Herbicide Reduction Act of 1991 - Prohibits the Secretary of Agriculture, with specified exceptions, from obligating funds for applied research to develop herbicide resistant plants.
Directs the Secretary to reallocate existing funds for such purpose to alternative weed control systems.
Directs: (1) the Secretary to survey land grant colleges to determine the extent to which the private sector is supporting such research; and (2) the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to review herbicide resistant plant research.
HR 3714 IH 102d CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3714 To transfer Federal financial assistance currently used to develop herbicide resistant plants to non-chemical weed control systems, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NOVEMBER 5, 1991 Mr. SYNAR (for himself, Mr. SCHEUER, Mr. DEFAZIO, and Mr. OLVER) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture A BILL To transfer Federal financial assistance currently used to develop herbicide resistant plants to non-chemical weed control systems, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the `Herbicide Reduction Act of 1991'. SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES. (a) FINDINGS- Congress finds that-- (1) chemical herbicides currently used to control weeds may contribute to environmental degradation, such as ground and surface water contamination; (2) private and public sector researchers are currently engaged in considerable research to genetically modify plants to increase the herbicide resistance of plants; (3) herbicide resistant plants may-- (A) encourage increased use of chemical herbicides; (B) facilitate less ecological diversity; and (C) contribute to problems with herbicide resistant weeds; (4) the United States must develop a more ecologically sound approach to resolve weed problems, such as the use of-- (A) biological control methods, cover crops, and smother plants to suppress weed development; (B) tillage systems that control weeds while not contributing to soil erosion; (C) biotechnology research that emphasizes non-chemical weed control; and (D) other sustainable methods of weed control; (5) the private sector has significant market incentive to develop herbicide resistant plants and continues to invest significantly in the development of herbicide resistant plants; (6) the scarce public funds of the United States should not be allocated to research already funded by the private sector; (7) the President's Council on Competitiveness 1991 Report on National Biotechnology Policy states that the proper role for the United States Government should be to provide needed support to activities that are undersupported by the private sector when the activities generate social benefits that greatly exceed the profitability of the activities; and (8) the scarce public funds of the United States should be allocated to research aimed at innovative weed control systems that reduce chemical inputs and use nonchemical control options whenever possible. (b) PURPOSE- It is the purpose of this Act to transfer all Federal financial assistance (other than assistance described in section 4(b)) currently being used to assist applied research designed to develop herbicide resistant plants to other weed control options that allow producers to lessen their dependence on chemicals (including biotechnology research). SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. As used in this Act: (1) APPLIED RESEARCH- The term `applied research' means research committed directly to the development of herbicide resistant plants that will result in new crop germplasms, cultivars, or varieties. (2) HERBICIDE- The term `herbicide' means a substance that alone, in chemical combination, or in any formulation with one or more substances-- (A) is considered a pesticide (as defined in section 2(u) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 136(u)); and (B) is used for the control of weeds. (3) HERBICIDE RESISTANT PLANTS- The term `herbicide resistant plants' means a plant that is genetically modified using recombinant DNA, mutagenesis, protoplast fusion, tissue culture, traditional breeding, or any other method to improve the metabolic capabilities of plants to resist a particular herbicide. (4) SECRETARY- The term `Secretary' means the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture. SEC. 4. PROHIBITION OF FEDERAL ASSISTANCE FOR HERBICIDE RESISTANT PLANT DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH. (a) IN GENERAL- Except as provided in subsection (b) and notwithstanding any other provision of law, no funds available to the Secretary may be obligated for applied research to develop herbicide resistant plants. (b) EXCEPTIONS- Subsection (a) shall not apply to-- (1) risk assessment and monitoring research authorized under title XVI of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 or an amendment made by such title; (2) basic research using herbicide resistance markers to further understand plant physiology and other aspects of plant biology; or (3) basic research using herbicide resistance markers exclusively as selectable markers in the development of genetically modified organisms. (c) Project Completion- (1) COMPLETION OF CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS- Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary may permit completion of an applied research project designed to develop a herbicide resistant plant if the project is significantly underway, and is near completion, on the date of enactment of this Act. (2) TERMINATION OF FUNDING- No funding for any project under paragraph (1) shall be provided after September 30, 1993. SEC. 5. REALLOCATION OF RESEARCH FUNDING. To the extent practicable, the Secretary shall reallocate to the activities described in paragraphs (1) and (2) an amount equal to the amount of Federal funds previously dedicated to applied research on the development of herbicide resistant plants prior to the date of enactment of this Act-- (1) research on plant genomes and other biotechnology and genetic research directed at the development of plants adapted to weed control systems with reduced reliance on herbicides, cover crops, and rotational crops that enhance weed control; and (2) research on appropriate biological control methods, conservation tillage practices, crop rotations, integrated pest management, and other sustainable agriculture methods. SEC. 6. REPORTS. (a) SURVEY OF LAND GRANT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES- (1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall conduct a survey of institutions eligible to receive funds under the Act of July 2, 1862 (12 Stat. 503, chapter 130; 7 U.S.C. 301 et seq.), or the Act of August 30, 1890 (26 Stat. 417, chapter 841; 7 U.S.C. 321 et seq.), including Tuskegee University, to determine the extent to which the private sector is supporting applied research to develop herbicide resistant plants at the institutions designated. (2) REPORT- Not later than September 30, 1992, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report containing the findings of the survey conducted under paragraph (1). (b) ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY STUDY- (1) REVIEW- The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall review herbicide resistant plant research. (2) REPORT- Not later than September 30, 1992, the Administrator shall prepare and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report containing recommendations for regulation under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 136 et seq.) concerning-- (A) the use of herbicides in combination with herbicide resistant plants; and (B) the herbicide resistant plants.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Department Operations, Research, and Foreign Agriculture.
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