 through 1996. Prohibits the Secretary of Transportation (Secretary) from approving an application for discretionary capital grants or loans for the construction of highway transportation projects unless an authorization is made for the fiscal year in which such application is being sought. Authorizes the Secretary to approve innovative highway-related and transit-related, immediate action, noncapital-intensive projects to help relieve congestion and transportation-related air quality problems in certain urbanized areas or projects in rural areas that respond to rural transportation problems through innovative approaches and strategies. Sets forth project requirements. Changes from 75 percent to no more than 60 percent of the Federal share for net costs of highway transportation projects, except for construction of a new fixed guideway system and extension to a fixed guideway system which shall be up to 50 percent of new project cost. Declares it is in the national interest to encourage and promote the development of transportation systems that will effectively serve the States and local communities. Directs the Secretary to cooperate with State and local officials in urbanized areas in the development of transportation programs which are based upon long-range land use plans and economical and environmental concerns, including their probable effect on the future development of the area. Requires a metropolitan planning organization to be designated in each urbanized area to develop a transportation improvement program. Authorizes the Secretary to contract for and make grants to States and local agencies, or enter into working agreements with other Federal agencies, for the planning, engineering, design, and evaluation of public transportation projects, and for other technical studies. Makes a specified amount of block grant transportation funds available based on a specified formula for expenditure in certain urbanized areas. Eliminates certain percentage requirements from such formula based grants. Requires recipients of such grants to assure that the proposed program of transportation projects provides for the maximum feasible coordination of public transportation services assisted under the Act with transportation services assisted by other Federal sources. Revises eligibility requirements with respect to such grants. Changes from 80 percent to no more than 60 percent the Federal share of net costs for construction of transportation projects, except for noncapital expenses which shall be 50 percent of net project cost. 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. 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 a clearinghouse between the centers and the transportation industry. Directs the Secretary to make grants to universities to establish three additional National Centers for Transportation Management, Research, and Development as a means to accelerate the involvement of minorities and women in transportation-related professions, particularly in the science, technology, and engineering disciplines. 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 the research conducted in such centers pursuant to authorizations under the Act or the HTF. Authorizes the Secretary to transfer facilities and equipment that are acquired by a recipient of Federal transportation funds and are no longer needed by the recipient to any public body to be used for any public purpose for no less than 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. Requires funds that are available under the Act for public highway projects to be transferred to the FHWA. Requires construction employees who work on transportation construction projects in excess of $250,000 to be paid wages at rates not less than those prevailing on similar construction in the locality. Prohibits any person from dividing any project into contracts of $250,000 or less if such project would not have been divided but for avoiding such minimum wage rate requirement. Revises provisions of the Act relating to Federal transportation assistance for mass transportation projects that meet the special needs of elderly persons and individuals with disabilities. Changes from 95 percent to no more than 60 percent the Federal share of net costs for such projects. Authorizes the Governor of a State to allocate certain Federal transportation funds for construction of highway projects to certain urbanized areas. Requires the Secretary to evaluate the performance of each Governor in allocating such funds every three years. Limits the amount of formula based grants for transportation projects in nonurbanized areas that may be used for operating assistance. Changes from 80 percent to no more than 60 percent the Federal share of net costs for public transportation construction projects in nonurbanized areas. Makes public highways (other than those functionally classified as local or rural minor collectors) an eligible construction project to receive Federal transportation formula based grants for nonurbanized areas provided specified conditions are met. Authorizes States to transfer facilities and equipment acquired with such assistance to recipients eligible to receive assistance under this Act so long as such assets continue to be used for transportation purposes. Authorizes the Secretary to retain funds returned to him or her in connection with grants or contracts for human resources projects that involve public transportation. Authorizes appropriations from the Mass Transit Account of the HTF for FY 1992 through 1996 for mass transportation projects. Sets forth a formula for allocation of such funds. Authorizes the Secretary to issue regulations requiring as a condition to receiving mass transportation assistance that a recipient certify that it has established alcohol and drug abuse control and testing programs for itself or for its workers who are involved in safety sensitive functions. 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. Earmarks one-third of the funds appropriated from the Mass Transit Account of the HTF for grants or contracts for mass transportation projects. 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 establish a program of transit technology development. Directs the Secretary to establish an Industry Technical Panel consisting of representatives of transportation suppliers and operators and others involved in technology development to assist him or her in the identification of priority technology development areas and in establishing guidelines for project development, project cost sharing, and project execution. Allocates on a specified formula funds from the HTF for State and local transit cooperative research and planning programs. Title V: Highway Revenue Act of 1991 - Highway Revenue Act of 1991 - Extends for three years: (1) HTF taxes and related exemptions; and (2) HTF appropriations and authorizations. Makes amounts in the Highway Account of the HTF available for specified traffic safety and cost savings programs. Makes conforming amendments to the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) reduce Federal gasoline, diesel and special motor fuels taxes; and (2) reduce the amount transferred by the Secretary of the Treasury to the Mass Transit Account as the mass transit portion of the amount appropriated to the HTF which are attributable to taxes under the Code imposed after March 31, 1983.
Bill· HRH.R. 1325 (102nd)open
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1991
Rural Transportation Equity Act of 1991 - Amends the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964 to increase the amount allocated in any fiscal year for public transportation projects in non-urbanized areas. Redesignates the Urban Mass Transportation Administration of the Department of Transportation as the Mass Transportation Administration.
Bill· HRH.R. 1320 (102nd)open
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1991
Title I: Findings and Definitions - National Fish and Wildlife Enhancement Act of 1991 - Sets forth congressional findings and definitions. Title II: Oil and Gas Leasing on National Wildlife Refuges - Mandates that all oil and gas leasing receipts generated from activities on units of the National Wildlife Refuge System be deposited into the Refuge Revenue Sharing Fund. Exempts oil and gas leases on Alaskan units of the System from such mandate. Amends the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) to repeal, with the commencement of the first coastal plain lease sale, the proscription against oil and gas leasing within the Arctic Refuge. Directs the Secretary of the Interior (the Secretary) to initiate, through the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Director), a coastal plain oil and gas leasing program. Makes this Act the sole authority for oil and gas leasing and regulation on the coastal plain. Suspends all lease sales, in the event that the State of Alaska initiates a judicial challenge to the division of revenues between the State and the Federal Government, until a final decision has been issued. Directs the Secretary, through the Director, to publish draft competitive oil and gas coastal plain leasing regulations within six months after the date of enactment of this Act. Declares that further environmental analysis or documentation shall not be required for promulgation of such regulations. Sets forth environmental policy guidelines for such regulations, including a mandatory analysis of the direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts of oil and gas development. Sets forth general procedures and conditions for competitive oil and gas leasing, including expedited judicial review of administrative actions relating to such leasing, bonding requirements, and environmental stipulations. Authorizes the Secretary, through the Director, to work cooperatively with other Federal, State, and local agencies in developing and implementing a comprehensive oil and gas leasing program for the coastal plain. Grants the Secretary (acting through the Director) exclusive authority to grant a right-of-way across the coastal plain for purposes of a common carrier transportation or utility system corridor. Prohibits granting a permanent or year-round right-of-way until the first competitive coastal plain lease sale has been held. Mandates that the right-of-way standards for oil and gas pipelines across the coastal plain be consistent with the remainder of the pipeline outside the Arctic Refuge. Prohibits the construction of more than two new port facilities necessitated by oil or gas development that affects the Arctic Refuge along a specified coastal area. Prohibits the construction of any port facility within a distance of one and a half miles on either side of Pokok Bluffs (a polar bear denning habitat). Prohibits port facility or offshore causeway construction without prior consultation with specified fish and wildlife agencies. Declares that provisions of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 shall apply to any discharge of oil, or to the substantial threat of such discharge, into or upon the coastal plain, including land owned by the Kaktovik Inupiat Corporation or other public or private entity. Makes a party liable for removal costs and damages with respect to such discharges. Grants the Secretary enforcement powers for violations of this Act, including power to issue compliance orders and assess civil and criminal penalties. Requires the Secretary to: (1) revise a specified Arctic Refuge conservation plan to include the Arctic Refuge coastal plain; (2) consult with affected State, native villages, regional corporations, and Canada in evaluating the impact of oil and gas exploration upon fish and wildlife; and (3) report biennially to the Congress regarding the status of the oil and gas leasing program and its impact upon wildlife and the environment. Requires all oil and gas leasing revenues on the Artic and the Teshekpuk-Utukok National Wildlife Refuges to be paid into the Treasury. Outlines the manner in which such revenues shall be disbursed. Establishes the National Wildlife Refuge System Enhancement Fund to promote the restoration and enhancement of units of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Establishes as a National Wildlife Refuge and as a unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System the Teshekpuk-Utukok National Wildlife Refuge. Requires the Director to prepare a comprehensive conservation plan for such Refuge. Sets forth a limited oil and gas leasing moratorium within such Refuge. Continues the local use of coal as fuel. Repeals certain statutory prohibitions applicable to subsurface coastal plain property interests owned by the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation or surface property rights owned by the Kaktovik Inupiat Corporation. Precludes the authorization of exploratory drilling involving such property interests (with specified exceptions) until the day after the first lease sale is held pursuant to this Act. Applies environmental provisions of the final regulations issued pursuant to this Act to all oil and gas exploration, development, production, and transportation activities involving such property interests. Requires all surface disturbance activities involving such property interests to be undertaken in accordance with a plan of operations to be approved by the Director. Authorizes the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation or Kaktovik Inupiat Corporation to bring a claim for money damages or other relief in specified U.S. district courts alleging that the provisions of this Act constitute a taking of contract or property rights under the fifth amendment of the Constitution. Confers full land reclamation liability upon coastal plain oil and gas leaseholders and holders of rights-of-way. Establishes the Coastal Plain Reclamation Fund with royalties from commercially produced crude oil or natural gas. Authorizes appropriations for impact aid for affected governments and communities. Directs the Secretary to establish an impact aid grant program for such entities, and to submit to the Congress the results of a study of projected impact aid needs. Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions - Amends the Migratory Bird Conservation Act to revise the membership content of the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission to include four members (currently, two) from the House of Representatives and the Senate, respectively. Provides that lease terms shall, at a minimum, address the same wildlife conservation and protection matters that are applicable to the access and development of reserved non-Federal mineral interests in National Wildlife Refuge System areas. Amends the Fish and Wildlife Improvement Act to authorize appropriations for each fiscal year through FY 1998 for the Secretary of the Interior to implement the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat. Amends the Refuge Administration Act to provide that specified Federal criminal law does not preclude the use of aircraft and motor vehicles in implementation of approved management plans on national wildlife refuges. National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act - Amends the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 to require the Secretary to plan for the expansion of the National Wildlife Refuge System through fish and wildlife conservation activities. Requires the Secretary to resolve conflicts between existing laws establishing a refuge and one of the above purposes. Exempts Alaskan units of the System from the administration and management provisions of this section. Declares that nothing in this section shall prohibit the Secretary from providing compatible fish-and-wildlife-oriented recreation in the System. Prohibits lands acquired with funds from the Land and Water Conservation Fund or the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund for inclusion in the System from being managed by an organization or agency other than the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, unless otherwise provided by an Act of the Congress. Authorizes the Secretary to exchange System lands only if he or she determines they are suitable for disposition and are no longer needed. Excludes from such exchanges the exchange of easements or other interests in such lands which would allow such interests to be managed by an organization or agency other than the Service, unless otherwise provided by an Act of the Congress.
