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201 records in US in 2007
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 2007
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a five-year depreciation recovery period for certain farming business machinery or equipment placed in service before January 1, 2010.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 2007
DSHEA Full Implementation and Enforcement Act of 2007 - Authorizes and makes appropriations to: (1) carry out the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA) and all applicable regulatory requirements for dietary supplements under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; and (2) expand research and development of consumer information on dietary supplements by the Office of Dietary Supplements at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Requires the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to fully and appropriately use such funds to regulate dietary supplements. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to report to Congress on the implementation and enforcement of DSHEA.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 2007
Food and Agriculture Risk Management for the 21st Century Act of 2007 or FARM 21 Act of 2007 - Prohibits, after 2007, any direct, counter-cyclical or transition payment to an individual or entity whose adjusted gross income exceeds $200,000. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to offer to enter into a risk management account with a qualifying farm or ranch operator. Extends direct payments and reduces payment amounts. Requires specified payment percentages, and 100% for FY2012, to be deposited into a risk management account. Links such payments to environmental stewardship. Extends counter-cyclical payments. Repeals: (1) the milk price support program; (2) specified commodity support programs; and (3) the sugar tariff quota. Directs the Secretary to establish a recourse loan program for all commodities, including sugar, for which marketing loans were available. Reduces the crop insurance administrative and operating reimbursement rate. Extends: (1) the environmental quality incentives program; (2) the conservation innovation grants program; (3) the wetlands reserve program; (4) the grasslands reserve program; (5) the wildlife habitat incentives program; (6) the farm and ranchland protection program; and (7) the healthy forests reserve program. Extends: (1) the fruit and vegetables in school program; (2) the farm to school program; and (3) the farmers market promotion program. Directs the Secretary to assist eligible trade organizations increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables in the United States to meet federal health guidelines. Extends the McGovern-Dole international food for education and child nutrition program. Extends: (1) the biorefinery grant and loan program; (2) the renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements program; and (3) the biomass research and development program. Sets forth specified rural development project eligibility criteria. Extends: (1) the value-added producer grant program; (2) the rural broadband access program; (3) the rural business opportunity grant program; and (4) the farmworker training grant program. Directs the Secretary to establish a rural entrepreneurship and microenterprise program to provide low- and moderate-income individuals with skills and technical and financial assistance to establish new small businesses in rural areas. Authorizes the Secretary to provide grants and carry out a rural microloan program. Directs the Secretary to use specified Commodity Credit Corporation funds for: (1) water or waste disposal grants or loans; (2) emergency community water assistance grants; (3) community facilities grants and loans that support projects that assist rural first responders; (4) broadband access loans; and (5) distance learning and telemedicine grants. Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 with respect to: (1) combat pay and retirement account exclusions; (2) standard deduction increases; (3) child care deduction limits; (4) state cost-sharing during natural disasters; (5) minimum benefits; (6) program reauthorization; (7) program administration; (8) cash payment pilot projects; (9) block grants for Puerto Rico and American Samoa; (10) the commodity distribution program; (11) outreach grants; (12) the emergency food assistance program; and (13) community food projects. Directs the Secretary to offer to enter into a contract or grant agreement with a primary nongovernmental organization to establish the National Food for the Hungry Transportation Fund to track, collect, and deliver time-sensitive food products.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2007
Prohibits the use of funds appropriated to the Department of Agriculture to approve or contract with any person or entity to approve for human consumption any cow, sheep, pig, goat, or horse, mule, or other equine that does not stand and walk unassisted at any time while the animal is alive at a slaughtering, packing, meat-canning, rendering, or similar establishment.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 2007
American Farm Improvement Act of 2007 - Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish the Farmland Stewardship Process whose purposes shall be to: (1) enable conservation programs to be responsive to local and site-specific conditions; (2) reduce administrative procedures and costs; and (3) coordinate multiple conservation programs and develop a delivery mechanism which can be applied to individual owners, operators, or producers. Sets forth program provisions. Directs the Secretary to: (1) enter into stewardship conservation agreements with owners, operators, and producers; and (2) make rural land stewardship implementation grants (from funds available for the farmland protection program). Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the Biomass Research and Development Act of 2000, the Clean Air Act, the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, and Executive Order 13134 to harmonize specified definitions, including "biomass," "renewable biomass," "cellulosic biomass," and "cellulosic feedstock." Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to authorize the Secretary to: (1) guarantee loans made by private institutions for construction of facilities to process and convert cellulosic biomass materials directly into alcohol-based fuels, bio-fuels, or other commercial products; and (2) make grants, loans, and loan guarantees to farm owners and tenants for the purchase and installation of equipment and the construction of facilities for processing animal wastes and byproducts into liquid fuel, energy, and other commercial products. Amends the Biomass Research and Development Act of 2000 to include the production of crops grown for cellulosic feedstock and biomass (energy crops) in the biomass research and development initiative.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 2007
Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008 - Makes appropriations for FY2008 for the Department of the Interior for: (1) the Bureau of Land Management (including transfer of funds); (2) the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; (3) the National Park Service (including transfers of funds); (4) U.S. Geological Survey; (5) the Minerals Management Service; (6) the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement; (7) the Bureau of Indian Affairs (including transfer of funds); (8) the Office of the Secretary; (9) departmental offices for insular affairs; (10) the Office of the Solicitor; (11) the Office of Inspector General; (12) the Office of Special Trustee for American Indians; and (13) natural resource damage assessment and restoration. Makes appropriations for FY2008 for: (1) the Environmental Protection Agency (including transfers and rescissions of funds); (2) the Department of Agriculture for the Forest Service (including transfers of funds); and (3) the Department of Health and Human Services for the Indian Health Service. Makes appropriations for FY2008 for specified related agencies, including: (1) the National Institutes of Health; (2) the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry; (3) the Executive Office of the President; (4) the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board; (5) the Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation; (6) the Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development; (7) the Smithsonian Institution; (8) the National Gallery of Art; (9) the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; (10) the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars; (11) the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities; (12) the Commission of Fine Arts; (13) the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation; (14) the National Capital Planning Commission; (15) the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum; (16) Presidio Trust; and (17) the White House Commission on the National Moment of Remembrance (including transfer of funds).
