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101 records in US in 1979
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1979
Agriculture Adjustment Act of 1980 - Amends the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to increase the established price for the 1980 crops of: (1) wheat to $3.88 per bushel; and (2) corn to $2.51 per bushel. Sets October 1, 1980, as the effective date of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1979
Cancels the liability of any qualified recipient for excess payments made for the self-hauling of hay and other roughages under the Hay Transportation Assistance Program (HTAP). Obligates the Department of Agriculture to make all payments pursuant to Departmental directives issued to be in effect prior to December 1, 1976.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1979
Rural Energy Independence Act of 1979 - Amends the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 to add a new title XX "Rural Energy Production and Use". Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish projects for the production of energy from agricultural commodities and forest products through direct, insured, or guaranteed loans, and grants. Specifies annual ceilings on the amounts of such loans and grants. Requires coordination with other energy loan and grant programs. Authorizes the Administrator of the Rural Electrification Administration to make loans to specified classes of persons, corporations, and associations to finance projects for the generation and transmission of electricity using previously abandoned hydropower energy production facilities located adjacent to small streams and rivers in rural areas, or for the construction of new plants for electricity produced from biomass energy. Specifies the general terms of such loans. Directs the Secretary to establish a Rural Energy Council: (1) to advise the Secretary on rural energy needs and production potential; and (2) to establish and operate wood and biomass energy demonstration centers in each Forest Service region. Directs the Secretary to develop and implement a national rural energy research program as a separate and distinct mission of the Department of Agriculture. Requires the Secretary to conduct a study on the feasibility of alternative crop-livestock systems specifically designed to produce both foodstuffs for domestic and export markets and biomass for energy production use. Directs the Secretary to establish a national rural energy extension program: (1) to disseminate the results of rural energy research; and (2) to encourage farmers and rural organizations to adopt projects for the production of energy from agricultural commodities. Requires the Secretary to submit annual reports to Congress on the activities of the Department pursuant to this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 1 August 1979
Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977, as amended by the Food Stamp Act Amendments of 1979, with respect to the excess medical expense deduction for households with members 60 years of age or older or recipients of social security disability payments or supplemental security income benefits, to: (1) apply such deduction to the medical expenses of the spouses of such persons; and (2) lower from $35 to $10 the threshold amount for computing such excess expenses.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 1979
Requests the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a wheat set-aside for the 1980 crop year.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 1979
Amends the Plant Variety Protection Act to: (1) make numerous technical amendments; (2) repeal the bonding requirement for designated employees of the Plant Variety Protection Office; (3) extend the term of plant variety protection from 17 to 18 years; (4) authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to issue corrected certificates of plant variety protection instead of (the current) mere certificates of correction; and (5) allow application of its provisions to the seeds, plants or transplants of okra, celery, peppers, tomatoes, carrots and cucumbers, which are currently excluded from the protection of the Act.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 1979
Urges the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a minimum wheat set-aside for the 1980 crop year of not less than five percent of the 1980 wheat acreage.
United States · United States Congress · 26 July 1979
Designates March 20, 1980, as "National Agriculture Day."
United States · United States Congress · 25 July 1979
Amends the Commodity Exchange Act to prohibit trading in potato (Solanum tuberosum) futures on commodity exchanges.
United States · United States Congress · 23 July 1979
Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to extend programs under the jurisdiction of the Department of Agriculture to Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and American Samoa and to adapt such programs to the needs of such territories. Directs that such programs be carried out in cooperation with the respective territorial governments. Authorizes appropriations necessary to the purposes of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 1979
Amends the United States Grain Standards Act to prohibit the knowing addition to any grain shipment, after its purchase from the original producer or after acceptance of such grain for storage and handling, of any foreign material or dust which would change the character or test weight of that grain from the test weight or character prevailing at the time of first purchase. Authorizes the fumigation of grain to preserve its quality and the blending of separate lots of grain of the same kind.
United States · United States Congress · 19 July 1979
Amends the Farm Credit Act of 1971 to include the Virgin Islands within the farm credit districts of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 1979
Amends the Agriculture Act of 1956 to permit the donation of agricultural commodities to certain State and county correctional institutions under the additional authority of Public Law 320, Seventy-fourth Congress, which authorizes appropriations for the payment of benefits or indemnities in order to divert such commodities from normal channels of trade to groups of needy persons. Repeals current authority to make such donations to Federal correctional institutions.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 1979
Amends the Plant Quarantine Act of August 20, 1912, to eliminate the notice and hearing requirements with respect to the promulgation of determinations relating to: (1) importation restrictions on certain plants and plant products other than nursery stock; and (2) interstate quarantines necessary to prevent the spread of dangerous plant diseases or infestations.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 1979
Agriculture Adjustment Act of 1979 - Amends the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to increase the established prices for the 1979 crops of wheat to $3.63 per bushel and of corn to $2.35 per bushel, whenever a set-aside is in effect for the respective crop.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 1979
Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to disqualify, for the appropriate period of ineligibility, the entire household of any individual found guilty of specified acts of food stamp fraud. Sets the commencement of such period either: (1) immediately upon the relevant administrative or judicial finding, if the household is currently otherwise eligible; or (2) at the time such household becomes otherwise eligible, if it is not so eligible at the time of such finding. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a Food Stamp Fraud Clearinghouse to collect and disseminate to requesting State agencies information with respect to enforcement of the anti-fraud provisions of such Act for purposes of determining the eligibility of individuals and households to participate in the food stamp program.