Bill· HRH.R. 1348 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude State and local governmental plans from the limitation on benefits exceeding 100 percent of the participant's average compensation for the high three years. Provides that qualified governmental excess benefit arrangements shall not be taken into account in determining whether pension plans meet the limitations on benefits and contributions of qualified plans. Requires taxation of such benefits as if they were provided under a deferred compensation plan maintained by a corporation not exempt from tax which does not meet the requirements of qualified pension, profit-sharing, and stock bonus plans. Exempts disability income received as a pension, annuity, or similar allowance as a result of personal injuries or sickness from the reduced dollar limitation for defined benefit plans where the employee has less than ten years participation or the retirement benefit begins before the social security retirement age. Revises the special rule for State and local government plans which requires such limitation to equal the accrued benefit to allow the election of such rule to be revoked under certain circumstances.
Bill· HRH.R. 1362 (102nd)open
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1991
Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to authorize appropriations for the Federal Election Commission for FY 1992.
Law· HRH.R. 1316 (102nd)enacted
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1991
Performance Management and Recognition System Amendments of 1991 - Allows certain Federal agencies to use work objectives in lieu of, or in addition to, critical elements and performance standards to establish performance requirements and evaluate employee job performance. Removes the current requirement that employees who are rated two levels above fully successful receive a bonus of at least two percent of their annual rate of basic pay. Allows employees whose performance is rated at the fully successful level or higher to be paid a performance award. Makes the applicable minimum percentage in effect for FY 1991 applicable for each fiscal year through FY 1993, the fiscal year through which the Performance Management and Recognition System (PMRS) is extended by this Act. Directs the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to establish a Performance Management and Recognition System Review Committee to review PMRS and advise OPM on any improvements needed in PMRS.
Bill· HRH.R. 1349 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1991
House of Representatives Campaign Cost Control Act of 1991 - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to define a "qualifying House of Representatives candidate" as one who agrees to: (1) accept $180,000 from the House of Representatives General Election Trust Fund; and (2) be subject to specified statutory limitations. Sets a general election expenditure limitation of $540,000. Prohibits acceptance of contributions by such candidates from any sources except: (1) multicandidate political committees (PACs); (2) individuals; and (3) the House of Representatives General Election Trust Fund. Limits the total of all such contributions to $180,000, but provides for waiver of such limit in certain circumstances. Authorizes civil penalties for non-compliance with such limitations. Establishes the House of Representatives General Election Trust Fund for payments to qualifying House of Representatives candidates. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to authorize the designation of income tax payments by individuals to be used for the House of Representatives General Election Trust Fund. Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to provide that the broadcast media unit charge for: (1) qualifying House of Representatives candidates with respect to any segment one minute or more in length in which the candidate appears personally shall not exceed 50 percent of the usual unit charge; and (2) non-qualifying candidates, regardless of segment length, shall be 150 percent of the usual unit charge.
Bill· HRH.R. 1346 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1991
Peace, Democracy and Development in El Salvador Act of 1991 - Expresses the sense of the Congress that the United States shall use diplomacy to encourage the Government of El Salvador and the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN) to: (1) participate in good-faith negotiations to achieve a cease-fire and permanent settlement of the conflict in El Salvador; (2) adhere to the terms of agreements signed in Geneva, Switzerland, Caracas, Venezuela, and San Jose, Costa Rica; and (3) support the role of the Secretary General of the United Nations in advancing proposals on the outstanding issues defined in the Caracas accords to resolve the conflict. Withholds from El Salvador unobligated military assistance for FY 1991 and prior fiscal years and military assistance allocated for FY 1992 and 1993 until the Congress enacts a joint resolution authorizing the provision of such assistance and the President reports to the Congress that: (1) those responsible for ordering and carrying out, or obstructing the investigation into, the November 1989 murders of certain priests and civilians have been apprehended and brought to justice; (2) internationally recognized workers' rights have been extended to Salvadoran workers; (3) the El Salvadoran Government has pursued legal avenues to bring to trial and obtain verdicts for those responsible for the murders of Archbishop Romero and certain land reformers and for the bombings of the FENASTRAS headquarters; (4) the El Salvadoran Government is complying with international standards of respect for humanitarian and medical workers; (5) steps have been taken to place the El Salvadoran military under the control of the civilian government; (6) the El Salvadoran Government is negotiating to achieve a cease-fire and a settlement of the conflict and has not rejected a plan for the settlement of the conflict put forth by the United Nations Secretary General; and (7) the El Salvadoran Government, through its military and security forces, has not engaged in assassinations of, or acts of violence against, civilians and has not failed to control such activities by elements subject to the control of such forces. Prohibits funding for: (1) the stationing of U.S. military personnel in El Salvador as trainers or advisors to the El Salvadoran armed forces; and (2) the financing of covert operations in El Salvador or for covert military assistance to the El Salvadoran Government. Establishes the Demobilization, Transition, and Reconstruction Fund to assist with the cost of monitoring a permanent settlement of the conflict, the demobilization of combatants in the conflict and their transition to peaceful pursuits, and the reconstruction of El Salvador. Makes the Fund available only upon the President's notification to the Congress that the El Salvadoran Government and the FMLN have reached a permanent settlement to the conflict. Requires the President, upon notification of a permanent settlement or on September 30, 1992, if no notification has occurred prior to such date, to transfer withheld military assistance to the Fund. Prohibits economic support fund (ESF) assistance from being obligated as balance-of-payments or cash assistance for El Salvador. Makes ESF assistance for El Salvador available only for projects for child nutrition, health, clean water, basic education, agrarian reform, and other human needs of the people of El Salvador. Requires such assistance to be used only for programs implemented solely by civilian agencies. Subjects ESF assistance for El Salvador to reprogramming notifications under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.
Bill· HRH.R. 1358 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow the issuance of exempt facility bonds to provide spaceports.
Bill· HRH.R. 1350 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1991
Residential Lead Abatement Tax Credit Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individuals a credit for lead abatement expenses. Limits such credit to $1,000. Describes such expenses as those for the testing, removal, and abatement of lead contaminants in a principal residence.
Bill· HRH.R. 1363 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a deduction against self-employment income for amount deposited in a capital construction fund. Amends the Social Security act to make a conforming amendment for insurance benefit purposes.
Bill· HRH.R. 1359 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1991
States that for purposes of the Internal Revenue Code, Persian Gulf conflict service shall be treated as service in a combat zone. Includes active duty service as a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces in connection with Desert Storm as Persian Gulf conflict service.
Bill· HRH.R. 1355 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to deny tax-exempt status for rural electric cooperatives having gross receipts exceeding $25,000,000.
Bill· HRH.R. 1352 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow penalty-free withdrawals from individual retirement plans if used within 60 days, for the acquisition of a principal residence for a first-time homebuyer.
Bill· HRH.R. 1333 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to add conditions under which a married individual who maintains a separate household during the entire taxable year will be treated as unmarried for income tax purposes, even if the household does not constitute the principal abode of a dependent child at any time.
Bill· HRH.R. 1332 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise conditions under which an unmarried individual who maintains a household during the taxable year will be treated as a head of household for income tax purposes, eliminating requirements that the household constitute the principal abode of a child or handicapped dependent for at least half the year.
Resolution· HRESH.Res. 108 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1991
Targeted Tax Relief Disclosure Resolution of 1991 - Amends rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives to require that each public bill or joint resolution reported by the Committee on Ways and Means identify: (1) each provision (if any) of the bill or joint resolution which is intended to provide special benefits with respect to five or fewer taxpayers, transactions, events, items of property, projects, or issuances of bonds; (2) each beneficiary (known by the Committee) of such provision; (3) the Member or Members of the Congress who sponsored the inclusion of each such beneficiary in such provision; and (4) an estimate by the Joint Committee on Taxation of the loss in revenues resulting from such provision with respect to each such beneficiary for the fiscal year for which such loss in revenues first occurs and each of the five fiscal years thereafter.
Resolution· HCONRESH.Con.Res. 96 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 7 March 1991
Expresses the sense of the Congress that both the legislative and executive branches should undertake efforts to better identify, analyze, and control Federal overhead expenditures and that it should be the policy of the U.S. Government to reduce its FY 1992 overhead expenditures by ten percent.
Bill· SS. 582 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow employers to use the targeted jobs credit for employment of economically disadvantaged Persian Gulf veterans.