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 2007
Agricultural Producers Value-Added Investment Tax Credit Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow individuals who materially participate in a farming business and certain farmer-owned entities a business tax credit up to $30,000 for investment in qualified value-added agricultural property. Defines "qualified value-added agricultural property" as depreciable property which is used to add value to a good or product, suitable for food or nonfood use, derived in whole or in part from organic matter which is available on a renewable basis, including agricultural crops and agricultural wastes and residues, wood wastes and residues, and domesticated animal wastes. Terminates the credit after 2012.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 2007
Disabled Farmers' Market Nutrition Pilot Program of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out a farmers' market nutrition pilot program for disabled individuals in California, the Northeast, the Southeast, and the Midwest. States that the program's purposes are to: (1) provide fresh, locally grown fruits, vegetables, and herbs from farmers' markets, roadside stands, and community supported agriculture programs to low-income disabled individuals; (2) increase domestic consumption of agricultural commodities; and (3) develop new and additional farmers' markets, roadside stands, and community supported agriculture programs.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 2007
Food Employment Empowerment and Development Program Act of 2007 or the FEED Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a food employment empowerment and development program of grants to eligible public agencies and private nonprofit institutions to encourage the use of community resources to combat hunger and the root causes of hunger by creating opportunity through food recovery and job training.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 2007
Agricultural Border Safeguard Protection Act - Amends the Homeland Security Act to repeal the transfer of agricultural import and entry inspection functions from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to: (1) develop agricultural import and entry procedures for inspections, monitoring, and auditing; (2) ensure that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has an electronic system with real-time tracking capability for monitoring, tracking, and reporting inspection activities; (3) develop and maintain an integrated, real-time communication system with respect to import and entry agricultural inspections to alert state agriculture departments about significant Service findings; and (4) establish the International Trade Inspection Advisory Committee.
United States · United States Congress · 7 June 2007
Carbon-Neutral Government Act of 2007 - Requires federal agencies, annually, to inventory and report their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue guidance and provide assistance to agencies regarding such inventories. Requires the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to include in any such inventory any emission or biological sequestration of GHG associated with land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or the Forest Service. Requires the Administrator to promulgate annual reduction targets for federal government GHG emissions for FY2010-FY2050. Requires agencies to develop plans to achieve such targets. Requires the Forest Service, BLM, the National Park Service, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to identify management strategies concerning net biological sequestration and reduction of the impacts of global warming. Requires the Forest Service to study the opportunities of urban and wildland-urban interface forestry programs to enhance net biological sequestration of GHGs. Authorizes a pilot project under which agencies and legislative branch offices may purchase GHG offsets and renewable energy certificates Amends the Energy Policy Act of 1992 to prohibit agencies from acquiring light duty motor vehicles or medium duty passenger vehicles that fail to meet the numerical Greenhouse Gas Exhaust Mass Emission Requirement set out in the California Code of Regulations. Requires the Administrator to annually issue guidance identifying vehicles that satisfy such requirements. Sets forth provisions concerning the fully burdened cost of fuel and federal procurement of Energy Star products. Amends the Energy Conservation and Production Act to require the Secretary of Energy to establish federal building energy efficiency performance standards. Amends the National Energy Conservation Policy Act to require agencies, annually, to: (1) benchmark the energy efficiency performance of certain federal buildings; and (2) recommission or retrocommission 20% of such buildings annually. Requires agencies to ensure that any large capital energy investment in an existing building employs the most energy efficient designs, systems, equipment, and controls that are life-cycle cost effective. Prohibits agencies from entering into contracts to lease space in buildings that have not earned the Energy Star label or for the procurement of an alternative or synthetic fuel for specified mobility-related uses unless the associated lifecycle GHG emissions will be less than or equal to emissions from fuel from conventional petroleum sources. Limits a contract for public utilities of renewable energy to not more than 20 years.
United States · United States Congress · 6 June 2007
Amends the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to reauthorize appropriations through FY2012 to allow the Secretary of Agriculture to provide financial assistance for the construction of facilities and systems to provide telemedicine services and distance learning services in rural areas.
United States · United States Congress · 6 June 2007
Borderlands Conservation and Security Act of 2007 - Requires: (1) not later than May 30, 2008, development of a border protection strategy that supports U.S. border security needs in the manner that best protects units of the National Park System, National Forest System land, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) land, and other relevant land under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior or the Department of Agriculture; and (2) development of a border protection strategy for tribal lands along the U.S.-Mexico border. Requires provision of: (1) federal land resource training for Customs and Border Protection agents assigned to patrol protected land; and (2) cultural resource training for such agents assigned to patrol tribal lands. Requires: (1) the Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior to submit to the Secretary of Homeland Security an inventory of costs incurred related to illegal border activity and border enforcement activities, including the cost of identified items; and (2) the development of recommendations for a cost recovery mechanism related to such items. Establishes a program for: (1) providing financial assistance for projects to improve management of ecologically sensitive or listed species, improving wildlife habitat to aid in their management, and mitigating the impacts of border enforcement, human and drug smuggling, and unauthorized immigration on them; and (2) awarding grants to eligible organizations to promote conservation of such species. Establishes the Borderland Conservation Fund to carry out projects under this Act.