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 1979
Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to establish the crop production loan level for the 1980 and 1981 crops of upland cotton at not less than the loan level established for the 1979 crop. Specifies formulas for the determination of prevented planting payments for rice, cotton, feed grains, and wheat where it is determined that planting of an acreage of any such crop was prevented and that a nonconserving crop was planted on such acreage. Prohibits more than one disaster payment on the same acreage in the same year. Makes eligible for 1978 crop disaster payments certain cotton producers who were otherwise eligible for such payments, but who were deemed ineligible for failure to comply with the set-aside requirement of the 1978 crop feed grain program. Conditions such special eligibility on a determination that any such producer planted his 1978 crop of feed grains prior to the official announcement of the 1978 set-aside requirement and notice that eligibility for 1978 crop cotton payments and loans would be conditioned on compliance with such set-aside requirement. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to make available a voluntary diversion program for the 1979 crop of upland cotton of payments for the reduction of cotton acreage by not less than ten percent nor more than 20 percent of the 1979 cotton acreage considered planted on the farm (excluding any acreage on which another nonconserving crop is planted).
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 1979
Sets forth the rule for the consideration of H.R. 3398 (Target prices of 1979 agriculture crops).
United States · United States Congress · 17 July 1979
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the President should convene a meeting of the major grain exporting nations to coordinate policies and prices to counter the effects of rising oil prices.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 1979
Farm Credit Act Amendments of 1979 - Title I: Federal Land Banks and Associations - Amends the Farm Credit Act of 1971 to authorize any Federal land bank, under the supervision of the Farm Credit Administration, to: (1) participate in loans with other Farm Credit System institutions (i.e., Federal land banks, Federal land bank associations, Federal intermediate credit banks, production credit associations, and banks for cooperatives); (2) participate in loans which the land banks are authorized to make with lenders which are not Farm Credit System institutions; (3) sell interests in loans to such lenders; (4) buy from and sell to Farm Credit System institutions interests in loans, other extended financial assistance, and nonvoting stock; (5) make other investments; (6) accept contributions to their capital from Federal land bank associations; (7) enter into agreements with other Farm Credit System institutions to share loan and other losses; (8) issue nonvoting stock to borrowers as a patronage refund; and (9) make or participate with other lenders in long-term real estate mortgage loans not exceeding 85 percent of the appraised value of the real estate security. Makes producers and harvesters of aquatic products eligible for Federal land bank services. Authorizes Federal land bank associations to make capital contributions to a Federal land bank. States that a member of a Federal land bank association need not make the required purchases of land stock with respect to that part of a loan derived from a lender which is not a Farm Credit System institution. Authorizes the Federal land bank associations to pay dividends on a differential basis between different classes and issues of stock and participation certificates corresponding to the value of such classes and issues to the capital or earnings of the Federal land bank in its district. Permits the Federal land bank associations to agree to share loan and other losses with other Farm Credit System institutions. Title II: Federal Intermediate Credit Banks and Production Credit Associations - Authorizes the Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, subject to the supervision of the Farm Credit Administration, to: (1) buy from and sell to Farm Credit System institutions interests in loans, other extended financial assistance and nonvoting stock; (2) make other investments; (3) agree to share loan and other losses with other Farm Credit System institutions; (4) participate with other Farm Credit System institutions in making loans; and (5) issue nonvoting stock to such institutions. Authorizes the Federal intermediate credit banks to discount for, or purchase from other financial institutions loans made to producers and harvesters of aquatic products. Permits any Federal intermediate credit bank to transfer more than 2.5 percent of its net earnings after expenses to its allocated reserve account (presently, not more than 25 percent of such earnings may be transferred to this account). Authorizes each production credit association, subject to the supervision of the intermediate credit bank in its district and the Farm Credit Administration, to: (1) buy from and sell to any bank in the Farm Credit System interests in loans, other financial assistance extended, and nonvoting stock; (2) participate in loans with other Farm Credit System institutions; (3) agree to share loan and other losses with other Farm Credit System Institutions; (4) issue participation certificates to eligible borrowers in lieu of nonvoting stock; and (5) issue participation certificates or nonvoting stock to any financial institution outside the Farm Credit System with which the association participates in a loan in satisfaction of the requirement that a borrower own such stock or participation certificates. Requires a borrower to own only that amount of stock or participation certificates which is proportionate to that portion of a loan retained by a production credit association when it participates with another lender in making a loan. Authorizes the production credit association to extend loan assistance to bona fide farmers, ranchers, and producers and harvesters of aquatic products for basic processing and marketing directly related to the borrower's operations. Title III: Banks and Cooperatives - Empowers each bank for cooperatives, subject to the supervision of the Farm Credit Administration, to: (1) participate with other Farm Credit System institutions in making loans; (2) deposit its securities and current funds with any domestic or foreign financial organization (presently, such deposits must be made at a member bank in the Federal Reserve System); (3) buy and sell bankers acceptances which are obligations of member banks in the Federal Reserve System; (4) buy and sell other obligations including those which arise in the course of transactions which the bank has assisted through loans; (5) buy from and sell to Farm Credit System institutions interests in loans, other financial assistance extended and nonvoting stock; (6) make other investments; (7) invest in foreign and domestic business entities to facilitate the obtaining of credit information and the performance of services related to international transactions; (8) maintain credit balances to assist in the transfer of funds between parties to authorized transactions; (9) agree to share loan and other losses with other Farm Credit System institutions; and (10) issue participation certificates to parties who may not be issued voting stock. Requires all participation certificates, voting and nonvoting stock issued by the banks for cooperatives to be retired at par value. Authorizes the banks for cooperative to: (1) offer a currency exchange for eligible cooperative associations; and (2) extend loans, loan participation commitments, and other technical and financial assistance to any domestic or foreign party in which a member cooperative has an ownership interest or which engages with the cooperative in dealings in agricultural or aquatic products, farm supplies or the lease of property, provided such assistance substantially benefits the member cooperative. Enables cooperatives solely engaged in furnishing aquatic business services to borrow from the banks for cooperatives. Reduces the degree of ownership in a cooperative which must be held by farmers, producers or harvesters of aquatic products, or other cooperative associations in order to make such a cooperative eligible to borrow from a bank for cooperatives. Requires a bank for cooperatives to retire any equity held by a borrower in default or dissolution at fair market value not to exceed the par value of the equity interest of the borrower. Prohibits the retirement or cancellation of such an equity interest if the bank's capital structure would be adversely affected. Permits each bank for cooperatives to transfer more than 25 percent of its net annual savings to a surplus account. Authorizes the banks for cooperatives to pay patronage refunds to borrowers in the form of participation certificates. Title IV: Provisions Applicable to Two or More Classes of Institutions of the System - Declares that interest rates established by the Farm Credit Administration for loans made by Farm Credit System institutions shall preempt any interest rate limitation imposed by State law. States that when two or more Farm Credit System institutions participate in a loan as authorized by this Act, the terms of such loan shall be those agreed upon by the institutions. Requires that such factors as borrower eligibility, membership, term, amount, loan security and purchase of stock or participation certificates by the borrower are to be governed by the provisions of law applicable to the institution originating the loan. Exempts credit transactions of Farm Credit System institutions from the provisions of any State statute or any other law or regulation which impose, with regard to a credit transaction, any duty or requirement which had been imposed by the Truth in Lending Act before amendment. Authorizes the institutions of the Farm Credit System to organize corporations to perform non-lending functions and services which such institutions are authorized to perform. Empowers the Governor of the Farm Credit Administration to review and revise the charters of such corporations. States that such corporations shall be subject to supervision and examination by the Administration. Title V: District and Farm Credit Administration Organization - Revises the process for the election of farm credit district directors by reducing from three to two the number of nominees in the election poll. Establishes the rate of compensation for the Federal Farm Credit Board at the daily equivalent of the rate prescribed for grade GS-18 of the General Schedule. Authorizes the Board to fix the salary of the Governor of the Farm Credit Administration at any level not exceeding the maximum rate of basic pay in the Executive Schedule. Authorizes the Governor to appoint Deputy Governors to provide assistance in the functioning of the Farm Credit Administration. Exempts the Administration from provisions of Federal law relating to appointments in the competitive civil service, travel expenses, allowances, procurement, and property disposition. Credits employees of Farm Credit System institutions with specified leave and retirement benefits when they are transferred to Federal service in the Farm Credit Administration.
United States · United States Congress · 11 July 1979
Amends the Export Administration Act of 1969 to prohibit grain exports to countries designated by the Secretary of Commerce as having exportable petroleum, except pursuant to a contract. Sets forth the provisions to be included in such contract, including a provision that any grain exported is to be exchanged for petroleum to be exported to the United States. Requires the designations of countries with exportable petroleum to be published in the Federal Register.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 1979
Amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1937 to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to issue marketing orders respecting olive development projects which provide: (1) for any form of marketing promotion including paid advertising; and (2) for crediting the pro rata expense assessment obligations of a handler with all or any portion of his direct expenditures for such promotion.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 1979
Farm Credit Act Amendments of 1979 - Title I: Federal Land Banks and Associations - Amends the Farm Credit Act of 1971 to authorize any Federal land bank, under the supervision of the Farm Credit Administration, to: (1) participate in loans with other Farm Credit System institutions (i.e., Federal land banks, Federal land bank associations, Federal intermediate credit banks, production credit associations, and banks for cooperatives); (2) participate in loans which the land banks are authorized to make with lenders which are not Farm Credit System institutions; (3) sell interests in loans to such lenders; (4) buy from and sell to Farm Credit System institutions interests in loans, other extended financial assistance, and nonvoting stock; (5) make other investments; (6) accept contributions to their capital from Federal land bank associations; (7) enter into agreements with other Farm Credit System institutions to share loan and other losses; (8) issue nonvoting stock to borrowers as a patronage refund; and (9) make or participate with other lenders in long-term real estate mortgage loans not exceeding 85 percent of the appraised value of the real estate security. Makes producers and harvesters of aquatic products eligible for Federal land bank services. Authorizes Federal land bank associations to make capital contributions to a Federal land bank. States that a member of a Federal land bank association need not make the required purchases of land stock with respect to that part of a loan derived from a lender which is not a Farm Credit System institution. Authorizes the Federal land bank associations to pay dividends on a differential basis between different classes and issues of stock and participation certificates corresponding to the value of such classes and issues to the capital or earnings of the Federal land bank in its district. Permits the Federal land bank associations to agree to share loan and other losses with other Farm Credit System institutions. Title II: Federal Intermediate Credit Banks and Production Credit Associations - Authorizes the Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, subject to the supervision of the Farm Credit Administration, to: (1) buy from and sell to Farm Credit System institutions interests in loans, other extended financial assistance and nonvoting