Bill· SS. 578 (102nd)open
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1991
Department of Defense Desert Storm Supplemental Authorization and Military Personnel Benefits Act for Fiscal Year 1991 - Title I: Supplemental Authorization of Appropriations for Fiscal Year 1991 for Operation Desert Storm - Authorizes supplemental appropriations to the Department of Defense (DOD) for FY 1991 from the balance of the amount in the Defense Cooperation Account (Cooperation Account) on the date of enactment of this Act, as well as any additional amounts credited to such Account after such date and before October 1, 1992. Requires Cooperation Account funds to be used for: (1) incremental costs associated with Operation Desert Storm; and (2) replenishment of a working capital account created in this title. Establishes for DOD the Desert Storm Working Capital Account (Capital Account). Authorizes appropriations to the Capital Account for FY 1991. Requires Capital Account funds to be used only for incremental costs associated with Operation Desert Storm, but only to such extent that funds for such use are not available in the Cooperation Account. Requires Cooperation Account funds to replenish funds used from the Capital Account. Requires Capital Account funds to revert to the Treasury after termination of such Account upon the end of the Persian Gulf War, but in no event later than September 30, 1992. Authorizes funds from both accounts to be made available for transfer by the Secretary of Defense to authorizations made available to DOD or the Coast Guard for FY 1991. Authorizes the Secretary to transfer between appropriation accounts such sums necessary to defray incremental costs associated with Operation Desert Storm. Requires the Senate and House Armed Services Committees (defense committees) to be notified before such transfers occur. Requires the Comptroller of DOD to submit monthly reports to the defense committees on the cumulative total amounts of such transfers. Title II: Waiver of Personnel Ceilings Affected by Operation Desert Storm - Authorizes the Secretary of the military department concerned to waive any military personnel end strength in such department as prescribed in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1991. Allows certain grade strength limitations to be suspended. Requires such Secretary to certify to the defense committees that the exercise of such authority is necessary because of personnel actions relating to Operation Desert Storm. Authorizes additional appropriations to DOD from the Cooperation Account for increases in military personnel costs resulting from the exercise of such waiver and suspension authorities. Title III: Military Personnel Benefits for Members of the Armed Forces Serving During Operation Desert Storm - Part A: Special, Incentive, and Other Pay and Allowances and Miscellaneous Benefits - Increases, as of August 1, 1990, the rate of special pay for duty subject to hostile fire or imminent danger. Terminates such increase 180 days after termination of the Persian Gulf War. Authorizes the payment of active duty special pay to reserve optometrists, veterinarians, nurse anesthetists, and certain other non-physician health care providers called or ordered to active duty in connection with activities in the Persian Gulf. Authorizes the payment of such special pay to such health care providers who are: (1) called or ordered to active duty for less than one year in connection with Operation Desert Storm; or (2) involuntarily retained on active duty. Entitles survivors of members who die as a result of injury or illness sustained while on active duty during the Persian Gulf War to pay for all accrued leave of such member. (Currently, there are limitations to the authorized build-up of such leave.) Removes the ceiling on savings deposits for service members carried in a missing person status in connection with Operation Desert Storm. Allows a retired member of the armed forces who is ordered to return to active duty in connection with Operation Desert Storm to be ordered to such active duty in the highest grade in which the member previously served on active duty. States that a member ordered to active duty in a grade higher than his or her retired grade shall be deemed to have been promoted to such grade. Establishes a standard death gratuity rate of $6,000 for members of all grades for the period between August 2, 1990, and the termination of the Persian Gulf War. Entitles reserve members ordered to active duty during the Persian Gulf War for specified periods, and their dependents, to certain transitional health care benefits and coverage under military health insurance policies normally authorized only for active duty personnel and their dependents. Outlines availability and applicability requirements. Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1991 to extend to February 15, 1992, the effective date for certain reductions in inpatient mental health services to be implemented under such Act. Authorizes appropriations from the Cooperation Account as necessary for the pay, allowances, and benefits provided under part A of this title. Part B: Family Assistance - Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to provide assistance to ensure that families of military personnel serving on active duty obtain needed child care services, with special focus on children of personnel serving in the Persian Gulf or otherwise deployed in connection with Operation Desert Shield. Authorizes appropriations from the Cooperation Account for such purpose. States that such funds are in addition to other funds used for child care programs for members of the the armed forces. Authorizes the Secretary to provide assistance to ensure that families of military personnel serving on active duty receive educational assistance and family support services necessary to meet the needs arising out of Operation Desert Storm. Outlines provisions concerning the types of assistance, areas of assistance, and the types of educational and family support assistance to be provided. Authorizes appropriations from the Cooperation Account. Title IV: Reporting on the Costs of Operation Desert Storm - Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to prepare periodic reports on the incremental costs associated with Operation Desert Storm and on the amounts of contributions made to the United States by foreign countries to offset such costs. Requires periodic, cumulative, and nonrecurring costs to be reported, as well as offsets to such costs. Specifies cost areas to be included in each such report. Directs the Secretaries of State and the Treasury to jointly prepare periodic reports on contributions made by foreign countries as part of the international response to the Persian Gulf crisis. Title V: Report on the Conduct of the Persian Gulf War - Requires the Secretary of Defense to report to the defense committees on the conduct of the Persian Gulf War within 180 days of the cessation of hostilities. Outlines specified areas and objectives concerning which U.S. accomplishments and shortcomings are to be discussed. Requires a preliminary report within 90 days after cessation of such hostilities. Requires each report to contain the number of military and civilian casualties sustained by coalition nations, by Iraq, and by nations not directly participating in such hostilities. Title VI: Miscellaneous Technical Amendments - Makes various technical or conforming amendments to Federal armed forces provisions, military pay and allowances provisions, National Guard provisions, and various public laws and specified Acts. Title VII: Definitions - Defines specified terms and phrases used in this Act.
Bill· SS. 581 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend the targeted jobs credit permanently. Increases the maximum age requirement for economically disadvantaged youth from 23 to 25. Allows employers to use the targeted jobs credit for employment of economically disadvantaged Persian Gulf veterans.
Bill· SS. 583 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the recapture of losses claimed by a savings and loan association by reason of certain acquisitions and such association, after January 3, 1991, becomes subject to the jurisdiction of a bankruptcy court or similar case or received Federal financial assistance. Describes such acquisition as one which occurred after November 10, 1988, and before January 1, 1989, and one which the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation (FSLIC) provided assistance. Excludes Federal financial assistance from the determination of earnings and profits. Requires that, except in specified instances, certain Federal financial assistance be taken into account when determining losses or certain bad debts of savings and loans institutions (thus denying income tax deductions for losses or bad debts to the extent Federal assistance has compensated for them).
Bill· SS. 576 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make available to an employer an income tax credit of up to $150,000 for expenses paid or incurred to acquire, construct, rehabilitate, or expand a qualified on-site day care facility operated by the employer for the care of enrollees, at least 30 percent of whom must be dependents of the employer's employees. Terminates the credit after December 31, 1996.
Bill· SS. 579 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1991
Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1992 and 1993 - Title I: Department of State - Part A: Authorization of Appropriations; Allocations of Funds; Restrictions - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1992 and 1993 for the Department of State for: (1) administration of foreign affairs; (2) the diplomatic security program; (3) international organizations and conferences; (4) international commissions; (5) migration and refugee assistance; (6) bilateral science and technology agreements; (7) Soviet-East European research and training; and (8) the Asia Foundation. Part B: Department of State Authorities and Activities - Sets forth congressional findings concerning the organization of the Department of State. Repeals provisions of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 that provide for the establishment of an Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs. Repeals provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act that provide for the creation of the Bureau of Consular Affairs. Repeals a provision of the Department of State Appropriations Authorization Act of 1973 that provides for the establishment of the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs. Repeals provisions of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 that provide for the establishment of an Office of the Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy. Amends the Foreign Service Buildings Act, 1926 to authorize the Secretary of State, subject to certain conditions, to enter into a contract for the acquisition of property and construction of diplomatic facilities in Moscow on a multiyear (not to exceed five years) basis when appropriations are available. Permits the cancellation of such contract when funds are not appropriated or available. Authorizes the Department of State to make advance payments for long-term leases and lease-purchase agreements when such payments serve the interest of carrying out the Foreign Service Buildings Act, 1926. Requires the Secretary to establish a threshold (currently, $25,000) at which leases must be approved under such Act. Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to authorize the transfer into the Buying Power Maintenance Account of unobligated balances from accounts for the administration of foreign affairs. Prohibits the balance of the Account from exceeding $100 million. Permits funds appropriated for the Department of State in any account funded in the Department of State Appropriations Act to be transferred to any other appropriations account. Prohibits an account from being increased by more than 35 percent (ten percent for the salaries and expenses account and the acquisition of foreign buildings account) through such a transfer. Prohibits, unless the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations are notified, the reprogramming of Department of State funds in excess of $500,000 (currently, $250,000). Permits funds appropriated to the Department of State to be obligated and expended without prior notification to the Congress in emergency situations. Authorizes the Secretary to expend funds in the Foreign Service Buildings Fund without prior notification to the Congress so long as: (1) total reprogramming actions do not exceed 15 percent of funds available in such Fund for any fiscal year; (2) no new programs or capital projects are undertaken which have not been presented to the Congress; and (3) the Secretary reports quarterly to the Congress on reprogramming activities. Redesignates the Office of Munitions Control of the Department of State as the Office of Defense Trade Controls and increases the amount of registration fees collected by the Office that is required to be credited to a Department of State account. Authorizes the Secretary to pay the expenses of any international meeting or conference for which the United States serves as the host. Repeals a provision of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1990 and 1991 that expands model foreign language competence posts. Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to extend the authorization of appropriations for grants to child care facilities at certain posts abroad. Increases the amount authorized to be made available for the construction of Foreign Service Institute training facilities. Authorizes the Secretary to use funds to: (1) pay obligations arising under international agreements, conventions, and binational contracts; and (2) purchase special purpose passenger vehicles without regard to price limitations. Permits the Secretary to make payments in advance of the share of expenses for international fisheries commissions. Part C: Diplomatic Reciprocity and Security - Amends the Omnibus Diplomatic Security and Antiterrorism Act of 1986 to raise the threshold (from $5,000,000 to $10,000,000) on diplomatic construction or design projects on which only U.S. persons may bid. Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to authorize special agents of the Department of State and Foreign Service to make arrests without warrants for any offenses against the United States committed in their presence. Part D: Personnel - Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to permit members of the Senior Foreign Service who are appointed to positions in the executive branch to continue to receive the Foreign Service salary, performance pay, and leave in lieu of the salary and leave of the appointed position. Revises provisions concerning the salaries of chiefs of mission. Defines as an "employee," for purposes of provisions governing civil service retirement, life insurance, and health insurance, an individual employed by an international organization who has deposited required employee deductions. Amends provisions concerning the Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS) and the Foreign Service Pension System (FSPS) and the Internal Revenue Code and the Social Security Act to deem as self-employed for purposes of social security coverage Federal employees who leave positions in which they are subject to social security employment taxes for employment in international organizations abroad (these amendments provide for continuation by such persons in FERS or FSPS). Grants employee contributions to the Thrift Savings Fund preferential tax treatment as long as such contributions are submitted to the agency from which the employee is transferred by the international organization. Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to grant access to commissaries to American citizens hired to serve as teaching staff for dependents of Federal employees abroad. Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to extend the period of temporary storage of personal effects of Foreign Service employees for an additional three months in extraordinary circumstances. Authorizes the Secretary to pay for the transport of the remains of a Foreign Service member to the designated home in the United States if the death of such member occurs in the United States. (Current law authorizes payment only for the transport of the remains of a member or family member who dies while abroad or in travel status.) Provides for payment for up to 60 days to Federal employees whose families or dependents are required to evacuate a post (even if the employee remains at such post). Revises Federal provisions regarding quarters, education, and cost of living allowances for Federal employees stationed in foreign countries. Includes Foreign Service national employees of the U.S. Government abroad in the definition of "employee" for purposes of applying Federal employee provisions concerning voluntary transfers of leave. Part E: Modifications to Other Laws - Repeals provisions of specified laws concerning: (1) a prohibition on denying requests by the Drug Enforcement Administration for danger pay allowances; (2) the assignment of U.S. officers and staff to the U.S. Mission to the European Community in Brussels, Belgium; (3) employment of commercial personnel at the American Institute of Taiwan; (4) the stationing of an Agency for International Development professional in the consulate in Jerusaleum or the embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel; (5) a travel advisory warning for Jalisco, Mexico; and (6) the closing of, and funding for, specified diplomatic and U.S. Information Agency posts. Part F: International Organizations - Repeals provisions of specified Acts concerning the U.S. contribution to the International Committee of the Red Cross. Authorizes the President to withhold 20 percent of the funds appropriated for the U.S. contribution to the United Nations if the United Nations has failed to implement decision-making procedures on budgetary matters which assure that attention is paid to the views of the United States and other major financial contributors. Permits payments of assessed contributions for prior years to the United Nations if such payment would further U.S. interests in such organization. Removes a limit on the amount authorized to be appropriated annually for U.S. membership in the Permanent Association of International Road Congresses. Amends the American-Mexican Treaty Act of 1950 to authorize funds to be made available for entertainment and representation expenses of the U.S. section of the International Boundary and Water Commission. Repeals a provision of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1988 and 1989 that requires the Secretary to report on the status of secondment within the United Nations by the Soviet Union and Soviet-bloc member nations. Part G: Japan-United States Friendship Commission - Amends the Japan-United States Friendship Act to revise provisions concerning administrative expenses of the Japan-United States Friendship Commission.
Bill· SS. 571 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1991
Aid for Trade Act of 1991 - Title I: Use of Foreign Assistance Funds - Allocates, on a percentage basis, bilateral economic assistance for FY 1993 through 1997 for the construction, design, or servicing of developmentally sound capital projects. Limits the use of such assistance to the procurement of U.S. goods and services. Establishes a program for the combined use of credits, loans, guarantees, and grants by the Export-Import Bank and the Agency for International Development (AID) to support such projects. Directs the President to establish an interagency capital projects coordinating committee composed of specified Federal agency representatives to ensure a strategic approach to the support of such projects. Requires the committee to submit to the Congress a report describing the extent to which such projects and tied aid programs have affected U.S. exports. Sets specified percentage limits on cash transfers with respect to Economic Support Funds for FY 1993 through 1997. Requires the Comptroller General to submit to the Congress a study of cash payment assistance. Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to require the Administrator of each agency, in determining the geographic code for the purchase of goods and services, not to grant any waivers from Geographic Codes OOO (United States only) or 941 (United States and least-developed countries) except for specified reasons. Requires the Administrator of the AID to report annually to the Congress on such waivers. Title II: Increase in Credit Authority - Authorizes a 15 percent per year increase in appropriations for FY 1993 through 1997 for direct loans and as reserve funds for loan guarantees made by the Export-Import Bank. Amends the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 to authorize appropriations for FY 1993 and 1994 to the Tied Aid Credit Fund. Requires the Chairman of the Bank, if such appropriated funds are not totally used for each fiscal year, to submit to the Congress a report stating: (1) the Bank's reason for not using the funds; and (2) the amount of sales or bids lost because of such Bank's decision not to use such funds. Amends the Trade and Development Enhancement Act of 1983 to authorize appropriations for FY 1993 and 1994 to support preliminary engineering and design work for capital projects. Title III: Eastern Europe Recovery Program - Authorizes the President, acting through the Administrator of the AID, to provide technical assistance to assist in the revision of public policy and administrative reforms to effect the orderly evolution of free-market economies among the Eastern European nations. Authorizes appropriations. Establishes within the Export-Import Bank the Eastern European Loan Guarantee Program to provide guarantees to U.S. lenders and exporters for projects which provide for the export of U.S.-made products and services to Eastern Europe. Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to increase the amount of direct investment loans that the Corporation must make each fiscal year. Earmarks a specified amount of such loans to promote the activities of U.S. small businesses in Eastern Europe. Title IV: General Provisions - Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to submit a specified report to the Congress if a new agreement within the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is not reached by December 31, 1991, that reduces the levels of concessional financing by member countries of the OECD, other than the United States.
Bill· HRH.R. 1301 (102nd)open
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1991
National Energy Strategy Act - Title I: Residential, Commercial, and Federal Energy Use - Subtitle A: Consumer and Commercial Products - Amends the Energy Policy Conservation Act to expand the list of commercial products covered by the Act. Directs the Federal Trade Commission to prescribe labeling rules for such products. Prohibits the Secretary of Energy from prescribing energy conservation standards for certain electric lights or commercial products listed in the Act. Subtitle B: Federal Energy Management - Amends the National Energy Conservation Policy Act to authorize Federal agency participation in private sector energy demand management or application of conservation measures to Federal buildings. Title II: Natural Gas - Subtitle A: Natural Gas Pipeline Reform - Amends the Natural Gas Act to authorize the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to direct a natural-gas entity (pipeline) to interconnect physically with other facilities, at the applicants expense, in order to receive natural gas from the other facilities for transportation in the pipeline. Declares that for purposes of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, a FERC certification of public convenience and necessity with respect to a natural gas facility is the only major Federal action requiring a detailed environmental impact statement. Amends the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 to: (1) authorize an interstate pipeline to construct facilities incidental to transportation service upon 30 days notice to the affected State commission; and (2) require FERC to authorize any interstate pipeline to transport natural gas on behalf of any person. Amends the Natural Gas Act to declare that a mutually agreed-upon natural gas transportation rate between a natural-gas company and its customer is deemed just and reasonable, and in compliance with such Act. Sets forth expedited certification procedures for natural gas transportation and related facilities construction. Provides for the construction and operation of natural gas transportation facilities with an option not to obtain a certificate of public convenience and necessity (thus taking such facility out of the jurisdiction of the Act.) Authorizes FERC to issue an order finding that if a natural-gas company's market is competitive and its transportation or sales services charges are not unduly discriminatory such charges are not subject to its jurisdiction. Subtitle B: Natural Gas Import/Export Deregulation - States that neither FERC nor a State may prohibit or condition the importation or exportation of natural gas or treat exported or imported natural gas differently from any other natural gas while it is within the United States. Authorizes the President to: (1) waive any law relating to natural gas importation or exportation upon finding that the national interest requires it; or (2) specify when such natural gas importation or exportation law is