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Bill· SS. 2122 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 27 November 1991
Tax Extension Act of 1991 - Title I: 6-Month Extension of Certain Expiring Tax Provisions - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend for six months the following expiring provisions: (1) the rules on allocating research and experimental expenditures in determining income from sources within or without the United States; (2) the credit for increasing research activities; (3) the tax exclusion for employer-provided educational assistance; (4) the tax exclusion for employer-provided group legal services plans; (5) the targeted jobs credit; (6) the energy investment credit for solar and geothermal property; (7) the low-income housing credit; (8) the authority to issue mortgage revenue bonds and mortgage credit certificates; (9) the authority to issue qualified small issue bonds to finance manufacturing facilities and farm property; (10) the itemized deduction for health insurance costs of self-employed individuals; (11) the credit for clinical testing expenses for certain drugs for rare diseases or conditions; and (12) the tax credit for charitable contributions of appreciated tangible property. Title II: Modification to Corporate Estimated Tax Provisions - Provides for a temporary increase (taxable years beginning after 1991 and before 1997) in the amount of installment payments in the case of corporations that underpay estimated taxes.
Bill· SS. 2120 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 27 November 1991
Greater Recovery Opportunity for Workers Act of 1991 (GrowAmerica Act) - Title I: Reduction in Individual Income Taxes - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for reducing individual income tax rates for 1992 and 1993. Title II: Savings Incentives - Subtitle A: Private Retirement Savings - Establishes a simplified retirement plan for small business to be known as PRIME accounts (private retirement incentives matched by employers). Allows an employee to make pre-tax contributions of up to $3,000 annually to a PRIME account and requires an employer to match such contributions up to three percent of the employee's compensation. Declares that such accounts are not to be treated as pension plans. Excludes such accounts from limitation on the maximum amount allowed for retirement savings deductions. Specifies the pension plan rules that are applicable to PRIME accounts. Establishes a 25-percent penalty on withdrawals made from such accounts during the first three years. Sets forth penalties for: (1) account trustees for failure to provide requirement information to employers; and (2) employers for failure to make required notifications to employees. Subtitle B: Savings Without Penalties - Authorizes penalty-free distributions from eligible retirement plans for: (1) first-time homebuyers; (2) higher education expenses; (3) a period of involuntary unemployment; and (4) financially devastating medical expenses. Title III: Additional Economic Growth Incentives - Increases the limitation on the amount of depreciable assets which may be expensed. Provides for the treatment of rental and nonrental real estate activities under the limitations on losses from passive activities.
Resolution· SRESS.Res. 239 (102nd)passed
United States · United States Congress · 27 November 1991
Authorizes the President Pro Tempore of the Senate to enter into an agreement with the Triangle Coalition for Science and Technology Education to establish an Albert Einstein Congressional Fellowship Program providing for two fellowships within the Senate in each fiscal year, beginning in FY 1991. Provides for the agreement only if the Triangle Coalition for Science and Technology meets certain program requirements. Albert Einstein Senate Fellowship Program Resolution - Reauthorizes the provisions of the following measures of the 102d Congress: (1) S.Res. 173; (2) S.Res. 208; and (3) S.Res. 228.
Bill· HRH.R. 4070 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 27 November 1991
International Cooperation Act of 1991 - Title I: Economic Assistance - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to revise policy provisions concerning economic assistance. Sets forth the objectives of U.S. economic cooperation policy and development and economic assistance programs as the: (1) alleviation of poverty through the development of human resources; (2) promotion of broad-based economic growth; (3) improved environmental, natural resource, and agricultural management to achieve environmentally and economically sustainable patterns of development; and (4) promotion of democracy, respect for human rights, and political, social, and economic pluralism. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1992 and 1993 for development assistance. Declares that the Administrator of the agency primarily responsible for administering this title (administering agency) should target a specified amount of such funding for agriculture, rural development, and nutrition assistance. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1992 and 1993 for population planning, health, education, and human resources assistance. Declares that the Administrator should target specified amounts of human resource development funding for child survival activities and for the prevention and control of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Repeals provisions concerning contributions to the International Fund for Agricultural Development. Permits funds authorized to be appropriated for human resources development to be used for assistance to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities and displaced children who have been abandoned or orphaned as a result of poverty or disasters. Authorizes the use of agriculture, rural development, and nutrition assistance for strengthening and expanding marine fisheries and aquaculture programs. Provides that funds made available for family planning projects shall be available only for projects which offer a broad range of family planning methods and services. Authorizes the President to furnish assistance for the prevention and control of AIDS. Revises provisions concerning private sector, environment, energy, and other development assistance. States that Appropriate Technology International qualifies for U.S. development assistance. Declares that a specified amount of economic support assistance should be made available for such organization. Authorizes assistance to be provided to developing countries to support private sector activities meeting specified criteria. Permits the President to issue guarantees assuring against losses incurred in connection with loans made for such activities. Sets forth terms and conditions for such guarantees. Authorizes the President to make direct loans for such activities, subject to certain conditions. Establishes ceilings for direct loans and for contingent liability for guarantees. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1992 and 1993. Declares that beneficiary countries should bear a share of the costs of development assistance programs under this Act. Requires the Administrator to ensure that: (1) development assistance activities incorporate the active participation of local women; (2) sex-disaggregated data is included in country development strategy statements for major sectors in which assistance is to be provided and in project papers and program assistance approval documents; (3) programs are designed so that the percentage of women who benefit from such assistance exceeds the approximate transitional level of participation of women in the sector for which assistance is being provided; and (4) program assistance evaluations include an assessment of the extent to which women are participating in the activity and the impact of the activity on the self-reliance of women and improvement of their incomes. Requires a specified amount to be made available each fiscal year as matching funds to support activities of the missions of the agency which demonstrate potential for integrating women into programs. Increases the percentage of funds to be made available or channeled for each fiscal year (currently, FY 1986 through 1989) to private and voluntary organizations for specified development activities. Authorizes the Administrator to support and encourage development education programs. Requires the Administrator to establish a program performance evaluation capacity to: (1) develop a program performance information system to afford the administering agency's managers a means for monitoring achievement of impact and interim performance of the agency's major programs; (2) prepare and disseminate reports on the agency's progress in meeting development objectives for major assistance categories and recipient countries; (3) strengthen the implementation of foreign assistance projects; and (4) coordinate with the Inspector General of such agency to ensure complementarity of efforts. Directs the President to report annually to the Congress on: (1) progress toward achieving the four basic objectives set forth under this title; and (2) a country-by-country analysis of the impact on economic development in each country during the preceding three to five years of U.S. economic assistance programs, with a discussion of U.S. interests that were served by such assistance. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1992 and 1993 for American schools, hospitals, and libraries abroad. Raises the ceiling on the principal amount of housing guaranties authorized to be issued under the worldwide shelter program. Continues the authority of the housing guaranty program through FY 1993. Repeals provisions concerning the issuance of guaranties for projects using solar energy technology and agricultural and protective credit and self-help community development programs. Requires fees to be charged for housing guaranties. Raises the ceiling on the total face value of guaranties authorized to be issued with respect to any country and on the average face value of guaranties in any fiscal year. Provides that the principal amount of guaranties issued shall be comparable to the amount issued for FY 1984, subject to dollar value limitations. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1992 and 1993 to pay the cost of guaranties with a specified face value and for administrative expenses of the housing guaranty program. Authorizes the issuance of guaranties in connection with loans made for housing and infrastructure in Israel for Soviet refugees. Exempts such guaranties from specified limitations on principal amount, amount of guaranties per country, or average face value. Removes restrictions on Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) loans for mining operations. Repeals provisions that limit OPIC equity investments to countries in Subsaharan Africa and the Caribbean basin. Increases the amount of OPIC's one-time transfer to the fund established to carry out its activities. Raises the ceiling on the maximum contingent liability for outstanding OPIC guarantees. Authorizes OPIC to draw specified amounts from a noncredit account revolving fund to pay estimated subsidy costs of program levels for the loan guarantee and direct loan programs. Revises provisions concerning OPIC's insurance reserves. Authorizes OPIC to transfer a specified amount from the noncredit account revolving fund for administrative expenses of the direct loan and loan guarantee programs. Makes provisions concerning income and revenues applicable to income and revenues from OPIC's noncredit activities (currently, revenue and income from any source). Changes from mandatory to discretionary OPIC's authority to charge fees for its services. Requires investors in projects receiving OPIC financing to certify to OPIC that any contract for the export of goods as part of a project requires that U.S. insurance companies have a fair and open opportunity to provide insurance against risk of loss of the export. Exempts from such requirement investors who do not have a controlling interest in a project. Directs the U.S. Trade Representative to report to the Congress on OPIC actions with respect to such certifications. Authorizes the President, acting through the Administrator, to provide assistance for microenterprises in developing countries. Directs the administering agency to establish specified criteria for determining the financial intermediaries that will receive such assistance. Requires a significant portion of such assistance to be used to support direct credit assistance by, and the institutional development of, financial intermediaries with a primary emphasis on assisting people living in absolute poverty, especially women. Outlines funding sources for such assistance. Permits the President, in order to generate local currencies for providing such assistance, to use development and economic support fund assistance to provide assistance to developing countries on a loan basis repayable in local currencies. Sets forth minimum levels of assistance to be provided under this Act. Requires the Administrator to develop a monitoring system to evaluate the agency's microenterprise development activities. Authorizes the President to use development and economic support assistance or assistance from the Development Fund for Africa to support human rights and activities to improve the performance of democratic institutions. Requires a substantial portion of such assistance to be provided to nongovernmental organizations. Prohibits such assistance from being used to influence the outcome of an election in any country. Permits Development Fund for Africa assistance to be used only for countries in Subsaharan Africa. Requires the President to report to specified congressional committees on activities designed to promote democracy that are funded by the Department of State, the Agency for International Development (AID), or the U.S. Information Agency (USIA), along with recommendations for ways to improve coordination of responsibilities among such agencies. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1992 and 1993 for contributions to international organizations. Earmarks specified amounts of such funds for: (1) the United Nations Development Program; (2) the United Nations Children's Fund; (3) the United Nations Environment Program; (4) the Organization of American States (OAS), with an amount set aside for establishing an electronic network for the exchange of science and technology information among universities in OAS member countries; (5) the Special Program for Africa of the International Fund for Agricultural Development; (6) the United Nations Development Fund for Women; (7) the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission; and (8) the United Nations University Endowment Fund. Permits the President to continue U.S. participation in, and make contributions to, the International Fund for Agricultural Development. Applies evaluation and auditing procedures for the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the Asian Development Bank to the International Development Association, the International Finance Corporation, the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, the Inter-American Development Bank, the Inter-American Investment Corporation, the African Development Bank, the African Development Fund, the Asian Development Fund, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Provides that if Israel is denied its right to participate in any United Nations agency, the United States shall suspend its participation in, and contributions to, such agency until the denial of rights is reversed. Permits the President to use development or economic support assistance or assistance from the Development Fund for Africa for grants to, or contracts with, nongovernmental organizations to enable such organizations to: (1) purchase debt obligations owned by developing countries to commercial lending institutions or other private parties; and (2) cancel such obligations subject to the President's approval, to the extent that such countries make available assets or policy commitments to promote the objectives of this title. Authorizes grantees or contractees to retain interest earned on the proceeds of debt-for-development or debt-for-environment purchases or exchanges pending the disbursement of such proceeds and interest for the purposes for which assistance was provided. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1992 and 1993 for international disaster assistance. Raises the ceiling on the amount that may be obligated against appropriations for use in providing such assistance. Limits the amount that may be obligated against appropriations for development assistance and assistance from the Development Fund for Africa. Authorizes appropriations for economic support fund (ESF) assistance for FY 1992 and 1993 for: (1) Israel; (2) Egypt; (3) Turkey; (4) the International Fund for Ireland; (5) Cyprus (for a scholarship program, bicommunal projects, and measures aimed at the reunification of the island and designed to promote peace between the two communities on Cyprus); (6) Nepal; (7) the South Pacific Regional Program (with earmarked funds for scholarships for study at postsecondary institutions of education in the United States); (8) regional cooperative programs in the Middle East; and (9) other recipients or purposes. Redesignates the Trade and Development Program as the Trade and Development Agency. Revises the authorities of the Director of the Agency. Requires the Agency to disseminate information about its activities to the private sector. Sets forth the duties of the Inspector General of the administering agency with respect to the Agency. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1992 and 1993. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1992 and 1993 for operating expenses of the administering agency and its Office of the Inspector General. Directs the President to report annually to the Congress on: (1) progress toward achieving the four basic objectives set forth under this title; and (2) a country-by-country analysis of the impact on economic development in each country during the preceding three to five years of U.S. economic assistance programs, with a discussion of U.S. interests that were served by such assistance. Requires the President to maintain within the administering agency a Center for University Cooperation in Development and a Center for Voluntary Cooperation in Development. Provides that the respective purposes of such centers shall be to strengthen the partnership for development between the U.S. Government and: (1) U.S. and developing country institutions of higher education engaged in education, research, and public service programs relevant to developing countries; and (2) U.S. private voluntary organizations, cooperatives, and credit unions engaged in activities relevant to such countries. Directs the Administrator to establish an Advisory Committee on University Cooperation in Development and an Advisory Committee on Voluntary Cooperation in Development. Repeals provisions concerning the Board for International Food and Agricultural Development. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should continue to make efforts to improve the management of U.S. economic assistance programs. Requires the President to report to the appropriate congressional committees on the feasibility and impact on U.S. foreign policy and foreign assistance objectives of: (1) reducing the number of countries receiving economic assistance; and (2) improving coordination within the U.S. Government and with other donors and improving management of U.S. economic assistance programs. Title II: Military Assistance and Sales and Related Programs - Chapter 1: Military Assistance and Related Programs - Revises policies and objectives of U.S. military assistance programs. Revises the President's authorities to furnish foreign military financing assistance, to remove the authority to detail members of the armed forces to foreign countries, or to transfer funds to countries to meet obligations for payments for arms sales. Exempts from appropriations charges, any defense article or service that is made available under special drawdown authority. Permits financing assistance to be provided on a grant, credit, or guaranty basis. Directs the President, in determining how financing will be provided, to take into account: (1) U.S. national security and foreign policy interests in furnishing such assistance to a country; and (2) the national security and self-defense needs and economic conditions of the country. Requires repayment on credits within a 12-year period unless a longer period is authorized by law. Sets a minimum five percent interest rate on credits. Authorizes financing for the procurement by leasing of defense articles from U.S. commercial suppliers to be provided to Israel and Egypt if there are compelling foreign policy or national security reasons for such articles being provided by lease rather than by government-to-government sale. Permits the financing of the procurement of defense articles and services not sold by the U.S. Government only if the country or international organization proposing to make such procurement has signed an agreement with the United States specifying the conditions under which the procurement may be financed. Requires sales under the Arms Export Control Act which are wholly paid from funds made available on a grant basis under this Act or were transferred or made available under former authorities prior to this Act's enactment to be priced to exclude the costs of salaries of members of the U.S. armed forces (other than members of the Coast Guard). Prohibits assistance from being furnished under this chapter in any case involving coproduction or licensed production outside the United States of any defense article of U.S. origin unless the President furnishes full information on the proposed transaction to the appropriate congressional committees. Prohibits the obligation of certain assistance for the procurement of: (1) any vessel of war built pursuant to a prime contract awarded to a foreign shipyard; or (2) any weapons system or other major system for a vessel of war built pursuant to such a contract awarded to a foreign rather than a U.S. shipyard because of unfair foreign competition. Exempts from such prohibition vessels of war built in the foreign country which is the recipient of such assistance or built pursuant to a prime contract signed before the effective date of this Act or procurement for the maintenance, repair, or replacement of such systems. Authorizes appropriations for foreign military financing for FY 1992 and 1993 for: (1) Israel; (2) Egypt; (3) Turkey; (4) Greece; and (5) other recipients or purposes. Revises provisions concerning eligibility for the receipt of defense articles and services. Raises the ceiling on the amount of defense articles and services and military training to be drawn down under certain emergencies. Limits the amount of such articles, services, and training to be drawn down for purposes of international narcotics control and international disaster assistance. Directs the President to establish monitoring and auditing controls to make financed arms sales subject to requirements no less stringent in accountability than requirements of Federal Acquisition Regulations applicable to sales under the Arms Export Control Act relating to improper business practices and personal conflict of interest. Places a ceiling on the value of additions to stockpiles for FY 1992 and 1993. Revises provisions concerning the location of stockpiles. Extends the President's authority to transfer excess defense articles to countries on NATO's southern flank through FY 1996. Requires excess defense articles to be made available to maintain the military balance in the Eastern Mediterranean. Directs the President to ensure, over a three-year period beginning in FY 1993, that the ratio of the value of such articles made available for Turkey to those made available for Greece closely approximates the ratio of the amount of foreign military financing provided for Turkey to the amount provided for Greece. Authorizes the President to transfer excess defense articles to major drug transit countries for counternarcotics purposes. Amends the Arms Export Control Act to raise the ceiling on the aggregate acquisition cost to the United States of excess defense articles ordered by the President. Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to remove a reporting requirement with respect to nonlethal defense articles furnished to foreign countries. Repeals provisions of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1990 concerning transfers of excess defense articles. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1992 and 1993 for: (1) international military education and training; (2) peacekeeping operations; and (3) antiterrorism assistance. Declares that the President, in providing assistance under this Act, should take into account the cooperation provided by countries in matters connected with international terrorism. Amends the Arms Export Control Act to revise requirements of a report by the President on military exports. Chapter 2: Foreign Military Sales Program - Amends the Arms Export Control Act to repeal provisions concerning purposes of military sales or leases. Requires the President to take the following steps to address financial management problems with respect to payments on account of foreign military sales: (1) certify that payments with respect to such sales are properly recorded by case and country; (2) improve the coordination and uniformity of the military services systems used to account for, control, and report upon the operation of the foreign military sales program; and (3) reconcile the discrepancies between reported disbursements and performance for all uncompleted foreign military sales agreements executed prior to March 1989. Directs the President to notify the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the termination of any discrepancy reconciliation. Designates Australia, Egypt, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea as major non-NATO allies. Provides that New Zealand shall be eligible for special treatment authorized for such allies only to the extent that the President notifies the appropriate congressional committees that such treatment is in the national security interest. Authorizes the President to make additional designations with advance notification to the appropriate congressional committees. Raises the threshold on the dollar amount of defense equipment or services on which the President is required to submit specified certifications. Revises provisions concerning presidential certifications and congressional procedures for certain arms transfers. Adds to the list of information required in the President's quarterly report on military exports information on all concluded defense coproduction agreements. Imposes sanctions on foreign parties to coproduction agreements that violate restrictions concerning unauthorized third party transfers or unauthorized dispositions of defense articles or services or technical data if the President notifies the Congress or the Congress so determines by joint resolution. Lists such sanctions as: (1) the suspension of authority to produce defense articles abroad pursuant to such agreements; and (2) a prohibition on the issuance and approval of licenses with respect to the foreign party. Disqualifies for financing under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 for 12 months any contracts of a person convicted or debarred for a violation of international traffic in arms regulations under the Arms Export Control Act. Increases the amount of defense trade registration fees required to be credited to a Department of State account. Repeals provisions of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 concerning munitions control registration fees. Amends the Export Control Act to require the President to review biennially and revise, as necessary, international traffic in arms regulations. Prohibits funds authorized by any Act from being made available to facilitate the sale of M-833 antitank shells or comparable shells containing a depleted uranium penetrating component to any country other than a NATO member or major non-NATO ally. Chapter 3: Technical and Conforming Amendments; Repeal of Obsolete and Inconsistent Provisions - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to apply termination of assistance provisions (with respect to violations of agreements providing defense articles or services) to defense articles or services provided under the Arms Export Control Act. Makes technical and conforming amendments to the Arms Export Control Act. Revises a provision regarding the Guaranty Reserve Fund and redesignates the Fund as the Foreign Military Loan Liquidating Account. Repeals provisions concerning: (1) information to the Congress on credit sales and guaranties; (2) the availability of funds for procurement of defense articles and services outside the United States; (3) discrimination; (4) restraint in arms sales to Subsaharan Africa; (5) foreign military sales credit standards; and (6) foreign military sales to less developed countries. Chapter 4: