Agriculture

Natural Disaster Relief Act

United States · United States Congress · 11 January 2007

Natural Disaster Relief Act - Defines "hurricane-affected county" as: (1) a county covered by a natural disaster declaration related to Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, or Wilma, or related condition; and (2) a contiguous county. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to provide emergency financial assistance to eligible agricultural producers (other than sugar cane and sugar beet producers) who have incurred qualifying 2005-2007 crop losses due to weather or related conditions (including crop disease, insects, and delayed harvest) with respect to which a natural disaster declaration has been made. Requires a producer who suffered qualifying losses to elect assistance for only one of such years. Directs the Secretary to provide: (1) payments through the 2002 livestock compensation program for livestock disaster losses during calendar years 2005-2007 for losses that occurred prior to of enactment of this Act (including wildfire disaster losses in Texas and other states, and blizzard losses in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Oklahoma); and (2) livestock indemnity payments to producers who have incurred 2005-2007 livestock disaster losses prior to enactment of this Act (including wildfire disaster losses in Texas and other states, and blizzard losses in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Oklahoma), including losses due to hurricanes, floods, wildfires, blizzards, and anthrax. Requires a livestock producer who suffered qualifying losses to elect assistance for only one of such years. Directs the Secretary to hire additional county Farm Service Agency personnel to assist in agricultural disaster and economic assistance programs.

AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AMERICA'S ROLE IN ENHANCING NATIONAL ENERGY SECURITY

United States · United States Senate · 10 January 2007

Electing minority members and the Resident Commissioner to certain committees of the House of Representatives.

United States · United States Congress · 10 January 2007

Elects minority Members to the House Committees on: (1) Agriculture; (2) Armed Services; (3) Education and Labor; (4) Energy and Commerce; (5) Financial Services; (6) Oversight and Government Reform; (7) Homeland Security; (8) Foreign Affairs; (9) the Judiciary; (10) Natural Resources; (11) Science and Technology; (12) Small Business; (13) Transportation and Infrastructure; and (14) Veterans Affairs.

Pecos National Historical Park Land Exchange Act of 2007

United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2007

Pecos National Historical Park Land Exchange Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to accept certain non-federal land in the State of New Mexico for addition to the Pecos National Historical Park (Park). Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to convey certain federal land in the Santa Fe National Forest to private landowners. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to grant the private landowners an easement for water pipelines to two well sites located in the Park. Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior (Secretaries) to require terms and conditions relating to the exchange of federal and non-federal lands and the granting of easements that protect the interests of the United States. Sets a deadline for the completion of land exchanges under this Act and requires the Secretaries to report to Congress on the completion of such exchanges. Provides for the administration of lands exchanged under this Act. Directs the Secretaries to transmit to Congress a revised map that depicts the lands exchanged and the easement granted under this Act.

Watershed Restoration and Enhancement Agreements Act of 2007

United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2007

Watershed Restoration and Enhancement Agreements Act of 2007 - Amends the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999 to make permanent the authorization for the Secretary of Agriculture to use Forest Service appropriations for the purpose of entering into cooperative agreements with government, private, and nonprofit entities and landowners for the protection, restoration, and enhancement of fish and wildlife habitat and other resources on public or private land and/or the reduction of risk from natural disaster. Makes provisions regarding executive agency use of procurement contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements inapplicable to: (1) watershed restoration and enhancement agreements entered into under such Act; and (2) cooperative agreements between the Secretary of Agriculture and public or private entities for Forest Service programs, including for cooperative pollution abatement equipment and facilities, cooperative manpower and job training and development, cooperative environmental education and forest history materials, and forestry protection.

Australian Wheat Board Accountability Act of 2007

United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2007

Australian Wheat Board Accountability Act of 2007 - Directs the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to initiate an investigation in accordance with title III of the Trade Act of 1974 to determine if actions by the Australian Wheat Board with respect to the Board's abuse of the United Nations Oil-for-Food Programme constitutes an act, policy, or practice and justifies taking action against unfair trade practices and to enforce U.S. rights under trade agreements. Deems economic damage suffered by U.S. wheat farmers as a result of the practices of the Australian Wheat Board related to the United Nations Oil-for-Food Programme during the period 1999 to 2003 to be such an act, policy, or practice. Requires the USTR to seek a negotiated settlement with the Australian government upon an affirmative determination that the actions of the Australian Wheat Board have resulted in barriers to U.S. wheat exports or meet the requirements for mandatory action. Imposes additional duties upon Australian imports in the event of failure to reach a negotiated settlement.

