Agriculture

A resolution making majority party appointments to certain Senate committees for the 109th Congress.

United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2005

Makes majority party appointments to the Joint Economic Committee and the following Senate Committees for the 109th Congress: (1) Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry; (2) Appropriations; (3) Armed Services; (4) Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; (5) Commerce, Science, and Transportation; (6) Energy and Natural Resources; (7) Environment and Public Works; (8) Finance; (9) Foreign Relations; (10) Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions; (11) Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; (12) Intelligence; (13) Judiciary; (14) Aging; (15) Budget; 16) Ethics; (17) Indian Affairs; (18) Rules and Administration; (19) Small Business and Entrepreneurship; and (20) Veterans' Affairs.

A resolution making minority party appointments to certain Senate committees for the 109th Congress.

United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2005

Makes minority party appointments to the Joint Economic Committee and the following Senate Committees for the 109th Congress: (1) Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry; (2) Appropriations; (3) Armed Services; (4) Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; (5) Commerce, Science, and Transportation; (6) Energy and Natural Resources; (7) Environment and Public Works; (8) Finance; (9) Foreign Relations; (10) Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions; (11) Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; (12) Judiciary; (13) Rules and Administration; (14) Small Business and Entrepreneurship; (15) Veterans' Affairs; (16) Aging; (17) Budget; (18) Ethics; (19) Indian Affairs; and (20) Intelligence

Electing Members, Delegates, and Resident Commissioners to standing committees of the House of Representatives.

United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2005

Elects specified Members to the following standing committees of the House of Representatives: (1) Agriculture; (2) Appropriations; (3) Armed Services; (4) Budget; (5) Education and the Workforce; (6) Energy and Commerce; (7) Financial Services; (8) Government Reform; (9) Homeland Security; (10) House Administration; (11) International Relations; (12) Judiciary; (13) Resources; (14) Rules, (15) Science; (16) Small Business; (17) Transportation and Infrastructure; (18) Veterans' Affairs; and (19) Ways and Means.

Electing Members to certain standing committees of the House of Representatives.

United States · United States Congress · 6 January 2005

Elects specified Members to the following standing committees of the House of Representatives: (1) Agriculture; (2) Appropriations; (3) Armed Services; (4) Budget; (5) Education and the Workforce; (6) Energy and Commerce; (7) Financial Services; (8) Government Reform; (9) Homeland Security; (10) International Relations; (11) Judiciary; (12) Resources; (13) Rules; (14) Science; (15) Small Business; (16) Transportation and Infrastructure; (17) Veterans' Affairs; and (18) Ways and Means.

Mike Johanns, of Nebraska, to be Secretary of Agriculture, vice Ann Margaret Veneman, resigned.

United States · United States Senate · 4 January 2005

To designate the parcel of land containing the facility of the Agricultural Research Service of the Department of Agriculture located at State Highway 26 West in Poplarville, Mississippi, as the "Thad Cochran Southern Horticultural Laboratory Site".

United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2005

Designates the parcel of land containing the facility of the Agriculture Research Service of the Department of Agriculture located at State Highway 26 West in Poplarville, Mississippi, as the Thad Cochran Southern Horticultural Laboratory Site.

Geothermal Energy Initiative Act of 2005

United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2005

Geothermal Energy Initiative Act of 2005 - Directs the Secretary of Energy to: (1) review and publish annually the available assessments of geothermal energy resources available within the United States; and (2) undertake new assessments as necessary, taking into account changes in market conditions, available technologies, and other relevant factors. Directs the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to expedite development of geothermal energy in making revisions to certain land use plans for public lands and National Forest System lands, respectively. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to report to Congress any recommendations for statutory or regulatory changes that would assist geothermal energy development on Federal land, including: (1) a five-year plan for encouraging such development; and (2) a list, developed in consultation with the Secretaries of Energy and of Defense, of lands under their jurisdictions, that would be suitable for development for geothermal energy, as well as recommended statutory and regulatory mechanisms for such development. Instructs the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to enter into and submit to Congress a memorandum of understanding regarding leasing (including a five-year leasing plan) and permitting for geothermal development of public lands under their respective jurisdictions. Amends the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to reimburse certain persons through royalty credits for reasonable amounts paid for preparation by the Secretary (or a Secretary-selected contractor or other person) of project-level analysis, documentation, or related study required under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 with respect to the lease.

To prohibit the operation during a calendar year of the final rule issued by the Secretary of Agriculture to establish standards for the designation of minimal-risk regions for the introduction of bovine spongiform encephalopathy into the United States, including designation of Canada as a minimal-risk region, unless United States access to major markets for United States exports of cattle and beef products is equivalent or better than the access status accorded such exports as of January 1, 2003.

United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2005

Prohibits the operation during a calendar year of the January 4, 2005, final rule issued by the Secretary of Agriculture to establish standards for the designation of minimal-risk regions for the introduction of bovine spongiform encephalopathy into the United States, including designation of Canada as a minimal-risk region, unless major market access for U.S. exports of ruminant and ruminant products is at least equivalent to such exports' access as of January 1, 2003. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to identify the ten historical major markets for U.S. exports of ruminants and ruminant products.

To amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to reform funding for the Seniors Farmers' Market Nutrition Program, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2005

Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 with respect to the senior farmers' market nutrition program to: (1) increase program funding; (2) expand the program to include locally produced farm products as deemed appropriate by the Secretary of Agriculture; (3) permit up to ten percent of program funds to be used for administrative costs; and (4) permit carryover of unused funds.

To promote the use of anaerobic digesters by agricultural producers and rural small businesses to produce renewable energy and improve environmental quality.

United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2005

Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to require the Secretary of Agriculture to make loans, loan guarantees, and grants to farmers, ranchers, and rural small businesses to promote the use of anaerobic digesters to produce renewable energy. Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to include the establishment of anaerobic digesters in the list of structural practices recognized under the environmental quality incentives program for agriculture.

Sewage Sludge in Food Production Consumer Notification Act

United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2005

Sewage Sludge in Food Production Consumer Notification Act - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the Egg Products Inspection Act, the Federal Meat Inspection Act, and the Poultry Products Inspection Act to deem as adulterated food that is: (1) produced on land on which sewage sludge was applied; (2) derived from poultry that were raised, or that consumed animal feed produced, on such land; and (3) derived from livestock that grazed, or consumed animal feed produced, on such land. Permits exceptions if: (1) the application of sewage sludge ended more than one year before producing food, raising poultry, producing animal feed, or grazing livestock; (2) the food labeling includes notice that is was produced on such land; or (3) a sign providing such notice is posted in close proximity to the product for those foods generally offered for sale without labeling. States that nothing in this Act shall be construed to modify the prohibition on the use of sewage sludge in organic food production under the National Organic Program of the Department of Agriculture.

Cleveland National Forest Responsible Electricity Transmission Act

United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2005

Cleveland National Forest Responsible Electricity Transmission Act - Directs the Secretaries of the Interior and of Agriculture (the "Secretaries") to issue the necessary grants, easements, permits, plan amendments, and other approvals to allow for the siting and construction of a high-voltage electricity transmission line in part of the Cleveland National Forest in California and adjacent lands (except any identified wilderness area) under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service. Instructs the Secretaries to give a preference to any application or preapplication proposal for a transmission line right-of-way submitted before December 31, 2002, over all other applications and proposals for the same or similar right-of-way submitted on or after that date.

Agricultural Producers Value-Added Investment Tax Credit Act of 2005

United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2005

Agricultural Producers Value-Added Investment Tax Credit Act of 2005 - 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 2010.

Clean, Learn, Educate, Abolish, Neutralize, and Undermine Production (CLEAN-UP) of Methamphetamines Act

United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2005

Clean, Learn, Educate, Abolish, Neutralize, and Undermine Production (CLEAN-UP) of Methamphetamines Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to carry out environmental cleanup and remediation programs involving specified lands that are contaminated with hazardous substances associated with illegal methamphetamine manufacture. Directs: (1) the Secretary of Transportation and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to designate as hazardous certain byproducts of the methamphetamine production process and expand penalties against laboratory operators; (2) the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration to list byproducts likely to cause long-term environmental harm; (3) the Secretary of Labor, acting through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, to provide grants to State and local law enforcement for specified training and equipment acquisition; (4) the EPA Administrator to study the impact of methamphetamine laboratory operation on the environment; and (5) the Secretary of Health and Human Services to study contamination issues. Amends: (1) the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to authorize grants for educational programs; (2) the Public Health Service Act to authorize grants to provide treatment; and (3) the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to include among permissible grant projects under the "cops on the beat" program hiring personnel and purchasing equipment. Urges the President to seek commitments from the Canadian Government regarding the availability of pseudoephedrine.

Health Empowerment Zone Act of 2005

United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2005

Health Empowerment Zone Act of 2005 - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and the Director of the Office of Minority Health, to: (1) designate health empowerment zones and make grants in accordance with this Act; and (2) establish a health empowerment zone coordinating committee for each zone. Authorizes the Secretary to designate a community as a health empowerment zone if a participating community partnership requests such designation and demonstrates that the community is a community of color experiencing disproportionate disparities in health status and health care. Directs the Secretary to make grants to community partnerships to establish health empowerment zone programs to improve the health or environment of minority individuals and eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in health status and health care. Requires at least one such grant to be made to a health empowerment zone in a U.S. territory or possession. Gives preference in awarding grants to indigenous community entities with expertise in providing culturally appropriate and linguistically responsive services to communities of color. Directs the Secretary, the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to: (1) provide assistance for such programs; (2) identify programs that may be used to further the purposes of such zones; and (3) give priority in administering identified programs to a designated community if doing so would further the purposes of the empowerment program.

To amend the Education Land Grant Act to require the Secretary of Agriculture to pay the costs of environmental reviews with respect to conveyances under that Act.

United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2005

Amends the Education Land Grant Act to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to pay environmental review costs with respect to conveyances under such Act.