considered satisfied if the appropriate Federal or State agency has not taken final action. Subtitle C: Structural Reform of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission - Amends the Department of Energy Organization Act to abolish FERC and establish within the Department of Energy the Natural Gas and Electricity Administration to be headed by an Administrator appointed by the President. Transfers to the Secretary of Energy the functions of the Federal Power Commission and FERC. Sets forth rulemaking procedures for rates and charges with respect to natural gas and electricity. Title III: Oil - Subtitle A: Alaska Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing - Arctic Coastal Plain Competitive Oil and Gas Leasing Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior (the Secretary) to establish and implement a competitive oil and gas leasing program on the Coastal Plain. Declares that this Act is the Secretary's sole legislative authority for authorizing and conducting such a program (whether competitive or noncompetitive). Requires the Secretary to issue regulations encompassing environmental protection of the Coastal Plain. Declares that the Department of the Interior's Legislative Environmental Impact statement is compatible and consistent with the major purposes and policies of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and therefore no further environmental analysis or documentation is required for the issuance of regulations. Prescribes procedural guidelines for land lease sales on the Coastal Plain, and for exploration, development and production plans. Sets forth bonding requirements, and lease suspension and cancellation guidelines. Directs the Secretary to require lessees to unite with each other in collectively adopting and operating under a unit plan of development, including the construction of a common carrier pipeline to transport oil and gas to the exterior boundary of the Coastal Plan. Requires lessees and permittees to provide the Secretary with certain geological and geophysical data obtained from exploration or development activities. Sets forth remedies and penalties for violations of this Act. Directs the Secretary to report annually to the Congress about the leasing program. Repeals certain limitations applicable to subsurface interests owned by certain Alaskan corporations. Provides for expedited judicial consideration of any claims for relief by them. Directs the Secretary to promulgate environmental protection regulations which ensure that Coastal Plain activities will avoid significant adverse effects on fish and wildlife, their habitat, and the environment. Requires site-specific assessment and mitigation. Designates the Sadlerochit Spring Special 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. Makes leaseholders fully responsible and liable for land reclamation within the Coastal Plan 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 leaving the Coastal Plain. Prescribes revenue collection and expenditure procedures. Mandates that oil and gas revenues be deposited into the Treasury. Subtitle B: Naval Petroleum Reserve Leasing - Naval Petroleum Reserve Leasing Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Energy (the Secretary)) to lease Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 1 (California) if it is not necessary for national defense purposes. Sets forth leasing and antitrust guidelines. Mandates the use of competitive leasing procedures, minimum royalty payments, and crude oil set asides for sale to small refiners by Reserve lessees. Authorizes the Secretary to take certain steps to arrange and conduct a leasing action. Authorizes the Secretary to acquire privately owned lands or physical improvements within a Naval Petroleum Reserve if a lease of Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 1 cannot be arranged. Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to authorize the Secretary to store within the Strategic Petroleum Reserve a Defense Petroleum Inventory of petroleum products (in addition to any other acquisition and storage for such Reserve required by law). Directs the Secretary to obligate the United States share of funds available in the Naval Petroleum Reserve Lease Proceeds Special Account (created by this Act) for the acquisition of 10,000,000 barrels of crude oil for the Defense Petroleum Inventory. Declares that upon request of the Secretary of Defense: (1) crude oil acquired for or dedicated to the Defense Petroleum Inventory shall be drawn down and distributed by the Secretary of Energy for the Department of Defense for use, sale, or exchange; and (2) the Secretary of Energy shall replace in the Defense Petroleum Inventory crude oil drawn down on behalf of the Department of Defense. Requires the Department of Defense to reimburse the Department of Energy for services rendered under this Act. Establishes the Naval Petroleum Reserve Lease Proceeds Special Account in the Treasury to implement this Act. Funds such Special Account with amounts realized from the lease of any United States interest in Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 1. Sets forth a payment scheme under which lease proceeds shall be used to make payments to the State of California. Declares that: (1) the authority to lease under this Act extends to specified sections within Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 1; and (2) this Act does not affect the withdrawal of lands provided for in certain school land grants. Subtitle C: Oil Pipeline Deregulation - Oil Pipeline Regulatory Reform Act - Amends the Department of Energy Organization Act to terminate FERC jurisdiction over oil and other pipelines except the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. Authorizes the Attorney General to petition the Secretary of Energy (the Secretary) for an adjudication of whether FERC rate regulation of an existing pipeline in any market is in the public interest. Prescribes adjudication guidelines. Provides that pipeline rates for service to markets which are not identified in a mandatory published adjudications list will no longer be subject to FERC regulatory jurisdiction. Prescribes adjudication guidelines under which the Secretary shall find that regulation of a pipeline is in the public interest only if it is demonstrated that such regulation is necessary to constrain the exercise of substantial market power in the supply and demand of products transported by the pipeline in that market. States that new pipelines shall not be subject to existing Commission regulatory jurisdiction or rate regulation, but shall be subject to common carrier regulation under such Act. States that Commission rate regulation shall be prospective only. Prohibits terminated Commission regulatory jurisdiction from reverting to any other Federal agency. Confers exclusive, original jurisdiction over any petition for judicial review upon the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Precludes from such judicial review any action of the Attorney General under this Act, including adjudication petitions. Outlines the parameters within which pipelines are required to operate as common carriers. Requires pipelines to file terms of carriage schedules (except carriage rates) with the Commission. Sets forth guidelines for maximum FERC rates on a market by market basis, subject to price cap regulation based on base rates and cumulative changes in a Competitive Pipeline Price Index. Precludes a pipeline from conditioning its services upon entering into other transactions or on taking or refraining from any action. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress regarding the results of this Act five years after the conclusion of all adjudications. Retains the applicability of antitrust laws to pipeline transportation of crude oil or refined oil products. Title IV: Electricity Generation and Use - Subtitle A: Public Utility Holding Company Act Reform - Sets forth regulatory guidelines for exempt wholesale generators and qualifying facilities. Subtitle B: Power Marketing Administration Repayment Reform - Power Marketing Administration Timely Payment Act - Mandates that each power marketing administration provide for timely repayment to the Treasury of principal and interest for power investments. Prescribes repayment guidelines. Title V: Nuclear Power - Subtitle A: Licensing Reform - Amends the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to provide procedural guidelines for issuance by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) of a combined construction and operating license. Mandates that such combined license applications include a State, local, or utility emergency plan. Requires the NRC to propose implementing regulations under this Act within one year of its enactment. Subtitle B: Nuclear Waste Management - Amends the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 to declare that, for purposes of site characterization activities, the appropriate Federal agency shall administer the pertinent rules and regulations without regard to whether such administration has been or could be, delegated to a State or superseded by comparable State law. Declares State, local or tribal laws inapplicable to site characterization activities under this Act. Directs the Secretary to implement site characterization activities in spite of any refusal by either State, local or tribal authorities to act upon requested authorizations to proceed with related site characterization activities. Sets forth a 60-day deadline within which actions to contest the constitutionality of this Act must be brought. Prohibits a court from enjoining site characterization activities in such actions except as part of a final judgment. Title VI: Renewable Energy - Subtitle A: PURPA Size Cap and Co-Firing Reform - Amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA) to direct FERC to prescribe rules requiring electric utilities to offer to purchase electric capacity from alternative power production facilities only through competitive acquisition. Makes alternative power production facilities eligible for exemptions from PURPA, the Federal Power Act, and State law if they meet certain requirements. Subtitle B: Hydroelectric Power Regulatory Reform - Amends the Federal Power Act to include as part of the hydroelectric power licensing procedure an applicant's plan concerning studies to be undertaken in connection with the licensing process, and a summary of the applicant's consultation activities with Federal and State agencies and Indian tribes. Sets forth guidelines for additional licensing procedures. Directs FERC to coordinate a single, consolidated licensing review (including review under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969) of a hydropower project license application that is subject to Federal, State, or Indian tribal review. Removes from FERC jurisdiction hydropower projects with installed capacities of five megawatts or less that have not received a license by the date of enactment of this Act. Title VII: Alternative Fuel: Subtitle A: Alternative and Dual Fuel Vehicle Credits - Amends the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act to eliminate limits on the credit toward complying with the corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards available to manufacturers for the production of light duty alternative fuel vehicles and certain dual fuel vehicles. Subtitle B: Alternative Transportation Fuels - Sets forth acquisition and credit allocation guidelines for alternative fuel vehicles. Requires persons who own or otherwise control a fleet of motor vehicles of different types and sizes to make a specified percentage of their annual vehicle acquisitions alternative fuel vehicles. Prescribes civil and administrative penalties for noncompliance with this Act. Title VIII: Innovation and Technology Transfer - Amends the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 to allow each Federal agency to: (1) secure copyright on behalf of the United States in any computer software prepared in whole or in part by U.S. employees under a cooperative research and development agreement or other authority, notwithstanding provisions of Federal copyright law; and (2) grant in advance to a collaborating party licenses or assignments for the copyrights, or options thereto, retaining specified rights. Adds references to software and its author to provisions governing the distribution of royalties received by Federal agencies. Title IX: Tax Incentives - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to postpone from December 31, 1991, to December 31, 1992, the termination date for energy investment tax credits. Repeals the termination dates (thus making permanent) for the credit for increasing research activities, including the credit for clinical testing expenses for certain drugs for rare diseases or conditions (orphan drugs).