United States · United States House of Representatives · 5 June 2007
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 2007
Pollinator Habitat Protection Act of 2007 - Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to include pollinators and pollinator habitat protection within the conservation reserve, conservation security, and environmental quality incentives programs.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 2007
Rural America Preservation Act of 2007 - Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to reduce maximum annual direct and counter-cyclical commodity payments to $20,000 and $30,000, respectively. Revises limitation provisions for marketing loan gains, loan deficiency payments, and commodity certificate transactions, and establishes an annual combined limitation of $75,000 for such payments. Doubles payment limitations for single farming operations. Limits an individual to a combined annual payment of $250,000. Makes a person who commits fraud in connection with a scheme or device to evade certain program limitations (multiple entities, citizenship) ineligible for farm benefits for six years. Revises provisions respecting limitation of benefits to active farmers. Makes foreign entities ineligible for agricultural program benefits. Expresses the sense of the Senate that any savings achieved by this Act should be used to establish a permanent agricultural disaster relief program.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 2007
Roadless Area Conservation Act of 2007 - Prohibits road construction and road reconstruction in inventoried roadless areas of the National Forest System. Specifies exceptions, including because: (1) there is threat of a catastrophic event; (2) a natural resource restoration action is necessary; or (3) a federal-aid highway project is in the public interest or is consistent with the purposes for which the land was reserved or acquired. Prohibits timber from being cut, sold, or removed in an inventoried roadless area. Permits various exceptions, including for specified environmental reasons, if the responsible official determines that the cutting, sale, or removal of timber is expected to be infrequent. Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, to make modifications to roadless area maps to improve their accuracy or inclusiveness. Instructs the Secretary, in order to evaluate the effect of a modification to a roadless area map, to prepare an environmental impact statement or similar analysis required under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. Declares that this Act does not: (1) revoke, suspend, or modify legal instruments and decisions concerning the use of NFS land made before January 12, 2001; (2) compel the amendment or revision of any land and resource management plan; or (3) apply to specified activities in the Tongass National Forest. States that the prohibitions and restrictions of this Act cannot be reconsidered, modified, or terminated under the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 2007
Food Stamp Fairness and Benefit Restoration Act of 2007 - Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 with respect to: (1) inflation adjustments for standard deductions and for household resources; (2) retirement account and education account exclusions; (3) eligibility for unemployed adults; (4) dependent care deduction cap elimination; (5) legal immigrant eligibility; and (6) extension of commodity availability for the emergency food assistance program.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 2007
Voluntary Public Access and Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program Act of 2007 - Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a program under which states and tribal governments may apply for grants to encourage owners and operators of privately-held farm, ranch, and forest land to voluntarily make such land available for public access for wildlife-dependent recreation (including hunting or fishing) under state- and tribally-administered plans. Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to exclude from excess base acreage computation for direct and counter-cyclical payment purposes certain conservation enrolled farm land not planted in an agricultural commodity.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 2007
National Forest Roadless Area Conservation Act - Identifies roadless areas within the National Forest System set forth in specified maps as National Forest Inventoried Roadless Areas, and directs the Secretary of Agriculture to manage such Areas to maintain their roadless character. Authorizes the Forest Service to modify such maps for the sole purpose of improving their accuracy or inclusiveness. Requires any substantial modification of those maps to be made through the national forest management planning process and documented in an environmental impact statement.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 2007
Voluntary Public Access and Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program Act of 2007 - Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a program under which states and tribal governments may apply for grants to encourage owners and operators of privately-held farm, ranch, and forest land to voluntarily make such land available for public access for wildlife-dependent recreation (including hunting or fishing) under state- and tribally-administered plans. Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to exclude from excess base acreage computation for direct and counter-cyclical payment purposes certain conservation enrolled farm land not planted in an agricultural commodity.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 2007
Energy for America Act - Produced Water Utilization Act of 2007 - Requires the Secretary of Energy to conduct a program of research, development, and demonstration of technologies for environmentally sustainable utilization of produced water for agriculture, irrigation, municipal, industrial uses, or other environmentally sustainable purposes Requires the program to address: (1) produced water recovery, including research for desalination and demineralization; (2) reinjection of produced water into subsurface geological formations; and (3) safety and environmental impacts of such activities. Biomass Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 2007 - Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to include specified advanced biofuel technologies within the bioenergy program. Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle Act of 2007 - Instructs the Secretary to conduct a program of research, development, demonstration, and commercial application on technologies for the development of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Energy Storage Solutions for America Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary to: (1) carry out a research, development, and demonstration program to support the ability of the United States to remain globally competitive in energy storage systems for electricity transmission and distribution; and (2) establish an Energy Storage Advisory Council. Energy Efficient Buildings Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary to establish a pilot program to award grants to businesses and organizations for new construction of energy efficient buildings, or major renovations of buildings that will result in energy efficient buildings, to demonstrate innovative energy efficiency technologies, especially those sponsored by the Department of Energy (DOE). Prescribes criteria for mandatory consideration by the Secretary when identifying for support "ARPA-E" projects (that show promise to accelerate efforts to overcome barriers to development of advanced energy technologies). Green Energy Education Act of 2007 - Authorizes the Secretary to contribute funds to the National Science Foundation for the Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship program to support projects that enable graduate education related to DOE research,demonstration, and commercial application activities, especially those related to high performance buildings. Instructs the Secretary to transmit to Congress the results of a feasibility study of large-scale biological sequestration of carbon dioxide for coal power systems, including the feasibility of creating a closed loop carbon cycle through biological sequestration.