Transfers of Spoils of War - Spoils of War Act of 1991 - Permits spoils of war in the possession or control of the United States to be transferred to any other party only to the extent and in the same manner that property of the same type, if otherwise owned by the United States, may be so transferred. Title III: International Narcotics Control - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1992 and 1993 for international narcotics control. Revises provisions concerning international narcotics control. Exempts maritime law enforcement operations in archipelagic waters from a prohibition on U.S. participation in foreign police actions. Makes a prohibition on the use of narcotics control funds for the procurement of weapons or ammunition inapplicable (subject to congressional notification requirements) to: (1) weapons or ammunition for the defensive arming of aircraft used for narcotics control purposes; or (2) firearms and related ammunition provided to Department of State employees for narcotics control activities. Requires the President (currently, the Secretary of State) to maintain records on aircraft use under this title. Authorizes foreign military financing assistance under the Arms Export Control Act to be made available to finance the leasing of aircraft. Authorizes (currently, requires) the reallocation of funds withheld from countries which fail to take steps to halt illicit drug production or trafficking. Revises congressional reporting and certification requirements with respect to international narcotics control. Requires the President to notify the appropriate congressional committees annually of countries determined to be major drug transit or illicit drug producing countries. Repeals obsolete provisions of specified Acts. Makes prohibitions on the provision of assistance to foreign law enforcement agencies inapplicable, during FY 1992 and 1993, to: (1) transfers of defense articles and services for counternarcotics purposes; and (2) foreign military financing and international military education and training for narcotics-related purposes. Makes provisions of law that restrict assistance to countries inapplicable with respect to narcotics-related assistance, provided that the President notifies the appropriate congressional committees. Title IV: Special Authorities, Restrictions, Reporting Requirements, Administrative and General Provisions, Definitions, and Conforming Amendments and Repeals - Chapter 1: Contingency and Other Special Authorities - Authorizes appropriations to the President for FY 1992 and 1993 for unanticipated contingencies in programs within the International Affairs Budget Function. Authorizes the President to provide assistance (other than foreign military financing or international military education and training) to a country that is: (1) emerging as a democracy; or (2) emerging from civil strife and has a democratically elected government or is making progress toward a democratic form of government. Raises the ceiling on funds available for unanticipated contingencies. Requires congressional notification prior to the transfer of funds between accounts. Prohibits the transfer of funds authorized for the costs of loan or guarantee programs in accordance with requirements of the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990. Revises provisions concerning the special waiver authority of the President with respect to prohibitions on assistance. Raises the ceiling on the amount of assistance that may be allocated for national security interests for any one country unless such country is a victim of active (currently, Communist) aggression. Repeals provisions concerning U.S. obligations in West Germany and a certification by the President of inadvisability to specify the nature of the use of funds. Chapter 2: Restrictions on Assistance and Exemptions from Restrictions - Applies a prohibition on assistance for police training to the furnishing of excess defense articles for law enforcement purposes. Exempts from such prohibition: (1) international narcotics control assistance; (2) assistance in protecting and maintaining wildlife habitats and in developing wildlife management and plant conservation programs; (3) antiterrorism assistance; (4) specified assistance for law enforcement in Latin America and the Caribbean; and (5) other exempted assistance. Revises prohibitions concerning restrictions on assistance. Adds to the list of restrictions prohibitions on assistance for: (1) a country whose government engages in a consistent pattern of human rights violations; (2) a country whose elected head of government is deposed by military coup; (3) a country which is more than one year in arrears to the U.S. Government on any U.S. Government loan or credit under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 or specified provisions of the Arms Export Control Act; (4) projects designed to increase exports of agricultural, textile, or apparel commodities from developing countries if such exports would be in competition with U.S. exports or be expected to cause injury to U.S. exporters of the same or a similar commodity; and (5) a country that provides lethal military equipment to a government that has repeatedly supported acts of international terrorism. Authorizes the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission, at the request of the President, to evaluate the value of any property that is the subject of expropriation by a foreign country. Exempts from restrictions on foreign assistance (except for countries that support terrorism or violate human rights) assistance for: (1) the needs of individuals with disabilities or displaced children; (2) child survival activities; (3) the prevention and control of AIDS; (4) immunization and oral rehydration; (5) environmentally sound, sustainable resource management; and (6) efficient energy systems. Chapter 3: Reports - Revises provisions regarding: (1) U.S. assistance policies and human rights; and (2) congressional notification for program changes. Outlines required elements of annual congressional presentation documents on economic assistance. Chapter 4: Administrative and General Provisions - Revises provisions concerning the use of private enterprise for the procurement of commodities and defense articles. Authorizes the use of Federal facilities for technical assistance purposes when such facilities are not competitive with private enterprise. Revises provisions concerning procurement standards and procedures. Sets forth provisions concerning the generation and use of local currencies. Authorizes the President to adopt as a U.S. contract or obligation any contract with a U.S. or third-country contractor that had been funded with assistance prior to the termination of such assistance. Permits nongovernmental organizations to invest local currencies accrued as a result of economic assistance provided by this Act and other specified Acts and to use interest earned on investments for assistance purposes. Exempts funds for Israel and Egypt from any restriction on the availability of funds. Prohibits appointments to specific positions within the administering agency without the advice and consent of the Senate. Permits assistance funds to be used to reimburse Federal or State agencies, private and voluntary organizations, or institutions of higher education that detail employees for assistance programs that require special technical skills. Excludes such employees from applicable personnel ceilings during the detail period. Removes funding limitations on assistance for the construction of living quarters, offices, schools, and hospitals abroad and for assistance to schools educating dependents and personnel abroad. Requires the Administrator to ensure that for assistance projects there is displayed an acknowledgment that such projects were funded by the people of the United States. Revises provisions concerning discrimination against U.S. personnel. Chapter 5: Definitions - Sets forth specified definitions. Chapter 6: Conforming Amendments and Repeals - Makes technical and conforming amendments to specified Acts. Repeals specified Acts. Title V: Europe - Chapter 1: Support for East European Democracy Act - Amends the Support for East European Democracy (SEED) Act of 1989 to make eligible for SEED benefits any Eastern European country taking steps toward: (1) political pluralism and economic reform; (2) respect for human rights; and (3) a willingness to build a friendly relationship with the United States. (Currently, most SEED programs target Hungary and Poland.) Includes Albania, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia in the list of eligible countries. Extends specified structural adjustment, debt reduction, and stabilization assistance to such countries. Requires the President to support adoption of agricultural policies in eligible countries that are based on free-market policies and to discourage policies that distort market signals through protective import barriers or government export subsidies. Authorizes AID to provide assistance to support private sector development in Eastern Europe and U.S. participation in capital projects. Permits the President, acting through the AID Administrator, to use funds for labor market transition assistance to eligible Eastern European countries. Extends technical assistance and training for labor market transition assistance to eligible Eastern European countries. Removes a provision authorizing appropriations for Peace Corps programs in Poland and Hungary. Extends assistance for the development of Peace Corps and credit unions to eligible Eastern European countries. Applies provisions governing the use of Polish currency generated by agricultural assistance to local Eastern European currencies generated by such assistance. Repeals provisions concerning: (1) OPIC support for Poland and Hungary; (2) Trade and Development Program activities in Poland and Hungary; (3) tax treatment of loans with below market interest rates for Poland and Israel; and (4) the trade credit insurance program for Poland. Extends Export-Import Bank programs to Czechoslovakia. Urges the President to seek bilateral investment treaties with eligible Eastern European countries to establish a legal framework for U.S. investment in such countries. Extends educational and cultural exchange programs and the scholarship partnership program to eligible Eastern European countries. Removes funding provisions concerning the scholarship partnership program. Authorizes the AID Administrator to use funds available for the scholarship partnership program for scholarships to enable Eastern European students to study at American institutions of higher education in Europe. Makes a specified amount of nonconvertible Polish currencies held by the United States available for the Research Center on Jewish History and Culture of the Jagiellonian University of Krakow, Poland. Declares that the President should allocate a specified amount annually for NATO's plan for expanded East European participation. Extends assistance for the support of democratic institutions and environmental protection and energy efficiency activities to eligible Eastern European countries. Authorizes the President, acting through the AID Administrator and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, to provide assistance for environmental and energy activities in eligible Eastern European countries, with emphasis on assistance for policies encouraging and providing incentives for end-use energy efficiency and conservation and reliance on renewable energy resources. Requires the President to work with officials of the Government of Czechoslovakia to establish a regional program to facilitate cooperative activities to address the public health aspects of environmental degradation. Earmarks funds for such program. Revises provisions concerning medical assistance to Poland. Authorizes the President, acting through the AID Administrator, to: (1) provide medical training, health care planning assistance, and other assistance to improve health care to eligible Eastern European countries; and (2) provide assistance to support the infrastructure for a housing sector in such countries. Directs the SEED Program coordinator to establish an Eastern European Business Information Center System to serve as a central clearinghouse and data resource service for U.S. and Eastern European businesses providing information relating to: (1) business conditions in Eastern Europe; (2) legal and regulatory information needed by U.S. companies seeking to do business in Eastern Europe; (3) investment and trade opportunities for U.S. companies; and (4) voluntary assistance efforts to Eastern European countries. Requires the SEED Program coordinator to make information accessible to local enterprises seeking trade with or investment from the United States through the establishment of Eastern European trade information centers. Declares that the President should establish American Business Centers to support American business initiative in Eastern Europe. Repeals a provision concerning economic and commercial officers at U.S. embassies and missions in Hungary and Poland. Authorizes and allocates appropriations for SEED programs for FY 1992 and 1993. Sets forth provisions concerning the reallocation or reduction of such funds. Treats the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe in Budapest, Hungary, as an international organization for purposes of detailing U.S. Government personnel. Chapter 2: Other Provisions Relating to the Region - Authorizes additional appropriations for FY 1992 and 1993 to carry out the Soviet-East European Research and Training Act of 1983. Revises reporting requirements under such Act. Condemns the resurgence of organized anti-Semitism and ethnic animosity in Romania. Urges the Government of Romania to speak out against anti-Semitism and work to promote harmony among ethnic and religious groups. Calls on: (1) the Romanian people to resist extremist organizations and strengthen the forces of tolerance and pluralism; (2) the Romanian Government to take steps toward greater respect for internationally recognized human rights; and (3) the President of the United States to ensure that progress by such Government in combating anti-Semitism and in protecting the rights and safety of its ethnic minorities shall be a significant factor in determining levels of assistance to Romania. Sets forth congressional findings with respect to the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh in Azerbaijan. Amends the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 to establish the Andrei Sakharov Educational Exchange Program to facilitate cooperation in the fields of environmental protection and health sciences through exchanges of graduate students. Includes such exchange program in the list of actions to be taken under the SEED Act. Expresses the sense of the Congress with respect to the crisis in Yugoslavia. Amends the Anglo-Irish Agreement Support Act of 1986 to remove a certification requirement and to revise reporting requirements. Title VI: Middle East - Makes ESF assistance to Israel available on a cash transfer basis. Requires the President to ensure that the level of such transfer does not cause an adverse impact on the total level of nonmilitary exports from the United States to Israel. Makes foreign military financing for Israel available on a grant basis. Makes certain amounts of such financing available for advanced weapon systems research and development and the procurement of defense articles and services. Amends the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1991 to reduce the amount of defense articles and services and military education and training that were authorized to be drawn down for Israel under such Act. Permits ESF assistance for Egypt to include sector grants only if Egypt implements agreed upon reforms in the relevant sector. Permits specified law enforcement assistance to be provided to Egypt only through U.S. institutions of higher education or through the International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program of the Department of Justice. Requires foreign military financing for Egypt to be provided on a grant basis. Earmarks assistance allocated by AID for democratic initiatives and human rights for the growth of indigenous nongovernmental organizations that contribute to increased pluralism, democracy, and respect for human rights and the rule of law in the Middle East and North Africa. Earmarks ESF assistance for FY 1992 and 1993 for the West Bank and Gaza Program. Declares that specified amounts of development assistance should be used to finance cooperative development and cooperative development research projects among the United States, Israel, and eligible East European countries. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the United States should support educational, cultural, and humanitarian activities that bring Israelis together with Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza. Sets forth U.S. policy with respect to Lebanon. Declares that specified amounts of ESF and development assistance should be made available for Lebanon. Prohibits assistance to Syria until the President reports to the appropriate congressional committees that the Government of Syria: (1) has demonstrated willingness to enter into negotiations with Israel; (2) does not deny its citizens the right to emigrate and does not impose taxes with respect to emigration; (3) is assisting the U.S. Government in obtaining the release of American hostages in Lebanon; (4) no longer supports international terrorist groups; (5) is withdrawing its armed forces from Lebanon; (6) is no longer acquiring chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons and will not use weapons currently in its arsenal to threaten its neighbors; (7) is cooperating with U.S. antinarcotics efforts and taking steps to remove members of the government who are involved in the drug trade; and (8) has made progress in improving human rights. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the United States should encourage all Arab states to: (1) support efforts to achieve peace and stability in the Middle East and to settle the Arab-Israeli conflict; and (2) take specific steps with respect to Israel and terrorism. Directs the President to report to the appropriate congressional committees on: (1) the impact on Israel of U.S. commercial and government-to-government transfers of defense articles and services to the Middle East; and (2) policies being pursued and steps being taken to preserve Israel's qualitative edge. Amends the International Security and Development Cooperation Act of 1985 to revise U.S. policy with respect to the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). Restricts negotiations with the PLO until the PLO amends or supersedes its charter to reflect recognition of Israel and ceases the use of terrorism. Requires the President to report to the Speaker of the House and the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on specified issues involving the PLO. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the United States should lead an effort to repeal United Nations General Assembly Resolution 3379 (equates Zionism with racism). Requires the President to report to the appropriate congressional committees on whether the Government of Kuwait has taken steps to: (1) end arbitrary arrest, torture, and other extrajudicial actions and bring to justice those responsible for such actions; (2) ensure that those detained have access to legal counsel, the right to an open and speedy trial, and other internationally recognized standards of due process; (3) allow the presence and activities of international human rights and humanitarian organizations; (4) comply with international law relating to deportations; and (5) ensure that the October 1992 elections are free and fair and permit universal suffrage. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) U.S. businesses engaged in rebuilding Kuwait should use U.S. subcontractors and U.S. goods and services; (2) the Department of Commerce should monitor and encourage this policy; and (3) the President should seek appropriate United Nations Security Council action to establish an international tribunal to try all individuals who were involved in the planning or execution of war crimes and crimes against humanity during and after Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. Directs the President to report to the relevant congressional committees on any spoils of war that were obtained subsequent to August 2, 1990, and that were transferred to any party before the date of enactment of this Act. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the 1981 Israeli preemptive strike against the Iraqi nuclear reactor at Osirak was a legitimate and justifiable exercise of self-defense which also reduced the threat of Iraqi nuclear aggression against countries bordering Iraq; and (2) the United States should seek the repeal of United Nations Security Council Resolution 487 which condemned the strike. Title VII: Latin America and the Caribbean - Chapter 1: Central America and the Caribbean - Subchapter A: Central America - Declares that it shall be U.S. policy to: (1) support Central American countries in efforts to build democracy, restore peace, establish respect for human rights, expand economic opportunities, and improve living conditions; (2) support dialogue as the proper means of resolving armed conflicts in Central America; (3) assist in the implementation of, and secure international cooperation and support for, recommendations of the International Commission on Central American Recovery and Development; (4) support the United Nations Development Program for its Special Plan of Economic Cooperation for Central America; (5) organize a partnership among donor countries and Central American countries to mobilize resources and promote a forum for dialogue on issues of development, democracy, social justice, and human rights. Prohibits military assistance under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to Guatemala during FY 1992 and 1993, except in connection with a peace agreement. Establishes the Lasting Peace Fund for Guatemala. Authorizes the President to transfer amounts available for military assistance to the Fund. Makes funds available only upon notification to the appropriate congressional committees that the Guatemalan Government and the Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unit have signed a peace agreement. Permits funds to be available for: (1) costs of retraining, relocation, and reemployment in civilian pursuits of former combatants and noncombatants affected by the conflict; and (2) costs of monitoring activities associated with the peace agreement. Prohibits the authorities of the Arms Export Control Act from being used to sell to the Guatemalan Government, or issue licenses for the export to Guatemala of: (1) weapons or ammunition; or (2) aircraft, unless the aircraft are unarmed and the Guatemalan Government has agreed that they will not be armed. Permits FY 1992 and 1993 development and ESF assistance and assistance under the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 for Guatemala to be used only by civilian government agencies and nongovernmental organizations. Requires such assistance to be targeted for: (1) programs that address poverty, basic human needs, and environmental concerns; (2) the improvement of democratic institutions and the promotion of political pluralism; (3) the National Reconciliation Commission; (4) fiscal reform and administration; or (5) programs that promote trade and investment. Prohibits such assistance from being used for partisan political purposes or as an instrument of counterinsurgency. Waives assistance target requirements if the President notifies the appropriate congressional committees that Guatemala has made progress in eliminating human rights violations and in bringing to trial those responsible for major human rights cases. Declares that the President should: (1) take into account the extent to which the Nicaraguan Government has brought the armed forces under civilian control and undertaken investigations into, and prosecution of those responsible for, human rights violations prior to providing assistance for FY 1992 and 1993; and (2) consider the extent to which foreign military financing for Nicaragua will further the goals of strengthening civilian control over the military, ending human rights abuses, and stemming the export of lethal military equipment prior to providing such financing for such fiscal years. Prohibits assistance under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 for FY 1992 and 1993 from being available for: (1) the Sandinista Popular Army unless requested and authorized by the President of Nicaragua; and (2) any member of the Nicaraguan resistance who has not disarmed or is not abiding by the terms of the cease-fire and the addenda to the Toncontin Agreement. Waives provisions of law that prohibit assistance to countries in arrears on assistance payments to the United States with respect to assistance for Nicaragua. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Nicaraguan Government should expedite the processing of claims by private citizens based on expropriation of property by the Sandinista Government. Authorizes a specified amount of ESF assistance for FY 1992 and 1993 to be made available to carry out the Concerted Plan of Action in Favor of Central American Refugees. Expresses the sense of the Congress with respect to strengthening democratic legislatures in Central America. Declares that a specified amount of development and economic support assistance should be used for the Central American Journalism Program and Regional Administration of Justice Program's Center for the Administration of Justice to support democracy building activities in the region. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should: (1) begin negotiations with the Government of Panama to consider whether the two Governments should allow the permanent stationing of U.S. military forces in Panama beyond December 31, 1991; and (2) consult with the Congress throughout those negotiations. Subchapter B: The Caribbean - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to set forth the Caribbean Regional Development Act of 1991. Sets forth U.S. policy with respect to development and economic assistance for the Caribbean. Provides that priority in providing development assistance should be given to supporting indigenous democratic Caribbean institutions that represent and benefit the poor. Requires priority in the allocation of assistance to the Caribbean to be given to: (1) increased food production; (2) rural development; (3) community-based agro-industries; (4) small- and medium-sized farm and manufacturing enterprises; (5) the expansion of tourism; (6) regional integration; (7) the upgrading of technical and managerial skills; (8) support for renewable natural resources; (9) private sector development; (10) democratic development and the administration of justice; and (11) human services and human resources development. Directs the President, in providing assistance to a Caribbean country, to take into account whether the government of such country has failed to protect worker rights and is taking steps to implement laws that demonstrate advancement in providing such rights. Prohibits the administering agency from providing assistance for the use of any substance in a Caribbean country if such use is prohibited under the country's or U.S. public health laws. Declares that the agency should: (1) ensure the active participation of women in the development process; and (2) take into account the perspectives of the poor in the development process. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) all assistance to the Haitian Government should remain suspended until democratic government is restored; (2) the United States, when democratic government is restored, should provide assistance to such government only if it abides by the Haitian Constitution and respects freedom of expression and human rights; (3) the President should consider, during any period when assistance is suspended to Haiti, whether assistance through private and voluntary organizations should be continued for humanitarian purposes; (4) the United States should provide a specified amount of economic assistance to Haiti during FY 1992 and 1993; and (5) if any assistance is suspended, the balance for any fiscal year should remain available as long as there are reasonable prospects of a return to democracy and constitutional government in Haiti. Prohibits foreign military financing assistance for Haiti (except nonlethal assistance) during FY 1992 and 1993. Encourages the Government of the Dominican Republic to improve respect for the human rights of Haitian laborers engaged in the sugar cane harvesting industry in the Dominican Republic. Withholds a specified amount of economic support assistance from the Dominican Republic until the President notifies the appropriate congressional committees of the steps taken by the Government of the Dominican Republic to improve such human rights. Declares that the President should consider increasing the Dominican Republic's allocation of the U.S. sugar quota and providing additional economic and development assistance if the Government of the Dominican Republic makes progress in specified matters concerning such laborers. Permits assistance under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 or the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 to be provided to the Government of Guyana only if the President reports to the appropriate congressional committees that such government is in power as a result of free and fair elections. Exempts from such restriction international narcotics control assistance or assistance for the holding of free and fair elections. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President, following the submission of the report regarding Guyana, should provide assistance for Guyana under such Acts. Declares that a specified amount of assistance should be used to meet basic human needs. Condemns the armed forces of Suriname for the December 1990 coup and for disregard for civilian authority. Urges the armed forces to permit a peaceful transfer of power to the elected civilian government. Calls upon the President to withhold assistance from Suriname until a peaceful transfer of power has taken place, and to use assistance to bolster civilian rule. Applauds the actions of the United Nations Human Rights Commission of March 6, 1991 (concerning human rights in Cuba), and calls on the Government of Cuba to cooperate fully with the Commission. Prohibits the issuance of licenses for certain transactions involving U.S.-controlled firms in third countries and Cuba unless a license would be authorized for such transactions if undertaken by a firm organized under any State law. Applies such prohibition to a foreign subsidiary or affiliate of a domestic concern which is controlled in fact by such concern. Subchapter C: Provisions Relating to Both Central America and the Caribbean - Requires advance congressional notification for the transfer or issuance of licenses for the export of helicopters or military aircraft to any country in Central America or the Caribbean. Directs the Secretary of State to notify the appropriate congressional committees whenever any helicopters or other military aircraft are provided to such countries by any foreign country. Chapter 2: South America - Subchapter A: Andean Initiative - Authorizes appropriations for development and economic support assistance for FY 1992 and 1993 for Andean countries. Requires priority in the use of funds for Bolivia and Peru to be given to support programs that focus on providing coca farmers with alternative sources of income. Declares that specified amounts of such assistance should be used for law enforcement assistance, protection against narco-terrorist attacks, and assistance for human rights offices in Bolivia, Colombia, and Peru. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1992 and 1993 for foreign military financing assistance for Andean countries. Requires such assistance to be designed to: (1) enhance the ability of the recipient government to control illicit narcotics production and trafficking; (2) strengthen respect for human rights and the rule of law to control narcotics production and trafficking; and (3) assist the armed forces of the Andean countries in their support roles for such countries' law enforcement agencies. Permits the provision of such assistance only if: (1) such country has a democratic government; and (2) the government of such country does not engage in a consistent pattern of human rights violations. Permits such assistance to be used for certain law enforcement training and equipment for purposes of narcotics control efforts. Limits the amount of military and law enforcement assistance for Bolivia, Colombia, and Peru. Prohibits a Peruvian police organization that engages in a consistent pattern of human rights violations from being considered as a law enforcement unit. Permits assistance or the transfer of excess defense articles under this Act to an Andean country only if the President determines that: (1) such country is implementing programs to reduce the flow of cocaine to the United States; and (2) the armed forces and law enforcement agencies of such country are not engaged in a consistent pattern of human rights violations and the government of such country has made progress in protecting human rights. Exempts from the human rights condition assistance for programs providing coca farmers with alternative sources of income. Waives provisions of law that prohibit assistance to countries in arrears on loan payments to the United States with respect to narcotics-related assistance to Andean countries. Expresses the sense of the Congress with respect to actions taken by the Government of Colombia to combat drug trafficking. Subchapter B: Other Provisions Relating to South America - Congratulates the Governments of Argentina and Brazil for taking certain steps with respect to nuclear nonproliferation. Chapter 3: Other Provisions Pertaining to the Region - Authorizes a specified amount of economic assistance for FY 1992 and 1993 to be made available for efforts to deal with the cholera epidemic in Latin America. Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to permit the delivery of military assistance and sales to the armed forces of a Latin American or Caribbean country with a civilian government only with the prior approval of the country's head of government. Makes law enforcement assistance available for countries with democratically-elected governments in Latin America and the Caribbean. Prohibits the use of such funds for: (1) lethal equipment; and (2) the participation of Department of Defense personnel and members of the U.S. armed forces in law enforcement training. Permits law enforcement training in the Caribbean to be provided only under the auspices of the Department of Justice Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program. Earmarks funds for such assistance. Requires the Secretary to report annually to the Congress on the status and treatment of indigenous peoples in Latin America and the Caribbean. Authorizes the President to direct the AID Administrator to release the Institute Centroamericano de Administration de Empresas from an obligation to make payments on a specified Alliance for Progress loan. Title VIII: Enterprise for the Americas Initiative - Enterprise for the Americas Act of 1991 - Chapter 1: Foreign Assistance Act Debt Reduction - Supports improvement in the lives of the people of Latin America and the Caribbean through market-oriented reforms and economic growth with actions to promote debt reduction, investment reforms, community based conservation and sustainable use of the environment, and child survival and child development. Makes eligible for Enterprise for the Americas Facility benefits (established pursuant to the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954) Latin American or Caribbean countries that: (1) have democratically-elected governments; (2) have not provided support for international terrorism; (3) cooperate on international narcotics control matters; (4) do not engage in a consistent pattern of human rights violations; (5) have in effect, received approval for, or are making progress toward, specified International Monetary Fund (IMF) arrangements and structural or sectoral adjustment loans from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development or the International Development Association; (6) have put in place major investment reforms in conjunction with an Inter-American Development Bank loan or are implementing or making progress toward an open investment regime; and (7) have agreed with commercial bank lenders on a financing program for debt or debt service reduction. Authorizes the President to reduce the amount owed to the United States (as a result of concessional loans made pursuant to the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 or predecessor foreign economic assistance legislation) by any country eligible for Facility benefits. Sets forth requirements with respect to the exchange of obligations, repayment of principal, and interest on new obligations issued by beneficiary countries. Requires beneficiary countries that enter into Americas Framework Agreements to establish Enterprise for the Americas Funds. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into Americas Framework Agreements concerning the operation and use of Americas Funds with countries eligible for Facility benefits. Directs administering bodies in each beneficiary country to administer the Americas Funds and to make grants. Requires grants from the Funds to be used for activities that link the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources with local community development and for child survival and development activities. Subjects grants of more than $100,000 to veto by the U.S. Government or the government of the beneficiary country. Redesignates the Environment for the Americas Board (established pursuant to the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954) as the Enterprise for the Americas Board. Requires the Board to: (1) advise the Secretary on the negotiations of Americas Framework Agreements; (2) ensure that a suitable administering body is identified for each Americas Fund; and (3) review the programs, operations, and fiscal audits of administering bodies. Amends the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 to increase the number of representatives of the Board. Chapter 2: Export-Import Bank Debt Reduction - Amends the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 to set forth provisions concerning the Enterprise for the Americas Initiative parallel to those set forth in chapter 1 of title VIII of this Act. Makes eligible for Facility benefits Latin American or Caribbean countries that: (1) have in effect, received approval for, or are making progress toward, specified IMF arrangements and structural or sectoral adjustment loans from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development or the International Development Association; (2) have put in place major investment reforms in conjunction with an Inter-American Development Bank loan or are implementing or making progress toward an open investment regime; and (3) have agreed with commercial bank lenders on a financing program for debt or debt service reduction. Permits the President, for purposes of facilitating debt-for-equity, debt-for-development, or debt-for-nature swaps, to sell to any eligible purchaser any Export-Import Bank loan made to an eligible country before January 1, 1991. Authorizes appropriations. Chapter 3: Participation of the Inter-American Development Bank - Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to work closely with the management of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to ensure the full implementation of the IDB's proposed investment sector reform program and the coordination of U.S. bilateral assistance programs with IDB efforts to enhance liberalization efforts in countries served by the IDB. Amends the Inter-American Development Bank Act to authorize appropriations for a contribution to the Enterprise for the Americas Investment Fund, provided that certain conditions are met. Requires U.S. assistance to the Fund to be disbursed only for the following purposes: (1) technical assistance for purposes of identifying and resolving domestic constraints to investment; (2) assistance to private enterprises; (3) assistance in building human capital, alleviating poverty, and reducing barriers to economic and social progress; and (4) assistance to support host country capacity for insuring the environmental soundness of investment activities. Limits the amount to be used for any of the preceding purposes. Requires the Secretary to instruct the U.S. representative to the Fund to vote against any action which may have an adverse environmental impact unless an environmental assessment is available at least 120 days before the vote. Makes Latin American or Caribbean countries eligible for Enterprise for the Americas Facility benefits eligible for Fund assistance. Chapter 4: International University for the Americas - Requires the Secretary of State to determine the most appropriate location for the International University for the Americas, an institution to be established for promoting economic integration and the strengthening of democratic institutions in the Western Hemisphere and for commemorating the 500th anniversary of the discovery of the Americas by Christopher Columbus. Authorizes a specified amount of development and economic support assistance for Latin America and the Caribbean to be made available for the University. Chapter 5: Reports - Directs the President to report annually to the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate on the implementation of this title. Title IX: Asia and the Pacific - Chapter 1: East Asia and the Pacific - Requires the President, in determining whether to furnish assistance or make sales of defense articles or services to Burma (Myanmar) during FY 1992 and 1993, to make a specified certification with respect to international narcotics control in Burma and to take into account whether the Burmese Government has: (1) ceded legal authority to a civilian government as mandated by the 1990 elections; (2) released persons arrested for the peaceful expression of their political views; and (3) ceased harassment of persons and political parties attempting to exercise freedoms of expression, association, and assembly. Sets forth notification requirements with respect to certain assistance for Burma. Declares that the Congress would welcome decisions by the President to: (1) decline to negotiate a new textile agreement with Burma; (2) impose economic sanctions on Burma under the Customs and Trade Act of 1990; and (3) call upon industrialized countries to impose similar sanctions upon Burma. Authorizes certain development and economic support assistance to be available for: (1) training and education assistance for Burmese outside of Burma who are displaced as a result of civil conflict; and (2) activities which support democratic pluralism in Burma. Reaffirms that genocide is a crime under international law which the United States undertakes to prevent and calls upon the United Nations to take appropriate action for the prevention and suppression of genocide in Cambodia. Makes a specified amount of development and economic support assistance available for Cambodian civilians. Releases additional funds in the event of a settlement of the Cambodian conflict acceptable to the United States. Makes an additional amount of development and economic support assistance available for humanitarian assistance to children and war victims in Cambodia. Authorizes the President to use development and economic support assistance funds to provide for the nonmilitary training of Cambodians in skills that would be used to support an internationally acceptable political settlement in Cambodia. Requires the President to terminate assistance to any Cambodian organization that is cooperating with the Khmer Rouge in military operations. Directs the President to conduct an onsite assessment within Cambodia to determine requirements for the development of infrastructure and the eradication of explosive mines. Requires the President to report to the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate on all instances of military cooperation since January 1, 1991, between the Khmer Rouge and any faction of the noncommunist resistance and all instances of human rights abuses by the Khmer Rouge. Prohibits the sale, and the issuance of licenses for export, to China of any item on the U.S. Munitions List for military end-users if the President determines that: (1) any U.S. defense article or technology was used in certain missiles or aircraft transferred to Algeria, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Pakistan, or Syria by China in contravention of the Arms Export Control Act; and (2) any chemical weapon or nuclear equipment or materials were transferred to such countries by China. Makes such prohibition inapplicable to the sale or export of systems or components designed for inclusion in civil products and controlled as defense articles only for purposes of export to a controlled country, unless the President determines that the intended recipient is the Chinese military or security forces. Prohibits the provision of FY 1992 and 1993 foreign military financing assistance and assistance for international military education and training to Fiji unless the President certifies to the Congress that Fiji has held elections in which there has been broad participation by all communities. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should provide specified amounts to support humanitarian projects in Laos for efforts to resolve questions concerning Vietnam prisoners of war or those missing in action. Sets forth provisions concerning Malaysia's policy of denying first asylum to Indochinese asylum-seekers. Expresses the sense of the Congress that additional assistance should be provided for Mongolia in recognition of Mongolia's movement toward democracy and a free market economy. Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to set forth the Multilateral Assistance Initiative for the Philippines. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the United States should participate with multilateral financial institutions and other bilateral donors in an economic reform and development program in the Philippines; and (2) a multiyear commitment of resources by the United States, donors, and such institutions and a reform effort and leadership role by the Government of the Philippines will be necessary to ensure economic growth in the Philippines and enhanced participation of the Filipino people in the democratic process. Authorizes the President to provide assistance to promote the goals of this Act. Links such assistance to progress by the Government of the Philippines in implementing its economic, structural, judicial, and administrative reform program. Authorizes appropriations. Limits the amount of appropriations for FY 1992. Expresses the sense of the Congress that prior to requesting additional amounts to carry out this Act, the President should take into account: (1) the progress being made by the Philippines toward achieving reform objectives; (2) the extent of participation by the bilateral donors and multilateral financial institutions; and (3) the efforts to coordinate the assistance program. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the coordination of objectives and programs by donors, institutions, and the Government of the Philippines is critical to the success of the multilateral assistance program; (2) all donors should simplify procurement and disbursement procedures to ensure that conditions on the provision or use of assistance are complementary; and (3) the Philippines should establish internal procedures that will ensure the most effective use of such assistance. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1992 and 1993 for the South Pacific Regional Program. Earmarks an amount of such assistance for scholarships for study at U.S. postsecondary institutions of education. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the future of Taiwan should be settled peacefully, free from coercion, and in a manner acceptable to the Taiwanese people; and (2) good relations between the United States and China depend on the willingness of the Chinese authorities to refrain from the use or the threat of force in resolving Taiwan's future. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should encourage the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to consider for OECD membership the Governments of South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Chapter 2: South Asia - Amends the International Security and Development Cooperation Act of 1985 to earmark development and economic support assistance for humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people and for the implementation of bilateral and multilateral reconstruction efforts for Afghanistan and the establishment of a broad-based freely-elected Afghan Government. Congratulates Bangladesh on the transition to a democratically-elected government and welcomes the economic adjustment measures being implemented in coordination with the IMF. Expresses appreciation for Bangladesh's support for international law and collective security. Urges the President to provide debt relief under the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 to Bangladesh. Calls upon the Government of India to promote adherence to human rights. Condemns abuses by militants in Kashmir and Punjab and urges all militant groups to cease the use of force to achieve political objectives. Urges the Secretary to raise Indian human rights issues with the Government of India. Calls upon Pakistani authorities not to provide arms or training to militants in Punjab or Kashmir. Welcomes the establishment of a democratically-elected government in Nepal and supports the economic development effort of such government. Authorizes economic support assistance for Nepal for FY 1992 and 1993. Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to extend a certain waiver of a prohibition on assistance to Pakistan through April 1, 1993. Prohibits the President from waiving such prohibition unless he makes a specified certification regarding nuclear nonproliferation in Pakistan. Sets forth provisions concerning human rights abuses in Sri Lanka. Requires the President, in determining whether to provide assistance or make sales of defense articles or services to Sri Lanka during FY 1992 and 1993, to take into account whether the Government of Sri Lanka has: (1) established a public register of detainees and ensured that detainees have access to lawyers and family members; (2) taken steps to deter disappearances and killings of civilians by persons under control of government forces; (3) taken measures to minimize civilian casualties in combat operations in the north and the east; and (4) made serious efforts to investigate and prosecute those involved in the murder of journalist Richard DeZoysa. Encourages the Government of Sri Lanka to provide human rights education and training. Chapter 3: Economic Cooperation Projects in China and Tibet - Expresses the sense of the Congress that U.S. economic cooperation projects in China and Tibet should adhere to specified principles, including to: (1) ensure that employment decisions are nondiscriminatory; (2) ensure that methods of production do not pose a danger to project employees and the surrounding environment; (3) ensure that no convict or forced labor is used in the projects; (4) protect freedoms of assembly, association, and expression of project employees; (5) promote the training of employees; (6) discourage compulsory political indoctrination on project premises; and (7) urge the Chinese Government to release a list of the names of individuals detained solely for nonviolent expression of their political views. Directs the Secretary of State to forward a copy of such principles to member nations of the OECD and encourage them to promote such principles. Requires U.S. parent companies of such projects to register with the Secretary and indicate whether such projects will implement the principles. Sets forth specified reporting requirements. Directs the Secretary to report annually to the appropriate congressional committees on: (1) enforcement procedures with respect to prohibitions on the importation of convict-made goods; and (2) investigations with respect to goods produced by convict or forced labor in China and Tibet. Title X: Africa - Chapter 1: Development Fund for Africa - Authorizes appropriations for the Development Fund for Africa for FY 1992 and 1993. Chapter 2: Other Assistance for Africa - Amends the African Development Foundation Act to authorize appropriations for the African Development Foundation for FY 1992 and 1993. Requires funds from the Development Fund for Africa to be used to assist sector projects supported by the Southern African Development Coordination Conference (SADCC). Authorizes the use of such funds without regard to prohibitions on assistance to countries in arrears on assistance payments. Encourages the President to provide increased assistance to promote the development of democratic institutions in Subsaharan Africa. Declares that a specified amount of economic support assistance should be earmarked for Subsaharan Africa. Directs the AID Administrator to provide for the establishment of an African Center for Conflict Resolution to analyze, research, and resolve conflicts in Africa. Requires funds from the Development Fund for Africa to be made available for the Center. Chapter 3: Provisions Relating to Specific Countries - Requires the President, beginning with FY 1992, to provide: (1) nonpartisan election and democracy-building assistance to Angola for support in developing democratic institutions; (2) assistance for the voluntary relocation and resettlement of refugees and displaced persons and for the demobilization and retraining of former military members of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) and the armed forces of the Government of Angola; (3) humanitarian assistance; and (4) assistance to implement the peace accords. Prohibits such assistance if the Angolan Government or UNITA violates the peace accords. Requires the President, in determining whether to provide assistance to Burundi during FY 1992 and 1993, to take into account that the Government of Burundi has: (1) made progress in reforming its military by engaging in a massive Hutu recruitment program; (2) taken steps to reverse discrimination against the Hutu; and (3) embarked on a major repatriation effort to accommodate the return of Hutu. Sets forth U.S. policy with respect to Kenya. Suspends economic and military assistance to Kenya. Waives such suspension if the President reports to the appropriate congressional committees that the Government of Kenya is taking steps to: (1) release political detainees and end the prosecution of individuals for the expression of their political beliefs; (2) cease physical abuse or mistreatment of prisoners; (3) restore judicial independence; and (4) restore freedom of expression to the Kenyan people. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should continue to support the peacekeeping efforts in Liberia carried out by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Permits funds authorized by this Act for foreign military financing and unexpended foreign military financing and economic support assistance to be made available to support the efforts of ECOWAS to expand its military involvement in peacekeeping efforts in Liberia. Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize the President to provide assistance for civil strife relief, rehabilitation, and general recovery in Liberia. Permits assistance to Liberia during FY 1992 and 1993 only if the President reports to the Congress that the Government of Liberia has achieved progress toward reconciliation and free and fair elections monitored by international observers. Provides that such restriction shall not apply to humanitarian assistance or assistance to enhance progress toward reconciliation and free and fair elections. Waives a prohibition on assistance to countries in arrears on assistance payments with respect to assistance for Liberia. Commends the Malawi Government's response to the influx of refugees from Mozambique. Condemns the abuse of human rights of Malawian citizens. Urges President Banda to release prisoners of conscience, end incommunicado detention and torture of prisoners, and permit freedom of speech and association in Malawi. Prohibits foreign military financing for the Malawi Young Pioneers and permits such assistance only for the Malawian military's effort to secure the Nacala Railroad, programs to support conservation and biological diversity, and for activities to assist in the Mozambique peace process. Sets forth U.S. policy with respect to Mozambique. Conditions the provision of economic support assistance and foreign military financing for FY 1992 and 1993 for Mozambique on steps by the Government of Mozambique to increase respect for human rights and promote a political settlement to the conflict in such country. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the United States should support the elimination of apartheid and the establishment of democratic majority rule in South Africa through a policy to bring about a nonracial democracy; (2) U.S. firms and the Government should provide specified assistance to disadvantaged South Africans; and (3) the President should seek the cooperation of U.S. allies in Western Europe and Japan to join in multilateral initiatives to aid disadvantaged South Africans. Makes economic support and development assistance and assistance from the Development Fund for Africa available for assistance to disadvantaged South Africans. Requires priority in providing such assistance to be given to South African nongovernmental organizations whose staff are selected on a nonracial basis and which have the support of the disadvantaged communities being served. Authorizes excess assistance for disadvantaged South Africans to be used only for assistance for programs in the health, education, and housing sectors. Prohibits the transfer of such funds to any entity controlled by the South African Government, unless specified conditions are met. Declares that the President, before obligating funds for disadvantaged South Africans, should: (1) consult with South African organizations representative of the majority population of South Africa; and (2) seek a commitment from the South African Government that it will provide additional resources to meet the needs of disadvantaged South Africans. Prohibits assistance to the Communist Party of South Africa or affiliated organizations. Requires the President to ensure that recipients of assistance in South Africa are not engaged in human rights violations and have in place democratic processes for internal decisionmaking and the selection of leaders. Prohibits the provision of foreign military financing, military education and training, and economic support and development assistance to Zaire during FY 1992 and 1993 unless the President reports to the appropriate congressional committees that: (1) free and fair national elections have been held in Zaire; and (2) the elected government demonstrates a commitment to protect freedom of expression and bring about a reformed and independent judiciary and reform of, and applications of, the rule of law to Zaire security forces. Chapter 4: Horn of Africa Recovery and Food Security - Expresses the sense of the Congress with respect to Ethiopia, Somalia, and Sudan. Sets forth U.S. policy with respect to equitable distribution of relief and rehabilitation assistance and international relief efforts in the Horn of Africa (Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, and Djibouti). Authorizes the President to: (1) provide international disaster assistance for civil strife and famine relief and rehabilitation in the Horn of Africa; and (2) transfer funds from unobligated security assistance (without regard to a specified 20 percent increase limitation) to carry out this chapter. Makes available a percentage of assistance for management support activities. Urges the President to provide supplemental emergency food assistance for civilian victims of civil strife in the Horn of Africa. Encourages the President to consult with other nations, armed and unarmed parties in the Horn of Africa, and the United Nations Secretary General to bring about negotiated settlements of the armed conflicts in the Horn of Africa. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should: (1) direct the U.S. representative to the United Nations to take specified steps with respect to peace and the establishment of an arms embargo in the region; (2) play an active role in other fora in pressing for settlements to conflicts; and (3) participate in regional and international peace consultations. Declares that development assistance in the Horn of Africa should be targeted to aid the poor. States that U.S. Government aid institutions should seek to: (1) build upon the capabilities and experiences of organizations active in local grassroots relief, rehabilitation, and development efforts; (2) consult with such organizations and incorporate their views into the policymaking process; and (3) support the expansion of their activities without compromising their private nature. Declares that development assistance should be: (1) targeted to the voluntary relocation and repatriation of displaced persons and refugees; and (2) carried out in coordination with strategies for debt relief of countries in the region and with efforts to establish an international fund for reconstruction of developing nations which settle civil wars. Requires development assistance and assistance from the Development Fund for Africa to be channeled through private and voluntary or specified international organizations unless the President makes the required certification under this chapter. Prohibits economic support assistance and foreign military financing and international military education and training assistance to Ethiopia, Somalia, or Sudan unless the President certifies that the government of the country has: (1) begun to implement peace or national reconciliation agreements; (2) demonstrated a commitment to human rights; (3) manifested a commitment to democracy and has held or established a timetable for free and fair elections; and (4) agreed to distribute development assistance without discrimination. Chapter 5: Other Provisions - Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) special efforts should be undertaken to reduce trade barriers and to promote economic interchange between the United States and developing countries in Subsaharan Africa; and (2) the countries of Subsaharan Africa are to be applauded for their stance during the Persian Gulf conflict and commended for their support of the United States. Permits international military education and training to be provided to a Subsaharan African country only if the President considers whether: (1) that country has a government that was democratically-elected as the result of free and fair elections or is committed to respecting human rights and freedom of expression and has achieved progress in a process of democratization; (2) the armed forces of such country are involved in human rights violations or the government of the country fails to respect human rights; and (3) the armed forces of such country or other elements of the government of that country are engaged in destabilization efforts aimed at any other country. Requires the President, when obligating funds for countries that do not meet such conditions, to report to the appropriate congressional committees on the reasons for providing such assistance. Provides that any sanction imposed by any State or governmental subdivision that is directed at South Africa or persons engaging in commercial or financial transactions in or with South Africa and that also applies to Namibia shall be null and void with respect to Namibia unless such sanction is consistent with Federal law. Expresses the sense of the Congress that a study should be undertaken by the Office of Technology Assessment, in a cross-section of Subsaharan African countries, of the formulation and the economic, social, and environmental impact of adjustment programs supported or leveraged by AID through the Development Fund for Africa. Title XI: Aid, Trade, and Competitiveness - Aid, Trade, and Competitiveness Act of 1991 - Requires the AID Administrator to establish a capital projects office to: (1) develop a program that would focus solely on developmentally sound capital projects; and (2) consider opportunities for U.S. high-technology firms in putting together capital projects for developing countries and SEED eligible East European countries. Sets forth the activities of the capital projects office. Directs the President to report annually to the Congress on the extent to which: (1) U.S. Government resources have been expended to support capital projects in such countries and the extent of interagency coordination; and (2) U.S. Government capital projects and tied-aid programs have affected U.S. exports. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury, if a new agreement within OECD that meets the objective of reducing the level of concessional financing by member countries other than the United States has not been reached by February 1, 1992, to report to the Congress, together with the President of the Export-Import Bank, on: (1) the status of the negotiations; (2) the causes for the failure to reach an agreement by that date; and (3) the reasons the U.S. Government believes that continued negotiations will result in achieving such objective. Urges the President to use specified types and amounts of assistance for grants for capital projects. Directs the President to report to the appropriate congressional committees on the feasibility of allowing AID to offer credit guarantees for the financing of capital projects. Authorizes additional appropriations for FY 1993 for the Trade and Development Agency. Title XII: Peace Corps - Amends the Peace Corps Act to: (1) extend the authorization of appropriations for the Peace Corps through FY 1993; and (2) establish the Foreign Currency Fluctuations, Peace Corps, Account to pay expenses for Peace Corps operations which exceed appropriations for such expenses as a result of currency exchange rate fluctuations. Authorizes appropriations for such Account. Requires the Director of the Peace Corps to contract with an eligible organization to conduct three evaluations of the health care needs of Peace Corps volunteers and the adequacy of the Peace Corps health care system. Provides for the submission of such evaluations to the Director and specified congressional committees. Requires the Director and the Secretary of Labor to report to such committees on: (1) the information provided by the Peace Corps to its volunteers and applicants on the benefits and services to which volunteers and trainees may be entitled in the event they sustain injuries or become disabled during their Peace Corps service or training; (2) the efforts by the Peace Corps and the Department of Labor to coordinate the provision of such information to Peace Corps volunteers and applicants and the processing of claims by volunteers and trainees under the Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA); (3) the number of Peace Corps volunteers and trainees who have filed claims under FECA and the percentage of claims that have been approved; and (4) the timeliness of approvals or denials of such claims. Earmarks funds for FY 1992 and 1993 for establishing Small Business Development Programs in the Soviet Union or any successor entity. Title XIII: International Development and Finance - Chapter 1: International Monetary Fund - Amends the Bretton Woods Agreements Act to authorize the U.S. Governor of the International Monetary Fund to consent to: (1) an increase in the U.S. quota in the Fund; and (2) the amendments to the Articles of Agreement of the Fund approved in resolution 45-3 of the Fund's Board of Governors. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. Executive Director of the Fund to approve the Fund's pledge to sell a specified amount of the Fund's gold to restore the resources of the Reserve Account of the Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility Trust to meet obligations to lenders who have made loans to the Trust for financing programs of members previously in arrears to the Fund. Permits the Secretary to instruct the U.S. Executive Director of the Fund to support Soviet membership in the Fund only after the President certifies to the Congress that the Soviet Union has taken specified actions to indicate: (1) the implementation of free market policies; (2) the reduction in size and scope of government expenditures; and (3) the embrace of democratic processes. Authorizes the Secretary to instruct the Executive Director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to support expansion of access by the Soviet Union to the Bank's resources only after the President makes such certification. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) encouragement should be given to the efforts being made to address the political and economic problems of nations making the transition to more open political and economic systems; and (2) consideration should be given to developing relationships between such nations, the Fund, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and other international financial institutions as part of assisting such nations in making such transitions. Requires the Secretary to instruct the U.S. Executive Director of the Fund to encourage the Fund to adopt procedures for the publication of economic reviews of the major industrialized nations and other commentary, as appropriate. Expresses the sense of the Congress that procedures should be instituted to review the activities of the Fund and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development for purposes of coordinating the international economic activities of international financial institutions at the Board, management, and staff levels. Directs the Secretary to instruct the U.S. Executive Director of the Fund to: (1) advocate specified actions concerning poverty alleviation and policy framework papers; and (2) urge renewal of debt and debt service reduction programs. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress on the debt of the Soviet Union held by commercial banks outside the Soviet Union and the prospects for repayment of such debt. Directs the Secretary to instruct the U.S. Executive Director of the Fund to encourage environmental considerations in Fund programs. Requires the Secretary to instruct the U.S. Executive Directors of the Fund and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development to urge such entities to develop and report to member nations on criteria for determining whether a nation seeking a loan is engaged in arms and weapons expenditures that are: (1) appropriate to its national circumstances; or (2) an impediment to sound management of its economy and achievement of sustained long-term growth. Chapter 2: International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and Affiliates - Subchapter A: International Finance Corporation - Amends the International Finance Corporation Act to authorize the U.S. Governor of the International Finance Corporation to subscribe to additional shares of the Corporation's capital stock. Authorizes appropriations. Subchapter B: International Bank for Reconstruction and Development - Amends the Bretton Woods Agreements Act to require the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. Executive Director of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development to advocate specified measures to alleviate poverty. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Development Association should: (1) give greater programmatic and budgetary priority to the survival and development of children; and (2) make a commitment to devoting at least five percent of the annual lending of such entities to primary health and basic education, respectively. Directs the Secretary to instruct the U.S. Executive Director of the Bank to urge: (1) renewal of debt and debt service reduction programs; (2) the establishment of a program to provide technical assistance to the Baltic States and the Soviet Union in support of democratic reforms, human rights, the rule of law, and market-oriented reforms; and (3) the coordination of such program with the programs of other donors. Subchapter C: Financial Assistance for Global Environmental Protection - Global Environmental Protection Assistance Act of 1991 - Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to contribute a specified amount to the Global Environmental Facility of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development if the Secretary has certified to specified congressional committees that the Facility has made progress toward implementing certain measures set forth in this Act. Authorizes appropriations. Amends the International Financial Institutions Act to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to report to the House Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the progress made by the multilateral development banks in achieving objectives concerning debt-for-nature exchanges and lending for the environment. Chapter 3: Asian Development Bank - Amends the Asian Development Bank Act to authorize the U.S. Governor of the Asian Development Bank to subscribe to additional shares of the Bank's capital stock. Authorizes appropriations. Chapter 4: African Development Fund - Amends the African Development Fund Act to authorizes the U.S. Governor of the African Development Fund to contribute a specified amount to the sixth replenishment of the Fund. Authorizes appropriations. Chapter 5: Export-Import Bank - Amends the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 to authorize the President to waive limitations on Export-Import Bank financing for exports to the Soviet Union if such waiver is in the national interest. Directs the Bank to: (1) develop a program for providing guarantees and insurance with respect to the export of high technology items to eligible SEED program countries; and (2) inform high technology companies about Bank programs for U.S. companies interested in exporting high technology goods to such countries. Requires the Bank, in the case of any long-term loan or guarantee of at least $10,000,000, to ensure that U.S. insurance companies are accorded a competitive opportunity to provide insurance against risk of loss in connection with such transactions. Sets forth procedures to be taken in cases where such opportunity is denied. Directs the Bank to report to the Congress on the demand for loans, guarantees, and insurance for trade between the United States and the Baltic States and the Soviet Union and to make recommendations for the promotion of trade between the United States and such countries. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should determine that Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are not Marxist-Leninist countries for purposes of prohibitions on Export-Import Bank assistance for Marxist-Leninist countries. Chapter 6: Multilateral Development Banks - Subchapter A: Energy Efficiency - International Energy Efficiency Financing Act of 1991 - Amends the International Financial Institutions Act to require the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. Executive Directors of the multilateral development banks to: (1) demonstrate programs for measuring the application of systems energy efficiency planning and techniques; and (2) advocate procedures that require assessments of the impacts of proposed actions that would have a significant impact on energy efficiency before votes in favor of such actions. Directs the Secretary to seek the adoption of policies which result in access to the public of energy efficiency assessments by the borrowing countries and the lending institutions. Subchapter B: Alleviation of Poverty, Reduction of Barriers to Economic and Social Progress, and Other Provisions - Requires the Secretary to instruct the U.S. Executive Director of the regional multilateral development banks to advocate the establishment of an organizational unit to aid bank management policies for the reduction of poverty and of barriers to economic and social progress and equity. Directs the Secretary to instruct the U.S. Executive Directors of the international financial institutions to: (1) encourage borrowing countries to involve women in development activities; (2) urge such institutions to reflect the diversity of the population in hiring practices and to strengthen and expand recruitment, hiring, and promotion of minorities and women; and (3) urge such institutions to adopt compensation policies to ensure that comparable pay is provided for people in comparable jobs. Requires the Secretary to instruct the U.S. Executive Directors of the multilateral development banks to oppose any loan, except for basic human needs, to Ethiopia, Somalia, or Sudan until the President certifies to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Committees on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs and Foreign Affairs, respectively, that the government of the country has: (1) begun to implement peace or national reconciliation agreements; (2) demonstrated a commitment to human rights; (3) manifested a commitment to democracy and has held or established a timetable for free and fair elections; and (4) agreed to distribute development assistance without discrimination. Directs the Secretary to instruct the U.S. Executive Directors of the international financial institutions to encourage borrowing countries to engage in fair labor practices and to report to the Secretary on actions to promote such practices. Subchapter C: Financial Integrity - Requires the Secretary to instruct such directors to ensure the establishment of an office of Inspector General in such institutions. Chapter 7: Consolidation of Reports - Requires annual reports submitted by the Chairman of the National Advisory Council on International Monetary and Financial Policies to include summaries of reports required under the Bretton Woods Agreements Act. Title XIV: Miscellaneous - Expresses the sense of the Congress that a major effort should be made to strengthen the right to food in international law to assure the access of all persons to adequate food supplies. Declares that the Secretary of State, through the U.S. representative to the United Nations, should propose to the United Nations General Assembly that a Declaration and a Convention concerning the right to food be adopted and submitted to countries for ratification. United States Environmental Security and Foreign Policy Act of 1991 - Sets forth U.S. policy with respect to global environmental security. Gives the Secretary of State primary responsibility for overseeing environmental agreements and activities between the United States and foreign countries and international organizations and commissions. Requires the Secretary to report biennially to the Congress on: (1) multilateral environmental initiatives and negotiations concluded or in process; (2) bilateral agreements on the environment; (3) U.S. participation in, and support of, environment programs in international organizations and multilateral development banks; (4) international cooperation activities with respect to research and monitoring of environmental and natural resource conditions; and (5) environmental policies and activities of the United States in providing foreign assistance. Expresses the sense of the Congress that a major effort should be made to reform and restructure the United Nations mechanism for responding to international disasters and other humanitarian emergencies. Requires the Secretary, through the U.S. representative to the United Nations, to develop a proposal for strengthening the United Nations response to such emergencies. Expresses the sense of the Congress with respect to nuclear non-proliferation regimes. Requires the President to report annually to the Congress on the progress made and obstacles encountered in establishing regional nuclear non-proliferation regimes.
Bill· SS. 2114 (102nd)open
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan of 1991 - Title I: Employer-Provided Health Insurance - Amends the Social Security Act to add a new title XXI under which employers are required to offer to their eligible employees a health plan that provides for basic health benefits and meets certain requirements for certification as a qualified employer plan (plan). Provides that the offer of enrollment in a plan shall include enrollment of the family of the eligible employee. Sets forth enrollment rules in cases of multiple employers. Outlines provisions concerning enrollment timing, period of coverage, and employer plan cards. Details certification procedures. Requires a plan to provide for basic health benefits. Provides that such benefits shall generally consist of the same benefits as described in title XVIII (Medicare) to an individual entitled to benefits under part A (Hospital Insurance), and enrolled under part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of Medicare, plus additional specified benefits including well-child care, cancer screening, and prescription drugs. Places limits on exclusions and coverage standards for basic benefits. Provides limitations for employee premiums, deductibles, and copayments as well as for out-of-pocket expenses with respect to items and services provided under a plan offering basic benefits. Permits a plan to provide for employee cost-sharing amounts that are lower than those specified if it contains such cost containment arrangements as described by the Secretary. Permits a plan to provide for supplemental health benefits. Provides that if a plan provides for such benefits and the eligible employee may not elect to forego such benefits, the plan: (1) may not impose a premium, for basic and supplemental benefits, that exceeds the premiums that may be imposed for the basic benefits; and (2) shall assure that cost-sharing is not imposed with respect to basic benefits once the cost-sharing limit has been reached in a year with respect to all benefits. Sets forth requirements relating to coordination and portability of health coverage under qualified employer plans. Preempts certain State requirements with respect to plan benefit and coverage rules and utilization review programs. Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to qualified small employer purchasing groups to assist such groups in paying the expenditures associated with the formation and initial operations of such groups. Sets forth grant eligibility criteria. Authorizes appropriations. Requires each State to establish rules governing the approval of the operation of an entity as a small employer purchasing group in such State. Sets forth rule requirements. Provides that, in the absence of any State action to establish such rules, the Secretary shall promulgate rules, including application forms, for the approval of entities to operate as small employer purchasing groups in such State. Requires each entity desiring approval to operate as a small employer purchasing group in any State to submit an application to such State. Establishes Federal standards for imposition on insurers which issue or offer qualified employer plans to small employers. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose an excise tax on: (1) employers who fail to offer to enroll eligible employees in qualified employer plans; and (2) insurers which do not meet the Federal standards established above by this Act. Sets forth special rules for the application of such taxes. States that the provisions of new title XXI shall not apply with respect to an employee who is not a resident of one of the 50 States or the District of Columbia. Title II: Health Care Coverage For Individuals Not Otherwise Covered Under Qualified Employer Plans or Medicare - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to extend Medicaid health care coveragae (excluding long-term care services) to individuals not otherwise covered by qualified employer plans or Medicare and whose income does not exceed 240 percent of the official poverty line applicable to a family of the size involved. Gives States certain flexibility in providing benefits and coverage to such individuals. Provides an increase in Federal payments to States enrolling such individuals in coordinated care plans. Provides that there may be imposed premiums, deductibles or other cost sharing with respect to such individuals with family income over 100 percent of the official poverty line on a sliding-scale basis as long as such requirements do not exceed the applicable limitations specified in new title XXI of the Social Security Act. Permits buying-in to Medicare for certain uninsured individuals. Title III: Health Care Access - Tax Provisions - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow, in the case of an eligible small employer, as a refundable credit against any income tax imposed for the taxable year, an amount equal to 50 percent of the qualified health care costs paid by such employer during the taxable year. Sets forth special rules for the application of such tax credit. Doubles the health insurance credit and increases to 8.57 percent the phaseout percentage with respect to such credit. Repeals certain earned income tax credit interaction provisions. Provides a full deduction for health insurance costs of self-employed individuals. Makes such deduction permanent. Title IV: Administrative Provisions And Report - Amends part A (General Provisions) of title XI of the Social Security Act to: (1) require the Secretary, to the extent practicable, to develop and implement a universal health identification card and uniform claims form and reporting standards for use under Medicare, Medicaid, and new title XXI; (2) authorize additional funding for outcomes research and practice guidelines; (3) make January 1, 1993, the deadline by which the Secretary must assure the development of an initial set of specified guidelines; (4) require such guidelines to include treatments or conditions that account for a significant portion of national health expenditures (including expenditures under Medicare and Medicaid); and (5) reduce from 70 to 50 percent the amounts to be appropriated for FY 1993 and 1994 from specified trust funds. Directs the Secretary to submit a report to specified congressional committees providing information with respect to: (1) access to health care services, including the effects on access of patterns of utilization, supply and distribution of services and providers, and demographic changes; (2) sources of significantly changing health care costs; (3) the effects on costs of: (a) utilization by service, region, provider type and payer; (b) supplies, labor, capital, and new and emerging technology; (c) State and private efforts to contain such costs; and (d) outcomes research and practice guidelines; and (4) such other matters as the Secretary may consider appropriate.