stock; (2) make other investments; (3) agree to share loan and other losses with other Farm Credit System institutions; (4) participate with other Farm Credit System institutions in making loans; and (5) issue nonvoting stock to such institutions. Authorizes the Federal intermediate credit banks to discount for, or purchase from other financial institutions loans made to producers and harvesters of aquatic products. Permits any Federal intermediate credit bank to transfer more than 25 percent of its net earnings after expenses to its allocated reserve account (presently, not more than 25 percent of such earnings may be transferred to this account). Authorizes each production credit association, subject to the supervision of the intermediate credit bank in its district and the Farm Credit Administration, to: (1) buy from and sell to any bank in the Farm Credit System interests in loans, other financial assistance extended, and nonvoting stock; (2) participate in loans with other Farm Credit System institutions; (3) agree to share loan and other losses with other Farm Credit System Institutions; (4) issue participation certificates to eligible borrowers in lieu of nonvoting stock; and (5) issue participation certificates or nonvoting stock to any financial institution outside the Farm Credit System with which the association participates in a loan in satisfaction of the requirement that a borrower own such stock or participation certificates. Requires a borrower to own only that amount of stock or participation certificates which is proportionate to that portion of a loan retained by a production credit association when it participates with another lender in making a loan. Authorizes the production credit associations to extend loan assistance to bona fide farmers, ranchers, and producers and harvesters of aquatic products for basic processing and marketing directly related to the borrower's operations. Title III: Banks and Cooperatives - Empowers each bank for cooperatives, subject to the supervision of the Farm Credit Administration, to: (1) participate with other Farm Credit System institutions in making loans; (2) deposit its securities and current funds with any domestic or foreign financial organization (presently, such deposits must be made at a member bank in the Federal Reserve System); (3) buy and sell bankers' acceptances which are obligations of member banks in the Federal Reserve System; (4) buy and sell other obligations including those which arise in the course of transactions which the bank has assisted through loans; (5) buy from and sell to Farm Credit System institutions interests in loans, other financial assistance extended and nonvoting stock; (6) make other investments; (7) invest in foreign and domestic business entities to facilitate the obtaining of credit information and the performance of services related to international transactions; (8) maintain credit balances to assist in the transfer of funds between parties to authorized transactions; (9) agree to share loan and other losses with other Farm Credit System institutions; and (10) issue participation certificates to parties who may not be issued voting stock. Requires all participation certificates, voting and nonvoting stock issued by the banks for cooperatives to be retired at par value. Authorizes the banks for cooperatives to: (1) offer a currency exchange for eligible cooperative associations; and (2) extend loans, loan participation commitments, and other technical and financial assistance to any domestic or foreign party in which a member cooperative has an ownership interest or which engages with the cooperative in dealings in agricultural or aquatic products, farm supplies or the lease of property, provided such assistance substantially benefits the member cooperative. Enables cooperatives solely engaged in furnishing aquatic business services to borrow from the banks for cooperatives. Reduces the degree of ownership in a cooperative which must be held by farmers, producers or harvesters of aquatic products, or other cooperative associations in order to make such a cooperative eligible to borrow from a bank for cooperatives. Requires a bank for cooperatives to retire any equity held by a borrower in default or dissolution at fair market value not to exceed the par value of the equity interest of the borrower. Prohibits the retirement or cancellation of such an equity interest if the bank's capital structure would be adversely affected. Permits each bank for cooperatives to transfer more than 25 percent of its net annual savings to a surplus account. Authorizes the banks for cooperatives to pay patronage refunds to borrowers in the form of participation certificates. Title IV: Provisions Applicable to Two or More Classes of Institutions of the System - Declares that interest rates established by the Farm Credit Administration for loans made by Farm Credit System institutions shall preempt any interest rate limitation imposed by State law. States that when two or more Farm Credit System institutions participate in a loan as authorized by this Act, the terms of such loan shall be those agreed upon by the institutions. Requires that such factors as borrower eligibility, membership, term, amount, loan security and purchase of stock or participation certificates by the borrower are to be governed by the provisions of law applicable to the institution originating the loan. Exempts credit transactions of Farm Credit System institutions from the provisions of any State statute or any other law or regulation which impose, with regard to a credit transaction, any duty or requirement which had been imposed by the Truth in Lending Act before amendment. Authorizes the institutions of the Farm Credit System to organize corporations to perform non-lending functions and services which such institutions are authorized to perform. Empowers the Governor of the Farm Credit Administration to review and revise the charters of such corporations. States that such corporations shall be subject to supervision and examination by the Administration. Title V: District and Farm Credit Administration Organization - Revises the process for the election of farm credit district directors by reducing from three to two the number of nominees in the election poll. Establishes the rate of compensation for the Federal Farm Credit Board at the daily equivalent of the rate prescribed for grade GS-18 of the General Schedule. Authorizes the Board to fix the salary of the Governor of the Farm Credit Administration at any level not exceeding the maximum rate of basic pay in the Executive Schedule. Authorizes the Governor to appoint Deputy Governors to provide assistance in the functioning of the Farm Credit Administration. Exempts the Administration from provisions of Federal law relating to appointments in the competitive civil service, travel expenses, allowances, procurement, and property disposition. Credits employees of Farm Credit System institutions with specified leave and retirement benefits when they are transferred to Federal service in the Farm Credit Administration.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 1979