To amend the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to implement mandatory country of origin labeling requirements for meat and produce on September 30, 2007.

United States · United States Congress · 9 January 2007

Amends the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to change the country of origin labeling implementation date from September 30, 2008, to September 30, 2007.

Coffman Cove Administrative Site Conveyance Act of 2007

United States · United States Congress · 8 January 2007

Coffman Cove Administrative Site Conveyance Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to convey to the city of Coffman Cove, Alaska, a specified parcel of National Forest System land within the city.

Reliable Farm Safety Net Act

United States · United States Congress · 8 January 2007

Reliable Farm Safety Net Act - Amends the Federal Crop Insurance Act to establish permanent authority (beginning with crop year 2007) for the Secretary of Agriculture to provide disaster relief to qualifying agricultural producers who incur crop or livestock losses as a result of damaging weather or related condition in federally declared disaster areas.

To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to convey to the village of Santa Clara, the city of Bayard, or the county of Grant, in the State of New Mexico, in tracts of not less than 40 acres, at market price at its present state of use as agricultural grazing lands as determined by the Secretary, for business and community development, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 5 January 2007

Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to convey at current state of use market prices specified lands formerly part of the Fort Bayard Military Reservation, Grant County, New Mexico, to the Village of Santa Clara, the City of Bayard, and Grant County, New Mexico, in tracts of not less than 40 acres, for business and community development. Requires approval of all parties for any such conveyance. Provides that the Secretary shall be responsible for the costs and recovery of any historic or prehistoric cultural properties located on such lands.

Farmers Markets Infrastructure Assistance Act of 2007

United States · United States Congress · 5 January 2007

Farmers Markets Infrastructure Assistance Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to make loans, loan guarantees, and grants to eligible public agencies and nonprofit organizations for the construction of new farmers markets, or the improvement or rehabilitation of existing farmers markets.

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 · 5 January 2007

Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 with respect to the senior farmers' market nutrition program to: (1) increase program funding for FY2007 and extend funding through FY2012; (2) expand the program to include locally produced farm products as deemed appropriate by the Secretary of Agriculture; (3) permit up to 10% of program funds to be used for administrative costs; and (4) permit carryover of unused funds.

Fossil Creek Wild and Scenic River Act

United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2007

Fossil Creek Wild and Scenic River Act of 2007 - Amends the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate specified segments of Fossil Creek, a tributary to the Verde River in Arizona, as components of the national wild and scenic rivers system. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to submit a river management plan for the designated segments.

Livestock Assistance Act of 2007

United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2007

Livestock Assistance Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to provide: (1) payments through the 2002 livestock compensation program for qualifying livestock disaster losses due to blizzard and drought in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Oklahoma; and (2) livestock indemnity payments to producers who have incurred livestock disaster losses in 2006 or 2007, or both, including blizzard and drought losses.

Healthy Students Act of 2007

United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2007

Healthy Students Act of 2007 - Amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to require the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to establish a Commission to Improve School Meals composed of nutrition and children's health experts tasked with developing new nutritional standards for the School Lunch, Summer Food Service, Child and Adult Care Food, and School Breakfast programs. Requires such standards to ban foods of minimal nutritional value. Provides for the adjustment of program payment rates to compensate for compliance with such standards. Repeals the current requirement that the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) issue guidance to states and school food authorities to increase the consumption of foods and food ingredients recommended in the most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Requires the Secretary to establish a pilot program providing grants to school districts or nonprofit organizations for use in promoting healthy food alternatives under the School Lunch and School Breakfast programs. Directs the Secretary of Education to award competitive grants to elementary and secondary schools for Healthy Hour pilot programs which increase each school day by an hour that is exclusively devoted to physical activity. Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish a student loan forgiveness program for nurses who agree to employment as full-time nurses in elementary or secondary schools for three complete school years. Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow corporations a tax deduction for the charitable contribution to a private foundation of exercise or gymnasium equipment for use by elementary and secondary school students.