Bill· SS. 2110 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an electric utility a deduction for energy conservation expenditures which are paid or incurred in connection with its trade or business as expenses which are not chargeable to its capital account.
Bill· SS. 2109 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow certain business entities to elect to use a fiscal year for tax purposes other than the required taxable year. Modifies provisions concerning required payments for such entitites.
Bill· SS. 2093 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Ronald Reagan Peace Dividend Investment Act - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to provide for a reduction in the deficit and an increase in the personal income tax exemption when outlays in the defense category for FY 1992 or 1993 are estimated to be below the discretionary spending limit for such outlays. Requires an adjustment in such spending limits under such circumstances. Prohibits Senate consideration of legislation that would reduce defense spending below the spending limit for the defense category if such legislation does not allocate the total amount of reduced new budget authority or outlays between deficit reduction and increases in the personal income tax exemption.
Bill· SS. 2086 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Individual Development Account Act of 1991 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a deduction for contributions made to an individual development account (IDA) by or on behalf of a qualified individual to pay qualified expenses of such individual. Limits such contributions to $2,000 per year. Defines qualified expenses as those for: (1) postsecondary educational expenses; (2) a first-home purchase; and (3) retirement. Describes a qualified individual as one who is eligible for an IDA demonstration project (established under this Act). Allows such deduction in arriving at adjusted gross income. Declares that contributions to IDAs are not subject to the gift tax or the tax on prohibited transactions. Provides for the establishment of demonstration projects (conducted by eligible organizations) designed to determine: (1) the social, psychological, and economic effects of providing to individuals with limited means an opportunity to accumulate assets; and (2) the extent to which an asset-based welfare policy may be used to enable individuals with low income to achieve economic self-sufficiency. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to provide grants for five-year projects to eligible organizations. Requires each organization to establish a Reserve Fund to: (1) assist participants in obtaining skills and information necessary to achieve economic self-sufficiency through activities requiring qualified expenses; (2) provide financial assistance to participants; (3) administer the project; and (4) provide information to project evaluators. Makes an individual eligible for assistance under a demonstration project if such individual is a member of a household that meets: (1) the income test of not more than 200 percent of the poverty threshold; and (2) the net worth test of not more than $20,000. Allows organizations to provide financial assistance to eligible individuals through the direct deposit of funds into the IDA of such individuals. Establishes a table for determining the required deposit based upon the individual's percentage of the poverty threshold. Requires the Secretary to establish an oversight panel to evaluate the projects. Authorizes appropriations. Disregards funds in IDAs for purposes of means-tested Federal programs.
Bill· SS. 2070 (102nd)open
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Title I: General Provisions - Judicial Space and Facilities Management Act of 1991 - Sets forth definitions for purposes of this Act. Title II: Congressional Approval of Public Buildings for Federal Judiciary - Requires approval by specified congressional committees before an appropriation can be made to construct, alter, exchange, condemn, purchase, dispose of, or acquire any space or facility to be used as a court accommodation which involves a total expenditure that exceeds $1,650,000 (which may be adjusted annually by the Director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts) (Director). Requires the Director to: (1) transmit a prospectus to the Congress of the proposed judicial space or facility to secure consideration for such approval; and (2) report to the Congress, within a 15-day period of the convening of each new Congress, a program for the two succeeding fiscal years of projects and actions which the Director determines necessary to carry out his duties. Requires the Director to: (1) certify in such program that a public hearing has been held or an opportunity for such hearing has been afforded in the locality or proposed locality of each major construction, renovation, or acquisition project included in the program; and (2) provide, along with each certification, the final environmental impact statement, a report indicating the consideration given to facts and issues concerning the project, and various alternatives which were raised during the hearing or which were otherwise considered. Authorizes the Director to contract for the acquisition, construction, alteration, purchase, exchange, condemnation, or disposition of any space or facility with the Administrator of the General Services Administration (Administrator) (GSA), the Secretary of the Army, the U.S. Postmaster General, or other officer of the executive branch of the Federal Government with similar expertise. Provides that title to space or facility approved pursuant to this Act shall be held by the Administrator. Amends the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 to require the Administrator of GSA to charge the Judiciary at rates to approximate the applicable cost incurred by GSA for providing space and services to the Judiciary. Title III: Judicial Buildings Fund - Establishes the Federal Judicial Building Fund in the Treasury. Authorizes the Director, subject to the approval of the U.S. Judicial Conference, to impose and collect such user charges and fees necessary for the purpose of financing the construction, purchase, acquisition, or alteration of facilities or space for the judicial branch of the Federal Government.
Bill· SS. 2055 (102nd)passed
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Job Training and Basic Skills Act of 1991 - Amends the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) to revise and extend employment and training assistance programs. Title I: Adult and Youth Employment and Training Programs - Subtitle A: Policy, Authorization of Appropriations, and Definitions - Declares it to be the policy of the United States to: (1) provide financial assistance to States and local service delivery areas (SDAs) to meet the training needs of low-income adults and youth and assist them in obtaining unsubsidized employment; (2) increase funds available for programs of training services for the disadvantaged by at least ten percent of the baseline each fiscal year to provide for growth in the number of eligible adults and youth served beyond the current five percent of the eligible population in need of these services; and (3) encourage provision of longer and more comprehensive education, training, and employment services to the eligible population, with increased funding to maintain current service levels. Amends the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) to authorize appropriations for FY 1993 and succeeding fiscal years. Defines "basic skills deficient" as reading or computing skills at or below eighth grade level. Adds the Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs, literacy organizations, and organizations serving older workers to the the list of community-based organizations. Revises the definition of "economically disadvantaged" to refer to the official poverty line. Revises the definition of "supportive services" to include: (1) drug and alcohol abuse counseling and referral; and (2) individual and family counseling. Subtitle B: Job Training Partnership - Includes representatives of public assistance agencies and local welfare agencies on private industry councils (PICs) under JTPA. Revises other provisions for PIC membership. Applies the requirement for a job training plan to training services for the disadvantaged only. Revises requirements for the contents of such plans to provide for linkages with appropriate agencies and for outreach to recruit locally determined target groups. Adds community-based organizations to those entities reviewing such plans. Revises requirements for training services for the disadvantaged performance standards to: (1) promote delivery of services to the hard-to-serve; and (2) add measurement of increased basic education attainment and occupational skills (as well as the current measurement of increased employment and earnings and reduced dependency). Provides for the following additional factors in performance standards for youth programs: (1) attainment of employability competencies; (2) secondary and postsecondary school completion or its equivalent; (3) dropout prevention and recovery; and (4) enrollment in other education, training, or employment program or apprenticeship, or enlistment in the armed forces. Allows variations in standards to reflect differences between in-school and out-of-school programs. Requires the private industry council to determine levels for competency standards based on such factors as entry skill levels and other hiring requirements. Sets forth additional elements of performance standards. Retains the requirement that the Secretary prescribe performance measures, but states that such standards shall not be taken into consideration in the award of incentive grants. Provides that Governor's incentive grant awards shall be to service delivery areas (SDAs) conducting adult and youth programs which: (1) meet specified performance standards established by the Secretary, serve more than a specified minimum percentage of out-of-school youth, and exceed performance standards for hard-to-serve- populations; (2) place participants in employment providing wages at placement exceeding the appropriate performance criteria, as well as employer-assisted employment benefits (including health benefits); (3) meet specified performance standards established by the Governor; and (4) establish linkages with other programs to avoid duplication and enhance delivery of services. Retains the requirement for the Secretary to prescribe performance standards for dislocated workers employment and training assistance based on placement and retention in unsubsidized employment. Retains the requirement that such standards make appropriate allowance for the difference in cost resulting from serving workers receiving cetain needs-related payments. Changes from discretionary to mandatory the authority of State Governors to prescribe, within certain parameters, variations in performance standards for training services for the disadvantaged and for dislocated workers employment and training assistance. Directs the Secretary to: (1) provide information and technical assistance on performance standards adjustments; (2) collect data that identify hard-to-serve individuals and long-term welfare dependency; (3) provide guidance on setting performance goals at the service provider level that encourages increased service to the hard-to-serve, particularly long-term welfare recipients; and (4) review performance standards to ensure that they provide maximum incentive in serving the hard-to-serve, particularly long-term welfare recipients, including those receiving benefits under the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) and Supplement Security Income (SSI) programs under, respectively, part A of title IV, and title XVI, of the Social Security Act. Authorizes Governors to prescribe additional performance standards for these programs, which must be reported in the coordination and special services plan. Directs the Secretary to prescribe performance standards for: (1) employment and training programs for Native Americans and migrant and seasonal farm workers; (2) the Jobs Corps; and (3) the jobs for employable dependent individuals incentive bonus program. Directs the Secretary to prescribe a system for adjustments in JTPA performance standards for special populations to be served. (Current law requires prescriptions of such variations, but without system.) Authorizes the Secretary to modify JTPA performance standards not more often than once every two program years (except that Job Corps standards may be modified each program year). Prohibits such modifications from being retroactive. Sets forth required responses to failures to meet standards, including a process for correction. Requires each State Governor to provide technical assistance to SDAs failing to meet the performance standards. Requires the Governor, if an SDA continues to fail to meet performance standards for two program years, to impose a reorganization plan. Allows the alternative administrative entity under such reorganization plan to be a newly formed private industry council or any jointly selected by the Governor and the chief elected official of the largest local government in the SDA or substate area. Allows SDAs to appeal to the Secretary for revision of such reorganization plans. Defines "employment,"for purposes of JTPA performance standards, as employment for more than 20 hours per week. Requires SDAs, in selecting service providers, to consider provision of support services, including child care. Requires selection of service providers to be made on a competitive basis and to include: (1) a determination of such provider's ability to meet program design specifications that take into account JTPA's purposes and the goals established in the Governor's coordination and special services plan; and (2) documentation of compliance with procurement standards established by the Secretary, including the reasons for selection. Revises limitations on certain costs for specified programs, including general administrative costs, combined administration and support services costs, and training-related services costs. Prohibits duplication of supportive services which are available free to participants through other services. Adds provisions for SDA transfer and agreement. Provides for reallotment of funds for training services for the disadvantaged. Revises requirements for the Governor's coordination and special services plans to include: (1) descriptions of State coordination measures, projected grants uses, and services to older workers; (2) criteria for coordinating activities under JTPA with State and local services on aging and with programs operated under specified provisions of the Older Americans Act of 1965; and (3) initiatives under the State innovation and coordination program. Revises provisions for State education coordination and grants. Eliminates specified provisions for training programs for older workers. Requires identification of any State- or SDA-rule, regulation, or policy funded by JTPA. Requires State labor market information programs to include training and technical assistance to support comprehensive career guidance and participant outcome activities for local programs assisted under JTPA. Revises general program requirements for service delivery systems. Exempts normal tuition charges for training or education from certain requirements for a breakdown of cost components. Exempts from specified cost limitations certain administrative expenses related to training incurred by community-based organizations. Limits the duration of on-the-job training to a period not in excess of that generally required for acquisition of skills needed for that position, but never exceeding six months. Requires on-the-job contracts to: (1) specify types and duration of training and other services; and (2) if an intermediary brokering contractor is used for placements, specify certain additional services and factors. Revises provisions relating to disposal of assets and program income. Revises certain Federal and fiscal administrative provisions. Allows the use of certain advance payment methods when contracting with nonprofit organizations of demonstrated effectiveness. Requires States to establish fiscal control and fund accounting procedures to ensure proper disbursal and accounting of Federal funds. Requires the State Governor to establish procurement standards for the State, local areas, and SDAs to ensure that specified criteria are met. Requires State Governors to: (1) conduct annual on-site monitoring of each SDA and substate area to ensure compliance with such procurement standards; (2) impose corrective action to secure prompt compliance; (3) impose specified sanctions in the event of failure to take required corrective action; and (4) certify annually the State's implementation, monitoring, and enforcement of such standards. Directs the Secretary to: (1) annually review the procurement standards; and (2) upon determination that the Governor has not fulfilled such requirements, to impose such corrective actions and sanctions. Directs the Secretary to review the implementation of these requirements and report with recommendations to the Congress on the effectiveness of such fiscal control provisions. Adds provisions relating to program income. Revises reporting, recordkeeping, and investigative requirements. Requires recipients to maintain and provide to the Secretary standardized records of a sufficient number of individual participants to provide an adequate sample size to allow for preparation of natural estimates to meet specified requirements. Requires the Secretary, Inspector General, or Comptroller General to furnish States or SDAs which are going to be investigated with the monitoring guides to be used by reviewers (for audits other than the initial survey or one investigating possible criminal or fraudulent conduct). Requires States, administrative entities conducting the programs, and recipients (other than sub-recipients) to monitor the performance of service providers in complying with the agreements under JTPA. Revises requirements for information in reports. Directs the Secretary to ensure that all elements required for reports are defined and reported uniformly. Requires Governors to ensure that procedures are developed for retention of records for specified periods. Requires the head of the Directorate for Civil Rights in the Department of Labor to report annually on the administration and enforcement of nondiscrimination provisions. Authorizes appropriations to increase the number of Directorate personnel in order to prepare such reports. Subtitle C: Training Services for the Disadvantaged - Revises JTPA title II provisions for training services for the disadvantaged adults and youth. (Divides JTPA title II into: (1) part A, Adult Opportunity Program; (2) part B, Summer Youth Employment and Training Programs; and Part C, Youth Program.) Revises adult program allotment provisions to establish State set-asides for education, performance incentives, and auditing and administration. Allows individuals, whether employed or unemployed, to be eligible for adult program services as long as they are adults (age 22 through 72) who are economically disadvantaged. Requires that at least 60 percent of program participants in each SDA be individuals who, in addition to being economically disadvantaged adults, are in one or more of the following categories: (1) basic skills deficient; (2) school dropouts; (3) recipients of each cash welfare payments; (4) offenders; (5) individuals with disabilities; (6) homeless; (7) unemployed for the previous six months or longer; (8) limited-English proficient; or (9) in an additional category identified by an SDA and approved by the Governor and the Secretary. (Retains the current provisions that allow up to ten percent of program participants in an SDA not to be economically disadvantaged if they have encountered barriers to employment.) Allows for transfers of limited portions of funds among JTPA title II programs. Establishes adult program design requirments, including: (1) assessment of participants' skill levels and service needs; (2) development of service strategies to identify employment goals, appropriate achievement objectives, and appropriate services; (3) review of participant progress; and (4) if appropriate, basic and occupational skills training work experience be accompanied by other services designed to increase a participant's basic education or occupational skills. Allows an exception from such combination requirement only if: (1) the participant's assessment and service strategy indicate that the additional services are not appropriate; and (2) the activities are not available to the participant through the Employment Service or other public agencies. Allows continued provisions of counseling and supportive services to a participant for up to one year after termination from the program. Revises authorized services for which adult program funds may be used. Eliminates employment-generating activities from the list of such authorized services. Divides the lists of such services into direct training and training-related and supportive services. Authorizes State Governors, through agreements with various entities, to provide for job training and placement programs for older individuals (55 years of age and who are economically disadvantaged) for employment opportunities with private businesses, with such programs to be developed in conjunction with SDAs and consistent with SDA plans. Requires consideration to be given to assisting such programs involving training for jobs in growth industries and jobs reflecting the use of new technological skills. Requires Governors to: (1) coordinate delivery of such services with those under the Older Americans Act of 1965; and (2) give priority to service providers with demonstrated effectiveness in providing such services. Requires SDAs to link with: (1) other specified Federal programs; and (2) State, local, and private programs, as appropriate. Allows an SDA to transfer up to ten percent of adult program funds to the youth programs under certain conditions. Directs the Comptroller General to: (1) conduct a study to determine the number and percentage of adults assisted under JTPA title II part A provisions for disadvantaged adults that remain employed for at least nine months after receiving such assistance; and (2) report such study findings to appropriate congressional committees within three years. Revises part B provisions for summer youth employment and training programs to limit administrative costs to 15 percent. Requires SDAs to: (1) expend funds for basic and remedial education as described in the State job training plan (but allows such funds to be provided for the year-round youth employment and training program, the Job Corps, the JOBS program, alternative or secondary schools, or other employment and training programs); (2) assess participant skill levels and service needs and develop service strategy for participants; and (3) provide follow-up services for participants for whom a service strategy has been developed. Allows individual concurrent enrollment in such programs and in disadvantaged youth programs. Sets forth part C provisions for the disadvantaged youth programs. Revises allotment formulas to establish set-asides for State education coordination and grants. Revises eligibility requirements for in-school youth and out-of-school youth. Requires that at least 70 percent of the funds for in-school youth and for out-of-school youth, respectively, be used for participation of specified targeted groups (with provisions for additional categories). Requires the youth program to be conducted, and services made available during the year or on a multiyear basis as appropriate. Establishes year-round program design requirements, including: (1) assessment of participants' skill levels and service needs; (2) development of service strategies to identify achievement objectives, appropriate employment goals, and appropriate services; (3) review of participant progress; and (4) if appropriate, basic skills training, occupational skills training, pre-employment and work maturity skills training, work experience combined with skills training, and supportive services. Requires that work experience, job search, job search skills training, and job club activities be accompanied by additional services which: (1) are designed to increase a participant's basic education or occupational skills; and (2) may be provided, sequentially or concurrently, under other education and training programs. Allows continued provision of counseling and supportive services to a participant for up to one year after termination from the program. Requires SDAs to establish linkages with the appropriate educational agencies responsible for services to participants. Provides that authorized youth services may include, but need not be limited to, the services described under the headings of direct training, training related services, and participant support services under part A adult program provisions. Provides that additional authorized youth services may include specified features. Requires SDAs to link the youth program with: (1) other specified Federal education and training programs; and (2) as appropriate, State, local, and private programs. Allows an SDA to transfer up to ten percent of youth program funds to the adult program under certain conditions. Subtitle D: Special Programs - Provides, with respect to JTPA title III employment and training assistance for dislocated workers, that an eligible dislocated worker participating in training (except on-the-job training) shall be deemed to be in training with the approval of the State agency for purposes of unemployment compensation. Subtitle E: National Programs - Revises JTPA title IV part A employment and training programs for Native Americans and migrant and seasonal farmworkers. Includes references to American Samoans under such Native American programs. Directs the Secretary to: (1) designate a single organizational unit to have as its primary responsibility the administration of all Native American programs authorized under JTPA; and (2) promote recruitment and promotion of Indians, Alaska Natives, American Samoans, and Hawaiian Natives to positions in such unit. Establishes the Advisory Council on Native American Indian Job Training Programs. Revises the formulas for reservations of funds for Native American programs and for migrant and seasonal farmworker programs. Authorizes the Secretary to waive, under Native American programs and the migrant and seasonal farmworker programs, the requirement of biennial competition for grants for those grantees that: (1) have performed satisfactorily on their existing grant; and (2) submit a satisfactory two-year plan for the succeeding period. Requires JTPA grants for Native American programs and for migrant and seasonal farmworker programs to be consistent with specified standard competitive procurement procedures and auditing procedures. Amends JTPA title IV part B provisions for the Job Corps. Increases from ten to 20 percent the allowable number of nonresidential participants enrolled in the Job Corps in any year. Prohibits the Secretary from reducing the number of residential participants in Job Corps programs during any program year below the number during 1989 in order to increase the number of nonresidential participants. Revises JTPA title IV part D provisions for national activities. Sets forth provisions for training and information programs. Directs the Secretary to carry out specified staff training activities at national, regional, State, and local levels. Authorizes the Secretary to establish a clearinghouse to identify, develop, and disseminate innovative materials and successful program models, and to carry out other specified functions. Directs the Secretary to consult with the Secretaries of Education and of Health and Human Services to coordinate such clearinghouse activities with other relevant entities. Revises JTPA title IV part E provisions for the cooperative labor market information program. Authorizes the Secretary to engage in research, demonstration, or other activities (including ones that States may carry out) to determine the feasibility of various methods of organizing and making accessible nationwide information on the quarterly earnings for all individuals for whom such information is collected in the United States. Requires a report to the Congress on the findings resulting from such activities. Increases the annual amount of funds reserved for the National Occupational Information Coordinating Committee. Adds a new part H, Replication of Successful Programs, to JTPA title IV. Directs the Secretary to make competitive grants for replication of successful programs through the associated activities of: (1) public or private nonprofit organizations' technical assistance; and (2) State and SDA planning and program development. Establishes a new part I of JTPA title IV, the Fair Chance Youth Opportunities Unlimited Program. Authorizes the Secretary to establish such national program of Fair Chance Youth Opportunities Unlimited grants to pay 50 percent of the cost of comprehensive education, training, and employment services for youth in high poverty areas in urban and rural areas. Requires such grants to be awarded to the local service delivery area (on behalf of the participating community) in which the target area is located (or to designated grantees if the target area is a Native American Indian reservation or an Alaska Native village). Authorizes the Secretary to select as grant recipients up to 25 communities in the first fiscal year the program is authorized (and a total of 40 over the first five fiscal years). Makes such grants over a three-year period, with each year conditional upon compliance. Authorizes the Secretary to extend the renewal period for an additional two years. Authorizes participating communities to apply for grants for use on behalf of target areas. Requires that a designated target area have not more than 25,000 population, except in the case of single high school districts. Makes all youth aged 14 through 21 in the target area eligible to participate in assisted programs