The Eighties in America Legislation: Major U.S. Legislation 1103
Year Legislation Significance
1987 New G.I. Bill Continuation Act Created a permanent educational benefits program for persons who
began military service after June 30, 1985; specified active duty
requirements to qualify for the program.
1987 Surface Transportation Act Authorized funds for construction of highways; approved mass transit
funds; expanded and improved the relocation assistance program;
enacted pursuant to override of presidential veto.
1988 Trademark Law Revision Act Permitted American companies to file a trademark application with the
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, with certain deadlines noted.
1988 Veterans Judicial Review Act Created a new review procedure for veterans’ claim cases; authorized
the Board of Veterans Appeals to make initial decisions in these cases;
established the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims to review the
board’s decisions; specified membership requirements for the Board of
Veterans Appeals.
1988 Civil Rights Restoration Act Renewed the broad scope of coverage under Title IX of the Educational
Amendments of 1972, Rehabilitative Act of 1973, Age Discrimination
Act of 1975, and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; enacted
pursuant to override of veto by President Ronald Reagan.
1988 Fair Housing Amendments Authorized the Department of Housing and Urban Development to
penalize those who discriminated in the sale or rental of housing;
barred discriminatory housing practices against the handicapped and
families with young children.
1988 Women’s Business Ownership Act Created a Small Business Administration program to provide bank loans
to small businesses owned by women; established a Women’s Business
Council to monitor government assistance to women-owned businesses.
1988 Family Support Act Started a Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Program for recipients of
Aid to Families with Dependent Children; strengthened child support
enforcement procedures; approved projects to examine how to lessen
welfare dependence.
1988 Berne Convention Implementation
Act
Permitted the United States to participate in the Berne Convention for
the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works; revised certain American
copyright laws to conform with the convention.1988 Video Privacy Act Prohibited the disclosure of names, addresses, and other information
about patrons who rented or purchased videotapes from video stores,
with limited exceptions.
1988 Department of Veterans Affairs Elevated the Veterans Administration to a cabinet department; specified
an appointment process for a secretary of veterans affairs and certain
department officials.
1988 Japanese American Reparations Act Approved a payment of $20,000 to each surviving Japanese American
who had been interned in a relocation camp during World War II;
permitted payment to some internees’ descendants; offered a
government apology for internment.
1989 Whistleblower Protection Act Established the Office of Special Counsel as an independent federal
agency to investigate allegations of retaliation against government
employees who expose waste or fraud; permitted complaints to be filed
with the Merits Systems Protection Board.