Specialty Crop and Value-Added Agriculture Promotion Act - Amends the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 to include within the definition of specialty crop: (1) farm-raised or wild-harvested fish and shellfish; and (2) organically produced specialty crops.
Makes the authorization of appropriations for state specialty crop block grants permanent.
Amends the Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000 to replace the agricultural marketing resource center pilot project with a state block grant program for value-added agricultural product market development.
Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish an incentive program for third-party certification of agricultural producers and processors for quality and production practices that increase agricultural commodity marketability or value. Provides for up 50% reimbursement of participant certification costs.
Amends the Federal Crop Insurance Act to direct the Commodity Credit Corporation to carry out the adjusted gross revenue insurance pilot program as a permanent program. Authorizes the Corporation to: (1) expand the program to cover any county in which crops are produced; and (2) grant temporary policy subsidies for producers located in a county that has a high level of specialty crop production and has not had a high level of crop insurance coverage coverage.
Amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to direct the Secretary to: (1) make available to students in not more than 100 schools in each state, and in elementary and secondary schools on one Indian reservation, free fresh and dried fruits and vegetables throughout the school day in one or more school-designated areas; and (2) give priority to states that produce large quantities of specialty crops.
Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to increase operating loan limits for loans guaranteed other than by the Secretary. Revises the related inflation percentage determination.
Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to establish the position of Assistant United States Trade Representative for Specialty Crops.
Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to increase the authorization of appropriations for specialty crop technical assistance.
[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3562 Introduced in House (IH)]
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3562
To amend the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 to increase
the authorization of appropriations for grants to support the
competitiveness of specialty crops, to amend the Agricultural Risk
Protection Act of 2000 to improve the program of value-added
agricultural product market development grants by routing funds through
State departments of agriculture, to amend the Federal Crop Insurance
Act to require a nationwide expansion of the adjusted gross revenue
insurance program, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 28, 2005
Ms. Hooley introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and
Means and Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 to increase
the authorization of appropriations for grants to support the
competitiveness of specialty crops, to amend the Agricultural Risk
Protection Act of 2000 to improve the program of value-added
agricultural product market development grants by routing funds through
State departments of agriculture, to amend the Federal Crop Insurance
Act to require a nationwide expansion of the adjusted gross revenue
insurance program, 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 ``Specialty Crop and Value-Added
Agriculture Promotion Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITION OF SPECIALTY CROP.
Section 3(1) of the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004
(Public 108-465; 7 U.S.C. 1621 note) is amended--
(1) by inserting ``fish and shellfish whether farm-raised
or harvested in the wild,'' after ``dried fruits,''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new sentence: ``The
term includes specialty crops that are organically produced (as
defined in section 2103 of the Organic Foods Production Act of
1990 (7 U.S.C. 6502).''.
SEC. 3. PERMANENT AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR STATE SPECIALTY
CROP BLOCK GRANTS.
Subsection (i) of section 101 of the Specialty Crops
Competitiveness Act of 2004 (Public 108-465; 7 U.S.C. 1621 note) is
amended to read as follows:
``(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--For fiscal year 2006 and
every fiscal year thereafter, there is authorized to be appropriated to
the Secretary of Agriculture $500,000,000 to make grants under this
section.''.
SEC. 4. BLOCK GRANTS TO STATES FOR VALUE-ADDED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT
MARKET DEVELOPMENT.
(a) In General.--Subsection (b) of section 231 of the Agricultural
Risk Protection Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-224; 7 U.S.C. 1621 note) is
amended to read as follows:
``(b) Grant Program.--
``(1) Block grants to states.--
``(A) Amount of grant to state.--From the amount
made available under paragraph (6) for a fiscal year,
the Secretary shall provide to each State, subject to
subparagraph (B), a grant in an amount equal to the
product obtained by multiplying the amount made
available for that fiscal year by the result obtained
by dividing--
``(i) the total value of the agricultural
commodities and products made in the State
during the preceding fiscal year; by
``(ii) the total value of the agricultural
commodities and products made in all of the
States during the preceding fiscal year.
``(B) Limitation.--The total grant provided to a
State for a fiscal year under subparagraph (A) shall
not exceed $3,000,000.
``(2) Use of grant funds by states.--A State shall use the
grant funds to award competitive grants--
``(A) to an eligible independent producer (as
determined by the State) of a value-added agricultural
product to assist the producer--
``(i) in developing a business plan for
viable marketing opportunities for the value-
added agricultural product; or
``(ii) in developing strategies that are
intended to create marketing opportunities for
the producer; and
``(B) to an eligible agricultural producer group,
farmer or rancher cooperative, or majority-controlled
producer-based business venture (as determined by the
State) to assist the entity--
``(i) in developing a business plan for
viable marketing opportunities in emerging
markets for a value-added agricultural product;
or
``(ii) in developing strategies that are
intended to create marketing opportunities in
emerging markets for the value-added
agricultural product.
``(3) Amount of competitive grant.--
``(A) In general.--The total amount provided under
paragraph (2) to a grant recipient shall not exceed
$500,000.
``(B) Majority-controlled producer-based business
ventures.--The amount of grants provided by a State to
majority-controlled producer-based business ventures
under paragraph (2)(B) for a fiscal year may not exceed
10 percent of the amount of funds that are used by the
State to make grants for the fiscal year under
paragraph (2).
``(4) Grantee strategies.--A recipient of a grant under
paragraph (2) shall use the grant funds--
``(A) to develop a business plan or perform a
feasibility study to establish a viable marketing
opportunity for a value-added agricultural product; or
``(B) to provide capital to establish alliances or
business ventures that allow the producer of the value-
added agricultural product to better compete in
domestic or international markets.
