Citrus Disease Research and Development Trust Fund Act of 2013 - Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to establish the Citrus Disease Research and Development Trust Fund, consisting of revenues from duties paid on imported citrus or citrus products, to support scientific research, technical assistance, and development activities to combat both domestic and invasive citrus diseases and pests harming the United States.
Establishes the Citrus Disease Research and Development Trust Fund Advisory Board.
Makes Fund amounts available to the Secretary of Agriculture to develop a coordinated program of research and product development relating to: (1) scientific research of both domestic and invasive diseases and pests afflicting the citrus industry; and (2) support for the dissemination and commercialization of relevant information, techniques, and technologies discovered through Fund research or other research projects intended to solve problems caused by citrus production diseases and invasive pests.
Requires the President to notify certain congressional committees before entering into a trade agreement that could result in a decrease in the amount of: (1) duties paid on imported citrus or citrus products, and (2) funds transferred into the Fund.
Prescribes a formula for required estimated tax payments otherwise due in each of the quarters of 2018 from corporations with assets of at least $1 billion.
Amends the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) to extend certain customs users fees for the processing of merchandise entered into the United States between October 23, 2021, and November 6, 2021, and other specified customs users fees for merchandise entered between October 30, 2021, and November 13, 2021.
[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 853 Introduced in House (IH)]
113th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 853
To create a Citrus Disease Research and Development Trust Fund to
support research on diseases impacting the citrus industry, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 27, 2013
Mr. Buchanan (for himself, Ms. Brown of Florida, Ms. Castor of Florida,
Mr. Crenshaw, Mr. Deutch, Mr. Diaz-Balart, Ms. Frankel of Florida, Mr.
Garcia, Mr. Grayson, Mr. Hastings of Florida, Mr. Miller of Florida,
Mr. Murphy of Florida, Mr. Nugent, Mr. Posey, Mr. Radel, Mr. Rooney,
Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, Mr. Ross, Mr. Southerland, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, Mr.
Webster of Florida, Ms. Wilson of Florida, Mr. Yoho, Mr. Young of
Florida, Mr. Hinojosa, Mr. Cuellar, and Ms. Brownley of California)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, 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 create a Citrus Disease Research and Development Trust Fund to
support research on diseases impacting the citrus industry, 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 ``Citrus Disease Research and
Development Trust Fund Act of 2013''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
(1) duties collected on imports of citrus and citrus
products have ranged from $32,000,000 to $87,000,000 annually
since 2004, and are projected to increase, as United States
production declines due to the effects of huanglongbing (also
known as ``HLB'' or ``citrus greening disease'') and imports
increase in response to the shortfall in the United States;
(2) in cases involving other similarly situated
agricultural commodities, notably wool, the Federal Government
has chosen to divert a portion of the tariff revenue collected
on imported products to support efforts of the domestic
industry to address challenges facing the industry;
(3) citrus and citrus products are a highly nutritious and
healthy part of a balanced diet;
(4) citrus production is an important part of the
agricultural economy in Florida, California, Arizona, and
Texas;
(5) in 2012, citrus fruits were produced on approximately
804,300 acres in the United States, yielding approximately
11,373,000 tons of citrus products with a value at the farm of
more than $3,443,289,000;
(6) the commercial citrus sector employs approximately
110,000 people and contributes approximately $13,500,000,000 to
the United States economy;
(7) the United States citrus industry has suffered billions
of dollars in damage from disease and pests, both domestic and
invasive, over the decade preceding the date of the enactment
of this Act, particularly from huanglongbing;
(8) huanglongbing threatens the entire United States citrus
industry because the disease kills citrus trees;
(9) as of the date of the enactment of this Act, there are
no cost effective or environmentally sound treatments available
to suppress or eradicate huanglongbing;
(10) United States citrus producers working with Federal
and State governments have devoted tens of millions of dollars
toward research and efforts to combat huanglongbing and other
diseases and pests, but more funding is needed to develop and
commercialize disease and pest solutions;
(11) although imports constitute an increasing share of the
United States market, importers of citrus products into the
United States do not directly fund production research in the
United States;
(12) disease and pest suppression technologies require
determinations of safety and solutions must be commercialized
before use by citrus producers;
(13) the complex processes involved in discovery and
commercialization of safe and effective pest and disease
suppression technologies are expensive and lengthy and the need
for the technologies is urgent; and
(14) research to develop solutions to suppress
huanglongbing, or other domestic and invasive pests and
diseases will benefit all citrus producers and consumers around
the world.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
(1) to authorize the establishment of a trust funded by
certain tariff revenues to support scientific research,
technical assistance, and development activities to combat
citrus diseases and pests, both domestic and invasive, harming
the United States; and
(2) to require the President to notify the chairperson and
ranking member of the Committee on Finance of the Senate and
the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives
before entering into any trade agreement that would decrease
the amount of duties collected on imports of citrus products to
less than the amount necessary to provide the grants authorized
by section 1001(d) of the Trade Act of 1974, as added by
section 3(a) of this Act.