Bill· HRH.R. 1303 (102nd)open
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1991
Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1991 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to make certain findings with regard to cable television programming, competition, and Government regulation. Prohibits a Federal agency or a State from regulating the rates for the provision of cable service, except as provided under this Act. Authorizes a cable television franchising authority to regulate such rates, but only as provided under this Act. Directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish: (1) a formula to establish the maximum price of basic tier service; (2) a formula to establish the price for installation and lease of the minimum equipment necessary for subscribers to receive the basic service tier; (3) standards concerning the lease or purchase price of converter boxes and remote controls; (4) a formula to identify and allocate costs attributable to satisfying franchise requirements to support public, educational, and governmental channels, along with procedures for the cable operator to recover such costs; (5) additional standards and guidelines to implement regulations prescribed by the FCC; and (6) effective dates for compliance with such formulas, standards, and guidelines. Requires each cable operator to offer its subscribers a separately available basic service tier to which the minimum rates shall apply and to which subscription is required for access to all other tiers of service. Requires such basic service tier to include any public, educational, and governmental access programming required by the franchise of the cable system. States that such requirements shall not apply to a cable system with 12 or fewer usable activated channels that has 300 or fewer subscribers so long as such system does not delete carriage of any signal of a broadcast television station. Prohibits a cable operator from adding any video programming to the basic tier that is not a signal or programming required to be included in the basic tier package. Allows certain nonprofit television programming to be carried on such basic tier as long as the organization producing such programming is not required to pay Federal income taxes and does not carry advertising. States that basic tier provisions of this Act shall also not apply to a cable system entering a cable television rate regulation agreement before July 1, 1990, where such system was not subject to effective competition. Allows for the continued carriage of basic tier services in the case of a cable operator that offered subscribers a tier of programming as of January 1, 1990, consisting of signals and programming essentially permitted under this Act. Authorizes a cable operator already providing such programming to provide for a rate formula adjustment or a cable television programming retiering to comply with the requirements of this section. Directs the FCC to establish: (1) criteria for identifying rates for cable programming services that are unreasonable or abusive; (2) fair and expeditious procedures for the receipt, consideration, and resolution of complaints alleging that a rate for cable programming services violates the criteria established; and (3) the procedures to be used to reduce rates determined by the FCC to be unreasonable or abusive. Outlines factors to be considered in determining the reasonableness of such rates and limits complaints permitted concerning rates existing before the effective date of such regulations. Prohibits discrimination among customers of basic cable service. Requires the regulation and installation of equipment necessary for the provision of such services to the hearing-impaired. Directs the FCC to require cable systems to file certain financial information annually with the FCC and requires a report from the FCC to the Congress. Requires the FCC to establish standards, guidelines, and procedures to prevent evasion of rates, services, and other requirements of this section. Requires each cable operator to carry the signals of a specified number of qualified noncommercial television stations (QNTS), such number increasing with the number of usable activated channels offered by the cable system (ranging from one for a system with 12 or fewer activated channels to three for a system with more than 36 usable activated channels). Requires a cable system with 13 to 36 activated channels to carry at least one QNTS. Provides that duplication of affiliates of State public television networks is not required of a cable operator. Requires each cable operator to carry in its entirety the primary video and audio transmission of each QNTS carried on its system, as well as material necessary for the receipt of such programming by handicapped persons or for educational or language purposes. Outlines other signal carriage requirements required of a cable operator with regard to QNTS, including: (1) signal integrity; (2) channel assignments (requiring notice if a QNTS is repositioned by a cable operator); and (3) signal quality responsibilities of the QNTS. Prohibits a cable system from accepting monetary payments or other valuable consideration (except for signal quality costs) in exchange for the carriage of a QNTS. Exempts a cable operator from being required to carry a QNTS where the payment of copyright charges as a distant signal would be required of the cable operator. Requires a cable operator to identify upon request those signals carried in fulfillment of the above requirements. Outlines remedies available to a QLTS when it believes that a cable operator has failed to meet carriage requirements outlined in this Act, requiring the cable operator to be notified of the allegation, a response from the cable operator, and review of such complaint by the FCC. Requires cable operators that provided basic tier service to carry the signals of all qualified local television stations (QLTS) in accordance with the following provisions: (1) cable operators with more than 12 usable activated channels must carry a minimum number of QLTS (ranging from five QLTS for such operators with 13 to 20 usable activated channels to 25 percent of channel capacity for cable operators with more than 125 usable activated channels); (2) the cable operator must have complete discretion in selecting which QLTS signals shall be carried on its system, with specified exceptions, after such operator has met the minimum required number of QLTS for its amount of usable activated channels; (3) cable operators must carry in its entirety the primary video and audio transmission of each QLTS carried; (4) signals of a QLTS must be carried by the cable operator without material degradation; (5) duplicate QLTS need not be carried by a participating cable operator; (6) the channel position of a QLTS must be a current one or one mutually agreed upon by the participating cable operator and the QLTS, with a specified exception; (7) a participating cable operator shall identify upon request those signals carried in fulfillment of its requirements; and (8) a participating cable operator shall provide written notice to a QLTS that such channel is being repositioned or deleted. Prohibits a cable system from accepting or requesting monetary payment or other valuable consideration in exchange for the carriage of a signal of a QLTS under these provisions, except for certain administrative costs. Outlines remedies and procedures available to a QLTS when it believes that a cable system has failed to meet such requirements, requiring the cable operator to be notified of the allegation, to respond to such allegation, review by the FCC of such complaint, and remedial actions to be taken by the cable operator in a finding of noncompliance with such requirements. Defines a minimum viewership standard that must be achieved by a qualified local commercial television station in order to be required to be carried by the cable operator in accordance with this Act. Provides viewership standards requirements for new stations commencing operations and otherwise meeting requirements of a local commercial television station. States that the viewership standards requirements shall not apply with respect to carriage of a minority-owned or minority-oriented station that otherwise meets the requirements of a local television station. States that compliance with viewership standards requirements shall be demonstrated on the basis of an independent survey of non-cable homes. Abolishes rules requiring cable operators to provide, or provide information to subscribers on, input selector switches or comparable devices. Directs the FCC to establish standards by which cable operators may fulfill their customer service requirements. Requires such standards to govern cable system office hours and telephone availability, installations, outages and service calls, and communications (including bills and refunds) between the cable operator and the customer. Requires the FCC to determine: (1) whether equipment standards are necessary to permit the commercial availability of converter boxes and remote controls compatible with cable systems; and (2) the feasibility of including converter and addressability technology for cable systems and other multichannel video systems in television receivers shipped in interstate commerce or imported from any foreign country for sale or resale to the public. Directs the FCC to prescribe regulations which establish minimum technical standards relating to the facilities and equipment of cable systems suitable to ensure adequate technical operation and signal quality. Requires such standards to be periodically updated to reflect improvements in technology. Requires the FCC to prescribe regulations to prohibit any video programming vendor in which a multichannel video system operator has an attributable interest and that licenses video programming for national distribution from unreasonably refusing to deal with any multichannel video system operator with respect to the provision of video programming. Outlines provisions concerning, with respect to such video programming distributors: (1) affirmative defenses; (2) remedies for violations of prescribed regulations; (3) enforcement by the Commission; (4) termination of such regulations either nine years after enactment of this Act or an earlier date as determined by the FCC; (5) required reports; and (6) exemptions from such prescribed regulations. Requires the FCC to establish regulations governing program carriage agreements and related practices between cable operators and video programming vendors. Specifies prohibitions to be included in such regulations relating to discrimination, conflicting financial interests, exclusivity, and appropriate penalties. Provides that any person who encrypts (puts together as a coded commercial package) any satellite-delivered television programming shall: (1) make such programming available for private viewing by home satellite antenna users; (2) when making such program available through any other person for distribution through any medium, establish reasonable and nondiscriminatory criteria and requirements for the distribution of such programming to home satellite antenna users and establish terms and conditions for the wholesale distribution of such programming to distributors for cable television subscribers and distributors to home satellite antenna users (with specified exceptions). Provides remedies for violations of such requirements. Empowers the FCC to make such rules and regulations as necessary to ensure that satellite stations receiving signals in the megahertz band used for private viewing are not unduly restricted from being used for the reception of television programming services. Directs the FCC to initiate an inquiry and rulemaking proceeding to determine: (1) the technical feasibility of using smaller C-band home satellite dish receivers than are used today; (2) the extent to which existing FCC rules and regulations act as a barrier to the use of such smaller dishes; (3) the extent to which local zoning, construction, or other regulations have acted as a ban to the successful development of the C-band satellite television delivery service; and (4) the extent to which smaller dish sizes might overcome such local barriers. Directs the FCC to amend any of its own policies, rules, or regulations found to hinder the development and use of the smaller satellite dishes. Directs the FCC, after notice and opportunity for hearing, to prescribe revisions to standards and rules concerning equal employment opportunity under the Communication Act of 1934 in order to implement the amendments made by this Act. Requires such revisions to be designed to promote equality of employment opportunities for females and minorities within any corporation, partnership, joint-stock company, or trust engaged primarily in the management or operation of any cable system. Lists specified positions to which such equal opportunity requirements shall apply, ranging from corporate officers to unskilled laborers and service workers. Requires work groups within such cable entities with more than five full-time employees to file with the FCC an annual statistical report identifying by race, sex, and job title the number of employees in each category covered under the equal opportunity requirements. Outlines other report requirements and increases the fines for failure to use best efforts in meeting such equal opportunity requirements. Requires the FCC to report to the Congress on the effect and operation of procedures, regulations, policies, standards, and guidelines concerning equal employment opportunity in the broadcasting industry. Directs the FCC to prescribe rules and regulations concerning the disposition of cable installed by the cable operator within the premises of a subscriber after the subscriber terminates cable service. Prohibits a cable operator from selling a cable system for three years after its acquisition. Provides for the treatment of multiple transfers of systems. Provides exceptions to such regulation and allows the FCC to waive such requirement in the public interest. Limits to 120 days a franchising authority's power to disapprove the sale of a cable system by an operator who has held such system for three years. Directs the FCC to establish: (1) a formula for determining the maximum rates which a cable operator may establish for commercial use of its cable channels; (2) standards concerning the terms and conditions which may be established; and (3) standards concerning methods for collection and billing for commercial use of channel capacity made available for such purpose. Allows a cable operator required to designate channel capacity for commercial use to use any such channel capacity for the provision of programming from a qualified minority programming source, whether or not such source is affiliated with the cable operator. Limits to 33 percent of overall channel capacity the capacity permitted to be used by such source. Defines a qualified minority programming source as a source that devotes significantly all of its programming to coverage of minority viewpoints or to programming directed at members of minority groups and that is over 50 percent minority-owned. Prohibits any cable system in the United States from being owned or otherwise controlled by any alien, foreign representative, or foreign corporation or interest as defined in the Communications Act of 1934. Makes exceptions for current foreign or alien ownership and in certain cases where such a corporation already owns two or more systems and seeks to add another. Increases the civil and criminal penalties for the unauthorized reception of cable television service. Directs the FCC to conduct a review of, and make a report on, whether it is necessary or appropriate in the public interest to prohibit or constrain acts and practices that may unreasonably restrict diversity and competition in the market for video programming. Directs the FCC to initiate a rulemaking proceeding to impose public interest or other requirements on direct satellite systems providing video programming that are not regulated as a common carrier under the Communications Act of 1934. Directs the FCC to require, as a condition of initial authorization or renewal for a direct broadcast satellite service providing video programming, that the provider of such service reserve not less than four or more than seven percent of the channel capacity of such service exclusively for noncommercial public service uses. Establishes a study panel to report to the Congress recommendations on: (1) methods and strategies for promoting the development of programming for transmission over the public use channels; (2) methods and criteria for selecting programming for such channels that avoids conflicts of interest and the exercise of editorial control by the direct broadcast satellite service provider; and (3) existing and potential sources of funding for administrative and production costs for such public use programming. Directs the FCC to report to specified congressional committees concerning the effects of exclusive licensing arrangements for video programming on competition between classes of multichannel video system operators. Directs the FCC to study and report to the Congress on the status, direction, and future of the video marketplace in the United States, identifying the principal factors that are and will continue to influence the development of the video marketplace for the remainder of this century. Requires the FCC to initiate an inquiry and rulemaking to examine the feasibility of providing access to network and independent broadcasting station signals to persons who subscribe to direct broadcast satellite service and are unable to receive such signals over the air from a local licensee, or from a cable system. Requires the FCC to report to the Congress on whether, and under what conditions, low power television stations which provide local origination programming should be entitled to carriage on cable systems whose service area encompasses the service area to which a low power television station is licensed. Requires the FCC to provide an opportunity for public comment on such issue and to take into account certain factors for consideration in preparing its report.