United States · United States House of Representatives · 23 May 2007
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2007
Agricultural Air Quality Incentives Act of 2007 - Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to: (1) promote air quality by providing cost-share payments and incentive payments to individual producers to address agricultural air quality concerns; and (2) provide cost-share payments to producers for mobile or stationary equipment (including engines) used in an agricultural operation that would reduce emissions of air pollutants and air pollutant precursors. Requires a project to be in a county: (1) that is in nonattainment under the Clean Air Act with respect to ambient air quality standards for ozone, particulate matter, or both; (2) in which there is air quality degradation to which agricultural emissions significantly contribute; or (3) in which pesticide drift is a priority concern. Sets forth project priority criteria.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2007
Beginning Farmer and Rancher Opportunity Act of 2007 - Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to make beginning farmer and rancher development grants available for energy conservation and organic and value-added alternative production. Caps annual grant amounts and permits consecutive grants to the same recipient. Sets forth grant evaluation criteria. Extends grant authority. Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish the new farmer individual development accounts pilot program under which: (1) an eligible participant shall deposit an agreed upon amount into an account which will be matched at 300% by the program ($9,000 annual cap); and (2) expenditures shall be used for specified farming purposes, including purchases of farmland, equipment and other assets, breeding stock, and timber, nut, or fruit trees. Revises: (1) the down payment loan program; and (2) the beginning farmer or rancher contract land sales program. Makes socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers eligible for inventory sales preferences on real property acquired by the Secretary through security servicing. Increases direct and operating agricultural loan limits. Requires the Secretary to establish a plan to transition agricultural loan borrowers to private credit sources. Increases fiscal year aggregate loan and specified set-aside levels. Makes socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers eligible for certain loan set-asides, and extends such set-aside authority. Includes among soil and water conservation grant priority recipients: (1) beginning or socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers; and (2) owners or tenants who use the loans to convert to sustainable or organic agricultural production systems. Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 with respect to the conservation reserve program to permit the Secretary to modify a contract to facilitate land transition from a retired or retiring owner or operator to a beginning or socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher in order to return some or all of the land into production using sustainable grazing or crop production methods. Sets forth transition options for beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers. Makes socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers eligible for cost sharing under the conservation security program and the environmental quality incentives program. Amends the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act to include among "high priority research" areas of concern to beginning farmers or ranchers. Amends the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 to include farm transfer options for beginning or socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers among priority grant areas. Amends the Federal Crop Insurance Act to provide emphasis on risk management education for beginning, immigrant, retiring, or socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2007
Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a biofuels innovation program which shall: (1) encourage production of dedicated energy crops in a sustainable manner that protects the soil, air, water, and wildlife; (2) provide financial and technical assistance to owners and operators of eligible cropland to produce energy crops and crop mixes to support development and expansion of crop use for biofuels, power or heat generation to supplement or replace nonbiobased energy sources, and biobased products to supplement or replace non-biobased products; (3) establish biofuels innovation program project areas; and (4) provide financial and technical assistance to owners and operators for harvesting, storing, and transporting cellulosic material. Extends (and increases for FY2008-FY2010) authorization of appropriations for research, extension, and educational programs on biobased energy technologies and products.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2007
Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to repeal the dairy price support program. Amends the national dairy market loss payment program to: (1) extend the sign-up and contract duration periods; (2) replace the "Class 1 milk" definition with a "Class III milk" definition; (3) revise the payment formula (which shall include a feed adjustment factor); and (4) establish a maximum annual payment of $50,000 per dairy operation. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to: (1) establish a national dairy options program; and (2) make nonrecourse loans available to commercial processors of cheddar cheese, butter, and nonfat dry milk. Amends the Federal Crop Insurance Act to direct the Commodity Credit Corporation to carry out a milk revenue insurance pilot program under which dairy producers may elect to receive insurance against revenue loss due to natural disasters and price fluctuations. Directs the Secretary to: (1) study the economic benefits to milk producers of establishing a two-class system (fluid milk class and manufacturing grade milk class) for classifying milk under federal milk marketing orders; and (2) amend federal milk marketing orders to implement such system if it would benefit milk producers. Amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act, as amended by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, to eliminate pilot program status for, and extend, the dairy forward pricing program. Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to authorize rural industrial assistance loans and loan guarantees for dairy processors to invest in new equipment and technologies. Amends the Farm Credit Act of 1971 to authorize banks for cooperatives to assist dairy processing cooperatives with export activities. Amends the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 to establish a new subtitle P, entitled the "Federal Dairy Education Loan Forgiveness Act." Directs the Secretary to carry out a dairy education loan forgiveness program under which the Secretary shall assume the obligation to repay a specified amount for one or more qualified loans made to eligible applicants. Amends the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to provide for mandatory reporting of specified dairy commodities.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2007
Amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act, reenacted with amendments by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, to require the Secretary of Agriculture to issue a decision relating to any proposed milk marketing order amendment for which a hearing is held not later than 90 days after the hearing.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2007
Farm Bill Extension Act of 2007 - Extends and revises agricultural and related programs respecting: (1) commodities; (2) sugar; (3) dairy; (4) conservation; (5) exports and trade assistance; (6) food stamps and nutrition; (7) agricultural credit; (8) rural development; (9) rural electrification; (10) agricultural research; (11) forestry; (12) energy; (13) specialty crops; and (14) livestock.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2007
Biofuels Research Initiative Act of 2007 - Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish grants to the lead land grant university for each regional consortium. Prescribes the use of such grants. Requires each regional university consortium to provide competitive grants to Agricultural and Land Grant colleges and universities in the region of the consortium. Directs the Secretary to establish a Bio Energy Consortium led by five universities meeting specified criteria, which shall be responsible to identify talents and expertise that contribute to advancing biomass for energy.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2007