(c) Effect on Other Activities.--Nothing in this Act restricts the
use of any funds for scientific research and technical activities in
the United States.
SEC. 3. CITRUS DISEASE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT TRUST FUND.
(a) In General.--The Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2102 et seq.) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``TITLE X--CITRUS DISEASE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT TRUST FUND
``SEC. 1001. CITRUS DISEASE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT TRUST FUND.
``(a) Establishment.--There is established in the Treasury of the
United States a trust fund to be known as the `Citrus Disease Research
and Development Trust Fund' (in this section referred to as the `Trust
Fund'), consisting of such amounts as may be transferred to the Trust
Fund under subsection (b)(1) and any amounts that may be credited to
the Trust Fund under subsection (d)(2).
``(b) Transfer of Amounts.--
``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary
of the Treasury shall transfer to the Trust Fund, from the
general fund of the Treasury, amounts determined by the
Secretary to be equivalent to amounts received in the general
fund that are attributable to the duties collected on articles
that are citrus or citrus products classifiable under chapters
8, 20, 21, 22, and 33 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the
United States.
``(2) Limitation.--The amount transferred to the Trust Fund
under paragraph (1) in any fiscal year may not exceed the
lesser of--
``(A) an amount equal to \1/3\ of the amount
attributable to the duties received on articles
described in paragraph (1); or
``(B) $30,000,000.
``(c) Availability of Amounts in Trust Fund.--
``(1) Amounts available until expended.--Amounts in the
Trust Fund shall remain available until expended without
further appropriation.
``(2) Availability for citrus disease research and
development expenditures.--Amounts in the Trust Fund shall be
available to the Secretary of Agriculture--
``(A) for expenditures relating to citrus disease
research and development under section 4 of the Citrus
Disease Research and Development Trust Fund Act of
2013, including costs relating to contracts or other
agreements entered into to carry out citrus disease
research and development; and
``(B) to cover administrative costs incurred by the
Secretary in carrying out the provisions of that Act.
``(d) Investment of Trust Fund.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall
invest such portion of the Trust Fund as is not required to
meet current withdrawals in interest-bearing obligations of the
United States or in obligations guaranteed as to both principal
and interest by the United States. Such obligations may be
acquired on original issue at the issue price or by purchase of
outstanding obligations at the market price. Any obligation
acquired by the Trust Fund may be sold by the Secretary of the
Treasury at the market price.
``(2) Interest and proceeds from sale or redemption of
obligations.--The interest on, and the proceeds from the sale
or redemption of, any obligations held in the Trust Fund shall
be credited to and form a part of the Trust Fund.
``(e) Reports to Congress.--Not later than January 15, 2014, and
each year thereafter until the year after the termination of the Trust
Fund, the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary
of Agriculture, shall submit to Congress a report on the financial
condition and the results of the operations of the Trust Fund that
includes--
``(1) a detailed description of the amounts disbursed from
the Trust Fund in the preceding fiscal year and the manner in
which those amounts were expended;
``(2) an assessment of the financial condition and the
operations of the Trust Fund for the current fiscal year; and
``(3) an assessment of the amounts available in the Trust
Fund for future expenditures.