and activities. Requires each participating community to develop an integrated service delivery system in each target area which meets specified minimum criteria for services. Requires such program to also have an education component, outreach and recruitment efforts, youth program models, and measurable goals and outcomes. Sets forth requirements for maintenance of State and local funding levels, limitations on the use of program funds, applications, and Federal and local shares. Directs the Secretary to provide for technical assistance, independent evaluations, and a report. Subtitle F: General Provisions - Revises provisions for JTPA title V, Jobs for Employable Individuals Incentive Bonus Program. Grants each participating State a bonus for providing job training under JTPA to: (1) absent parents of children receiving aid to famiilies with dependent children (AFDC) under the Social Security Act, who subsequent to such training pay child support; and (2) blind or disabled individuals receiving supplemental security income (SSI) under the Social Security Act, who subsequent to such training are successfully placed in and retain employment. Makes the incentive bonus equal to the total, for up to two years after termination of the individuals from JTPA activities; (1) amounts of such child support paid by such absent parents; and (2) reduction in Federal contributions to the SSI amounts received by such blind or disabled individuals. Revises provisions for State use of such incentive bonus funds. Allows Job Corps centers (as well as SDAs) to make incentive payments to service providers. Extends to January 1, 1997, the deadline for the Secretary's report to the appropriate congressional committees on evaluation of the effectiveness of the incentive bonus program. Directs the Secretary to issue revised performance standards for the incentive bonus program pursuant to the amendment made by this Act. Directs the Secretary to provide guidance and technical assistance to States and SDAs relating to documentation required to verify the eligibility of participants under part A and B of title II of JTPA. Authorizes the Secretary to establish rules and procedures necessary for an orderly transition to programs established by, and implementation of, the amendments made by this title. Title II: State Human Resource Investment Councils - Directs each State receiving assistance under specified applicable Federal programs to establish a single State human resource investment council to: (1) review the provision of services and use of funds under applicable Federal human resource programs; (2) advise the Governor on methods of coordinating and using such services, funds, and resources, and on State and local standards and measures relating to such programs; (3) work cooperatively with the directors of the designated State units administering the State vocational rehabilitation programs and the directors of the State educational agencies to enhance employment and vocational education and training opportunities under applicable programs for individuals with disabilities; and (4) carry out a State Council's duties and functions as prescribed under applicable Federal law. Sets forth requirements for such State council's composition, including representation of business and industry, labor and community-based organizations, and State and local entities. Allows a State that receives financial assistance under an applicable program council to establish a consolidated council which shall have the authority and perform the duties, of a State council and an applicable program council. Makes conforming and technical amendments to the following Federal laws having applicable programs for purposes of such State human resource investment council: (1) the Adult Education Act; (2) the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act; (3) the JTPA; (4) the Wagner-Peyser Act; and (5) the JOBS program under AFDC provisions of the Social Security Act. Makes conforming and technical amendments to the following other Federal laws with reference to such State job training coordinating councils and such consolidated councils: (1) the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; (2) the Education and Training for a Competitive America Act of 1988; (3) the Displaced Homemakers Self-Sufficiency Assistance Act; and (4) the National and Community Service Act of 1990. Title III: Nontraditional Employment for Women - Nontraditional Employment for Women Act - Amends JTPA to define "nontraditional employment," as applied to women, to refer to occupations or fields of work where women comprise less than 25 percent of the individuals employed. Requires service delivery area (SDA) job training plans to include: (1) goals for the training of women in nontraditional employment and the training-related placement of women in nontraditional employment and apprenticeship; (2) a description of efforts to be undertaken to accomplish such goals, including efforts to increase awareness of such training and placement opportunities; and (3) procedures for annual reporting of the extent to which the SDA has met such goals and of a statistical breakdown of women trained and placed in nontraditional occupations, including specified types of information. Requires the State Governor's coordination and special services plan also to include such goals and descriptions of efforts for the training and placement of women in nontraditional employment under JTPA and the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act. Directs the State job training coordinating council to: (1) review, summarize, and annually disseminate the results of SDAs' and Governor's efforts to train and place women in nontraditional employment; and (2) obtain from the sex equity coordinator under the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act a summary of activities and an analysis of results under that Act and disseminate such summary annually. Requires State education coordination grant recipients to provide statewide coordinated approaches, including model programs, to train, place, and retain women in nontraditional employment. Allows the use of funds under title II (Training Services for the Disadvantaged) of JTPA for outreach activities relating to education, training, work experience, and retention of women in nontraditional employment. Directs the Secretary of Labor to use a specified portion of funds for national activities under JTPA for FY 1992 through 1995 to make grants to States to develop demonstration and exemplary programs to train and place women in nontraditional employment. Limits such grants to no more than six per fiscal year. Allows States receiving such assistance to award grants to service providers and SDAs under specified conditions. Directs the Secretary of Labor to report, with recommendations, to the Congress within five years on the extent of success of States and SDAs, and the effectiveness of such demonstration programs, in training, placing, and retaining women in nontraditional employment. Declares that nothing in this Act shall be construed to mean that the Congress is taking a position on the issue of comparable worth. Provides that failure to meet the goals in this Act shall not itself constitute a violation of title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 or any other Federal law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap, or age.
Bill· SS. 2082 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Treats heart disease and hypertension as personal injuries or sickness for purposes of excluding from gross income for tax purposes the disability benefits received by former police officers or firefighters.
Bill· SS. 2078 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for a first-time homebuyer who purchases a principal residence. Limits such credit to $1,000. Limits the homebuyer's income to $50,000. Reduces such credit by $10 for each $100 by which the taxpayer's adjusted gross income exceeds $40,000.
Bill· SS. 2073 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Authorizes appropriations for the Maritime Administration for: (1) operating-differential subsidies; (2) manpower, education, and training; (3) operating programs; (4) national security support capabilities; and (5) the Ready Reserve Force.
Bill· SS. 2061 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Middle Income Tax Relief and Economic Growth Act of 1991 - Title I: Tax Incentives - Amends the Internal Revenue Code provide a tax credit for certain middle income taxpayers. Makes permanent the tax credit for increasing research activities. Provides a one-year extension of: (1) the low-income housing credit; and (2) the authority to issue qualified mortgage bonds and mortgage credit certificates. Allows penalty-free withdrawals from individual retirement accounts for: (1) first-time homebuyers (or a parent or grandparent of a first-time homebuyer); (2) medical distributions; and (3) qualified educational expenses. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax deduction for capital gains on small business stock held at least five years, based on a formula using the qualified small business net capital gain and the amount of the seed capital gain deduction. Provides for computing the seed capital gain deduction. Establishes a maximum capital gains rate for individuals and corporations with small business stock gain. Provides for the treatment of a corporation as a small business corporation if its stock does not exceed $5,000,000 (currently, $1,000,000). Adjusts such amount for inflation. Title II: Increased Obligation Ceilings Under Federal Transportation Trust Funds - Sets forth the obligation ceiling for Federal-aid highway programs for FY 1992 through 1997. Authorizes appropriations out of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund for airport development and planning grants. Establishes the obligation ceiling for such grants. Establishes the obligation ceiling for the discretionary capital grant program funded out of the Mass Transit Account of the Highway Trust Fund. Enacts specified sections of S. 1204, 102nd Cong., (Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991) as passed by the Senate. Title III: Deficit Neutrality - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to decrease the discretionary spending limit with respect to the defense category for FY 1993 and the discretionary category for FY 1994 and 1995. Requires such reductions to be achieved through reduction of discretionary appropriations in only the defense category. Establishes the defense spending limits from FY 1994 through 1997. Prohibits sequestration under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act) as a result of any reduction in tax revenues caused by application of this Act. Requires deficit neutrality in budget total adjustments.
Bill· SS. 2115 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow the issuance of exempt facility bonds to provide spaceports.
Bill· SS. 2111 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to suspend the two-year rollover period on the gain on sale of a principal residence for taxpayers whose deposits are frozen in financial institutions. Prohibits such suspended period from extending beyond four years after the date of sale of such residence.
Bill· SS. 2100 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Act of 1991 - Title I: Renewable Energy Tax Incentives - Subtitle A: Generation of Electricity From Renewable Sources - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend the energy investment tax credit until December 31, 2001 (currently, such credit expires December 31, 1991). Increases such credit from ten percent to 20 percent. Makes public utility property eligible for such credit. Allows the energy credit against all regular and minimum taxes. Allows a tax credit for the production of electricity with qualified technologies property. Describes such property to include the use of solar thermal, photovoltaic, wind, geothermal, biomass, and other renewable energy technologies. Subtitle B: Alternative Transportation Fuels Tax Incentives - Allows a tax deduction for the costs of qualified clean-burning (natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, or alcohol) motor vehicle fuel property or refueling property. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to make equivalent payments to States and local governments in connection with qualified property. Allows a deduction for 25 percent of the costs incurred in purchasing a qualified electric-powered automobile. Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to suspend the duty on fuel-use methanols until October 1, 2000. Title II: Energy Conservation Tax Incentives - Subtitle A: Alternatives to Single-Passenger Automobiles - Excludes from gross income parking provided to an employee at a qualified parking facility and qualified employer-provided commuter services between an employee's residence and workplace. Includes as qualified services: (1) transportation furnished in a commuter highway vehicle (such as a van); and (2) transportation on public buses, trains, or subways that is paid for or reimbursed by the employer. Limits the exclusion from gross income for parking to parking on (not "on or near," as under current law) the employer's premises, with further specified qualifications. Subtitle B: Other Conservation Incentives - Excludes from gross income the amount or value of any subsidy provided by a public utility to a customer in connection with the purchase, installation, use, or maintenance of any energy or water conservation measure or for energy savings delivered by such measures. Denies the use of any tax credit or deduction to the extent such subsidy is excluded from gross income. Subtitle C: Fuel Efficient and Safe Automobiles - Safe and Efficient Vehicles Incentives Act of 1991 - Amends Federal law to establish: (1) taxes on the sale of any new motor vehicle (light- and medium-duty vehicles and trucks) whose fuel economy is less than the sales-weighted average fuel economy or whose composite safety factor is greater (sic) than the sales-weighted average composite safety factor of all new motor vehicles within the same class; and (2) rebates for the purchase of any new motor vehicle whose fuel economy is greater than the sales-weighted average fuel economy or whose composite safety factor is greater than the sales-weighted average composite safety factor of all new motor vehicles within the same class. Sets forth formulae for determining the fuel economy tax (or rebate) and the safety tax (or rebate). Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to publish in the Federal Register and send to each manufacturer or importer of motor vehicles the applicable formulae for each class of vehicle in the next model year. Requires each manufacturer or importer of new light- or medium-duty motor vehicles to calculate according to the applicable formulae the fuel economy and safety taxes and rebates for each vehicle. Requires them to include such information on labels affixed to such vehicles. Provides for the collection of such taxes and the disbursement of such rebates. Authorizes appropriations. Requires, not later than July 1, 1992, and each July 1, thereafter, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to calculate the sales-weighted average fuel consumption and the Secretary of Transportation to calculate the composite safety factor and the sales-weighted average composite safety factor for all light- and medium-duty vehicles and trucks with respect to the determination of fuel economy and safety taxes and rebates. Requires each manufacturer or importer of such vehicles to conduct crash tests necessary to determine the composite safety factor of such vehicle whenever such crash test data does not result from the Secretary of Transportation's crash tests.
Bill· SS. 2092 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Federal Land Acquisition Impact Relief Act of 1991 - Requires the head of an agency to prepare an economic impact analysis prior to each acquisition of private land by the agency. Directs the head of an agency to pay annually to the unit of local government an amount equal to the real property taxes computed on the current market value of each parcel of private land acquired by it after October 1, 1992, other than by contemporaneous land exchange. States that if such payment is made to a State or local government with respect to a parcel of land under this Act, the payment shall be reduced in proportion to the payment in lieu of real property taxes, if any, which is made relating to the same parcel of land under any other Federal law. Authorizes appropriations.
Bill· SS. 2095 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Affordable Health Insurance Tax Act - Title I: Refundable Health Insurance Premium Tax Credit - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for the applicable percentage of qualified health insurance premiums paid by an individual. Bases such percentage on the taxpayer's adjusted gross income and the official poverty line. Limits such credit to: (1) $1,500 in the case of self-only coverage; (2) $2,000 in the case of coverage of an individual and the individual's spouse; and (3) $2,500 in the case of other family coverage. Increases such limits for long-term care insurance. Title II: Individual Medical Care Savings Accounts - Allows individuals a tax deduction for contributions made to a tax-exempt medical care savings account established for the benefit of qualifying individuals (the taxpayer or spouse). Limits such deduction to $2,500. Provides for reducing such deduction if amounts in such accounts exceed specified limits. Establishes an excise tax for excess contributions to medical care savings accounts and makes such accounts subject to the tax on prohibited transactions. Allows such deduction in arriving at adjusted gross income. Title III: Repeal and Modification of Existing Tax Provisions - Repeals the itemized deduction for medical and dental expenses. Repeals the health insurance credit as a determining factor of the earned income credit. Limits the exclusion from gross income of contributions by employers to health plans based on joint returns and double coverage.
Bill· SS. 2068 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Public Buildings Planning Act - Requires the Administrator of General Services to submit to the Congress within 15 days of the First Session of the 103rd Congress and within such time of the First Session of each Congress thereafter, a program for the two succeeding fiscal years of projects and actions which the Administrator determines necessary in carrying out his duties. Directs the Administrator to: (1) certify in such program that he has held a public hearing, or afforded the opportunity for such hearing, in the locality or proposed locality of each major construction, renovation, or acquisition project included in it; and (2) provide along with such certification, a final environmental impact statement and a report that indicates the consideration given to facts and issues concerning the project and various alternatives raised during the hearing or considered otherwise.
Bill· SS. 2075 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Industrial Diversification and Economic Adjustment Act of 1991 - Title I: Industrial Diversification Study - Directs the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA), the Secretary of Defense, and the Director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), to study the extent to which diversification of defense industries to non-defense production can be effectuated. Requires a report from the Secretary of Commerce on the study's results. Authorizes appropriations. Title II: Presidential Council on Economic Diversification and Adjustment - Establishes in the Executive Office of the President the Council on Economic Diversification and Adjustment, co-chaired by the Secretaries of Commerce and Labor, and the Office of Economic Diversification and Adjustment. Outlines Council duties, including the identification of defense-related impact problems of States, metropolitan areas, or communities requiring assistance, the dissemination of aid and assistance information, and the development of strategies and plans for Federal, State, and local economic adjustment efforts necessitated as the result of the termination or reduction of a defense contract or the closure or realignment of a defense facility which substantially adversely affects the local community involved. Requires the Council to prepare and distribute an economic diversification and adjustment handbook containing explanations, outlines, information, and directories concerning the economic diversification required for workers in a community as the result of curtailment of defense production. Requires the Secretary of Defense to notify the Council at least one year in advance of a pending or proposed change in defense spending that would affect local employment in the defense industry. Requires the Council to submit an annual report to the Congress on the required economic diversification and adjustment for the previous year. Authorizes appropriations. Title III: Defense Industrial Diversification Accounts - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow any qualified defense facility to establish a defense industrial diversification account for the purpose of providing qualified plant and equipment in the United States or the retraining of employees in order to diversify qualified defense facilities from predominately relying on defense contracts to nondefense lines of business. Restricts deposits to such accounts to the sum of: (1) depreciation allowances with respect to eligible plant and equipment; (2) net proceeds from the sale or other disposition of such plant and equipment, or insurance or indemnity attributable to such plant and equipment; and (3) receipts from investment of amounts in such accounts. Allows deposits to such accounts during the five-year period after its establishment. Restricts deposits after the fifth taxable year to receipts from investments. Provides for the nontaxability of earnings deposited into such accounts. Allows withdrawals over a ten-year period for: (1) acquisition, construction, or reconstruction of qualified plant and equipment; (2) the payment of principal on indebtedness incurred in connection with plant and equipment acquisition, construction, or reconstruction; or (3) the retraining or continued education of employees. Provides for taxation of nonqualified withdrawals. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to report to the Secretary of Defense annually on such accounts. Provides for computing the alternative minimum tax on earnings deposited in such accounts. Title IV: Small Business Diversification - Establishes in the SBA a Committee on Defense and Economic Diversification and an Office of Economic Diversification. Directs the Committee to: (1) carry out programs under title V of this Act; (2) identify defense-related problems of small businesses that require assistance; (3) disseminate information useful to small business concerns; (4) prepare a plan for coordinating the efforts of the SBA and the Administration's programs for assisting firms adversely affected by defense cutbacks; and (5) work with and coordinate efforts with the President's Office of Economic Diversification and Adjustment to assist small businesses in finding alternative procurement opportunities with Federal agencies. Authorizes appropriations. Title V: Small Business Assistance - Empowers the Administrator of the SBA to make either loans or grants to a qualified small manufacturing firm to assist such firm to diversify from defense-related to nondefense-related business. Outlines loan and grant limits, conditions, and specific purposes. Directs the Administrator to promulgate regulations to carry out this title. Authorizes appropriations. Title VI: Economic Adjustment Assistance for Employees - Prohibits an employer or defense agency from ordering a closing or a significant workforce reduction in a defense facility which is prompted by the cancellation of a defense contract, or a significant reduction in the volume of defense work in relation to total defense work in such facility, until the end of a 90-day period after the employer or defense agency has served written notice to appropriate employee representatives and to the State dislocated worker unit. Defines a "significant workforce reduction" as a reduction of: (1) at least 50 employees if such amount constitutes at least 33 percent of the workforce; or (2) at least 300 employees. Requires all displacements of workers employed by a defense agency, or of civilian workers employed by the armed services, to be reported by the management of the defense facility to the Office of Economic Diversification and Adjustment and to the State employment security agency acting as the agent of the Secretary of Labor for the administration of the program under this title. Requires the Office to certify eligibility of displaced workers under this title for benefits. Amends the Job Training Partnership Act to decrease from 80 to 75 percent the portion of funds available under such Act for job training and retraining that are to be divided among the States. Increases from 20 to 25 percent of such amount the funds that are to be set aside for special grants to substates for special employment problems (intending displaced worker assistance under this Act to qualify as one such special problem). Directs the Secretary of Labor, in coordination with the Council, to develop statistical data on the permanent dislocation of defense workers due to reductions in defense expenditures, termination or reduction of defense contracts, or the closure or realignment of defense facilities. Requires the Secretary to publish a report after compilation of such data. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt from individual retirement accounts early withdrawal penalties any withdrawals made by dislocated workers and used for either mortgage payments on a primary residence or rent payments for one year following the worker's layoff. Title VII: Community Economic Adjustment Planning - Requires the Secretary of Defense, upon release of the President's budget or any announcement of the realignment or closure of a qualified defense facility, to promptly notify any State or local government affected by the realignment, closure, or contract slowdown or termination which is being proposed or will likely result. Makes eligible for economic adjustment planning assistance any community which: (1) is likely to be substantially and seriously affected by the realignment or closure of a defense facility, or the slowdown, termination, or cancellation of any defense contract; and (2) prepares an analysis and forecast of the effect of any such action on the local economy and workforce as well as a proposal for an economic adjustment plan to reduce the adverse effect of any such action. Requires the Council to review the analyses, forecasts, and proposals submitted. Requires the Council to: (1) publish a list annually of the communities eligible for economic adjustment planning assistance after review of such documentation; and (2) allow a community which failed in such termination to petition the Council for review of such determination for inclusion on such list. Provides that any community found eligible for such assistance by the Council shall be eligible for community planning assistance offered by the Secretary of Defense under specified Federal armed forces provisions. Provides that any substantially and seriously affected community shall also be eligible for economic adjustment assistance authorized under title IX of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965. Title VIII: Commercial and Defense Production Integration - Establishes within DOD the Office of Commercial and Defense Production Integration to develop and implement policies, practices, and procedures designed to achieve an effective integration of commercial production processes and defense procurement practices. Attempts to accomplish such integration by increasing the use of commercial products in defense procurement, lowering unit costs in defense production through streamlining acquisition procedures, encouraging integrated processes for manufacturing civilian and defense products, and encouraging research and development of products having both civilian and military applications. Calls for the elimination of unique military specifications in the procurement of defense products and the identification of commercial suppliers that have exhibited high standards of product quality and reliability in commercial or defense production. Requires the Office to assist the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition in the acquisition and increased usage of nondevelopmental items in defense procurement (items that are generally available in the commercial marketplace). Directs the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Office, to conduct not less than three projects to demonstrate the feasibility of achieving effective integration of commercial production processes and military procurement practices. Requires the Secretary to notify the Congress at least 30 days in advance of the commencement of each such project, and requires project reports. Title IX: Commission on Military Budget Reform - Establishes the Commission on Military Budget Reform to conduct a study of the desirability and feasibility of the Congress instituting a three-year budget cycle program for DOD. Requires the Commission, in carrying out such study, to consider: (1) the advantages and disadvantages of the three-year budget program; (2) the likely savings from the program; (3) the effects of the program on other activities and programs of DOD, on short- and long-range national security planning, and on foreign military sales; (4) the favorable and adverse effects that multiyear defense budgets have had on the defense budget processes of foreign nations that have adopted such programs; and (5) alternative means of carrying out such a program. Requires a findings report from the Commission to the Secretary and the Congress. Provides powers of the Commission as well as other administrative provisions. Terminates the Commission 30 days after its report. Authorizes appropriations.