Bill· HRH.R. 1300 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1991
Universal Health Care Act of 1991 - Amends the Social Security Act to add a new title XXI (National Health Insurance) to establish a national, single-payer health insurance program under which every U.S. citizen would be eligible for enrollment. Allows individuals to choose their own health care providers from among those providers participating in the program. Provides for comprehensive health care under the program with the following benefits provided without any payment of coinsurance or deductibles: (1) inpatient hospital services; (2) nursing facility services; (3) home health services; (4) hospice care; (5) medical care; (6) prescription drugs and biologicals; (7) preventive health services; (8) home and community-based services; (9) mental health care; and (10) such other medical or health care items or services as the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines to be appropriate. Incorporates into the National Health Care program various practice guidelines and trust fund administrative provisions under the Medicare program (title XVIII of the Social Security Act) as well as Medicare-related provisions in titles XI and II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Act, including those provisions relating to outcomes of research and peer review under title XI and administration of OASDI and Medicare trust funds under title II. Outlines provisions regarding payments to providers. Provides monthly payments to hospitals and nursing homes on the basis of prospective global budgets established annually after review by the State advisory board and approval by the designated government agency. Provides payment to physicians and other health care professionals according to fee schedules established by the Secretary and adjusted by geographic region. Provides payment for health care (including hospice care) furnished outside of a hospital or nursing home on the basis of either global budgets or fee schedules, or instead on the basis of another prospective payment method (including capitation) which has been approved and reviewed as appropriate. Restricts payments to Federal health care services providers. Requires health care providers to accept payments under the program for items and services as payment in full. Changes the functions of the Prospective Payment Assessment Commission and the Physician Payment Review Commission (renamed the Professional Payment Review Commission) to require such bodies to instead furnish advice to the Secretary, concerning the global budgets of hospitals and nursing homes and fee schedules of physicians and other health care professionals. Creates the Long-Term Care Payment Review Commission and the General Health Care Payment Review Commission to furnish advice to the Secretary concerning the payment mechanism for health care (including hospice care) furnished outside of hospitals or nursing homes and fee schedules for services which have not been described above. Requires all such bodies to report annually to the Congress and the Secretary on the modification of various payment systems described above to meet its objectives. Sets forth administrative provisions. Requires administration of the program at the national level by the Secretary. Allows States to administer the program at the State level. Requires the Secretary to establish a national health budget and State health budgets specifying the amount to be spent per calendar year for health care and how revenues from the National Health Trust Fund will be used under the program. Indexes the national budget each year according to corresponding increases in the gross national product. Establishes expenditure targets to control the growth of health care costs. Requires the national budget to set aside separate amounts for capital expenses and direct medical education and to specify the manner of division among the States. Creates advisory boards representing both consumers and health care providers to advise on the implementation of the program at the national and State levels. Authorizes the Secretary or State to enter into contracts with qualified entities to process claims. Allows only one contract per State. Requires the Secretary to establish applicable reporting systems for the program. Establishes the National Health Trust Fund to finance this Act's initiatives with revenues from: (1) specified tax increases outlined below; (2) hospital insurance taxes imposed on additional State and local government employees and additional changes made to the Internal Revenue Code over time to fund the program; (3) long-term care/health care premiums imposed on elderly individuals who do not have low incomes; (4) State payments determined according to a specified formula tied to corresponding increases in the gross national product; and (5) amounts remaining in the trust funds supporting the Medicare program after the settlement of claims for payment under Medicare has been completed and amounts applicable to Medicare and OASDI trust fund provisions incorporated into the National Health Care program resulting from gifts and bequests, investments, and overpayments. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase personal and corporate income taxes, employer hospital insurance taxes, and the amount of social security benefits subject to income taxation; (2) repeal the limitation on the amount of wages subject to employee and employer hospital insurance taxes; and (3) expand the category of employees subject to hospital insurance taxes as described above. Terminates the Medicare and Medicaid (title XIX of the Social Security Act) programs, Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services, and the Department of Veterans Affairs health benefits and medical care program.
Bill· HRH.R. 1290 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to remove limitations on the deductibility of contributions to individual retirement plans by active participants in employer-maintained plans. Restores the former deduction for qualified voluntary employee contributions to an individual retirement account.
Bill· HRH.R. 1299 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1991
Honest Campaign Act of 1991 - Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to: (1) establish a separate limitation of $2,500 with respect to nonparty multicandidate political committee contributions to any candidate for any election for Federal office (currently, all multicandidate political committee contributions to such candidates are subject to a $5,000 limitation); (2) limit such contributions per calendar quarter to 15 percent of total contributions accepted; (3) prohibit House candidates from controlling the contributions or expenditures of a political committee other than an authorized committee of the candidates and from accepting more contributions from nonconstituents than from constituents; (4) prohibit a nonparty multicandidate political committee from acting as an intermediary or conduit with respect to a contribution to a candidate for Federal office or making a contribution to, or otherwise transferring any amounts to, another nonparty multicandidate political committee; (5) subject any amount solicited, received, or spent by a political party committee (with specified exceptions) or by a corporation, labor organization, or tax-exempt organization to influence any Federal election to the requirements of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971; (6) remove the amount of limitations on political party committee contributions to candidates for Federal office; (7) increase to $2,500 the limitation on individual contributions to any candidate for Federal office; (8) double the annual limitation on aggregate individual contributions; and (9) exclude individual contributions to political party committees from such annual aggregate contribution limitation. Includes political committees among those entities to which contributions by national banks, corporations, or labor organizations are restricted. Provides that communications to its members and their families and the establishment of, and solicitation of contributions for, a separate segregated political fund by a labor organization shall not be considered to be prohibited political contributions or expenditures only if such organization provides to employees it represents written notification of the following information: (1) that no employee is required to join the labor organization, and if the collective bargaining agreement purports to require membership in, or the payment of any amounts to, such organization, the employee instead may pay an agency fee to such organization; (2) the amount of the agency fee for the current year and the amount of union membership dues, initiation fees, and assessments for the current year; (3) that employees who choose to join the union will be subject to the labor organization's reasonable internal rules, regulations, and discipline; (4) that employees who resign from such organization may do so without being subject to internal union discipline for any post-resignation conduct; (5) that the amount of the agency fee for the current year is limited to the employee's pro rata cost of the labor organization's exclusive representation services to the collective bargaining unit; (6) that a procedure is in place to determine those costs which are chargeable to agency fee payors and such procedures are fully explained; and (7) that due regard is given to the fact that the labor organization holds a fiduciary position of trust with respect to the employees it represents and that the rights of employees to associate freely are not infringed any more than necessary for such organization to defray its reasonable costs of providing exclusive representation services. Requires a labor organization which does not provide employees with such notification to finance those political activities which are not considered contributions or expenditures with funds collected for its separate, segregated political fund. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) provide a full credit against tax for individual contributions to candidates for public office; and (2) deny such a credit to estates and trusts.
Bill· HRH.R. 1291 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1991
Bank Savings and Investment Act of 1991 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow the establishment of tax-exempt family savings accounts in federally insured financial institutions for the exclusive benefit of an individual and the individual's beneficiaries. Limits contributions to such accounts to the lesser of $2,500 or the compensation includible in the individual's gross income. Allows distributions from such accounts for: (1) security for a loan; (2) contributions to a family savings account in excess of the limitation; and (3) any other event as prescribed by regulations. Permits penalty-free withdrawals of up to $10,000 from individual retirement plans in federally insured financial institutions for a first-home purchase.
Bill· HRH.R. 1287 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to eliminate the age (55 or older) and dollar ($125,000) restrictions with respect to the one-time income tax exclusion of gain on the sale of a principal residence.
Resolution· HRESH.Res. 103 (102nd)passed
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1991
Waives points of order against the consideration of H.R. 1281 (supplemental appropriations).
Resolution· HRESH.Res. 104 (102nd)passed
United States · United States Congress · 6 March 1991
Waives points of order against the consideration of H.R. 1282 (supplemental appropriations).