``(f) Remission of Surplus Funds.--The Secretary of the Treasury
may remit to the general fund of the Treasury such amounts as the
Secretary of Agriculture reports to be in excess of the amounts
necessary to meet the purposes of the Citrus Disease Research and
Development Trust Fund Act of 2013.
``(g) Sunset Provision.--The Trust Fund shall terminate on December
31 of the fifth calendar year that begins after the date of the
enactment of the Citrus Disease Research and Development Trust Fund Act
of 2013 and all amounts in the Trust Fund on December 31 of that fifth
calendar year shall be transferred to the general fund of the Treasury.
``SEC. 1002. REPORTS REQUIRED BEFORE ENTERING INTO CERTAIN TRADE
AGREEMENTS.
``The President shall notify the chairperson and ranking member of
the Committee on Finance of the Senate and the Committee on Ways and
Means of the House of Representatives not later than 90 days before
entering into a trade agreement if the President determines that
entering into the trade agreement could result--
``(1) in a decrease in the amount of duties collected on
articles that are citrus or citrus products classifiable under
chapters 8, 20, 21, 22, and 33 of the Harmonized Tariff
Schedule of the United States; and
``(2) in a decrease in the amount of funds being
transferred into the Citrus Disease Research and Development
Trust Fund under section 1001 so that amounts available in the
Trust Fund are insufficient to meet the purposes of the Citrus
Disease Research and Development Trust Fund Act of 2013.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents for the Trade Act of
1974 is amended by adding at the end the following:
``TITLE X--CITRUS DISEASE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT TRUST FUND
``Sec. 1001. Citrus Disease Research and Development Trust Fund.
``Sec. 1002. Reports required before entering into certain trade
agreements.''.
SEC. 4. CITRUS DISEASE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT TRUST FUND ADVISORY
BOARD.
(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to establish an
orderly procedure and financing mechanism for the development of an
effective and coordinated program of research and product development
relating to--
(1) scientific research concerning diseases and pests, both
domestic and invasive, afflicting the citrus industry; and
(2) support for the dissemination and commercialization of
relevant information, techniques, and technologies discovered
pursuant to research funded through the Citrus Disease Research
and Development Trust Fund established under section 1001 of
the Trade Act of 1974, as added by section 3(a) of this Act, or
through other research projects intended to solve problems
caused by citrus production diseases and invasive pests.
(b) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Board.--The term ``Board'' means the Citrus Disease
Research and Development Trust Fund Advisory Board established
under this section.
(2) Citrus.--
(A) In general.--The term ``citrus'' means edible
fruit of the family Rutaceae, commonly called
``citrus''.
(B) Inclusion.--The term ``citrus'' includes all
citrus hybrids and products of citrus hybrids that are
produced for commercial purposes in the United States.
(3) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the
Department of Agriculture.
(4) Person.--The term ``person'' means any individual,
group of individuals, firm, partnership, corporation, joint
stock company, association, cooperative, or other legal entity.
(5) Producer.--The term ``producer'' means any person that
is engaged in the domestic production and commercial sale of
citrus in the United States.
(6) Program.--The term ``program'' means the citrus
research and development program authorized under this section.
(7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Agriculture.
(8) Trust fund.--The term ``Trust Fund'' means the Citrus
Disease Research and Development Trust Fund established under
section 1001 of the Trade Act of 1974, as added by section 3(a)
of this Act.
(c) Implementation.--
(1) Regulations.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall promulgate
regulations to carry out this section.
(2) Citrus advisory board.--
(A) Establishment and membership.--
(i) Establishment.--The Citrus Disease
Research and Development Trust Fund Advisory
Board shall consist of 9 members.
(ii) Membership.--The members of the Board
shall be appointed by the Secretary.
(iii) Status.--Members of the Board
represent the interests of the citrus industry
and shall not be considered officers or
employees of the Federal Government solely due
to membership on the Board.
