Keith Mack
George Herbert Walker Bush, the 41st president of the United States, served from 1989 to 1993. During his presidency, he signed several laws, including the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989, the Immigration Act of 1990, the Clean Air Act of 1990, and the Civil Rights Act of 1991. He also signed the Fair Labor Standards Amendments of 1989, raising the minimum wage to $4.25 an hour by April 1991. President Bush's other notable actions include increasing the number of American troops in Saudi Arabia to 400,000 and signing a budget law aimed at reducing the federal budget by nearly $500 billion over five years.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act | $166 billion worth of aid to savings and loans institutions; creation of Resolution Trust Company |
| Fair Labor Standards Amendments | Minimum wage raised to $4.25 an hour by April 1991 |
| Anti-drug law | $3 billion for treatment facilities, federal prison expansion, education, and law enforcement |
| Budget law | $500 billion reduction in federal budget over five years |
| Clean Air Act of 1990 | Reduce urban smog, cut acid rain pollution by half, eliminate industrial emissions of toxic chemicals by 2000 |
| Immigration Act of 1990 | 40% increase in legal immigration; more than doubled number of visas based on job skills |
| Civil Rights Act of 1991 | Easier for employees to sue employers on grounds of discrimination |
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What You'll Learn
The Civil Rights Act of 1991
President George H.W. Bush signed the Civil Rights Act of 1991 into law on November 21, 1991. The Act, also known as S. 1745, was assigned Public Law No. 102-166.
The Act was designed to prevent improper conduct and foster the speedy resolution of conflicts. It encouraged voluntary agreements between employers and employees to rely on alternative mechanisms such as mediation and arbitration.
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The Clean Air Act of 1990
President George H. W. Bush signed the Clean Air Act of 1990 into law. This Act built on the original Clean Air Act by tightening air pollution standards and seeking to reduce urban smog, cut acid rain pollution by half, and eliminate industrial emissions of toxic chemicals by the end of the 20th century.
The 1990 Amendments added a new title IV, relating to acid deposition control, without repealing the existing title IV, which concerned noise pollution. The U.S. Code designates the original title IV as subchapter IV and the new title IV as subchapter IV-A.
The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 also encouraged the use of market-based principles and other innovative approaches, such as performance-based standards and emission banking and trading. They provided a framework for the use of alternative clean fuels by setting standards in the fleet and California pilot program that could be met by the most cost-effective combination of fuels and technology.
The Act promoted the use of clean low-sulfur coal and natural gas, as well as innovative technologies to clean high-sulfur coal through the acid rain program. It also reduced energy waste and created a market for clean fuels derived from grain and natural gas, cutting dependency on oil imports.
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The Immigration Act of 1990
The act also emphasised "diversity" immigration, setting aside visas for workers from countries that had been adversely affected by previous quotas. The Special Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, informally known as the "green card lottery", awarded visas to countries with low levels of immigration to the US in the previous five years.
In recognition of the struggles faced by immigrants unable to return to their countries of origin due to war or natural disaster, the act also created the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program, which initially benefited citizens of El Salvador. The act further waived the English language requirement for naturalisation for people over 55 who had been permanent US residents for at least 15 years.
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The Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989
FIRREA made significant changes to the savings and loan industry and its federal regulation, including deposit insurance. It encouraged loan origination and allowed bank holding companies to acquire thrifts. The act also established the Bank Insurance Fund (BIF), administered by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).
The act set guidelines for RTC disposition of rental properties to provide homeownership and rental housing opportunities for lower-income families. It directed the Secretaries of Agriculture and Housing and Urban Development to expedite financial assistance procedures for such programs. FIRREA also authorized State Housing Finance Agencies and certain non-profit entities to purchase mortgage-related assets, with the requirement that net income from these assets be invested in low- and moderate-income housing activities.
FIRREA amended the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to increase the membership of the FDIC's Board of Directors from three to five members, one of whom is the Chairman of the Office of Savings Associations (COSA), a position established by the act. It also outlined the treatment of certain insured accounts held by savings associations and included these accounts within the insurance purview of the act.
Additionally, the act established the Federal Home Loan Bank Agency (the Agency) as an independent agency in the executive branch to supervise Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLBs). The Agency is responsible for ensuring that FHLBs implement their housing finance mission, remain adequately capitalized, are able to raise funds in the capital markets, and operate safely and soundly. The act also requires the Agency to report annually to Congress.
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The Fair Labor Standards Amendments of 1989
The 1989 Amendments had the primary goal of increasing the minimum wage per hour from $3.35 in 1989 to $3.80 beginning April 1, 1990, and $4.25 beginning April 1, 1991, and thereafter. This was a significant victory for President Bush, as it overrode a previous bill passed by congressional Democrats that would have raised the minimum wage to $4.55.
The Amendments also increased the small business exemption by revising the definition of an "enterprise engaged in commerce" for coverage under the Act. Businesses with annual gross sales or business volume of less than $500,000 (up from $362,500) were now exempt from the minimum wage requirements. However, employers who were covered before March 31, 1990, but became exempt under the new threshold, were still required to pay the previous minimum wage of $3.35 per hour and comply with overtime and child labour provisions.
The Amendments also removed the Virgin Islands from coverage by provisions for special industry committee minimum wage determinations and orders. It continued the special minimum wage treatment of Puerto Rico, with a gradual increase plan to reach the full federal minimum wage by April 1, 1996. Additionally, the Amendments applied the rights and protections of the Act to employees of the House of Representatives and those employed under the Architect of the Capitol.
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Frequently asked questions
President Bush signed the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989, which offered $166 billion in aid to savings and loans institutions and created a new government body, the Resolution Trust Company, to oversee the merger or liquidation of troubled banks.
President Bush signed the Civil Rights Act of 1991, which made it easier for employees to sue employers on grounds of discrimination.
President Bush signed the Immigration Act of 1990, which led to a 40% increase in legal immigration to the United States and more than doubled the number of visas given based on job skills.