Clean Water Restoration Act of 2007 - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to replace the term "navigable waters," throughout the Act, with the term "waters of the United States," defined to mean all waters subject to the ebb and flow of the tide, the territorial seas, and all interstate and intrastate waters and their tributaries, including lakes, rivers, streams (including intermittent streams), mudflats, sandflats, wetlands, sloughs, prairie potholes, wet meadows, playa lakes, natural ponds, and all impoundments of the foregoing, to the fullest extent that these waters, or activities affecting them, are subject to the legislative power of Congress under the Constitution. Declares that nothing in such Act shall be construed as affecting the authority of the Secretary of the Army or the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the provisions of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act related to discharges: (1) composed entirely of agricultural return flows; (2) of stormwater runoff from oil, gas, and mining operations; or (3) of dredged or fill materials resulting from normal farming, silviculture, and ranching activities or from activities with respect to which a state has an approved program, or for the purposes of maintenance of currently serviceable structures or drainage ditches, construction or maintenance of farm or stock ponds, irrigation ditches, or farm, forest, or temporary roads for moving mining equipment, or construction of temporary sedimentation basins on construction sites.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 2007
Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to contract with an independent reviewing authority to review the efficiency and effectiveness of operations at all headquarters offices of the Department of Agriculture's Rural Development office and its Natural Resources Conservation Service, including: (1) the headquarters offices in Washington, DC; and (2) all state offices. Prohibits the Secretary from merging any county Rural Development office with a county office of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, or any county office of the Natural Resources Conservation Service with a county Rural Development office before the later of: (1) the date on which the Secretary determines that each headquarters office has implemented the recommendations contained in the report required under this Act; or (2) October 1, 2008.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 2007
Amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act, reenacted with amendments by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, to subject imported clementines to applicable domestic grade, size, quality, or maturity requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 2007
Border Security and Immigration Reform Act of 2007 - Increases the number of: (1) full-time Border Patrol agents; and (2) immigration-related workplace enforcement personnel. Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish an employment eligibility verification system. Sets forth program provisions. Authorizes, and subsequently requires, the use of such system for previously hired individuals and for recruiting and referrals. Provides expedited removal for certain illegal aliens from a country that is not contiguous to the United States who are apprehended within 100 miles of a U.S. port or land border. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish: (1) a nonimmigrant seasonal agricultural worker program (W-visa), which shall include annual numerical limitations and monthly limitations based on agricultural employment region; and (2) a trust fund to administer and enforce the program and provide a monetary incentive for such workers to return to their countries upon visa expiration. Prohibits status adjustment for such workers. Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to provide lawful status (which shall not be considered as permanent resident status) for qualifying aliens who have been in continuous unlawful residence in the United States since before January 1, 2002. Sets forth program provisions, including: (1) imposition of a $1,000 fine; and (2) prohibition of derivative lawful status for family members.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 2007
Creating Research Extension and Teaching Excellence for the 21st Century Act of 2007 or CREATE-21 Act of 2007 - Establishes the National Institutes for Food and Agriculture, which shall be located in Washington, DC. Transfers specified authorities of the Department of Agriculture and other authorities to the Institutes. Sets forth organizational and funding provisions. Amends the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 to repeal authority for the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board. Eliminates specified funding provisions respecting agricultural research at 1890 land-grant colleges. Extends and revises specified agricultural programs, including research, extension, and education programs. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish the Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellowship Program to provide fellowships for scientific training in the United States to individuals from eligible countries who specialize in agricultural education and research and extension.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 2007
Nutrition and Opportunities for the Underserved and Rural Incentives to Secure the Heartland Act of 2007 or NOURISH Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to: (1) establish a program through FY2013 to provide greater access and opportunities for minority and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers to Department of Agriculture programs and services; and (2) establish the USDA Minority Producer Land Preservation Commission (to terminate nine years after enactment of this Act) to review pending Department foreclosure proceedings. Amends the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 to extend authorization of appropriations for education grants for Hispanic-serving institutions. Amends the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to revise pesticide recordkeeping provisions. Amends the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act to provide for the inclusion of long-term health effects in labeling requirements. Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish, within the Department's Office of Civil Rights and Community Outreach of the Risk Management Agency, an office of Farmworker Coordination; (2) establish a conservation initiative for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers; (3) provide cost-share payments and incentive payments to individual producers to address air quality concerns associated with agriculture; (4) implement an integrated pest management initiative in priority areas; and (5) establish the rural regional entrepreneurship program. Authorizes the Secretary to make emergency grants to assist low-income migrant and seasonal farmworkers. Revises the Agricultural Fair Practices Act of 1967. Establishes within the Department the Office of Special Counsel for Competition Matters which shall: (1) investigate and prosecute violations of this Act and the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921; and (2) serve as a liaison between, and act in consultation with, 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. Provides for Department and Department of Defense procurement of locally produced agricultural products. Establishes the national organic certification and transition cost share program (in lieu of the current national organic certification cost share program). Extends the: (1) conservation reserve program; (2) grassland reserve program; (3) environmental quality incentives program; (4) conservation innovation grant program; (5) wildlife habitat incentive program; (6) Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) farmers' market nutrition program; (7) senior farmers nutrition program; (8) the community food project competitive grant program; (9) fresh fruit and vegetable program; and (10) farmers' market promotion program. Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to rename the food stamp program as the secure nutrition access program (program). Revises program provisions with respect to: (1) standard deduction increases; (2) combat pay, retirement account, and education account exclusions; (3) minimum benefit increases; (4) countable resource increases; (5) legal immigrant eligibility; (6) work requirements; (7) program administration; (8) cash payment pilot projects; (9) program reauthorization; (10) block grants for Puerto Rico and American Samoa; (11) outreach; (12) natural disasters; (13) Puerto Rico; (14) farmers' markets; and (15) the emergency food assistance program.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 2007