Uniform Consumer Dairy Sanitation Act of 1979 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to promulgate standards of quality for foreign dairy products which are to be marketed in the United States. Prohibits the entry of foreign dairy products into the United States unless such product has been inspected and found to be wholesome and pure. Directs the Secretary to provide for the inspection of all lots of foreign dairy products at points of entry. Directs the Department to quarantine products which do not meet the standards of quality promulgated under this Act and to destroy such products if they are not claimed by the exporter within 30 days. States that such quarantine and disposal costs shall be borne by the exporter. Requires that foreign milk processing plants which export dairy products into the United States meet the same general grading and inspection standards required of domestic producers. Directs the Secretary to promulgate standards of quality for the production, preservation, storage, transportation, and handling of milk used in manufacturing a foreign dairy product to be exported to the United States. Requires such standards to reflect the minimum level of quality required by the individual States in regulation of the handling of milk used in manufacturing dairy products. Specifies health and sanitation standards which foreign producers and handlers of milk must meet. Directs the Secretary to establish a licensing and overseas inspection program to carry out the provisions of this Act. States that an onsite inspection of a foreign dairy farm shall be made only if a serious violation of sanitation standards is suspected and only with the permission of the dairy farmer, the milk processing plant, and the foreign government. Denies a license to export dairy products into the United States if such permission to inspect is refused. Authorizes appropriations in such amounts as are necessary to carry out the administration and supervision requirements of this Act during the first fiscal year in which any provision of this Act is operative. Authorizes the Secretary to prescribe assessments, collect fees, and solicit contributions to cover the cost of inspection services under this Act. States that the remaining costs of administering the requirements of this Act shall be borne by the United States. Establishes criminal penalties for violations of the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1979
Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to lease real property, including building space, for periods of up to five years. Stipulates that space requirements in Washington, D.C., and requirements of more than 5,000 square feet in Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas should be obtained through the General Services Administration.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 1979
National Aquaculture Organic Act of 1979 - Establishes a National Aquaculture Council consisting of the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, and the Interior, or the designee of any such Secretary. Directs the Council to: (1) establish and maintain an information service for the collection, analysis, and dissemination of scientific, technical, legal, and economic information relating to aquaculture; (2) conduct surveys, in coordination with other Federal departments and agencies, of public and private aquacultural activities; (3) arrange with foreign nations for the exchange of information relating to aquaculture; (4) conduct a continuing study to determine whether existing capture fisheries could be adversely affected by competition from products produced by commercial aquacultural enterprises; and (5) report such findings to Congress. Requires the Council to prepare and submit to Congress a biennial report on the status of aquaculture in the United States. Directs the Council to establish a National Aquaculture Development Plan. Requires that such plan identify each aquatic species which can be cultured on a commercial or other basis, and contain a program of aquaculture development for such species. Stipulates that each such program shall be implemented either individually, jointly, or collectively by the Secretaries of Commerce, Agriculture and the Interior according to responsibilities vested in the respective Secretaries by law, or on the basis of departmental expertise and resources. Directs the Council, and any Federal or State agency which has significant functions which relate to aquaculture, to make annual reviews of: (1) each aquatic species not identified as a priority aquatic species; and (2) the success of aquaculture development programs. Requires the Council to revise and amend the plan as necessary. Directs the Council to make a continuing assessment of aquaculture in the United States and to complete an initial assessment within six months after the enactment this Act. Requires the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of the Interior, or the Secretary of Agriculture, in implementing the aquaculture development programs, to: (1) provide advisory, educational, or technical assistance to interested persons; (2) consult and cooperate with persons, agencies, and regional commissions; (3) encourage the implementation of aquacultural technology; (4) prescribe such regulations as necessary to carry out such a program; and (5) produce and sell, at cost, seed stock for the priority aquatic species when privately produced seed stock is unavailable, unreliable, or not sufficient to meet production. Establishes the Interagency Committee on Aquaculture to insure that there is a continuing exchange of information relating to the aquaculture programs and projects of the various agencies and to review on a continuing basis the relevant programs and projects of all Federal agencies. Authorizes the Secretaries of Commerce, Agriculture, and the Interior, according to their powers under this Act, to carry out their functions through grants or contracts. Limits the amount of any such grant to one-half of the estimated cost of the project. Allows the Secretaries of Commerce, Agriculture, and the Interior to provide financial assistance for aquacultural demonstration projects in the form of grants in an amount not to exceed 50 percent of the estimated cost. Authorizes the Secretaries of Commerce and Agriculture to guarantee obligations issued for the financing of any aquaculture facility within the United States. Stipulates that the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all such guaranteed obligations shall not exceed $100,000,000. Authorizes the Secretary to collect a fee for guaranteed obligations not to exceed one-half of one percent per annum of the outstanding principal balance of the obligation. Sets forth the allowable interest rate, maturity date, and default procedures relating to such loans. Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce or the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a program to provide essential stock or liability insurance to owners of aquaculture facilities at reasonable rates upon a determination that the issuance of such insurance is necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act. Establishes a Federal Aquaculture Assistance Fund to enable the Secretaries of Commerce and Agriculture to guarantee obligations, make disaster loans, and implement the insurance program established under this Act. Authorizes the Secretaries of Commerce and Agriculture to issue notes or obligations to the Secretary of the Treasury if the monies in the loan fund are insufficient to pay such a loan in the event of default.
