Agriculture

California Wild Heritage Act of 2006

United States · United States Congress · 16 March 2006

California Wild Heritage Act of 2006 - Designates specified national forest and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) public land and specified federally-owned rocks, islets, and islands that are off the coast of the King Range National Conservation Area in California as wilderness and components of the National Wilderness Preservation System (System). Requires such areas to be administered by the Secretary of the Interior or Agriculture, whichever has current administrative jurisdiction over each area. Designates specified California public land as: (1) salmon restoration areas; (2) wilderness study areas; and (3) potential wilderness areas. Releases specified wilderness study areas from further study for designation as wilderness. Includes land identified as the King Range Conservation Area Additions within the survey and investigation area pertaining to such Area. Designates specified California national park lands as wilderness areas and components of the System, requiring such lands to be managed by the National Park Service. Designates specified California rivers as wild and scenic rivers. Requires the review of one additional California river to determine its suitability as a wild, scenic, or recreational river. Establishes the Sacramento River National Recreation Area. Permits the Secretary concerned to acquire land or interests within the boundaries of the Area. Requires the development of a comprehensive plan for the long-range protection and management of such Area. Establishes the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest for public enjoyment and scientific study. Requires the development of a comprehensive management plan for such Forest.

Nanoscience to Commercialization Institutes Act of 2006

United States · United States Congress · 16 March 2006

Nanoscience to Commercialization Institutes Act of 2006 - Authorizes the Under Secretary of Technology of the Department of Commerce to award grants to eligible entities to establish up to eight Nanoscience to Commercialization Institutes throughout the United States to assist in the commercialization of nanotechnology. Instructs the Under Secretary to ensure that each Institute is located at either a public university or federal laboratory. Requires grants awarded pursuant to this Act to be used to establish at least one Institute in each of the following areas of nanotechology or microtechnology: (1) energy; (2) printable electronics; (3) medical; (4) transportation; (5) textiles; and (6) agriculture. Specifies matching requirements for for-profit manufacturing companies conducting research and development in micro- and nanotechnologies. Makes any institution of higher education that has a federally funded nanotechnology center or that is the primary lead of a nanotechnology center not eligible for a grant under this Act. Directs the Under Secretary to establish a peer review committee to review the goals and progress made by each Institute. Requires each grant recipient to submit a report to such committee describing its Institute's accomplishments and goals as a condition of continued grant funding.

California Wild Heritage Act of 2006

United States · United States Congress · 16 March 2006

California Wild Heritage Act of 2006 - Designates specified national forest and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) public land and specified federally-owned rocks, islets, and islands that are off the coast of the King Range National Conservation Area in California as wilderness and components of the National Wilderness Preservation System (System). Requires such areas to be administered by the Secretary of the Interior or Agriculture, whichever has current administrative jurisdiction over each area. Designates specified California public land as: (1) salmon restoration areas; (2) wilderness study areas; and (3) potential wilderness areas. Releases specified wilderness study areas from further study for designation as wilderness. Includes land identified as the King Range Conservation Area Additions within the survey and investigation area pertaining to such Area. Designates specified California national park lands as wilderness areas and components of the System, requiring such lands to be managed by the National Park Service. Designates specified California rivers as wild and scenic rivers. Requires the review of one additional California river to determine its suitability as a wild, scenic, or recreational river. Establishes the Sacramento River National Recreation Area. Permits the Secretary concerned to acquire land or interests within the boundaries of the Area. Requires the development of a comprehensive plan for the long-range protection and management of such Area. Establishes the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest for public enjoyment and scientific study. Requires the development of a comprehensive management plan for such Forest.

Backcountry Landing Strip Access Act

United States · United States Congress · 15 March 2006

Backcountry Landing Strip Access Act - Prohibits the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture from taking any action that would permanently close, restrict, render or declare as unserviceable any aircraft landing strip located on federal land under their respective jurisdiction, unless: (1) the head of the aviation department of each state in which the aircraft landing strip is located approves the action; (2) notice of the proposed action has been published in the Federal Register; (3) a public comment period on the action has been provided; and (4) the relevant Secretary and the head of the aviation department of each state in which the affected aircraft landing strip is located have taken into consideration any comments received during the comment period. Directs the Secretaries to: (1) adopt a nationwide policy for governing backcountry aviation issues related to the management of federal land under their jurisdiction; and (2) require regional managers to adhere to it. Declares that a policy affecting air access to an aircraft landing strip located on federal land will not take effect unless certain conditions are met.

AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2007

United States · United States Senate · 14 March 2006

Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Hurricane Recovery, 2006

United States · United States Congress · 13 March 2006

Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Hurricane Recovery, 2006 - Makes emergency supplemental appropriations for FY2006 for the global war on terror to the Department of Agriculture (DOA) in connection with Foreign Agricultural Service grants. Makes emergency supplemental appropriations to the Department of Defense (DOD) for: (1) military personnel; (2) operation and maintenance (O&M); (3) the Afghanistan Security Forces Fund; (4) the Iraq Security Forces Fund; (5) procurement; (6) research, development, test, and evaluation; (7) Defense Working Capital Funds; (8) the Defense Health Program; (9) drug interdiction and counter-drug activities related to Afghanistan and Central Asia; (10) the Office of the Inspector General; and (11) the Intelligence Community Management Account. Allows DOD funds to be used for support for counter-drug activities of the Governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Makes emergency supplemental appropriations for: (1) the United States Agency for International Development (USAID); (2) the Economic Support Fund; (3) the Democracy Fund; (4) international narcotics control and law enforcement; (5) migration and refugee assistance; (6) international affairs technical assistance; and (7) peacekeeping operations. Makes emergency supplemental appropriations for: (1) the U.S. Coast Guard; (2) military construction; (3) salaries and expenses of U.S. attorneys, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; (4) diplomatic and consular programs; (5) the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction; (6) educational and cultural exchange programs; (7) contributions to international peacekeeping activities; (8) international broadcasting operations and capital improvements; and (9) salaries and expenses of the Department of the Treasury. Makes emergency supplemental appropriations for further hurricane disaster relief and recovery for: (1) DOA for the Working Capital Fund, the Agricultural Research Service, and emergency watershed protection program; (2) DOD for military personnel, O&M, procurement, Defense Working Capital Funds and the National Defense Sealift Fund, commissary trust funds, and the Defense Health Program; (3) the Army Corps of Engineers for construction, flood control, and coastal emergencies; (4) the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for the Office of Inspector General, customs and border protection, and construction; (5) the U.S. Coast Guard for operating expenses and acquisition, construction, and improvements; (6) the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for administrative and regional operations, preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery, disaster relief, and the Disaster Assistance Direct Loan Program; (7) the Department of the Interior for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey, and Minerals Management Service; (8) the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for environmental programs and management and the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Program; (9) DOA for the National Forest System; (10) DOD for military construction; (11) the Department of Veterans Affairs for construction, major projects; (12) the Department of Justice (DOJ) for salaries and expenses; (13) the Department of Commerce (DOC) for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; (14) the Small Business Administration (SBA) for the Disaster Loans Program; (15) the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the community development fund; and (16) the General Services Administration (GSA) for the Federal Buildings Fund.

REVIEW THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE'S MANAGEMENT AND OVERSIGHT OF THE PACKERS AND STOCKYARDS ACT

United States · United States Senate · 9 March 2006

AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2007

United States · United States Senate · 9 March 2006

Electing a certain Member to a certain standing committee of the House of Representatives.

United States · United States Congress · 9 March 2006

Elects a majority Member to the House Committee on Agriculture.

To amend the provision regarding the emergency watershed protection program in the Department of Defense, Emergency Supplemental Appropriations to Address Hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico, and Pandemic Influenza Act, 2006, to restore the discretion of the Secretary of Agriculture to waive or reduce the non-Federal cost share requirements of the program.

United States · United States Congress · 7 March 2006

Amends the Department of Defense, Emergency Supplemental Appropriations to Address Hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico, and Pandemic Influenza Act, 2006 to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to waive or reduce the emergency watershed protection program non-federal cost share requirement if the Secretary determines that immediate action is or was required for environmental or safety concerns and the local partner cannot or could not financially participate.

Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program Act of 2006

United States · United States Congress · 7 March 2006

Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program Act of 2006 - Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, as amended by the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, to increase and extend through FY2011 Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) funding authority for renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements for farmers, ranchers, and rural small businesses.