Anti-hunger Empowerment Act of 2007

United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2007

Anti-hunger Empowerment Act of 2007 - Amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977 to replace current food stamp program (program) administrative cost provisions with provisions authorizing 75% reimbursement for specified state activities to increase program access. States that fingerprinting shall not be required for program participation. Beyond the Soup Kitchen Grants Program Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a Beyond the Soup Kitchen pilot program to provide grants: (1) to a primary community-based nonprofit feeding and anti-hunger group in each designated pilot community which shall allocate subgrants to other nonprofit feeding and anti-hunger groups in such community; and (2) for technical assistance grants. Sets forth program provisions.

Fossil Creek Wild and Scenic River Act of 2007

United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2007

Fossil Creek Wild and Scenic River Act of 2007 - Amends the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate specified segments of Fossil Creek, a tributary to the Verde River in Arizona, as components of the national wild and scenic rivers system. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to submit a river management plan for the designated segments.

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 2007

Amends the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 with respect to the senior farmers' market nutrition program to: (1) increase program funding for FY2007 and extend funding through FY2012; (2) expand the program to include locally produced farm products as deemed appropriate by the Secretary of Agriculture; (3) permit up to 10% of program funds to be used for administrative costs; and (4) permit carryover of unused funds.

Farm Programs Payment Limitation Integrity Act

United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2007

Farm Programs Payment Limitation Integrity Act - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to promulgate regulations to establish measurable standards to prevent the use of separate entities to exceed commodity payment limitations and to provide payments only to active farmers. Amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to provide that if the Secretary determines that a person has committed fraud in connection with the adoption of a scheme or device to evade payment limitations such person shall be ineligible for farm program payments in the crop year for which the scheme or device was adopted and the succeeding five crop years.

Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act

United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2007

Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act - Requires the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, and the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), to convey specified parcels of federal land to certain counties and cities in central Idaho. Requires the Secretary of the Interior to convey, to the state of Idaho a specified parcel or parcels of BLM land, including roads thereon, for a motorized recreation park. Designates specified parcels of federal land in central Idaho as wilderness areas to be managed as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System (NWPS). Repeals existing law requiring review of portions of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area (SNRA) for possible inclusion in the NWPS. Establishes the Boulder-White Cloud Management Area on federal lands in the Challis National Forest, the Sawtooth National Forest, SNRA, and Challis District of the BLM that are not designated as wilderness areas under this Act.

Farmers Markets Infrastructure Assistance Act of 2007

United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2007

Farmers Markets Infrastructure Assistance Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to make loans, loan guarantees, and grants to eligible public agencies and nonprofit organizations for the construction of new farmers markets, or the improvement or rehabilitation of existing farmers markets.

Sewage Sludge in Food Production Consumer Notification Act

United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2007

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.

To make funds available for program integrity purposes, including the data mining project, under the Federal Crop Insurance Act.

United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2007

Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to use up to a specified amount of Federal Crop Insurance Act funds in FY2007 for program integrity purposes, including the data mining project.

Livestock Assistance Act of 2007

United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2007

Livestock Assistance Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to provide: (1) payments through the 2002 livestock compensation program for qualifying livestock disaster losses due to blizzard and drought in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Oklahoma; and (2) livestock indemnity payments to producers who have incurred livestock disaster losses in 2006 or 2007, or both, including blizzard and drought losses.

To make funds available for fiscal years 2007 and 2008 for program integrity purposes, including the data mining project, under the Federal Crop Insurance Act.

United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2007

Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to use up to a specified amount of Federal Crop Insurance Act funds in each of FY2007 and FY2008 for program integrity purposes, including the data mining project.

Healthy Foods for Healthy Living Act

United States · United States Congress · 4 January 2007

Healthy Foods for Healthy Living Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to make grants to community-based organizations and local redevelopment agencies operating in low-income communities to: (1) assist in purchasing appropriate equipment or in hiring and training personnel to expand the inventory of fresh fruits and vegetables or other healthy food alternatives available for residents of a low-income community; and (2) carry out related consumer education and outreach activities. Amends title XVIII (Medicare) and title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to cover additional primary and preventive services relating to obesity treatment and prevention, supervised exercise sessions, stress testing, lifestyle modification education, and nutrition education.