United States · United States Congress · 25 June 1979
Uniform Consumer Dairy Sanitation Act of 1979 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to promulgate standards of quality for foreign dairy products which are to be marketed in the United States. Prohibits the entry of foreign dairy products into the United States unless such product has been inspected and found to be wholesome and pure. Directs the Secretary to provide for the inspection of all lots of foreign dairy products at points of entry. Directs the Department to quarantine products which do not meet the standards of quality promulgated under this Act and to destroy such products if they are not claimed by the exporter within 30 days. States that such quarantine and disposal costs shall be borne by the exporter. Requires that foreign milk processing plants which export dairy products into the United States meet the same general grading and inspection standards required of domestic producers. Directs the Secretary to promulgate standards of quality for the production, preservation, storage, transportation, and handling of milk used in manufacturing a foreign dairy product to be exported to the United States. Requires such standards to reflect the minimum level of quality required by the individual States in regulation of the handling of milk used in manufacturing dairy products. Specifies health and sanitation standards which foreign producers and handlers of milk must meet. Directs the Secretary to establish a licensing and overseas inspection program to carry out the provisions of this Act. States that an onsite inspection of a foreign dairy farm shall be made only if a serious violation of sanitation standards is suspected and only with the permission of the dairy farmer, the milk processing plant, and the foreign government. Denies a license to export dairy products into the United States if such permission to inspect is refused. Authorizes appropriations in such amounts as are necessary to carry out the administration and supervision requirements of this Act during the first fiscal year in which any provision of this Act is operative. Authorizes the Secretary to prescribe assessments, collect fees, and solicit contributions to cover the cost of inspection services under this Act. States that the remaining costs of administering the requirements of this Act shall be borne by the United States. Establishes criminal penalties for violations of the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 1979
Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to restrict the use of the term "buffalo" on labeling and advertising to products consisting entirely of the meat or other portion of the carcass of an American bison. Requires any product consisting in whole or in part of the meat or other portion of the carcass of a water buffalo to state that fact, using the term "water buffalo", on its labeling and advertising.
United States · United States Congress · 15 June 1979
Food Security Act of 1979 - Declares it to be the policy of the United States to develop a wheat reserve solely to provide for emergency food needs in developing countries. Directs the President to establish a reserve stock of wheat of up to 4,000,000 metric tons. Authorizes the President to release such stocks on a donation or sale basis to provide emergency food assistance to developing countries at any time that domestic supply of wheat in the United States is so limited that quantities cannot be made available except for urgent humanitarian purposes. Authorizes the release of up to 300,000 tons of wheat in any fiscal year for urgent humanitarian relief in a developing country (or countries) suffering a major disaster. Exempts such reserve stocks from limitations which may be imposed under the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 and the Export Administration Act of 1969.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 1979
Elderly and Disabled Food Stamp Amendments of 1979 - Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to allow for households containing a member who is 60 years of age or over or who receives supplemental security benefits under title XVI of the Social Security Act: (1) an excess medical deduction for that portion of the actual cost of allowable medical, dental, and other specified health care costs in excess of $35 a month, adjustable semi-annually to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index; (2) an additional dependent care deduction; and (3) an additional excess shelter expense deduction, without the $75 ceiling.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 1979
Authorizes and requests the President to designate September 23, 1979, as "National Farmers' Day."
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 1979
Food Stamp Reform Act of 1979 - Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to create a liability to the United States in any individual receiving food coupons during any year whose adjusted gross income for such year exceeds the exempt amount, that is, an amount equal to twice the nonfarm income poverty guidelines for a household consisting of such individual, his spouse, and any dependent for whom he may claim a federal income tax deduction. Sets the amount of such liability at the lesser of: (1) the value of the coupons received by such individual during the year; or (2) the excess of the adjusted gross income over the exempt amount. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to collect such liability as though it were a tax unless the time for payment is extended for reasons of undue hardship or until such individual leaves the household, if he is not the person maintaining it. Treats the individual maintaining the household as receiving all of the coupons received by such household. Treats both spouses as one individual. Directs the Secretary to establish within the Internal Revenue Service an organizational unit to collect such liability payments and any other specified amount certified or payable under any statute of the United States for collection as if it were a tax under the Internal Revenue Code.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1979
Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to increase the authorized appropriations for the food stamp program for fiscal year 1979 from $6,158,900,00 to $6,778,900,000.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1979
Food Stamp Act Amendments of 1979 - Title I: Reduction in Food Stamp Error and Fraud - Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to direct participating State agencies to elect and utilize, in calculating income for most households applying for food stamps, either of the following two methods: (1) taking into account the income reasonably anticipated to be received in the certification period and the income received during the 30 days preceding application, so as to ascertain the income actually available to the household for the certification period; or (2) using income received in a previous month as the basis in accordance with standards prescribed by the Secretary of Agriculture (retrospective accounting). Prescribes general standards for State periodic household income reporting requirements. Directs the Secretary to institute an error liability program under which each State agency shall pay to the Secretary the amount by which the dollar equivalent of the agency's payment error rate exceeds the dollar value equivalent of the national standard payment error rate, or an amount determined by a specified formula, whichever is higher. Directs the Secretary to establish a national payment error rate by October 1, 1984. Requires the Secretary to change the method of calculating each State agency's payment error rate if, after study, the Secretary determines that it is feasible to include in such calculation invalid decisions denying eligibility to households which are in fact eligible. Requires any person disqualified from the food stamp program for fraudulent conduct, as a condition of readmittance, to agree either to a reduction in household allotment or to repayment in cash in order to reimburse the Federal Government for the value of the coupons obtained through the fraudulent conduct which resulted in such disqualification. Authorizes the Secretary and State agencies to require, obtain, and use social security numbers assigned to household members applying for or participating in the food stamp program. Permits each State to retain 50 percent of the value of all funds or allotments recovered or collected by it pursuant to prosecutions and other State activities directed at allotments obtained as a result of fraud. Prohibits officials charged with making determinations of fraud from receiving or benefiting from such revenues. Sets the certification period for households required to submit periodic income reports at not less than six nor more than 12 months. States that the Consumer Price Index referred to in the computation of household income is the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers. Title II: Food Stamp Funding - Removes the ceiling on appropriations authorized for the food stamp program for fiscal years 1979, 1980, and 1981.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 1979