Rocky Mountain FIRES Act

United States · United States Congress · 2 March 2006

Rocky Mountain Forest Insects Response Enhancement and Support Act or the Rocky Mountain FIRES Act - Amends the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 to require the Secretary of Agriculture or the Secretary of the Interior (the Secretary) to allocate not less than 70% of the funds allocated for authorized hazardous fuel reduction projects in the Rocky Mountain region for: (1) projects in the wildland-urban interface; and (2) lands that are in proximity to a municipal water supply system or a stream feeding such a system within a municipal watershed and that have been identified for such projects in community wildfire protection plans. Authorizes the Secretary to designate insect-emergency areas. Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to make grants to at-risk communities in the Rocky Mountain region to assist such communities to prepare or revise a community wildfire protection plan. Requires the Secretary to establish at least one collection point for the placement of vegetative material removed from federal or other lands as part of hazardous fuel reduction projects. Authorizes the Secretary to award stewardship contracts to, or enter in agreements with, owners of lands contiguous to federal lands managed by the Secretary under which the landowners may carry out a fuel-reduction project or other activities on the contiguous federal lands in order to reduce the extent to which the federal lands or other lands could be affected by wildfires.

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Congress should enact legislation to provide direct emergency assistance to American farmers who were adversely affected by natural disasters and unforeseen production costs during the 2005 crop year.

United States · United States Congress · 2 March 2006

Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that Congress should enact legislation to assist American farmers adversely affected by natural disasters and unforeseen production costs during the 2005 crop year and that such legislation should give farmers a choice of a supplemental direct payment or yield-loss disaster payments.

Linda Avery Strachan, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Agriculture, vice Mary Kirtley Waters.

United States · United States Senate · 17 February 2006

Competitive and Fair Agricultural Markets Act of 2006

United States · United States Congress · 16 February 2006

Competitive and Fair Agricultural Markets Act of 2006 - Amends the Agricultural Fair Practices Act of 1967 to define specified terms. Establishes within the Department of Agriculture the Office of Special Counsel for Competition Matters, which shall be headed by a Special Counsel for Competition Matters. States that the Office shall: (1) investigate and prosecute violations of this Act, the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921, and any other Act that the Secretary of Agriculture determines appropriate; (2) serve as a liaison between the Department and the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) with respect to competition and trade practices in the food and agricultural sector; and (3) maintain a staff of attorneys and other appropriate professionals. Requires a dealer, handler, contractor, processor, or commission merchant with annual sales in excess of $100 million to file an annual corporate structure report with the Secretary. Prohibits unfair or deceptive acts or practices: (1) in agricultural commerce; (2) concerning producer associations; and (3) in agricultural contracts. Sets forth agricultural and production contract and enforcement provisions. Amends the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 to eliminate the "slaughter" requirement from the definitions of "poultry grower," "poultry growing arrangement," and "live poultry dealer." Extends: (1) administrative enforcement authority to live poultry dealers; and (2) temporary injunction or restraining order authority to instances of poultry care. States that: (1) it shall be an unlawful practice to engage in an unfair or discriminatory practice or device regardless of whether the practice or device causes a competitive injury or otherwise adversely effects competition; and (2) a person affected by specified unfair practices shall not be required to prove predatory intent, competitive injury, or likelihood of injury.

To extend all of the authorizations of appropriations and direct spending programs of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 until after implementing legislation for the Doha Development Round of World Trade Organization negotiations is enacted into law, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 16 February 2006

Extends, with specified exceptions, commodity programs, other direct spending programs, and authorizations of appropriations under the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 until implementing legislation for the Doha Development Round of World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations is enacted into law.

To amend the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921, to make it unlawful for a packer to own, feed, or control livestock intended for slaughter.

United States · United States Congress · 8 February 2006

Amends the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921 to prohibit livestock packers from owning, controlling, or feeding livestock to such an extent that the producer no longer materially participates in the management of the operation, with exceptions for: (1) animals held for not more than seven days before slaughter; (2) certain cooperatives that own, control or feed livestock and provide such livestock for slaughter; (3) packers that are not required to report price and quantity information on each reporting day; or (4) packers that own one livestock processing plant.

Truth in Quality Grading Act of 2005

United States · United States Congress · 1 February 2006

Truth in Quality Grading Act of 2005 - Amends the Federal Meat Inspection Act to define "beef," "lamb," "imported beef," "imported lamb," "United States beef," and "United States lamb." (Excludes from inclusion as "United States beef" or "United States lamb" beef or lamb produced from imported animals.) Deems misbranded imported beef or imported lamb that bears a label indicating a quality grade issued by the Secretary of Agriculture (thereby prohibiting the use of such labels on such imported products).

Boyd Kevin Rutherford, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Secretary of Agriculture, vice Michael J. Harrison, resigned.

United States · United States Senate · 27 January 2006

Gale A. Buchanan, of Georgia, to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Research, Education, and Economics, vice Joseph J. Jen, resigned.

United States · United States Senate · 18 January 2006