Amends the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 to extend additional Commodity Credit Corporation authority for the use of funding and/or commodities for the: (1) market access program; and (2) foreign market development cooperator program.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 2007
Farm, Nutrition, and Community Investment Act of 2007 - Extends and revises various agricultural programs, including programs respecting: (1) milk and dairy; (2) conservation security; (3) conservation reserve; (4) wetlands reserve; (5) environmental quality incentives; (6) farmland protection; (7) cooperative conservation partnership initiative; (8) wildlife habitat; (9) conservation loan guarantees; (10) market access; (11) food stamps; (12) farm and ranch profitability grants; (13) community forest and open space conservation; (14) healthy forests reserve; (15) biomass and renewable energy; (16) specialty crops, farmers' markets, and nutrition; (17) organic agriculture programs; (18) crop insurance; and (18) colony collapse disorder.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 2007
Food Outreach and Opportunity Development for a Healthy America Act of 2007 - Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to: (1) extend assistance for community food projects; and (2) obligate funds for food stamp nutrition education. Amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to: (1) extend the fresh fruit and vegetable program; (2) extend the farm-to-cafeteria program; and (3) authorize Department of Agriculture and Department of Defense (DOD) geographic preferences to purchase locally produced agricultural or food products. Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to revise the farmland protection program. Gives priority to farm and ranchland with prime, unique, or other productive soils at risk of nonagricultural development. Provides for: (1) grants to eligible state or local entities to purchase conservation easements; and (2) grant agreements with eligible state or local entities to purchase conservation easements using a combination of their own funds and grant funds. Amends the Farmer-to-Consumer Direct Marketing Act of 1976 to establish the Farmers' Market Promotion Program Plus to make grants to eligible entities to establish and promote direct farmer-to-consumer marketing opportunities. Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to extend the seniors farmers' market nutrition program. Amends the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture, through the Agricultural Marketing Service, to: (1) establish a grant program for eligible entities to conduct enterprise feasibility studies, including studies of consumer preference; and (2) provide loans and loan guarantees to eligible entities and individual producers to develop processing, distribution, and information infrastructure for locally or regionally produced food.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 2007
Farm Risk Management Act for the 21st Century - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to contract with eligible operators and producers (risk management account contracts) to: (1) provide a reserve to assist in the stabilization of farm income during low-revenue years; (2) assist operators and producers to invest in value-added farms; and (3) recognize high levels of environmental stewardship. Sets forth risk management account contract provisions, including: (1) administration; (2) direct payments; (3) stewardship payments; (4) account transfers; and (5) tax treatment. Extends counter-cyclical payments. Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to: (1) replace current national dairy market loss payment provisions with dairy payment provisions through FY2012; (2) revise and extend funding authority for the McGovern-Dole international food for education and child nutrition program; (3) extend funding for testing of biobased products for the federal biobased procurement program; (4) revise and extend the biorefinery development program; (5) revise and extend the rural renewable energy development program; and (6) replace current renewable and energy systems and energy improvements provisions with the rural energy for America program (funds through FY2014). Establishes a recourse loan program for each loan commodity through crop year 2014. Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to extend: (1) the wetlands reserve program and increase maximum program acreage enrollment; (2) the environmental quality incentives program; (3) the conservation innovation grants program; and (4) the ground and surface water conservation program. Increases grassland reserve program maximum acreage enrollment. Extends authority to use Commodity Credit Corporation funds and facilities to carry out specified conservation-related programs. Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 with respect to: (1) combat pay and retirement account exclusions; (2) standard deduction increases; (3) child care deduction limits; (4) state cost-sharing during natural disasters; (5) minimum benefits; (6) program reauthorization; (7) program administration; (8) cash payment pilot projects; (9) block grants for Puerto Rico and American Samoa; (10) the commodity distribution program; (11) outreach grants; (12) the emergency food assistance program; and (13) community food projects. Establishes a community food assistance and food bank infrastructure grant program for eligible emergency feeding organizations. Amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to extend: (1) the fruit and vegetable program; and (2) the farm to school program. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to offer to enter into a contract or grant agreement with a primary nongovernmental organization to establish the National Food for the Hungry Transportation Fund to track, collect, and deliver time-sensitive food products. Extends: (1) the forest land enhancement program; (2) the healthy forests reserve program; (3) the biomass research and development program; (4) the federal crop insurance adjusted gross revenue insurance pilot program; (5) the farmers' market promotion program; and (6) the fruit and vegetable nutrition promotion program.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 2007
Local Food and Farm Support Act - Amends the Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a grant program to support value-added agricultural products which shall include a socially disadvantaged farmer and rancher component and may include a small and individual producer grant component. Directs the Secretary to establish a Family Rancher and Rancher Viability and Innovation Fund. Amends the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 to direct the Secretary, through the Agricultural Marketing Service, to: (1) establish a grant program for eligible entities to conduct enterprise feasibility studies, including studies of consumer preference; and (2) provide loans and loan guarantees to eligible entities and individual producers to develop processing, distribution, and information infrastructure for locally or regionally produced food. Amends the Farmers-to-Consumers Direct Marketing Act of 1976 to direct the Secretary to carry out a direct to consumer marketing assistance program to make grants to eligible entities for projects to establish, expand, and promote farmers' markets and other farmer to consumer direct marketing opportunities. Extends: (1) the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) farmers' market nutrition program; (2) the senior farmers' market nutrition program; (3) the food stamp community food project program; and (4) the farm-to cafeteria program. Establishes: (1) the food stamp fruit and vegetable incentive program; and (2) the urban agriculture production program.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 2007