Title I: Agricultural Programs - Makes appropriations for fiscal year 1980 for specified offices, corporations, and agricultural programs of the Department of Agriculture. Title II: Rural Development Programs - Makes appropriations for fiscal year 1980 for specified rural development programs of the Department of Agriculture. Title III: Domestic Food Programs - Makes appropriations for fiscal year 1980 for the Food and Nutrition Service, the food stamp program, and other domestic food programs of the Department of Agriculture. Title IV: International Programs - Makes appropriations for fiscal year 1980 for Food for Peace and other specified international programs of the Department of Agriculture. Title V: Related Agencies - Makes appropriations for fiscal year 1980 for the Food and Drug Administration, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and the Farm Credit Administration. Title VI: General Provisions - Specifies miscellaneous requirements regarding the use of funds appropriated by this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 6 June 1979
Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to exclude from the calculation of household income for any household in which an individual is receiving aid payments to families with dependent children (under a State plan approved under title IV of the Social Security Act) all educational loans on which payment is deferred, grants, scholarships, fellowships, veterans' educational benefits, and the like received by such individual for purposes of pursuing an education at an institution of higher education or school for the handicapped.
United States · United States Congress · 6 June 1979
Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a program to develop improved methods for using organic wastes in agriculture. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to, or to contract with, State and local governments and private organizations to conduct specified studies under such program.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1979
Food Security Act of 1979 - Declares it to be the policy of the United States to develop a wheat reserve solely to provide for emergency food needs in developing countries. Directs the President to establish a reserve stock of wheat of up to 4,000,000 metric tons. Authorizes the President to release such stocks on a donation or sale basis to provide emergency food assistance to developing countries at any time that the domestic supply of wheat in the United States is so limited that quantities cannot be made available except for urgent humanitarian purposes. Authorizes the release of up to 300,000 tons of wheat in any fiscal year for urgent humanitarian relief in a developing country (or countries) suffering a major disaster. Exempts such reserve stocks from limitations which may be imposed under the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 and the Export Administration Act of 1969.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1979
Authorizes the President to implement the International Sugar Agreement, 1977, by: (1) regulating the entry of sugar from any country not a member of the International Sugar Organization; and (2) requiring records and reports concerning the entry of sugar. Establishes criminal penalties for violating such regulations. Requires the President to submit to Congress an annual report on the Agreement.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1979
Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to remove the $75 limit on the excess shelter expense deduction in the computation of household income for households composed entirely of persons who are age 60 or older, or who receive supplemental security income benefits under title XVI of the Social Security Act. Entitles such households to a medical expense deduction to the extent that the monthly amount expended by any such household for medical or dental care exceeds the amount of the standard deduction in effect.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1979
Food Stamp Act Amendments of 1979 - Title I: Reduction in Food Stamp Error and Fraud - Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to direct participating State agencies to elect and utilize, in calculating income for most households applying for food stamps, either of the following two methods: (1) taking into account the income reasonably anticipated to be received in the certification period and the income received during the 30 days preceding application, so as to ascertain the income actually available to the household for the certification period; or (2) using income received in a previous month as the basis in accordance with standards prescribed by the Secretary of Agriculture (retrospective accounting). Prescribes general standards for State periodic household income reporting requirements. Directs the Secretary to institute an error liability program under which each State agency shall pay to the Secretary the amount by which the dollar equivalent of the agency's payment error rate exceeds the dollar value equivalent of the national standard payment error rate, or an amount determined by a specified formula, whichever is higher. Requires the Secretary to change the method of calculating each State agency's payment error rate if, after study, the Secretary determines that it is feasible to include in such calculation invalid decisions denying eligibility to households which are in fact eligible. Requires any person disqualified from the food stamp program for fraudulent conduct, as a condition of readmittance, to agree either to a reduction in household allotment or to repayment in cash in order to reimburse the Federal Government for the value of the coupons obtained through the fraudulent conduct which resulted in such disqualification. Authorizes the Secretary and State agencies to require, obtain, and use social security numbers assigned to household members applying for or participating in the food stamp program. Requires the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to disclose to the Secretary and such agencies specified information about employment earnings and benefit payments contained in Social Security Administration records, and also any tax return information previously disclosed to him from the master files of the Internal Revenue Service, which is necessary for determining or auditing a household's eligibility. Requires similar disclosures regarding unemployment compensation and any refused offers of employment from State unemployment compensation agencies. Permits each State to retain 50 percent of the value of all funds or allotments recovered or collected by it pursuant to prosecutions and other State activities directed at allotments obtained as a result of fraud. Prohibits officials charged with making determinations of fraud from receiving or benefiting from such revenues. Sets the certification period for households required to submit periodic income reports at not less than six nor more than 12 months. States that the Consumer Price Index referred to in the computation of household income is the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers. Title II: Food Stamp Funding - Increases from $6,158,900,000 to $6,808,900,000 the ceiling on appropriations authorized for the food stamp program for fiscal year 1979, and removes the ceilings for fiscal years 1980 and 1981.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1979
Amends the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act to extend for ten years, until December 31, 1991, the period during which the Secretary of Agriculture may enter into contracts under the Great Plains conservation program. Increases the ceiling: (1) on the authorization for the entire Great Plains program from $300,000,000 to $500,000,000; and (2) on the authorization for annual program payments from $25,000,000 to $50,000,000.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 1979
Designates the year 1979 as the "Food for Peace Year" to celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the enactment of the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954.