``(5) Reports.--Within 90 days after the end of a fiscal
year for which funds are provided to a State under paragraph
(1), the State shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture,
Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report describing how
the funds were used.
``(6) Funding.--On October 1 of each fiscal year, of the
funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Secretary shall
make available to carry out this subsection $100,000,000, to
remain available until expended.
``(7) State defined.--In this subsection, the term `State'
means each of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands,
Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands.''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall
take effect on October 1, 2005.
SEC. 5. REIMBURSEMENT OF CERTIFICATION COSTS.
(a) Incentive Program.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall
establish an incentive program to encourage the independent third-party
certification of agricultural producers and processors for product
qualities, production practices, or other product or process attributes
that increase marketability or value of an agricultural commodity. The
Secretary shall include independent third-party certification systems,
including programs such as Good Agricultural Practices, Good Handling
Practices, and Good Manufacturing Practices programs, that the
Secretary finds will provide one or more measurable social,
environmental, or marketing advantages.
(b) Standards.--The Secretary shall set standards regarding the
types of certifications, and the types of certification-related
expenses, that will qualify for reimbursement under the program.
(c) Limitation on Amount of Reimbursement.--An agricultural
producer or processor may not receive reimbursement for more than 50
percent of the qualified expenses incurred by the producer or processor
related to accepted certifications.
SEC. 6. NATIONWIDE EXPANSION OF RISK MANAGEMENT AGENCY ADJUSTED GROSS
REVENUE INSURANCE PROGRAM.
(a) Expansion.--Section 523(e) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7
U.S.C. 1523(e)) is amended by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
``(3) Permanent nationwide operation.--Effective beginning
with the 2006 reinsurance year, the Corporation shall carry out
the adjusted gross revenue insurance pilot program as a
permanent program under this title and may expand the program
to cover any county in which crops are produced. To facilitate
the expansion of the program nationwide, the Corporation may
grant temporary premium subsidies for the purchase of a policy
under the program to producers whose farm operations are
located in a county that has a high level of specialty crop
production and has not had a high-level of participation in the
purchase of crop insurance coverage.''.
(b) Comptroller General Study.--The Comptroller General shall
conduct a study of the Federal crop insurance program to determine how
well the program serves specialty crop producers and to recommend such
changes as the Comptroller General considers appropriate to improve the
program for specialty crop producers.
SEC. 7. EXPANSION OF FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PROGRAM IN SCHOOL LUNCH
PROGRAMS.
The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act is amended--
(1) in section 18 (42 U.S.C. 1769), by striking subsection
(g); and
(2) by inserting after section 18 the following new
section:
``SEC. 19. FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PROGRAM.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall make available in not more
than 100 schools in each State, and in elementary and secondary schools
on 1 Indian reservation, free fresh and dried fruits and vegetables and
frozen berries to be served to school children throughout the school
day in 1 or more areas designated by the school.
``(b) Priority in Allocation.--In selecting States to participate
in the program, the Secretary shall give priority to States that
produce large quantities of specialty crops.
``(c) Publicity.--A school participating in the program authorized
by this section shall publicize within the school the availability of
free fruits and vegetables under the program.
``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated for fiscal years 2006 and 2007, $20,000,000 to carry out
this section.''.
SEC. 8. INCREASE IN LIMIT ON DIRECT OPERATING LOANS; INDEXATION TO
INFLATION.
Section 313 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7
U.S.C. 1943) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ``$200,000'' and
inserting ``$500,000 (increased, beginning with fiscal year
2007, by the inflation percentage applicable to the fiscal year
in which the loan is made)''; and
(2) in subsection (b), by striking paragraph (2) and
inserting the following new paragraph:
``(2) the average of such index (as so defined) for the 12-
month period ending on--
``(A) in the case of a loan other than a loan
guaranteed by the Secretary, August 31, 2005; or
``(B) in the case of a loan guaranteed by the
Secretary, August 31, 1996.''.
SEC. 9. TRADE OF SPECIALTY CROPS.
(a) Assistant USTR for Specialty Crops.--Section 141(c) of the
Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2171(c)) is amended by adding at the end
the following new paragraph:
``(6)(A) There is established in the Office the position of
Assistant United States Trade Representative for Specialty
Crops. The Assistant United States Trade Representative for
Specialty Crops shall be appointed by the United States Trade
Representative.
``(B) The primary function of the Assistant United States
Trade Representative for Specialty Crops shall be to promote
the trade interests of specialty crop businesses, to remove
foreign trade barriers that impede specialty crop businesses,
and to enforce existing trade agreements beneficial to
specialty crop businesses.
``(C) The Assistant United States Trade Representative for
Specialty Crops shall be paid at the level of a member of the
Senior Executive Service with equivalent time and service.''.
(b) Study of Uruguay Round Table Agreement Benefits.--
(1) Study.--The Comptroller General of the United States
shall conduct a study on the benefits of the agreements
approved by Congress under section 101(a)(1) of the Uruguay
Round Agreements Act (Public Law 103-465) to specialty crop
businesses.
(2) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to
Congress a report describing the results of the study conducted
under paragraph (1).
(c) Foreign Market Access Strategy.--Not later than one year after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture
shall develop and implement a foreign market access strategy to
increase exports of specialty crops to foreign markets.
SEC. 10. INCREASED AUTHORIZATION FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR SPECIALTY
CROPS.
Section 3205(d) of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of
2002 (7 U.S.C. 5680(d)) is amended by striking ``$2,000,000'' and
inserting ``$10,000,000''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Education Reform.
Llama 3.2 · runs locally in your browser
Ask anything about this bill. The AI reads the full text to answer.
Enter to send · Shift+Enter for new line