(B) Distribution of appointments.--The membership
of the Board shall consist of--
(i) 5 members who are domestic producers of
citrus in Florida;
(ii) 3 members who are domestic producers
of citrus in Arizona or California; and
(iii) 1 member who is a domestic producer
of citrus in Texas.
(C) Consultation.--Prior to making appointments to
the Board, the Secretary shall consult with
organizations composed primarily of citrus producers to
receive advice and recommendations regarding Board
membership.
(D) Board vacancies.--
(i) In general.--The Secretary shall
appoint a new Board member to serve the
remainder of a term vacated by a departing
Board member.
(ii) Requirements.--When filling a vacancy
on the Board, the Secretary shall--
(I) appoint a citrus producer from
the same State as the Board member
being replaced; and
(II) prior to making an
appointment, consult with organizations
in that State composed primarily of
citrus producers to receive advice and
recommendations regarding the vacancy.
(E) Terms.--
(i) In general.--Except as provided in
clause (ii), each term of appointment to the
Board shall be for 5 years.
(ii) Initial appointments.--In making
initial appointments to the Board, the
Secretary shall appoint \1/3\ of the members to
terms of 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively.
(F) Disqualification from board service.--If a
member or alternate of the Board who was appointed as a
domestic producer ceases to be a producer in the State
from which the member was appointed, or fails to
fulfill the duties of the member according to the rules
established by the Board under paragraph (4)(A)(ii),
the member or alternate shall be disqualified from
serving on the Board.
(G) Compensation.--
(i) In general.--The members of the Board
shall serve without compensation, other than
travel expenses described in clause (ii).
(ii) Travel expenses.--A member of the
Board shall be allowed travel expenses,
including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at
rates authorized for an employee of an agency
under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5,
United States Code, while away from the home or
regular place of business of the member in the
performance of the duties of the Board.
(3) Powers.--
(A) Gifts.--The Board may accept, use, and dispose
of gifts or donations of services or property.
(B) Postal services.--The Board may use the United
States mails in the same manner and under the same
conditions as other agencies of the Federal Government.
(C) Volunteer services.--Notwithstanding section
1342 of title 31, United States Code, the Board may
accept and use the services of volunteers serving
without compensation.
(D) Technical and logistical support.--Subject to
the availability of funds, the Secretary shall provide
to the Board technical and logistical support through
contract or other means, including--
(i) procuring the services of experts and
consultants in accordance with section 3109(b)
of title 5, United States Code, but at rates
for individuals not to exceed the daily
equivalent of the highest rate payable under
section 5332 of that title; and
(ii) entering into contracts with
departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of
the Federal Government, State agencies, and
private entities for the preparation of
reports, surveys, and other activities.
(E) Detail of federal government employees.--
(i) In general.--An employee of the Federal
Government may be detailed to the Commission on
a reimbursable or nonreimbursable basis.
(ii) Civil service status.--The detail of
the employee shall be without interruption or
loss of civil service status or privilege.
(F) General services administration.--The
Administrator of General Services shall provide to the
Board on a reimbursable basis administrative support
and other services for the performance of the duties of
the Board.
(G) Other departments and agencies.--Departments
and agencies of the United States may provide to the
Board such services, funds, facilities, staff, and
other support services as may be appropriate.
(4) General responsibilities of the board.--
(A) In general.--The regulations promulgated by the
Secretary shall define the general responsibilities of
the Board, which shall include the responsibilities--
(i) to meet, organize, and select from
among the members of the Board a chairperson,
other officers, and committees and
subcommittees, as the Board determines to be
appropriate;
(ii) to adopt and amend rules and
regulations governing the conduct of the
activities of the Board and the performance of
the duties of the Board;
(iii) to hire such experts and consultants
as the Board considers necessary to enable the
Board to perform the duties of the Board;
(iv) to advise the Secretary on citrus
research and development needs;
(v) to propose a research and development
agenda and annual budgets for the Trust Fund;
(vi) to evaluate and review ongoing
research funded by Trust Fund;
(vii) to engage in regular consultation and
collaboration with the Department and other
institutional, governmental, and private actors
conducting scientific research into the causes
or treatments of citrus diseases and pests,
both domestic and invasive, so as to--
(I) maximize the effectiveness of
the activities;
(II) hasten the development of
useful treatments; and
(III) avoid duplicative and
wasteful expenditures; and
(viii) to provide the Secretary with such
information and advice as the Secretary may
request.