United States · United States Congress · 31 May 1979
Prohibits the delivery of water from any Federal reclamation project within ten years of its completion to irrigate any basic agricultural commodity in excess supply, if such project is less than ten percent complete as of September 30, 1979. States that such prohibition shall not apply if the Secretary of Agriculture calls for increased production of such a commodity in the interest of national security.
United States · United States Congress · 30 May 1979
Amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act, as reenacted and amended by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, to subject imported papayas to the same regulation as to grade, size, quality, or maturity as domestically produced papayas, whenever domestic papayas are made subject to a marketing order regulating such items.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 1979
Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977, with respect to households composed entirely of persons who are 60 years of age or older or who receive supplemental security income benefits under title XVI of the Social Security Act (or who receive aid or assistance under a State plan approved under title I, X, XIV, or XVI of such Act), to entitle such households to a medical expense deduction equal to the amount by which monthly medical or dental care expenses exceeds the amount of the standard deduction (but not to exceed an increment of $100).
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 1979
Agricultural Land Protection Act - Title I: Federal Agency Compliance - Requires the interpretation and administration of the policies, regulations, and public laws of the United States in accordance with a recognition of the rights and responsibilities of private landholders in making land use decisions, and the rights and responsibilities of State and local governments in developing public policies regarding non-Federal land use. Directs Federal agencies to consider the retention of agricultural land for agricultural purposes when they make decisions which impact directly or indirectly on private and State and local government public land, as well as on Federal land. Requires all such Federal agencies to review their administrative procedures, especially those regarding land acquisition and management, in order to bring them into conformity with the policies and purposes of this Title. Title II: Study of Protection of Agricultural Land - Amends the Rural Development Act of 1972 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture in coordination and cooperation with colleges and universities to conduct a study of: (1) agricultural land in the United States; (2) the effects of industrial development, climate and other factors on the productivity of such land; (3) the effects of Federal, State, and local government policies, laws, and regulations on the use of such land; (4) the acquisition of such land by persons not engaged in agricultural activities; (5) methods of protecting and improving such land, and of reducing the amount of it being converted to nonagricultural uses; and (6) ways of reaffirming and protecting the principles of individual property ownership and property rights in agricultural land in the policies, programs, and actions of governments at all levels. Requires a preliminary report within two years after enactment, and a final report to the President and Congress within four years after the preliminary report. Authorizes the Secretary to establish an Agricultural Land Protection Advisory Committee to consult with him concerning such study. Requires the study to emphasize the analysis of already existing data. Requires that any agricultural land protection technical assistance to the States consist of services other than direct financial assistance. Establishes an Agricultural Land Protection Information Clearinghouse Network. Title III: Technical Assistance Program - Directs the Secretary, acting through the Soil Conservation Service, to provide States and local governments with technical assistance concerning methods of protecting agricultural land and reducing the quantity of such land being converted from agricultural to nonagricultural uses. Title IV: General Provisions - Defines terms used in this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 1979
Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949, effective only for the 1979 through 1981 crops of feed grains, to require the Secretary of Agriculture, whenever there is a loan program for corn and grain sorghums, to carry out a comparable loan program for high moisture corn and grain sorghums. Stipulates that, during any such loan program, suitable high moisture storage facilities for corn or grain sorghums shall include, but not be limited to, conventional or oxygen-limiting tower silos, or, in the case of acid-treated corn or grain sorghums, conventional tower or bunker silos.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 1979
Amends the Agricultural Act of 1949 to establish the crop production loan level for the 1980 and 1981 crops of upland cotton at not less than the loan level established for the 1979 crop. Specifies formulas for the determination of prevented planting payments for cotton and feed grains where it is determined that planting of an acreage of either cotton or feed grains was prevented and that a nonconserving crop was planted on such acreage. Prohibits more than one disaster payment on the same acreage in the same year. Makes eligible for 1978 crop disaster payments certain cotton producers who were otherwise eligible for such payments, but who were deemed ineligible for failure to comply with the set-aside requirement of the 1978 crop feed grain program. Conditions such special eligibility on a determination that any such producer planted his 1978 crop of feed grains prior to the official announcement of the 1978 set-aside requirement and notice that eligibility for 1978 crop cotton payments and loans would be conditioned on compliance with such set-aside requirement. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to make available a voluntary diversion program for the 1979 crop of upland cotton of payments for the reduction of cotton acreage by not less than ten percent nor more than 20 percent of the 1979 cotton acreage considered planted on the farm (excluding any acreage on which another nonconserving crop is planted).
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 1979
Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977, with regard to certain deductions from household income for a household composed entirely of persons age 60 or over or a household which includes one or more persons entitled to benefits under the supplemental security income program under title XVI of the Social Security Act, in order to provide for: (1) an alternative standard deduction of $45 a month plus an amount equal to a household's average monthly expenditures for medical and dental services, including prescription drugs; and (2) an increase in the maximum excess shelter deduction by an amount equal to its average monthly expenditures for household fuel and utilities.