Bill· SS. 2052 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a limited deduction for personal interest of: (1) $6,000, for a taxpayer filing a joint return; (2) $3,000, for a married individual filing a separate return; and (3) $4,000, for any other taxpayer.
Bill· SS. 2051 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reinstate the ten-percent investment tax credit with respect to property placed in service during 1992, 1993, or 1994, and make the at-risk rules inapplicable to such property. Requires the computation of the rehabilitation credit, energy credit, and reforestation credit as in effect on the day before enactment of this Act. Makes the investment tax credit applicable to certain projects entered into after December 31, 1994.
Bill· HRH.R. 4041 (102nd)open
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Amends the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 to authorize appropriations to carry out certain economic development programs for FY 1992. Amends the Small Business Act to increase the program levels of the Small Business Administration for FY 1992. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow the targeted jobs credit for every individual hired within one year after the date of enactment of this Act. Increases the amount of such credit. Excludes from gross income distributions from individual retirement accounts used to purchase or refinance a principal residence. Exempts such distributions from the penalty tax on early distributions from retirement plans. Provides for the delay or suspension of obligations for certain defense, foreign assistance, space, and energy research programs.
Bill· HRH.R. 4027 (102nd)open
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Indian Housing Demonstration Project Act of 1991 - Directs the Secretaries of the Interior and of Housing and Urban Development (Secretaries) (HUD) to carry out a program to demonstrate the effectiveness of permitting Indian tribes (through the tribal government) to determine the housing needs of tribal members and the appropriate use of Federal housing assistance provided to the Indian tribe. Requires: (1) the Secretaries, upon the selection of an Indian tribe for participation in such program, to permit the Indian tribal government to consolidate assistance received by the Tribe under specified programs for use under the demonstration program; and (2) the Secretary of HUD to authorize the Indian tribal government to receive any assistance under such programs that would be provided under the programs to the Indian housing authority of the Tribe. Directs the Secretary of HUD to transfer to each participating Indian tribe under the demonstration program, all rights, titles, and interests of the United States and any Indian housing authority of the Tribe, in any housing projects and housing units for Indian families on Indian reservations and other Indian areas of the tribe, subject to a reversion right agreement. Prohibits an Indian Tribe from being selected to participate in the demonstration program unless the Tribe has submitted a plan in compliance with this Act. Requires an Indian tribe participating in the demonstration program to receive annual contributions (to the extent amounts are provided in appropriations Acts) for each fiscal year beginning after the Indian tribe is selected to participate in the demonstration program in an amount equal to the amount of such assistance received by the Indian housing authority of the Tribe in the last fiscal year beginning before such Tribe was selected. Authorizes the Secretaries to waive provisions of any Federal law, regulations, policies, or procedures to enable the participating Indian tribe to implement its plan under this Act. Directs the Secretaries to establish procedures and deadlines for Indian tribes to submit applications for participation in the demonstration program. Requires the Secretaries to: (1) select a minimum of five to a maximum of ten Indian tribes (which shall include the Jicarilla Apache tribe of New Mexico) to participate in such program; and (2) establish criteria for the selection process. Requires the Secretary of HUD to provide a grant to each participating Indian tribe for administrative expenses. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes an Indian tribe to terminate its participation in the program, after a five-year period, by notifying the Secretaries in writing of such termination. Ceases any waiver provided for the Indian tribe under this Act, upon the termination. Prohibits such termination from affecting an Indian tribe's eligibility for assistance or the amount of it provided by programs specified under this Act. Directs the Secretary of HUD to recapture any grant amounts received by the Indian tribe that remains unobligated upon the termination of such participation. Requires the Secretaries to: (1) report to the Congress on the activities carried out under this Act by participating Indian tribes; and (2) evaluate the effectiveness of such activities.
Bill· HRH.R. 4022 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Enterprise Communities Incentives Act of 1991 - Declares it to be the purpose of this Act to establish a demonstration program of incentives for the creation of tax enterprise zones in order to: (1) revitalize economically and physically distressed areas; (2) promote meaningful employment for zone residents; and (3) encourage individuals to reside in the zones in which they are employed. Title I: Designation and Tax Incentives - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the designation of tax enterprise zones by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development during calendar years 1993 through 1996. Sets forth eligibility criteria for rural areas. Sets forth the eligibility criteria for such designation, including: (1) a population of not less than 4,000; (2) pervasive poverty, unemployment, and general distress; (3) a high unemployment rate; and (4) a required course of action designed to reduce the various burdens borne by employers or employees in the area. Provides that a course of action under private entities may not be federally funded and may include: (1) a reduction of tax rates or fees; (2) an increase in public services; (3) a reduction in government paperwork requirements; (4) business community commitments to provide jobs and job training; (5) special preference to minority contractors; (6) gifts of land for the operation of neighborhood businesses; (7) pooled health insurance; (8) loans by local financial institutions for business start-ups; and (9) special preference to low-income housing projects and private activity bonds. Allows an enterprise zone employment credit to small employers as a general business credit of ten percent of the qualified zone wages paid plus qualified zone employee health insurance costs. Allows such credit for the first five years of the employee's employment. Makes the rehabilitation credit available for buildings in the tax enterprise zone that are at least 30 years old. Provides a shorter recovery period (20 years) for nonresidential real property. Allows a 60-month amortization period (in lieu of depreciation) for child care facilities. Allows the deferral of capital gain for ten years if the gain is reinvested in tax enterprise zone property. Limits the dollar amount of deferred gain. Declares that loss on any qualified zone corporate investment shall be treated as an ordinary loss. Allows a deduction for the purchase of enterprise zone stock on the original issue by a qualified issuer. Limits such amount to $50,000 for any taxable year, or $250,000 during the taxpayer's lifetime. Increases the research credit for research conducted in tax enterprise zones. Increases the low-income housing credit for qualified buildings in a tax enterprise zone where a portion of such building is used as a qualified child care center. Increases such credit for low-income buildings in tax enterprise zones and the State housing credit ceiling for buildings in such zones. Sets forth incentives with respect to tax-exempt bond provisions for projects in tax enterprise zones. Provides a tax exemption for work-based education organizations in tax enterprise zones. Allows businesses a credit for work-based education contributions as part of the general business credit. Title II: Establishment of Foreign-Trade Zones in Tax Enterprise Zones - Requires enterprise zones to receive priority in the designation of foreign trade zones. Title III: Studies - Requires the Secretary of the Treasury and the Comptroller General each to report to the House Committee on Ways and Means and the Senate Committee on Finance on the effectiveness of the incentives provided by this Act in achieving its purposes. Title IV: Community-Based Crime Control and Alternatives for High-Risk Youth in Enterprise Zones - Directs the Attorney General, through the Bureau of Justice Assistance of the Department of Justice after specified consultations, to make grants to units of general local government that establish or expand community-oriented policing programs and complementary, comprehensive prevention efforts to reduce and prevent drug abuse and crime, particularly among youth and adolescents, offenders and other populations at high risk for involvement in drug abuse and crime. Authorizes appropriations. Title V: Housing and Community Development Activities in Enterprise Zones - Amends the Housing and Community Development Amendments of 1978 to direct the board of directors of the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation to appoint an Advisory Council for Neighborhood Development Initiatives to advise the board with respect to: (1) assistance to community development corporations for development activities in tax enterprise zones; (2) grants for housing and community development in such zones; and (3) activities for high-risk youth in such zones. Authorizes appropriations. Allows the sale of federally-held properties within tax enterprise zones to nonprofit and for-profit organizations at a price not exceeding 50 percent of the appraised value of such property. Requires such property to be used for housing, commercial enterprises, job training, or drug treatment. Title VI: Drug Exposed Children - Amends the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to authorize supplemental grants to carry out demonstration programs for certain drug-exposed infants, toddlers, and children. Amends the Public Health Service Act to require that the clearinghouse for alcohol and drug abuse information collect and disseminate information and instructional materials regarding drug-exposed children. Provides for consultation and technical assistance to educational personnel regarding educational needs of such children. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the making of grants to institutions of higher education for teacher training for educating such children. Title VII: Substance Abuse Treatment Corps - Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish within the Public Health Service the Substance Abuse Treatment Corps to increase the availability of treatment for alcohol and drug abuse in geographic areas with a significant incidence of abuse and an inadequate availability of services. Allows the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out such purpose only through assigning Corps members to provide services for such areas. Allows the Secretary to assign a Corps member to an entity only if the entity, among other requirements, enters into an agreement with the Secretary regarding the allocation, between the Secretary and the entity, of costs relating to the assignment. Directs the Secretary to establish a program of entering into contracts with students in specified fields under which the students agree to serve in the Corps upon obtaining their degrees in consideration of the Federal Government's agreeing to pay tuition, other expenses, and a stipend. Applies, except as inconsistent, provisions relating to the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program to this program. Directs the Secretary to establish a program of entering into contracts with individuals who have been licensed or certified in certain fields, or who are students in such fields, under which the individuals agree to serve in the Corps in consideration of the Federal Government's agreeing to repay up to a specified sum of educational loans of the individuals. Applies, except as inconsistent, provisions relating to the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program to this program. Authorizes appropriations for the scholarship and loan repayment programs established by this Act. Title VIII: Drug-Free Schools Emergency Target Grants - Amends the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1986 to revise provisions with respect to emergency grants to authorize the Secretary to make drug-free schools emergency target grants to eligible local educational agencies (LEAs) and consortia of LEAs (currently, limited to LEAs) that: (1) demonstrate significant need for additional assistance for purposes of reducing and preventing drug and alcohol use and drug-related crime among students served by such agencies (currently, to combat drug and alcohol use among such students, and excludes the following provisions); (2) support projects that require cooperative linkages between schools and communities to reduce and prevent drug and alcohol use among schoolchildren; (3) demonstrate the most effective approaches to reducing and preventing drug and alcohol use among schoolchildren; and (4) promote the goal that every school in America will be free of drugs and violence and will offer a discipined environment conductive to learning. Specifies: (1) authorized activities by LEAs with grant funds; and (2) eligibility and application requirements for such grants by LEAs and consortia of LEAs. Directs the Secretary, in awarding grants, to give special preference to applications that: (1) hold particular promise for reducing and preventing the incidence of drug and alcohol use and drug-related violence in elementary and secondary schools; (2) are based on a rigorous and comprehensive research design; and (3) have demonstrated that they will integrate the resources of families, community groups, and the media into an effective, community-based assault on drug and alcohol use in schools. Requires the Secretary to conduct an evaluation of this program. Sets forth provisions with respect to: (1) grant amounts and distribution of funds; and (2) set-asides from appropriations to conduct such evaluation, provide training and technical assistance to LEAs, and disseminate the results of the program. Authorizes appropriations. Requires a local or intermediate educational agency or consortium to include in any application to the State educational agency for a drug and alcohol abuse prevention grant a statement of how any emergency target grants funded by the Government under this Act are integrated into the overall prevention plan set forth in the application. Title IX: Medicaid Coverage for Pregnant Women and Family Members - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to provide federally reimbursed Medicaid coverage of alcoholism and drug dependency residential treatment services for pregnant women whose family income is below 185 percent of the Federal poverty level and for their Medicaid-eligible children and spouses. Lists the required services included in such coverage as: (1) individual, group, and family counseling and addiction education and treatment; (2) room and board in a structured environment with on-site supervision 24 hours a day; (3) child day health services; (4) parental assistance in obtaining developmental assistance for their preschool children and public education for themselves and their school-age children; (5) easier access to apppropriate health, social, and child care services; and (6) planning and assistance in reentering society. Requires that such coverage continue for at least 12 months (unless such coverage is found to be no longer therapeutically necessary), except that the coverage of pregnant women must continue for one year following the end of pregnancy. Limits the size of a residential treatment facility to no more than 40 beds, except under prescribed conditions.
Bill· HRH.R. 4023 (102nd)open
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Revises the overtime pay system for United States Customs Service inspectors, with changes providing: (1) overtime pay for: (a) administrative workweek hours which exceed 40 per week or eight per day, at a rate equal to two times the inspector's hourly rate of basic pay, with no work for which overtime is authorized to be treated as being less than four hours in duration; (b) Sunday and holiday work, at the same rate and under the same conditions as described above; and (c) unscheduled work, at the same rate as described above, plus an amount equal to three times the inspector's hourly rate of basic pay as compensation for commuting time, with no work for which overtime is authorized to be treated as being less than two hours in duration; and (2) pay period and fiscal year caps on overtime pay. Limits overtime under such system to Customs Service employees performing the functions of a customs inspector and customs canine enforcement officers. Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to prohibit merchandise or passengers from foreign places, or merchandise being transported from one port to another, from being unladen from carrying vehicles during overtime hours (currently, at night). Amends the Customs Procedural Reform and Simplification Act of 1978 to require the authorization for the Customs Service to specify the maximum amount available for payment of overtime. Amends the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 to terminate reimbursement of appropriations for certain Customs Service overtime costs. Treats Customs Service employees as law enforcement officers for purposes of the Civil Service Retirement System and the Federal Employees' Retirement System. Ties the Customs User Fee Account under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 to Civil Service Retirement System provisions regarding deductions, contributions, and deposits. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to fix the rates of pay for journeyman level customs inspectors and canine inspection officers undertaking inspection services at no less than the minimum rate payable for GS-11.
Bill· HRH.R. 4054 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Health Care Access and Security Act of 1991 - Title I: Improvements in Health Insurance Affordability for Small Employers - Amends the Internal Revenue code to raise from 25 to 100 percent the deduction allowed to self-employed individuals for health insurance premiums and makes the deduction permanent. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) to make grants to States for the establishment and operation of small employer health insurance purchasing programs. Permits grant funds to be used to finance administrative costs associated with developing and operating a group purchasing program for small employers. Authorizes appropriations. Title II: Improvements in Health Insurance for Small Employers - Amends the Social Security Act to add a new title, Title XXI: Standards for Small Employer Health Insurance and Certification of Managed Care Plans. Directs the Secretary to request the National Association of Insurance Commissioners to develop model standards and regulations concerning requirements for health insurance plans for small employers. Requires such plans to provide for: (1) guaranteed eligibility; (2) guaranteed availability; and (3) guaranteed renewability. Prohibits: (1) an insurer from refusing to renew or terminate a plan, except for nonpayment of premiums, fraud, or failure to maintain minimum participation rates; and (2) for certain services, discrimination based on health status. Sets limits controlling the variation of premium charges permitted among all small employers insured by an insurer. Requires the full disclosure of an insurer's rating practices. Requires a health insurance plan for small employers to offer: (1) both a standard benefit package and basic benefit package; and (2) a managed care option, if the insurer also offers such an option to other employers. Provides, under both the standard and basic package, for coverage of: (1) inpatient and outpatient hospital care; (2) inpatient and outpatient physician services; (3) diagnostic tests; and (4) preventive services. Provides, in addition, under the standard plan: (1) for the coverage of certain mental health care; (2) that, except as specified, there will be no limits on the amount, scope, or duration of benefits, and (3) for specified limits on deductibles, copayment, coinsurance, and out-of-pocket expenses. Provides under the basic plan that: (1) premiums, deductibles, copayments, or other cost-sharing may be imposed; and (2) there shall be an out-of-pocket limit. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose an excise tax of 25 percent of gross premiums on the issuer of any health insurance plan to a small employer if the plan does not meet the requirements of title XXI. Sets forth study and reporting requirements. Title III: Improvements in Portability of Private Health Insurance - Imposes an excise tax of $100 per day, with respect to a covered individual, on a group health plan for its failure to provide coverage for a preexisting condition, subject to stated exceptions. Title IV: Health Care Cost Containment - Establishes a Health Care Cost Commission which shall report annually to the President and the Congress on national health care costs. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services, under title XXI of the Social Security Act, to establish a process for the certification of managed care plans and of utilization review programs. Sets forth requirements for certification. Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Administrator of the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research to develop outcomes research and practice parameters for mental health services, including at least the diagnosis and treatment of childhood attention deficit syndrome disorders and manic depression. Amends Part A (General Provisions) of title XI of the Social Security Act to authorize appropriations for research outcomes of health care services and procedures. Requires all Medicare carriers and intermediaries to accept electronic submission of claims in a specified uniform format. Title V: Malpractice Reform - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to States for the implementation and evaluation of alternative dispute resolution systems (ADR). Sets forth eligibility requirements for States seeking such grants. Directs the Secretary to award not less than ten such grants each fiscal year, with exceptions. Requires the Secretary to: (1) designate each State receiving such a grant as a model ADR State (making such State eligible for a two-year extension); and (2) disseminate information on the ADR systems implemented by such States to other States, health care professionals and providers, and other interested parties. Directs the Secretary to: (1) develop and promulgate standards and regulations necessary to carry out the grant program, including qualification standards that States must meet to receive grants and regulations establishing State data gathering requirements; (2) take into account, in developing qualification standards, specified factors such as the effectiveness of such systems in supporting access to health care, encouraging improvements in the quality of care, resolving claims promptly, and providing predictable outcomes; (3) provide States with technical assistance; and (4) report to the Congress, within four years of the first grant, describing and evaluating the ADR systems implemented. Specifies that, with respect to any health care liability action brought in a Federal or State court and any medical malpractice claim or medical product liability claim subject to an ADR system: (1) no person may be required to pay more than $100,000 in a single payment in damages (whether for economic or non-economic losses) for expenses to be incurred in the future, but shall be permitted to make periodic payments (as determined by the court); (2) the total amount of damages that may be awarded to an individual and the family members of such individual for non-economic losses may not exceed $250,000; (3) the total amount of damages received by an individual shall be reduced by any other payment that has been or will be made to the individual to compensate such individual for the injury that was the subject of the action or claim; (4) a claimant's attorney's fees may not exceed 25 percent of the first $150,000 of any award or settlement, or 15 percent of any additional amounts, paid to the claimant; (5) the total amount of punitive damages that may be assessed may not exceed twice the total amount of the damages awarded to compensate the claimant for losses resulting from the injury; and (6) the liability of each defendant for non-economic losses shall be several only and not joint, and each defendant shall be liable only for the amount of non-economic losses allocated to the defendant in direct proportion to the defendant's percentage of responsibility. Establishes a two year statute of limitations for medical malpractice and product liability claims, beginning on the earlier of the date on which the injury that is the subject of the action was discovered or should reasonably have been discovered. Specifies that, in the case of a medical malpractice or product liability claim relating to services provided during labor or the delivery of a baby, if the claimant was not previously treated for the pregnancy by the defendant health care professional or provider a court may not find that the defendant committed malpractice and assess damages against the defendant unless the malpractice is proven by clear and convincing evidence. Bars a defendant from being found to have committed malpractice unless the defendant's conduct at the time of providing the health care services that are the subject of the action was not reasonable, except where the claimant asserts that the defendant is liable under a strict liability theory. Bars the award of punitive damages with respect to any medical product liability claim alleged against a medical product producer if the drug or device that is the subject of the claim: (1) was subject to approval or premarket approval under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with respect to the safety or performance of the drug or device, or the adequacy of the packaging or labeling; (2) was approved by FDA; or (3) is generally recognized as safe and effective pursuant to conditions established by FDA and applicable regulations. Makes an exception in the case of withheld information, misrepresentation, or illegal payment to an FDA official for purposes of securing approval of the drug or device. Provides for a separate proceeding to determine punitive damages. Sets forth provisions with respect to: (1) the admissibility of evidence; and (2) criteria for determining the amount of punitive damages. Provides that the U.S. district courts shall not have jurisdiction over health care liability actions based on Federal questions or based on specified provisions concerning commerce and antitrust regulations. Specifies that these provisions preempt State law only to the extent that State law: (1) permits the recovery by a claimant or the assessment against a defendant of a greater amount of damages; (2) permits the awarding of a greater amount of attorneys' fees; (3) establishes a longer period during which medical malpractice or product liability claims may be initiated; or (4) establishes a less strict standard of proof for determining whether a defendant has committed malpractice than these provisions. Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary to encourage the establishment of a nationwide risk retention group (RRG) for community and migrant health centers receiving assistance under such Act that meets specified requirements. Defines a RRG for purposes of these provisions as an entity defined in the Liability Risk Retention Act of 1986 that: (1) provides professional liability insurance and other types of profitable insurance approved for issuance by the Secretary to community and migrant health centers; (2) provides insurance that applies to all claims filed against a community or migrant health center after the entity initiates insurance coverage and to claims arising from acts that occurred prior to the initiation of coverage if the claims are not covered by other insurance; and (3) meets such other requirements as the Secretary may establish. Title VI: Incentives for Private Long-Term Care Coverage - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for: (1) long-term care insurance contracts to be treated as accident or health insurance contracts; (2) amounts received under such contracts with respect to qualified long-term care services to be treated as amounts received for personal injuries or sickness; and (3) employer plans providing such services to be treated as an accident or health plan. Includes amounts paid for qualified long-term care services as medical expenses for individual itemized deductions. Excludes benefits received under such contracts from gross income. Provides for the treatment of prefunded post-retirement long-term care benefits plans in the same manner as prefunded post-retirement medical and life insurance benefit plans. Permits qualified long-term care insurance contracts to be offered in cafeteria plans (plans which offer two or more benefits). Allows the tax-free exchange of life insurance contracts for long-term care insurance contracts. Provides for the treatment of amounts paid to a terminally ill individual or one who is chronically ill and confined to a qualified facility as death benefits. Allows insurance companies to issue such accelerated death benefit riders on life insurance contracts. Declares that gross income does include excessive long-term care benefits.