(5) Citrus research and development agenda and budgets.--
(A) In general.--The Board shall submit annually to
the Secretary a proposed research and development
agenda and budget for the Trust Fund, which shall
include--
(i) an evaluation of ongoing research and
development efforts;
(ii) specific recommendations for new
citrus research projects;
(iii) a plan for the dissemination and
commercialization of relevant information,
techniques, and technologies discovered
pursuant to research funded through the Trust
Fund; and
(iv) a justification for Trust Fund
expenditures.
(B) Affirmative support required.--A research and
development agenda and budget may not be submitted by
the Board to the Secretary without the affirmative
support of at least 7 members of the Board.
(C) Secretarial approval.--
(i) In general.--Not later than 60 days
after receiving the proposed research and
development agenda and budget from the Board
and consulting with the Board, the Secretary
shall finalize a citrus research and
development agenda and Trust Fund budget.
(ii) Considerations.--In finalizing the
agenda and budget, the Secretary shall--
(I) due to the proximity of citrus
producers to the effects of diseases
such as huanglongbing and the quickly
evolving nature of scientific
understanding of the effect of the
diseases on citrus production, give
strong deference to the proposed
research and development agenda and
budget from the Board; and
(II) take into account other public
and private citrus-related research and
development projects and funding.
(D) Report to congress.--Each year, the Secretary
shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture and the
Committee on Ways and Means of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture,
Nutrition, and Forestry and the Committee on Finance of
the Senate a report that includes--
(i) the most recent citrus research and
development agenda and budget of the Secretary;
(ii) an analysis of how, why, and to what
extent the agenda and budget finalized by the
Secretary differs from the proposal of the
Board;
(iii) an examination of new developments in
the spread and control of citrus diseases and
pests;
(iv) a discussion of projected research
needs; and
(v) a review of the effectiveness of the
Trust Fund in achieving the purpose described
in subsection (a).
(6) Contracts and agreements.--To ensure the efficient use
of funds, the Secretary may enter into contracts or agreements
with public or private entities for the implementation of a
plan or project for citrus research.
(d) Administrative Costs.--Each fiscal year, the Secretary may
transfer up to $2,000,000 of amounts in the Trust Fund to the Board for
expenses incurred by the Board in carrying out the duties of the Board.
(e) Termination of Board.--The Board shall terminate on December 31
of the fifth calendar year that begins after the date of the enactment
of this Act.
SEC. 5. TIME FOR PAYMENT OF CORPORATE ESTIMATED TAXES.
Notwithstanding section 6655 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
in the case of a corporation with assets of not less than
$1,000,000,000 (determined as of the end of the preceding taxable
year)--
(1) the amount of any required installment of corporate
estimated tax which is otherwise due in July, August, or
September of 2018 shall be increased by 0.25 percent of such
amount (determined without regard to any increase in such
amount not contained in such Code); and
(2) the amount of the next required installment after an
installment referred to in paragraph (1) shall be appropriately
reduced to reflect the amount of the increase by reason of such
paragraph.
SEC. 6. EXTENSION OF CUSTOMS USER FEES.
Section 13031(j)(3) of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget
Reconciliation Act of 1985 (19 U.S.C. 58c(j)(3)) is amended by adding
at the end the following:
``(C)(i) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), fees may be charged
under paragraphs (9) and (10) of subsection (a) during the period
beginning on October 23, 2021, and ending on November 6, 2021.
``(ii) Notwithstanding subparagraph (B)(i), fees may be charged
under paragraphs (1) through (8) of subsection (a) during the period
beginning on October 30, 2021, and ending on November 13, 2021.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, 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 Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, 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 Horticulture, Research, Biotechnology, and Foreign Agriculture.
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