Family and Workplace Balancing Act of 2007, or Balancing Act of 2007 - Family Income to Respond to Significant Transitions Act - Directs the Secretary of Labor to make five-year grants to a state or local government to pay for the federal share of projects that assist families by providing wage replacement for eligible individuals responding to family caregiving needs, especially those related to the birth or adoption of a child. Family and Medical Leave Enhancement Act of 2007 - Amends the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) and federal civil service law to allow employees covered by FMLA and civil servants to take specified additional leave for: (1) parental involvement in their children's or grandchildren's educational and extracurricular activities; and (2) routine family medical care needs. Amends FMLA to revise criteria for covered employees. Amends the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to authorize additional funds for expanding child care activities for young children under age three. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), in collaboration with the Secretary of Education, to make grants to enable states, Indian tribes, and tribal organizations to establish or expand quality programs of early childhood home visitation. Establishes: (1) the Child Care Provider Development and Retention Grant Program; and (2) the Child Care Provider Scholarship Program. Healthy Early Education Workforce Grant Program Act - Authorizes the HHS Secretary to allot funds to eligible states, Indian tribes, and tribal organizations to pay the federal share of providing access to affordable health benefits coverage for: (1) eligible child care providers; and (2) at state option, the spouses, domestic partners, and dependents of such providers. Child Care Construction and Renovation Incentive Grants Act - Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to provide for use of community development block grants to establish child care facilities. Amends the National Housing Act to provide for related mortgage insurance. Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to make technical and financial assistance grants for acquiring or improving such facilities or related equipment. Directs the Secretary of HHS to establish a business child care incentive grant program. Universal Prekindergarten Act - Directs the HHS Secretary to make grants to state agencies to develop full-day, full-year universal prekindergarten programs for all children three, four, and five years old. Amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (CNA) to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out a universal free school breakfast program without regard to family incomes. Amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (NSLA) to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a program of healthy school nutrition environment incentive grants. Afterschool Education Enhancement Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to require state educational agencies to give priority to 21st century community learning centers program grant applications submitted jointly by eligible entities consisting of at least: (1) one local educational agency receiving funds under ESEA provisions for disadvantaged students; and (2) at least one community-based organization or other public or private entity. Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to provide for treatment of employees working at less than full-time under participation, vesting, and accrual rules governing pension plans and under group health plans, including certain individuals whose services are leased or contracted for. United States Business Telework Act - Directs the Secretary of Labor to conduct a pilot program in up to five states to raise awareness about telework among employers and to encourage them to offer telework options to employees.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 2007
Beginning Farmer and Rancher Opportunity Act of 2007 - Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to make beginning farmer and rancher development grants available for energy conservation and organic and value-added alternative production. Caps annual grant amounts and permits consecutive grants to the same recipient. Sets forth grant evaluation criteria. Extends grant authority. Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish the new farmer individual development accounts pilot program under which: (1) an eligible participant shall deposit an agreed upon amount into an account which will be matched at 300% by the program ($9,000 annual cap); and (2) expenditures shall be used for specified farming purposes, including purchases of farmland, equipment and other assets, breeding stock, and timber, nut, or fruit trees. Revises: (1) the down payment loan program; and (2) the beginning farmer or rancher contract land sales program. Makes socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers eligible for inventory sales preferences on real property acquired by the Secretary through security servicing. Increases direct and operating agricultural loan limits. Requires the Secretary to establish a plan to transition agricultural loan borrowers to private credit sources. Increases fiscal year aggregate loan and specified set-aside levels. Makes socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers eligible for certain loan set-asides, and extends such set-aside authority. Includes among soil and water conservation grant priority recipients: (1) beginning or socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers; and (2) owners or tenants who use the loans to convert to sustainable or organic agricultural production systems. Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 with respect to the conservation reserve program to permit the Secretary to modify a contract to facilitate land transition from a retired or retiring owner or operator to a beginning or socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher in order to return some or all of the land into production using sustainable grazing or crop production methods. Sets forth transition options for beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers. Makes socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers eligible for cost sharing under the conservation security program and the environmental quality incentives program. Amends the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act to include among "high priority research" areas of concern to beginning farmers or ranchers. Amends the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 to include farm transfer options for beginning or socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers among priority grant areas. Amends the Federal Crop Insurance Act to provide emphasis on risk management education for beginning, immigrant, retiring, or socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 2007
Beginning Farmer and Rancher Opportunity Act of 2007 - Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to make beginning farmer and rancher development grants available for energy conservation and organic and value-added alternative production. Caps annual grant amounts and permits consecutive grants to the same recipient. Sets forth grant evaluation criteria. Extends grant authority. Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish the new farmer individual development accounts pilot program under which: (1) an eligible participant shall deposit an agreed upon amount into an account which will be matched at 300% by the program ($9,000 annual cap); and (2) expenditures shall be used for specified farming purposes, including purchases of farmland, equipment and other assets, breeding stock, and timber, nut, or fruit trees. Revises: (1) the down payment loan program; and (2) the beginning farmer or rancher contract land sales program. Makes socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers eligible for inventory sales preferences on real property acquired by the Secretary through security servicing. Increases direct and operating agricultural loan limits. Requires the Secretary to establish a plan to transition agricultural loan borrowers to private credit sources. Increases fiscal year aggregate loan and specified set-aside levels. Makes socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers eligible for certain loan set-asides, and extends such set-aside authority. Includes among soil and water conservation grant priority recipients: (1) beginning or socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers; and (2) owners or tenants who use the loans to convert to sustainable or organic agricultural production systems. Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 with respect to the conservation reserve program to permit the Secretary to modify a contract to facilitate land transition from a retired or retiring owner or operator to a beginning or socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher in order to return some or all of the land into production using sustainable grazing or crop production methods. Sets forth transition options for beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers. Makes socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers eligible for cost sharing under the conservation security program and the environmental quality incentives program. Amends the Competitive, Special, and Facilities Research Grant Act to include among "high priority research" areas of concern to beginning farmers or ranchers. Amends the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 to include farm transfer options for beginning or socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers among priority grant areas. Amends the Federal Crop Insurance Act to provide emphasis on risk management education for beginning, immigrant, retiring, or socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 2007