Bill· HRH.R. 3974 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Medicaid Federalization Act of 1991 - Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to: (1) convert the Medicaid program to a federally administered program of medical assistance that requires contributions by a State in order for individuals in the State to receive current Medicaid core services; (2) provides for the reversion of Medicaid administrative authority to a State upon the State's request; (3) require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to publish an alternative version of Medicare (title XVIII of the Social Security Act) fee schedule amounts for physicians' services and Medicare payment amounts for the operating costs of inpatient hospital services for use in determining payment amounts for such services under Medicaid that takes into account differences in the individuals covered and such services provided under Medicare and Medicaid; (4) provide that if a physician knowingly and willfully and on a repeated basis refuses to furnish services to individuals eligible for Medicaid, the Secretary may exclude such physician from participating in Medicare for a limited period; and (5) direct the Secretary of the Treasury to increase excise taxes on alcohol, tobacco products, and gasoline and other specified fuels in order to finance a federally administered Medicaid program.
Bill· HRH.R. 4009 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Higher Education Loan Program Act of 1991 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to establish a Federal Direct Loans program as part D of title IV of HEA. (Eliminates the current part D, Income Contingent Direct Loans Demonstration Project.) Directs the Secretary of Education (the Secretary) to carry out such Federal direct loan program (the program) for qualified students at institutions of higher education during the period beginning on July 1, 1993. Directs the Secretary to make program payments for any fiscal year to: (1) each institution of higher education having a program agreement; and (2) the lending agent if such an institution designates one. Requires such payments to be made on the basis of the estimated needs of the institution's students, considering their demand and eligibility for subsidized and unsubsidized direct loans under the program. Sets forth program payment rules, in general and for initial payments. Declares that an institution with an approved application and agreement with the Secretary shall be deemed to have a contractual obligation (entitlement) from the United States for making the program payments specified in that application. Sets forth requirements for such applications of and agreements with institutions of higher education. Provides for allowing institutions to designate lending agents to receive advances of program payments. Sets forth types of entities eligible to be designated lending agents. Entitles an institution to a payment for each fiscal year during which it makes student loans under such an agreement in lieu of reimbursement for its expenses in administering its student loan program during such year. Sets forth formulas for determining such payments. Requires each institution to use such payments first to carry out specified HEA provisions relating to administrative expenses and then for such additional administrative costs as that institution determines necessary. Deems an institution with such program agreement to have a contractual right to such payments. Provides for student eligibility for, and the amount of, loans under the program. Limits program eligibility, among other criteria, to qualified students carrying at least one-half the normal academic workload and maintaining good standing, who are U.S. citizens and not more than 50 years old. Prohibits such loans for proprietary school study. Provides for determining loans to students, based on cost of attendance and other types of student aid. Sets forth annual and aggregate limits for loans for and graduate or professional students. Sets forth terms of loans under the program. Provides for deferments of repayment during specified periods of education. Sets forth requirements for multiple disbursement of student loans. Sets forth loan repayment rules, including minimum repayment amounts. Requires, if a borrower so requests, that repayment be made in accordance with a graduated schedule established by the Secretary. Allows the Secretary and the borrower to agree to increase the specified repayment period, but prohibits it from extending beyond 20 years. Directs the Secretary to notify the student borrower, at the beginning of the repayment period, of the availability of the flexible repayment program. Provides for eight percent annual interest rates on loans. Sets forth requirements for consolidation loans. Directs the Secretary to enter into agreements to provide loans to consolidate eligible student loans for those in repayment status who are not delinquent by more than 90 days.
Bill· HRH.R. 4060 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Title I: Amendment to Title 31, United States Code - Amends Federal law to require that any budget submitted by the President not be in deficit. Provides that if the President determines that a balanced budget is not feasible, and submits written reasons in support of such determination, then the President may submit two budgets, one in compliance and one in deficit. Title II: Amendment to Congressional Budget Act of 1974 - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to require that any budget submitted by the congressional Budget Committees not be in deficit. Provides that if either committee determines that it is infeasible to submit a balanced budget, then such committee may submit two budgets, one of which is in deficit, together with written reasons for such determination. Requires each concurrent resolution on the budget to contain reconciliation directives necessary to implement the resolution. Requires the Committee on Rules of the House of Representatives, if it reports any rule or order providing for the consideration of any concurrent resolution on the budget, to: (1) provide for the consideration of the text of any balanced budget concurrent resolution reported by the House Committee on the Budget; and (2) provide for the consideration of the text of each concurrent resolution on the budget introduced by the Majority Leader as representing the President's budget. Requires a separate vote on each budget. Requires the Majority Leader to introduce a concurrent resolution on the budget reflecting, without substantive revision, each budget submitted by the President. Makes it always in order in the Senate to consider a budget resolution consisting of the text of a budget submitted by the President. Title III: Effective Date - Makes this Act effective for the concurrent resolution on the budget for FY 1991.
Bill· HRH.R. 4062 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Sunset Act of 1991 - Title I: Reauthorization of Government Programs - Requires each Government program to be reauthorized at least once during each sunset reauthorization cycle. (Sunset reauthorization cycle means the period of five Congresses beginning with the 103d Congress and with each sixth Congress following the 103d Congress.) Sets forth the procedure in the House of Representatives and the Senate for the consideration of any legislation which authorizes new budget authority. Exempts from the requirements of this Act specified items, such as interest on Federal debts, health care services, general retirement and disability payments, litigation activities which have as their objectives the protection and implementation of civil rights guaranteed by the Constitution, and specified retirement pay and benefits. Title II: Program Inventory - Directs the Comptroller General and the Director of the Congressional Budget Office, in cooperation with the Director of the Congressional Research Service, to prepare an inventory of Federal programs. Declares that the purpose of such program inventory is to advise and assist the Congress in carrying out reauthorization and reexamination requirements and to link such reauthorization and review process with the budget process. Requires the Comptroller General to submit such program inventory to each House of Congress no later than January 1, 1992. Directs the congressional committees, the Congressional Budget Office, and the Congressional Research Service to review the program inventory and to suggest revisions. Requires that the program inventory be revised at the end of each session of the Congress and that such revisions be reported to each House. Title III: Program Reexamination - Requires each committee of the Senate and the House of Representatives to reexamine selected programs or groups of programs over which it has jurisdiction. Sets forth procedures for such review and criteria for selection of program areas for evaluation. Title IV: Tax Expenditures - Requires the Director of the Congressional Budget Office, after consultation with the Joint Committee on Taxation of the Congress, to prepare an inventory of tax expenditure provisions and to submit a report on such inventory to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House and the Senate Finance Committee by July 1, 1992. Directs the House Committee on Ways and Means and the Senate Committee on Finance to prepare a reauthorization schedule for all tax provisions similar to the schedule set out for Federal programs in title I of this Act. Requires the Congress to take final action on the reauthorization schedule for tax provisions before the end of the 101st Congress. Title V: Miscellaneous - Sets forth miscellaneous provisions to carry out the purposes of this Act. Directs the President, with the cooperation of the head of each appropriate agency, to submit to the Congress a Regulatory Duplication and Conflicts Report for all programs scheduled for reauthorization in the next Congress. Requires specified congressional committees to report on a review of the procedures established under this Act by December 31, 1998, and every five years thereafter. Authorizes appropriations through FY 2001.
Bill· HRH.R. 3965 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Ronald Reagan Peace Dividend Investment Act - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to provide for a reduction in the deficit and an increase in the personal income tax exemption when outlays in the defense category for FY 1992 or 1993 are estimated to be below the discretionary spending limit for such outlays. Requires an adjustment in such spending limits under such circumstances.
Bill· HRH.R. 3970 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Fairness for America Act of 1991 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a variable capital gains deduction for a taxpayer other than a corporation based upon capital assets held from one to five years. Requires indexing, based on the consumer price index, of the adjusted basis of certain assets (corporate stock and tangible property that is a capital asset of property used in a trade or business) acquired after December 31, 1990, and that have been held for more than one year at the time of sale or other transfer, solely for the purpose of determining gain or loss. Allows a deduction of three cents for each mile any new American-made vehicle, purchased after December 31, 1990, was driven during the taxable year. Excludes business use of such vehicle. Amends the title II of the Social Security Act (Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance Benefits) to remove the limitation on the amount of outside income which a beneficiary may earn without incurring a reduction in benefits.
Bill· HRH.R. 4061 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
American Jobs Promotion Act of 1991 - Title I: Treatment of Junk Bonds and Hostile Takeovers - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to disallow a deduction for interest on junk bonds incurred to acquire stock or assets in hostile takeovers. Requires that a hostile stock purchase in a corporate takeover attempt be treated as an asset acquisition by the purchasing corporation. Disallows an income tax deduction for interest on any indebtedness incurred or continued by a purchasing shareholder to purchase or carry corporate stock or assets acquired through a hostile purchase. Lowers the minimum maturity date requirement of an applicable high yield discount obligation from five years to two years (thus restricting the tax deduction for interest on certain high yield original issue discount obligations). Amends the definition of "disqualified yield" as it relates to the disqualified portion of original issue discount on any applicable high yield discount obligation to remove the additional percentage point added to the excess of the yield to maturity over a specified sum. Title II: Termination of Deferral of Tax on Income of Controlled Foreign Corporations Attributable to Property Imported Into United States - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to include imported property income of a controlled foreign corporation or related person as foreign base company income. Defines imported property income as that from: (1) manufacturing, producing, growing, or extracting imported property; (2) the sale, exchange, or other disposition of imported property; or (3) the lease, rental, or licensing of imported property. Requires the separate application of the limitation on the foreign tax credit on imported property income. Applies the look-thru rules in the case of controlled foreign corporations to such income. Title III: Termination of Puerto Rico and Possessions Tax Credit - Terminates the Puerto Rico and possession tax credit.
Bill· HRH.R. 4042 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose an excise tax on self-dealing asset transactions between a disqualified person and a medical service organization. Describes such a transaction as any direct or indirect sale or exchange, or leasing, of any medical asset to: (1) any organization manager; (2) any person who performs substantial professional medical services for the organization pursuant to an employment or other contractual arrangement; (3) any family member of such persons; or (4) any 35-percent controlled entity of such persons.
Bill· HRH.R. 4018 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Provides for the allocation of the excess unobligated balance remaining at the end of each fiscal year in the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical-Care Cost Recovery Fund to the Nursing Home Revolving Fund and to the credit of appropriations available for the operation of Department medical facilities.
Bill· HRH.R. 4033 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make the tax on prohibited transactions inapplicable to a home equity participation arrangement. Describes such arrangement as one in which the eligible participant in an individual retirement plan directs the trustee of such plan to acquire an ownership interest in all or part of any dwelling unit which within a reasonable period of time (determined at the time the arrangement is executed) is to be used as the principal residence for a first-time homebuyer. Requires such ownership interest to be a fee interest which requires full repayment. Describes the first-time homebuyer as an eligible participant or a qualified family member (child, parent, grandparent, or spouse) who had no present ownership interest in a principal residence during the 36-month period before the date of the arrangement. Allows the use of amounts in an individual retirement plan to make loans to purchase a home for a first-time homebuyer on behalf of an eligible participant or a qualified family member. Requires the repayment of first-time homebuyer loans within 15 years.
Bill· HRH.R. 4029 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a credit for interest paid or incurred on a qualified education loan for a six-year period (whether or not consecutive). Limits such credit to $300 per individual whose education expenses are being financed by such loan. Allows higher limits for taxpayers with large amounts of education loan interest (not to exceed $500). Sets forth limits on the gross income of taxpayers eligible for such credit.
Bill· HRH.R. 4010 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to reinstate the ten-percent investment tax credit with respect to property placed in service after December 31, 1991, and make the at-risk rules inapplicable to such property.
Bill· HRH.R. 4021 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Family Living Wage Act - Amends Internal Revenue Code provisions governing the earned income tax credit to: (1) increase from $5,714 to $8,000 the amount of earned income subject to the credit; (2) establish the basic credit at 20 percent; and (3) permit an additional credit (to apply to not more than four children) of five percent for each dependent school age child between age six and age 16 and ten percent for each preschool age child. Reduces the amount of the credit for taxpayers with adjusted gross income over $50,000. Indexes amounts relating to the credit beginning in 1995. Disallows application of the nonrefundable dependent care income tax credit with respect to a taxpayer's dependents under age 13, unless the child is physically or mentally incapable of self-care. Permits the credit with respect to handicapped children under age 16 only if the taxpayer elects not to include the child within the framework of the earned income credit. Repeals provisions of the Family Support Act of 1988 that revise the way in which the earned income credit is treated in the context of needs analysis for purposes of State plans for aid and services to needy families with children under title IV of the Social Security Act.
Bill· HRH.R. 4067 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Save, America Passbook Savings Act of 1991 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income interest earned ($5,000 individual, $10,000 joint return) on certain passbook savings accounts in federally insured institutions.
Bill· HRH.R. 4044 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for unused disaster losses attributable to a disaster occurring before December 31, 1992. Prohibits the use of the tax credit together with the tax deduction for losses. Sets forth special rules for disaster losses involving residences. Allows penalty-free withdrawals from retirement plans for disaster losses occurring after July 31, 1989, and before January 1, 1993. Provides a tax exemption for State and local bonds used to provide disaster loans to small and moderate businesses for disasters occurring after July 31, 1989.
Bill· HRH.R. 4005 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Tax Equity for American's Middle Class Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a three-year tax credit for an individual who purchases a qualified passenger vehicle during the economic recovery period of ten percent of the purchase price of the vehicle. Limits the cost of the vehicle to $15,000 and taxpayer income to $40,000 ($60,000 in the case of a joint return). Defines the economic recovery period as the two-year period beginning January 1, 1992. Allows a five-year tax credit for the purchase of a principal residence by an individual for a first-time homeowner during the economic recovery period of four percent of the acquisition price of the residence. Limits the acquisition price to $100,000 and taxpayer income to $40,000 ($60,000 in the case of a joint return).
Bill· HRH.R. 4001 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Investment Expense Deduction Act of 1991 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify the computation of alternative minimum tax with respect to itemized deductions and net investment income from partnerships. Requires the issuer of an interest in a corporation to determine or classify whether such interest is to be treated as stock or indebtedness (or as in part stock and in part indebtedness). Provides that such determination is binding on all successors to such interest.
Bill· HRH.R. 4039 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Savings Account for a Valued Education Act of 1992 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow an individual income tax deduction for contributions to a savings account established to pay the educational expenses (tuition, supplies, meals, and lodging) of the taxpayer's child or certain other relatives at an institution of higher education or a vocational school. Limits the deduction to $1,500 annually (adjusted for inflation) for each account. Disallows the deduction for contributions to an account maintained for any individual aged 19 or older. Requires any account balance to be distributed after the beneficiary attains age 30. Permits an exclusion from the gross income of the contributor or the beneficiary of account distributions used to pay educational expenses of the latter. Exempts an account from taxation (except for the tax on unrelated business income of a charitable organization), unless a contributor or the beneficiary engages in specified prohibited transactions in connection with it. Imposes a ten percent surtax on distributions not used for educational purposes. Requires the account trustee to report to the Secretary of the Treasury and to the account's beneficiary concerning the account. Imposes a penalty for failure to report. Allows taxpayers who do not otherwise itemize deductions to deduct for contributions to an education savings account. Imposes penalty taxes in connection with excess contributions or prohibited transactions associated with an account. Requires the Secretary to: (1) develop and implement activities to support participation in the Savings Account for a Valued Education program; (2) encourage employees to participate in payroll deductions for such accounts; and (3) encourage participation in programs to provide needy youngsters with access to such accounts.
Bill· HRH.R. 4020 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Real Estate Recovery Act of 1991 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the limitation on passive activity losses and credits. Decreases the applicable recovery period for depreciation of residential rental property and nonresidential real property under the accelerated cost recovery system.
Bill· HRH.R. 3938 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Health Care Protection Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose an excise tax on: (1) a group health plan that denies, limits, or conditions the coverage of an individual based on health status, claims experience, receipt of health care, medical history, or lack of evidence of insurability; and (2) any person who has provided coverage to an individual and fails to disclose such coverage to a group health plan that requests such information.
Bill· HRH.R. 3999 (102nd)referred
United States · United States Congress · 26 November 1991
Foster Care Living Arrangements Act of 1991 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to declare that a foster care provider's home includes shared living arrangements in which the foster individual owns or leases the home in which the foster care provider principally resides.