Law· SS. 543 (102nd)enacted
United States · United States Congress · 5 March 1991
Comprehensive Deposit Insurance Reform and Taxpayer Protection Act of 1991 - Requires Federal banking agencies to take specified steps to strengthen capital standards for insured depository institutions, including: (1) requiring enough capital to facilitate prompt corrective action to prevent loss to the Bank Insurance Fund (BIF) and Savings Association Insurance Fund (SAIF); and (2) improving risk-based standards and controlling interest-rate and concentration of credit risk. Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to direct the Securities and Exchange Commission to facilitate the development of accounting principles for insured depository institutions that: (1) accurately reflect the economic condition of such institutions; and (2) facilitate effective supervision and prompt corrective action to resolve troubled institutions' problems at no cost to the BIF or SAIF. Requires that the accounting principles applicable to insured depository institutions be no less conservative than generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Permits the banking agencies to prescribe more conservative accounting principles than GAAP to meet the purposes of this Act. Requires each appropriate Federal banking agency to conduct an annual on-site examination of each insured depository institution under its jurisdiction. Exempts from such requirement institutions for which a conservator has been appointed, or which have been examined by the FDIC during the past 12-month period. Mandates that each appropriate Federal banking agency take prompt corrective action to ensure that problems of ensured depository institutions are resolved at no cost to either the BIF or the SAIF. Prohibits an insured depository institution from making any capital distribution if it would be undercapitalized as a result. Requires banking agencies to monitor: (1) undercapitalized insured depository institutions; and (2) compliance with capital-restoration plans and restrictions (including period reviews). Requires an undercapitalized insured depository institution to submit a capital restoration plan within the time-frame established by the appropriate Federal banking agency. Specifies plan contents. Prohibits a Federal banking agency from accepting a capital restoration plan unless each company having control of the insured depository institution guarantees its compliance with the plan until the capital standards have been satisfied for 12 consecutive months and the institution provides appropriate assurances of performance. Mandates the establishment of deadlines by Federal banking agencies for plan submission and review. Prohibits an undercapitalized insured depository institution from increasing its total assets. Sets forth asset growth restriction guidelines. Authorizes banking agencies to set forth certain restrictions upon an undercapitalized insured depository institution that fails to submit an acceptable capital restoration plan within agency-set limits (or that fails in any material respect to implement a plan accepted by the agency). Prohibits an undercapitalized insured depository institution from making certain compensation or bonus payments to its executive officers if it fails to: (1) submit an acceptable capital-restoration plan within agency-set deadlines; or (2) implement a capital-restoration plan accepted by the banking agency. Mandates that Federal banking agencies specify by regulation "critical capital levels" so that problems of insured depository institutions can be resolved at no cost to the BIF or SAIF when the institution's capital falls below such a level. Requires the concurrence of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) for any critical capital level that is less stringent than that specified by the FDIC for State nonmember insured banks. Prohibits an insured depository institution from making any payments of principal or interest on its subordinated debt unless it has capital sufficient to meet the critical capital level after making such payment. Mandates that the appropriate Federal banking agency: (1) appoint a conservator or receiver within 30 days after an institution's capital falls below the requisite critical level; and (2) place specified restrictions upon such institution's activities. Exempts from such restrictions institutions for which a conservator or receiver has been appointed. Requires the inspector general of the appropriate Federal banking agency to report to the Comptroller General and the FDIC with respect to: (1) the agency's supervision of an insured depository institution which has caused a loss to either the BIF or the SAIF; and (2) why the agency failed to resolve the institution's problems at no cost to either insurance fund. Requires public disclosure of such report. Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, the Bank Conservation Act, and the Home Owners' Loan Act to cite as additional grounds for appointment of a conservator or receiver of a depository institution: (1) inability to achieve capital compliance standards by selling shares or obligations; (2) non-compliance with capital standards; (3) failure to submit an acceptable capital-restoration plan within the prescribed time-frame; (4) material failure to implement a capital-restoration plan; and (5) failure to achieve prescribed critical capital levels. Authorizes the Comptroller of the Currency to appoint a receiver for national banks on the same non-compliance grounds. Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to authorize: (1) a banking agency to appoint the FDIC as sole conservator or receiver of any insured State depository institution; and (2) the FDIC to appoint itself as conservator or receiver for insured depository institutions to prevent loss to the affected deposit insurance fund. Provides that commitments made to specified regulatory agencies to maintain the capital of an insured depository institution may be enforced under this Act. Requires all deposits at insured depository institutions to be registered under a taxpayer or employer identification number. Sets forth guidelines for the calculation of the amount of deposit insurance providing that the maximum amount of any depositor's insured deposit at any insured depository institution shall be: (1) $100,000; and (2) an additional $100,000 for certain pension accounts established under profit-sharing plans, and individual retirement arrangements. Directs the FDIC to aggregate the amounts of all deposits in an institution registered under the depositor's taxpayer identification and to deduct any offsets. Prohibits deposits from being insured on a pro-rata or pass-through basis except for certain tax-exempt trusts and individual retirement arrangements. Prohibits an insured depository institution from accepting deposits from intermediaries (brokered deposits) unless: (1) it is in compliance with prescribed capital standards; and (2) it does not pay interest rates significantly exceeding those paid on deposits not made by or through intermediaries. Authorizes the FDIC to: (1) prohibit insured depository institutions from accepting deposits through any intermediary; and (2) establish terms under which such institutions may accept deposits from or through intermediaries. Directs the FDIC to: (1) exercise its authority so as to prevent insured depository institutions' acceptance of brokered deposits from posing any significant risk to the BIF, the SAIF, or the Resolution Trust Corporation (RTC); and (2) prescribe regulations prohibiting, except in certain circumstances, any insured depository institution that accepts brokered deposits from rapidly increasing its assets or permitting brokered deposits to increase at a rate exceeding the rate of increase of its total deposits, unless the FDIC permits. Directs the FDIC to satisfy its obligations to an institution's insured depositors according to guidelines for the least possible long-term cost to the affected deposit insurance fund. Provides that an affiliate of an insured depository institution shall be liable to the FDIC for up to a specified maximum of such institution's assets if the FDIC either: (1) incurs a loss in connection with such institution; or (2) provides assistance to an institution in danger of default. Directs the FDIC to establish a risk-based assessment system for insured depository institutions. Authorizes the FDIC to: (1) obtain private reinsurance covering not more than ten percent of any loss incurred by the FDIC with respect to such an institution, and base that institution's assessment rate on the cost of such reinsurance; and (2) establish separate risk-based assessment systems for BIF and SAIF members. Prescribes guidelines for such assessment system, including maintenance of designated reserve ratios. Makes assessments semiannual. Directs the FDIC to set the designated reserve ratio of the BIF separately from that of the SAIF. Sets forth recordkeeping requirements for assessment purposes. Authorizes the FDIC to restrict any activity of insured banks that poses a significant risk to the affected deposit insurance fund. Prohibits an insured State bank and its subsidiaries from engaging as principal in any activity that is impermissible for a national bank and its subsidiaries, unless specified conditions have been met. Prohibits State banks or their subsidiaries from directly acquiring any equity investment of a type or amount that is impermissible for a national bank or its subsidiaries. Exempts community development investments from this prohibition if the bank is in compliance with federally prescribed capital standards. Prohibits an insured bank from acquiring, directly or through a subsidiary, any corporate debt security that is not of investment grade. Amends the Federal Reserve Act to apply to subsidiaries as well as member banks the prohibition against making loans or extending credit (including assets purchases) in excess of established limits to executive officers or other specified insiders. Amends the Home Owner's Loan Act to apply the same prohibition to savings associations. Amends the Bank Holding Company Act Amendments of 1970 to apply to savings banks and savings associations certain prohibitions against tying arrangements and specified restrictions on correspondent accounts with respect to preferential loans. Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act with respect to nonmember insured banks and prohibitions against loans to executive officers and preferential loans to insiders, as well as proscriptions against extensions of credit to officers, directors and principal shareholders. Applies the credit extension proscription to any insured branch of a foreign bank, but not to the foreign bank itself solely because it has an insured branch. Amends the Federal Reserve Act to direct the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the Board) to limit, by regulation, an insured depository institution's exposure to any depository institution. Prohibits a depository institution from accepting deposits for the account of any insured depository institution unless the accepting institution has: (1) capital exceeding currently prescribed capital standards; and (2) such additional capital as the Board determines necessary to implement the purposes of this Act. Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to direct the FDIC to satisfy its obligations to an institution's insured depositors according to guidelines for the least possible long-term cost to the affected deposit insurance fund. Provides that an affiliate of an insured depository institution shall be liable to the FDIC for up to a specified maximum of such institution's assets if the FDIC either: (1) incurs a loss in connection with such institution; or (2) provides assistance to an institution in danger of default. Sets forth guidelines for the certification as insured depository institutions of noninsured national non-member banks and State banks which became Federal Reserve members. Mandates that the financial status reports required of insured depository institutions with certain assets include: (1) estimates of the aggregate market value of assets and liabilities and the resulting estimated net worth and supporting data and assumptions used in preparing the estimates; and (2) disaggregated reports of assets, including participation in highly-leveraged transactions, holdings of noninvestment grade securities, commercial and industrial loans by sector, and other assets as specified by the appropriate Federal banking agency. Requires each depository institution to submit reports to the appropriate banking agency regarding: (1) the names of holders of more than five percent of the insured institution's equity securities and the maximum amount of securities held by each such holder during the preceding quarter; and (2) a description of activities conducted by the institution and its subsidiaries that are not permitted for national banks or for bank holding companies, with data on the magnitude of the activity. Makes such reports available to the public. Mandates that Federal banking agencies report annually to the Congress regarding: (1) the estimated number and aggregate assets of insured depository institutions likely to fail in the ensuing two years; (2) how insured depository institutions and their subsidiaries conduct activities not permitted for national banks or for bank holding companies; (3) the number and assets of insured depository institutions in various stages of solvency and capitalization; and (4) the extent of compliance with cease-and-desist orders, supervisory agreements, and capital restoration plans. Requires the FDIC to include in its annual status report to the Congress certain information pertaining to failed depository institutions and institutions which are either on the problem bank list or likely to be on it. Sets forth guidelines for confidential access by the Congressional Budget Office to a banking agency's: (1) internal rating list of institutions; and (2) list of troubled institutions. Directs the Comptroller General to: (1) review the oversight by the Federal banking agencies with respect to required reports of conditions; and (2) audit the failure estimates contained in specified reports. Directs the Securities and Exchange Commission to facilitate the development of: (1) disclosure guidelines for the purpose of accurate financial status disclosure and prompt corrective action to resolve troubled institutions' problems at no cost to the BIF or the SAIF; and (2) interpretive guidelines of accounting standards for the early disclosure of problem loans, and to prevent delay in recognizing losses that may result in loss to the BIF or the SAIF. Amends the Home Owner's Loan Act to repeal the conditions placed upon public disclosure of the reports of conditions supplied to the Director of the Office of Thrift Supervision with respect to Federal savings associations. Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to provide that by becoming insured under the Act a depository institution consents to be bound by Federal statutes relating to the safety and soundness of insured depository institutions. Requires an uninsured depository institution to disclose its uninsured status clearly and conspicuously on signature cards, passbooks, periodic statements of account, and in all advertising according to specified guidelines. Exempts from the disclosure requirements certain institutions not accepting retail deposits. Authorizes the National Credit Union Administration to enforce the same disclosure by uninsured credit unions.
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