Produced Water Utilization Act of 2007 - Defines "produced water" to mean water from an underground source that is brought to the surface as part of the process of exploration for or development of coalbed methane, oil, natural gas, or any other substance to be used as an energy source. Requires the Secretary of Energy, in conjunction with an existing domestic petroleum production program of the Department of Energy, to conduct a program of research, development, and demonstration of technologies for environmentally sustainable utilization of produced water for agriculture, irrigation, municipal, or industrial uses or other environmentally sustainable purposes. Requires the program to be designed to maximize the utilization of produced water in the United States by increasing its quality and reducing its environmental impacts. Requires that the program address: (1) produced water recovery, including research for desalination and demineralization to reduce total dissolved solids in the produced water; (2) reinjection of produced water into subsurface geological formations to increase energy production; and (3) improving safety and minimizing environmental impacts of such activities. Requires the Secretary, through the National Energy Technology Laboratory, to carry out research, development, and demonstration activities that are complementary to and supportive of such program.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2007
Farm-to-Fuel Investment Act of 2007 - Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to designate as bioenergy cropsheds areas that are physically located within a 50-mile radius, or some other economically-practicable distance, from an existing or planned biorefinery. States that each designated bioenergy cropshed shall include local conservation objectives, including water quality, wildlife habitat, soil quality, and air quality. Directs the Secretary, through the Natural Resources Conservation Service, to offer to enter into contracts with producers on a farm in a bioenergy cropshed to provide bioenergy crop transition assistance to encourage the producers to produce bioenergy crops.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2007
National Ag Science Center Act of 2007 - Designates the facility under development by the Stanislaus Ag Center Foundation in Stanislaus county, California, as the "National Ag Science Center."
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2007
New Markets for State-Inspected Meat and Poultry Act of 2007 - Rewrites and renames title III (currently titled,"Federal and State Cooperation") of the Federal Meat Inspection Act as "State Meat Inspection Programs." States that: (1) the goal of a safe and wholesome supply of meat and meat food products would be better served if a consistent set of requirements were applied to all meat and meat food products whether produced under state or federal inspection; (2) under such a system state and federal meat inspection programs would function together to ensure food safety; and (3) such a system would ensure the viability of state meat inspection programs. Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to approve a qualifying state meat inspection program and allow the shipment in commerce of carcasses, parts of carcasses, meat, and meat food products so inspected. Sets forth eligibility requirements, including that a state must enforce the requirements of titles I, II, and IV of the Act and enter into a cooperative agreement with the Secretary. Requires the Secretary to review approved plans annually. Directs the Secretary to review each state's meat and poultry inspection program, which shall include: (1) a determination of the plan's effectiveness; and (2) identification of changes necessary to ensure enforcement of federal inspection requirements. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into a cooperative agreement with a state that, among other things: (1) establishes the terms governing the relationship between a state program and the Secretary; (2) requires a state to adopt provisions identical to titles I, II, and IV of the Act; and (3) meets labeling requirements. Directs the Secretary to reimburse a state for at least 50% of the state's costs of meeting federal requirements. Prohibits from state inspection plan participation establishments that have more than 50 employees, except for those subject to state inspection as of 90 days after the effective date of this Act. Authorizes the Secretary to temporarily suspend or take over a noncomplying state program (or an establishment). Permits an establishment in a state with an approved state program to apply for either state or federal inspection. Exempts from such inspection provisions retail stores and restaurants (including specified central kitchen facilities) if the operations are conducted for sale of such prepared articles in normal retail quantities or for service of the articles to consumers at such establishment. Makes similar amendments to the Poultry Products Inspection Act. Prohibits a state or local government from prohibiting or restricting in interstate commerce the movement or sale of meat or meat food products that have been inspected and passed in accordance with the Act or the Poultry Products Inspection Act.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 2007
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to repeal the provision (section 796 of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006) exempting from harboring sanctions compensation for alien volunteers for certain religious organizations.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 2007
Livestock Identification and Marketing Opportunities Act - Establishes the Livestock Identification Board which shall: (1) establish an electronic livestock identification system (livestock system) that is capable of tracing all U.S. livestock from the time of first movement from its original premise to the time of slaughter in less than 48 hours, and tracking all relevant livestock information (identification number, species, date of birth); (2) maintain a centralized livestock data system; and (3) determine the official livestock system identification technology. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a U.S. premise identification system. Authorizes the owner of an animal or group of animals that is not subject to the livestock livestock system to voluntarily subject such animal, or group of animals, to system tracking. Exempts information obtained through the livestock or premise systems from Freedom of Information Act disclosure. States that information obtained through the livestock or premise systems: (1) may not be released; (2) shall not be considered public domain information; and (3) shall be considered privileged and confidential commercial information. Authorizes the Board to release livestock or premise system information for reasons of public health or disease or pest control. Requires the Board to release livestock or premise system information to: (1) a livestock owner upon request; (2) the Secretary, a state, or a tribal agency for animal disease surveillance; (3) the Attorney General for criminal investigation or prosecution; (4) the Secretary of Homeland Security for national security; (5) the Secretary of Health and Human Services for public health protection; and (6) a foreign government if necessary to trace livestock threatened by disease or pest, as determined by the Secretary. Defines "livestock" as cattle, swine, sheep, goats, and poultry.